Overview
The Life Licence Qualification Program (LLQP) is the national entry programme for people who want to sell life insurance and accident and sickness insurance in Canada. It is harmonised across provinces and regulated nationally by the Canadian Insurance Services Regulatory Organizations (CISRO). Each provincial or territorial insurance regulator runs the licensing exams in its own jurisdiction.
There are two steps: complete an LLQP course with an approved course provider, then pass the provincial LLQP exam modules. Passing the exams does not let you sell insurance by itself; you must then apply for a licence with your regulator.
Who can apply
You must first complete the LLQP course with an approved provider, which certifies you once the whole programme is done. That certification is valid for one year, and you must write your exams within that time. In Alberta, the regulator checks the national CIPR database for a current certification when you register.
Levels or stages
The LLQP has four modules. Each has its own exam, written in a 75-minute sitting, and each exam includes five unscored pilot questions.
Life Insurance
30 scored questions plus 5 pilot questions, 75 minutes.
Required for the life licence.
Accident and Sickness Insurance
30 scored questions plus 5 pilot questions, 75 minutes.
Required for both the life and accident and sickness licence and the accident and sickness-only licence.
Segregated Funds and Annuities
30 scored questions plus 5 pilot questions, 75 minutes.
Required for the life licence.
Ethics and Professional Practice
20 scored questions plus 5 pilot questions, 75 minutes.
Required for both licence types. In British Columbia it is offered in a Common Law version and a Civil Code (Quebec) version.
Which modules you need (British Columbia):
| Licence | Modules required |
|---|---|
| Life and accident and sickness | All four modules |
| Accident and sickness only | Accident and Sickness Insurance; Ethics and Professional Practice |
In Alberta, people who already hold an accident and sickness licence and want a life licence must pass the Life Insurance and Segregated Funds and Annuities exams after certifying in the LLQP.
Exam pattern
In Alberta, you can write all four modules on the same day in four 75-minute sittings, or spread them over a year. Alberta provides a copy of the approved study material on an electronic reader during the exam; no other material is allowed. Alberta candidates can also arrange in advance to write in French.
Marking and results
In British Columbia, you need 60% or higher to pass an LLQP exam.
Pilot questions do not count towards your score, and you are not told which questions they are.
In British Columbia, as of 1 July 2024, there is no waiting period after your first three failed attempts at a module. After a fourth failed attempt, you must wait one year, and because your course certification lasts only one year, you would also need to retake the LLQP course.
Fees
Fees are set by each regulator. The Insurance Council of British Columbia lists these fees in Canadian dollars (checked in 2026):
| Item | Vancouver and Surrey | Elsewhere in BC |
|---|---|---|
| Full-day package, all four modules | $210 | Only offered in Metro Vancouver |
| Each single module | $80 | 80 plus GST |
| Rewrite of a single module | $80 | $80 plus proctor fee |
Exam registration fees in BC are non-refundable, non-transferable and expire one year after registration.
How to apply
In British Columbia:
Complete the LLQP course with an approved provider.
Submit an LLQP Eligibility Verification request through the Insurance Council's online portal. Review can take up to 3 business days.
Once approved, schedule your exam modules and pay online.
In Alberta, you register for the exams once your course certification appears in the CIPR database.
After the exam
In British Columbia, you must pass all required modules within 12 months of the first module you pass, and obtain your licence within 12 months of that first pass. Modules older than 12 months must be rewritten. Your licence application then goes to the Insurance Council.
Preparation tips
CSI estimates 100 to 145 hours of study for its LLQP course, which ends with a 100-question, 3-hour course exam that needs 60% to pass.
Leave enough time to write all required modules within your one-year course certification.
Ethics and Professional Practice has fewer questions, so each one carries more weight.
How many LLQP exams are there?
Four module exams: Life Insurance, Accident and Sickness Insurance, Segregated Funds and Annuities, and Ethics and Professional Practice.
Do I need all four modules?
For a life licence, yes. For an accident and sickness-only licence in BC, you need only the Accident and Sickness Insurance and Ethics and Professional Practice modules.
What is the LLQP pass mark?
In British Columbia, 60% or higher on each exam.
How long is my LLQP course certificate valid?
One year from the date of certification.