Comprehensive Analysis: Hong Kong Insurance Intermediaries Qualifying Examination

May 16, 2023

“Buy insurance when you have money, and sell insurance when you don’t have money.” 

In the past, insurance agents were often viewed as salespeople with a lack of professionalism and skills. As insurance becomes an increasingly integral part of our lives, more and more highly-educated and professional individuals are entering the insurance industry.

These high-quality insurance agents possess rich professional knowledge and experience, not only providing clients with better insurance solutions but also offering more comprehensive financial services. They help clients plan their finances reasonably, achieve financial freedom, and ensure family security. At the same time, they also create a better life for themselves and their families through their hard work and dedication.

Do you know that in Hong Kong, before you can sell insurance, you need to pass at least 2 Insurance Intermediaries Qualifying Examinations (IIQE) and apply for a license from the Insurance Authority within the valid period of your exam results?

Where can you register for the Hong Kong insurance exam?

The Insurance Intermediaries Qualifying Examination (IIQE) in Hong Kong is organized by the PEAK Institute of the Vocational Training Council (VTC) of Hong Kong.

Insurance Intermediaries Qualifying Examination registration website: https://www.peak.edu.hk/exam/econline/zh/ 

Insurance Intermediaries Qualifying Examination study manual download website: https://www.peak.edu.hk/exam/tc/studynotes 

How many papers are there in the Hong Kong insurance exam?

The Hong Kong Insurance Intermediaries Qualifying Examination (IIQE) has a total of 5 papers, which are:

The name of the exam is the Insurance Intermediaries Qualifying Examination (IIQE)Number of questionsExam timePassing score
IIQE Paper 1: Insurance Principles and Practice75 questions120mins53 questions
IIQE Paper 2: General Insurance50 questions75mins35 questions
IIQE Paper 3: Long Term Insurance50 questions75mins35 questions
IIQE Paper 5: Investment-linked Long Term Insurance80 questions120mins56 questions
IIQE Paper 6: Travel Insurance Agent Examination80 questions120mins56 questions

Please note that the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) exam is not part of the qualification exam for insurance intermediaries.

The Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) exam can be registered at both the Vocational Training Council PEAK (Professional Education And Knowledge) Exam Centre and the Hong Kong Securities and Investment Institute (HKSI).

Registration links are:

PEAK Exam Centre: https://www.peak.edu.hk/exam/econline/zh/ 

HKSI: https://oes.hksi.org/enrol/listActivity?activity_type=X&category=MPF%20Intermediaries%20Examination 

The study guide for the MPF exam can be downloaded from this website: https://www1.mpfa.org.hk/tch/supervision/mpf_intermediaries/intermediaries_examination/Study_Notes_9th_Chi.pdf 

What is the validity period of the IIQE exam results for Hong Kong insurance intermediaries? How long until they expire?

According to the Insurance Authority’s “Insurance Ordinance” (Chapter 41) and the Guidelines on “Fit and Proper Criteria” for Licensed Intermediaries, Annex 1 – Insurance Intermediaries Examination, the validity period for IIQE exam results for insurance intermediaries in Hong Kong is 2 years.

If an individual passes the relevant exam, the validity period starts from the date of the exam. If the person fails to obtain a license within two years, the qualification exam results will expire. If the individual still intends to enter the industry, he or she will need to pass the relevant exam of the qualification exam again.

What if someone needs to take more than one exam, how is the validity period of the exam results calculated?

If you need to take more than one exam to obtain a license, you need to be aware that all exams passed should be within the 2-year validity period on the day of the license application. If the exam results are more than 2 years old, you will need to retake the exam for the expired papers.

For example, if you need to take IIQE Paper 1 and Paper 3 to obtain a Long Term Insurance license, and you take and pass Paper 1 on January 1, 2023, you will need to pass Paper 3 and submit the license application before January 1, 2025, so that your Paper 1 exam will not be in vain. Please note that the results of the IIQE written exam will be announced at the earliest after 7 days, but the 2-year validity period starts from the day of the exam, not the date of the result announcement. So be careful not to get confused!

What exams do I need to take to become an insurance intermediary in Hong Kong?

It depends on the type of insurance business you will be conducting, in other words, what types of insurance products you plan to sell.

If you plan to sell long-term insurance such as whole life, critical illness, medical and health insurance, etc., you will need to pass Paper 1 and Paper 3 of the IIQE exam.

If you plan to sell general insurance such as home protection, travel insurance, personal accident insurance, group insurance, motor insurance, employee compensation insurance, etc., you will need to pass Paper 1 and Paper 2 of the IIQE exam.

