For the broader topic, read LLQP Ontario. You can also browse the Ontario resources hub.
Ontario candidates usually face two separate testing stages: examinations administered by their LLQP course provider and provincial modules administered by Durham College. Confusing the two can lead to missed deadlines and false assumptions about licensing status.
This guide is part of the Licensed Path resource library. For the complete overview, read LLQP Ontario Guide.
Stage one: the approved LLQP course
The candidate enrols with a provider approved by FSRA. The provider delivers the national curriculum and decides how to structure lessons, quizzes, practice tools and course support. Fees and learning formats vary.
At the end of the required education, the candidate must pass the provider’s certification examinations. The provider then confirms eligibility in CIPR.
Stage two: the Ontario provincial examinations
After certification appears in CIPR, the candidate registers through Durham College for the provincial modules. These examinations are the regulator-required testing stage used to establish educational eligibility for a licence application.
For the full-life path, the candidate must pass Life Insurance, Accident and Sickness Insurance, Segregated Funds and Annuities, and Ethics and Professional Practice - Common Law.
Key differences at a glance
- Purpose: Course exams confirm completion of the prerequisite program; provincial exams test the licensing curriculum for the jurisdiction.
- Administrator: The provider manages course exams; Durham College administers Ontario provincial exams.
- Registration: Course registration occurs with the provider; provincial registration requires a valid CIPR number and active certification.
- Fees: Course-exam policies are provider-specific; Durham charges per provincial registration request.
- Result: Passing either stage alone does not issue a licence. Both are followed by sponsorship and the FSRA application.
Are the questions identical?
No. Provider questions are created or selected for the provider’s educational and certification process. Provincial exam content and rules come through the regulatory framework.
Practice questions can help you learn, but memorizing a provider bank does not guarantee success. Provincial questions may present unfamiliar wording, combined concepts or scenarios that require use of the supplied reference material.
Open-book does not mean easy
Candidates receive access to approved reference material during the provincial exam, but time is limited. Searching every question from scratch is inefficient.
You should know where major topics are located, recognize the concept being tested and use the material to confirm details. The reference should support knowledge, not replace it.
The provincial passing score and timing
Durham currently lists a 60% passing score. Life, accident and sickness, and segregated-fund modules have 35 scored questions and 75 minutes; the common-law ethics module has 25 scored questions and 75 minutes. Pilot questions are added but excluded from the final score.
Confirm the current format before registration because administration policies can change.
What happens after a failed provincial module
A candidate does not normally restart the entire course after one failed attempt. Current FSRA policy permits supplemental attempts with a 24-hour wait. A fourth failed attempt on the same module triggers a one-year waiting period and renewed prerequisite-course eligibility.
Your provider may also have separate rules for course-exam retakes, access expiry or re-certification.
The licensing clock begins with the provincial exam
The one-year application period is tied to the date you first pass a provincial module, not the date you registered for the course. Complete the remaining modules and arrange sponsorship while that eligibility window is active.
Read what happens after passing the LLQP exam before the first provincial booking.
A simple way to remember the process
Think of the course as education and prerequisite certification, the provincial modules as licensing examinations, and the FSRA application as the regulatory approval stage.
You are not licensed until FSRA issues the licence and you can verify it through the official registry.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use one provider for the course and Durham for the exam?
Yes. Durham is the provincial exam administrator; it does not deliver the LLQP course.
Does my course-provider pass mark have to be 60%?
Provider certification rules can differ. The 60% figure discussed here is Durham’s current provincial-module passing score.
Can my sponsor register for the exam for me?
Candidates normally register through the exam portal after their CIPR eligibility is active. A sponsor may guide the process but should not misrepresent or complete identity-dependent steps improperly.
Related Licensed Path guides
A practical next step
Review how Licensed Path works and who this path may fit before deciding whether to explore the industry further. Licensed Path is an educational and professional-development website, not an offer of employment, a guarantee of licensing approval, or a promise of income.
Important: Licensing requirements, fees, examination delivery and regulatory guidance can change. Confirm current information directly with FSRA, Durham College and any sponsoring insurer before acting.
Official sources
- FSRA - Life Licence Qualification Program (LLQP)
- Durham College - Ontario LLQP exam information, format and fees
- FSRA - Apply for a new life and accident & sickness insurance licence
Related guides
Practical next step
Review how Licensed Path works and who this path may fit before making licensing, sponsorship or career decisions.
General-information disclaimer
Licensed Path publishes general educational information. This article is not legal advice, tax advice, individualized financial advice, a licensing guarantee, a sponsorship guarantee, an employment offer, or an income promise. Confirm current requirements with FSRA, Durham College, approved providers and any insurer before acting.