- The Core Exam Fee: $47
- What It Actually Costs to Get Licensed
- Prelicensing Education: Optional, Not Required
- Retake Costs and Unlimited Attempts
- Study Materials and Practice Test Costs
- Ongoing Costs: License Renewal and CE
- Hidden Costs Candidates Overlook
- Cost Comparison: Two Paths to Licensure
- Frequently Asked Questions
- The Series 13-03 combined exam fee through PSI is $47, covering all 150 scored questions.
- Nebraska has open eligibility, so state-approved prelicensing education is not required, unlike many other states.
- Attempts are unlimited, meaning your only retake cost is another $47 exam fee per sitting.
- License applications must be filed within one year of passing, or you lose the passing result.
The Core Exam Fee: $47
Every cost conversation about the Nebraska Life & Health Insurance Producer Exam starts with the same number: $47. That's the fee PSI charges to sit for the combined Series 13-03 exam, which covers Life and Annuities, Accident and Health or Sickness Insurance in a single 150-question, 150-minute session. Nebraska doesn't split life and health into two separate exam fees the way some states do - you pay once and are tested on both lines in the same sitting.
That $47 fee is paid directly to PSI, the testing vendor contracted by the Nebraska Department of Insurance, at the time you schedule your exam. It's a flat rate regardless of how many domains you've mastered or how long you've studied - the fee doesn't scale with preparation time, which is exactly why it pays to walk in ready. If you want a full breakdown of how those 150 questions are distributed across the 16 tested domains, our NELH Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 16 Content Areas lays out every weight in detail.
What It Actually Costs to Get Licensed
The exam fee is only one line item in the total cost of becoming a licensed producer in Nebraska. To get a full picture, you need to account for:
- The $47 PSI exam fee for the combined Series 13-03 test
- The Nebraska Department of Insurance's own license application fee, filed after you pass
- Optional prelicensing coursework or self-study materials (not mandated, but many candidates purchase them anyway)
- Fingerprinting and background check costs required as part of licensure, which are handled outside the exam process
- Any travel or time cost to reach a physical PSI testing site, since Nebraska does not currently allow at-home online testing for this exam
The exam fee itself is small compared to what candidates typically spend overall once study materials and application paperwork are factored in. If you're weighing whether the total investment is worth it relative to what producers actually earn, our Is the NELH Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 article and NELH Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis both dig into that comparison.
Key Takeaway
Budget for more than just the $47 exam fee - the license application, background check, and study materials typically add up to a larger total than the exam fee alone.
Prelicensing Education: Optional, Not Required
One of the biggest cost-saving facts about Nebraska's system is that it uses open eligibility. Unlike states that mandate a set number of state-approved prelicensing education hours before you can even register for the exam, Nebraska does not require any prelicensing course completion. That means you're free to self-study using a manual, a practice test platform, or a structured course - and you decide how much or how little to spend.
This has real cost implications. Candidates in mandatory-education states are locked into paying for an approved course regardless of their background. In Nebraska, someone with insurance industry experience can skip paid coursework entirely and study independently, while someone starting from zero might reasonably choose to invest in a structured program covering all 16 domains. Either path is valid - the state simply doesn't force the expense. For a full rundown of what Nebraska does and doesn't require before you sit for the exam, see NELH Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Insurance Regulation (15% of the exam)
This is the single largest domain and a place where spending extra study time - not extra money - pays off. It covers producer licensing rules, appointments, and Nebraska-specific regulatory conduct.
- Producer licensing procedures and continuing education obligations
- Unfair trade practices and market conduct standards
- Penalties for regulatory violations
Retake Costs and Unlimited Attempts
Nebraska places no cap on the number of times you can attempt the Series 13-03 exam. There's no waiting period penalty structure that escalates fees, and no limit like "three attempts and you're locked out for six months." Practically, this means the cost of failing is simply another $47 payment to PSI plus whatever time you spend rescheduling.
That said, unlimited attempts is not the same as unlimited time. You must file your license application within one year of passing the exam - so while you can retake the test as many times as needed, the clock on your passing result starts ticking the moment you clear the 70% threshold (105 of 150 correct). Miss that window and you'd need to retest and pay the fee again. Our NELH Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass guide breaks down exactly what that scoring threshold means in practice.
