- The Mississippi Insurance Department oversees the MSLH exam; Pearson VUE administers it via InsMS-LAH05.
- Exam has 125 questions (115 scored, 10 unscored pretest) with a 150-minute limit and $50 fee.
- Passing score is 65%, and the current combined outline has been effective since June 7, 2022.
- Ten domains cover life, accident and health, and Mississippi-specific insurance law.
What Is the MSLH Certification?
The Mississippi Life & Health Insurance Producer Exam (MSLH) is the state licensing exam that anyone seeking to sell life and health insurance products in Mississippi must pass. It is administered under the authority of the Mississippi Insurance Department and delivered through Pearson VUE testing centers, with an OnVUE remote-proctoring option for candidates who prefer to test from home or office. Passing this exam is the gateway credential for a career writing life insurance policies, annuities, accident coverage, and health plans anywhere in the state.
If you're still getting oriented to the terminology, our companion pieces on What Is MSLH?, MSLH Meaning, and What Does MSLH Stand For? walk through the basics before you dive into exam mechanics. For a deeper look at licensing prerequisites, see MSLH Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Exam Format, Fees, and Scoring
The MSLH exam consists of 125 multiple-choice questions total, but only 115 of those are scored. The remaining 10 are unscored pretest questions the state uses to evaluate future exam content - you won't know which ones they are, so every question deserves your full attention. Candidates have 150 minutes to complete the exam, and a raw score of 65% correct on the scored items is required to pass.
Registration costs $50 per attempt, payable at the time you schedule through Pearson VUE. The exam can be taken at a physical test center or remotely through OnVUE, giving candidates flexibility depending on their location and comfort with online proctoring. For a full cost breakdown including any additional licensing and background-check fees beyond the exam itself, see MSLH Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
| Exam Detail | Specification |
|---|---|
| Exam Code | InsMS-LAH05 |
| Total Questions | 125 (115 scored, 10 unscored pretest) |
| Time Limit | 150 minutes |
| Passing Score | 65% |
| Exam Fee | $50 |
| Delivery Options | Test center or OnVUE online proctoring |
| Retake Wait | 1 day |
Because the passing threshold is fixed and known in advance, candidates can plan their preparation around a clear target rather than guessing at a moving bar. For a detailed discussion of exactly what 65% means in terms of correct answers and how the state weighs the scored portion, read MSLH Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
The 10 MSLH Exam Domains
The current combined outline, effective June 7, 2022, organizes the MSLH exam into ten domains spanning life insurance, health insurance, and Mississippi-specific law. Domain weights on the actual exam are calculated from the official scored-question counts, so some domains carry noticeably more questions than others. Treat the outline as your master checklist - every scored question on test day maps back to one of these ten areas.
Domain 1: Types of Life Policies
Covers whole life, term life, universal life, and variable products, along with how each policy type structures premiums, cash value, and death benefits.
- Distinguish permanent vs. term coverage mechanics
Domain 2: Life Policy Riders, Provisions, Options, and Exclusions
Tests your knowledge of add-ons like waiver of premium, accidental death riders, nonforfeiture options, and standard policy exclusions.
- Know which riders modify death benefits vs. premiums
Domain 3: Completing the Application, Underwriting, and Delivering Life Policies
Focuses on the producer's role in accurate application completion, the underwriting process, and proper policy delivery requirements.
- Understand insurable interest and misrepresentation risks
Domain 4: Retirement and Other Life Insurance Concepts
Covers annuities, retirement planning vehicles, and how life insurance products intersect with long-term financial planning.
- Compare qualified vs. nonqualified retirement plans
Domain 5: Types of Accident and Health Policies
Includes disability income, major medical, dental, vision, and other accident and health product categories.
- Know coverage differences among individual and group health plans
Domain 6: Health Provisions, Clauses, and Riders
Covers mandatory and optional health policy provisions, coordination of benefits, and common health-specific riders.
- Master required uniform provisions
Domain 7: Social Insurance
Focuses on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid basics as they relate to private insurance products sold in Mississippi.
- Understand how Medicare supplements interact with private coverage
Domain 8: Other Accident and Health Insurance Concepts
Covers additional health insurance topics such as long-term care, HSAs, and group vs. individual eligibility rules.
- Know contribution and tax treatment of HSAs
Domain 9: Field Underwriting Procedures
Tests the producer's practical responsibilities in the field, including replacement rules and proper disclosure practices.
- Understand replacement notice requirements
Domain 10: Mississippi Life and Health Insurance Laws
State-specific statutes, producer licensing rules, and Mississippi Insurance Department regulations that apply uniquely to this exam.
- Memorize state-specific penalties and license requirements
For a domain-by-domain breakdown with more granular subtopics and sample question styles, see MSLH Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 10 Content Areas. If you want a condensed, high-density review sheet covering must-know facts across all ten domains, bookmark the MSLH Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts.
Key Takeaway
Domain 10 (Mississippi Life and Health Insurance Laws) is easy to underestimate because it's state-specific rather than conceptual - don't skip it in favor of more "familiar" insurance theory topics.
Registering, Scheduling, and Retakes
Registration for the MSLH exam happens through Pearson VUE, where you'll select either an in-person test center appointment or the OnVUE remote-proctoring option. Both formats deliver the identical 125-question, 150-minute exam under the InsMS-LAH05 code, so your choice comes down to personal preference and testing environment rather than any difference in content or difficulty.
If you don't pass on your first attempt, the wait period before you can schedule a reexamination is just 1 day - a relatively short turnaround compared to many other licensing exams. That said, use the day productively: review your weakest domains rather than simply rebooking immediately. For current scheduling windows and deadlines to keep in mind before your license renewal cycle, check MSLH Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
Who Hires MSLH-Certified Producers
Passing the MSLH exam and obtaining your Mississippi producer license opens doors across the insurance distribution chain. Independent agencies, captive insurance carriers, brokerages specializing in employee benefits, and financial planning firms that sell life and annuity products all look for candidates who hold an active Mississippi life and health license. Because the exam covers both life insurance and accident/health content, license holders are qualified to work across a wider product range than someone licensed in only one line.
If you're evaluating whether this career path fits your goals, our guides on MSLH Jobs and MSLH Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis outline the kinds of roles and employers that typically require this license. For a broader cost-versus-benefit perspective before you commit time and money to preparation, Is the MSLH Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 lays out the tradeoffs.
Building a Domain-Based Study Timeline
Rather than studying generically, sequence your preparation around the domain weights and your own comfort level with each topic. Since domain weights are calculated from the official scored-question counts, spend proportionally more time on domains that appear more frequently and less on narrower topics.
Life Insurance Foundations
- Work through Domain 1 (Types of Life Policies) and Domain 2 (Riders, Provisions, Options, and Exclusions)
- Build flashcards for policy types and rider definitions
Application, Underwriting, and Retirement
- Cover Domain 3 (Completing the Application, Underwriting, and Delivering Life Policies) and Domain 4 (Retirement and Other Life Insurance Concepts)
- Practice scenario-based questions on insurable interest and annuity structures
Accident and Health Content
- Study Domain 5 (Types of Accident and Health Policies), Domain 6 (Health Provisions, Clauses, and Riders), and Domain 7 (Social Insurance)
- Compare group and individual health coverage rules side by side
Field Practice and State Law
- Finish Domain 8 (Other Accident and Health Insurance Concepts), Domain 9 (Field Underwriting Procedures), and Domain 10 (Mississippi Life and Health Insurance Laws)
- Take full-length timed practice exams under the 150-minute limit
A structured, four-week cadence like this works well because it front-loads foundational life insurance concepts before layering on health and state-law content that builds on the same vocabulary. For a complete week-by-week study plan with more resource recommendations, see MSLH Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. You can also run full-length timed practice sessions on our practice test platform to simulate the real 125-question format before exam day.
Gauging Difficulty Before You Sit for the Exam
With ten domains, a 65% passing bar, and 150 minutes to answer 125 questions, the MSLH exam rewards broad familiarity over deep specialization in any single area. Because it blends life insurance, health insurance, and Mississippi statute into one combined outline, candidates coming from a pure life-insurance background often need extra time on the health and social insurance domains, and vice versa.
For an honest assessment of where most candidates struggle and how the question style compares to other state licensing exams, read How Hard Is the MSLH Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026. If you want to understand pass outcomes in more depth, MSLH Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows breaks down the available data. You can also explore MSLH Training options if you prefer structured coursework alongside self-study, or start with our overview page, MSLH Certification, and the plain-language explainer What Is MSLH Certification? if you're still confirming this is the right exam for your goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
The exam has 125 total multiple-choice questions, but only 115 are scored. The other 10 are unscored pretest questions used to evaluate future exam content.
You need to score 65% or higher on the 115 scored questions within the 150-minute time limit.
The exam fee is $50 per attempt, paid when you register through Pearson VUE for either a test-center or OnVUE remote session.
Candidates who do not pass must wait 1 day before scheduling a reexamination.
The current outline, effective June 7, 2022, covers ten domains ranging from life policy types and riders through health provisions, social insurance, field underwriting, and Mississippi-specific insurance law.