Study Materials and Practice Test Costs
Because Nebraska doesn't require a specific course, the study materials market for this exam is genuinely optional - but most successful candidates still buy something. Typical options include:
- Standalone practice test platforms modeled on the actual 150-question, 150-minute format
- Printed or digital study manuals organized by the 16 exam domains
- Condensed review sheets for last-minute reinforcement before test day
Whatever you choose, the goal is the same: simulate the real testing conditions PSI will use, since the exam is multiple-choice, timed, and administered at a physical testing center rather than remotely. Practicing under those constraints with a platform like our practice test site helps you get comfortable with pacing across 150 questions in 150 minutes long before exam day. For a structured week-by-week approach to using those materials, our NELH Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt walks through a full preparation plan.
Regulation and General Insurance Foundations
- Master Insurance Regulation (15%) and General Insurance (10%) - together nearly a quarter of the exam
- Take an initial diagnostic practice test to identify weak domains before spending more on materials
Life Insurance Domains
- Cover Life Insurance Basics, Life Insurance Policies, and Policy Provisions/Options/Riders - a combined 26% of scored questions
- Use free or low-cost review sheets before paying for additional full-length practice exams
Health, Accident, and Smaller Domains
- Work through Sickness and Accident Risk, Medical Plans, Group Plans, and the remaining smaller-weight domains
- Run full-length timed practice tests via our practice test platform to confirm readiness before scheduling with PSI
Ongoing Costs: License Renewal and CE
Passing the exam and paying the $47 fee isn't the end of the cost conversation - it's the beginning of a recurring one. Nebraska producer licenses renew every two years, and renewal requires 24 hours of continuing education, including 3 hours of ethics content. CE courses are provided by third parties and typically carry their own per-hour or per-course fees, separate from anything paid to PSI or the Department of Insurance.
This means the total cost of holding a Nebraska life and health producer license isn't a one-time event - it's an ongoing commitment. Producers who plan to work in the field long-term should budget for CE renewal costs every two-year cycle rather than treating the initial $47 exam fee as the final expense.
Key Takeaway
Treat the $47 exam fee as the entry cost, not the total cost - CE renewal every two years is a recurring expense every licensed producer will face.
Hidden Costs Candidates Overlook
Several cost factors get overlooked because they aren't part of the exam fee itself:
- Physical test center travel: Since PSI administers this exam at physical sites rather than online, candidates outside major cities may factor in travel time or mileage to reach a testing location.
- Rescheduling fees: Changing or canceling a scheduled exam date too close to the appointment can trigger additional charges from PSI.
- Time cost of scheduling around domain weight: Because Insurance Regulation carries the highest weight at 15%, under-preparing for it and needing a retake effectively doubles your exam fee spend.
- Background check and fingerprinting fees: These are separate from the PSI exam fee and are part of the broader Nebraska Department of Insurance licensing process.
None of these costs are exotic, but they add up if you're not planning for them. Checking current testing windows and appointment availability early - covered in NELH Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling - can help you avoid last-minute rescheduling charges.
Cost Comparison: Two Paths to Licensure
Because Nebraska's open eligibility means there's no mandated education spend, candidates generally fall into one of two cost profiles. Neither is "correct" - it depends on your background and how much structured guidance you want.
| Cost Factor | Self-Study Path | Guided Prep Path |
|---|---|---|
| PSI Exam Fee | $47 (per attempt) | $47 (per attempt) |
| Prelicensing Course | Not required, not purchased | Not required; some choose to purchase optional coursework |
| Practice Tests / Materials | Free or low-cost resources | Structured practice platform covering all 16 domains |
| Retake Risk | Higher if weak domains go unaddressed | Lower with domain-by-domain review before scheduling |
| Ongoing CE (every 2 years) | Required regardless of path chosen | Required regardless of path chosen |
Whichever path you choose, the $47 exam fee stays constant - what varies is how much you spend reducing your risk of needing a second attempt. If you're still deciding how much preparation this exam genuinely demands, How Hard Is the NELH Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 and NELH Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows both offer useful context before you commit to a study budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
The combined Series 13-03 exam, covering Life and Annuities plus Accident and Health or Sickness Insurance, costs $47 through PSI. This is separate from any license application fee charged by the Nebraska Department of Insurance.
No. Nebraska uses open eligibility, meaning there is no state-approved prelicensing education requirement. You can self-study or purchase optional materials, but a mandatory paid course is not part of the process.
Yes, each attempt requires paying the $47 exam fee again. However, attempts are unlimited, so there is no cap on how many times you can retest as you continue preparing.
Yes. You must file your license application within one year of passing, and once licensed, you'll need 24 hours of continuing education (including 3 ethics hours) every two years to renew, which typically carries its own course fees.
No. The $47 fee covers the combined Series 13-03 exam, which tests both life/annuities content and accident and health/sickness content in the same 150-question sitting, rather than charging separately for each line.