如果你不仅想销售长期保险,还想销售客户可以自选基金和投资比例的投资相连寿险,就需考卷1、卷3和卷5。

If you need to sell travel insurance policies, you can choose to take IIQE Papers 6 or IIQE Papers 1+2.

Does passing the insurance exam in Hong Kong mean you can start working directly in the industry?

The answer is no!

In Hong Kong, you need to be licensed to work in the insurance industry.

This means you must first obtain an insurance license from the Insurance Authority in Hong Kong before conducting any insurance business.

The IIQE insurance intermediary qualification exam in Hong Kong is an important test to ensure the quality of insurance industry practitioners, and it is also one of the important conditions for insurance professionals to obtain a license or registration.

In addition to passing the exam, you also need to meet other requirements, such as educational qualifications, professional qualifications, work experience, reputation, character, financial status, solvency, criminal records, and other requirements related to “fit and proper persons,” before you can apply for a license.

Therefore, passing the exam only fulfills one of the requirements for obtaining a license, and the exam results notification itself is not a license.

Where can I apply for an insurance intermediary license in Hong Kong?

According to the Insurance Ordinance (Chapter 41), one of the main functions of the Insurance Authority (IA) is to regulate and supervise the insurance industry, and through the licensing system, regulate the conduct of insurance intermediaries.

Therefore, individuals who want to enter the insurance industry need to apply for a license from the IA after passing the insurance intermediary exam. Since the IA does not hold exams itself, the insurance intermediary entrance exam in Hong Kong must be taken at the PEAK Institute of Vocational Training Council (VTC) in Hong Kong.

VTC PEAK is only responsible for organizing the exam and is not responsible for licensing matters.

Location, types of exams, validity period, and how to apply for a license for the IIQE insurance intermediary examination in Hong Kong.

What should be noted when taking the IIQE insurance intermediary examination in Hong Kong?

How can we help?

2CExam provides HKSI LE, IIQE, EAQE and SQE related exam preparation materials. We sell mock question banks for HKSI LE Papers 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12 in Chinese and English; and bibles for HKSI LE Papers 1, 2, 6, 7, 8 in Chinese. We also offer 1 on 1 tutorial services. Besides, we have also made free tutorial videos for HKSI LE Papers 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 12 and posted on public channels such as Youtube/ Bilibili/ Tencent/ Iqiyi. 2CExam has been an exam training expert for years. Should you need any help please visit www.2cexam.com or contact us through:

Phone +852 2110 9644 Email: [email protected] Wechat: hk2cexam WhatsApp: +852 9347 2064

Please support us by leaving comments and likes if you think this article helps you!

You can scan or click on the QR codes to visit our social media.

Latest Article

Categories

過往文章

Contact US

Interesting Articles

Is the Securities, Insurance or Real Estate Industry Better? Comparing Incomes amongst Finance Industries

March 22, 2022

Securities and Banking  According to statistics on the Internet and our experience, in Hong Kong, even for some common junior or middle-level positions in the financial/ securities industry, such as risk analyst, research analyst, and compliance officer, the average base salary is between HK$20,000 and 30,000 per month. Many people who have sufficient work experience…

What is updated in 2022 in IIQE Paper 1 Insurance Exam Study Manual? Is the 2017 or older version sufficient for the upcoming exams?

March 18, 2022

The 2021 version of IIQE Paper 1 was officially applicable to exams in 2022 Insurance Authority has taken over the supervision of the insurance industry for more than two years. The IIQE Paper 1 (Insurance Intermediary Qualification Examination) finally put the new regulatory structure in the study manual, and the new study manual can be…

5 Reasons You Should Not Study Only the IIQE note

March 7, 2022

Students who are taking the IIQE or took it before would know that the study note is a several-hundred pages exam coverage full of long paragraphs. Not to mention the length of the texts, the expression of ideas requires the readers a lot of concentration to understand. Thus, some candidates think only studying the mock…

Can’t Earn a Lot with Low Educational Background? 3 Major Industries You Can Make a Fortune in

February 28, 2022

In today’s society, because of education inflation, having only a college degree may not help you get a job with a high salary. While there are many people who don’t actually have a particular career path inclination, as long as the salary is good enough, people choose that path. In fact, there are three major…

10 Tips for Preparing the HKSI LE Securities Exam

February 21, 2022

Many people think that the coverage of the HKSI LE securities exam is broad, and we are here to help you. The following are 10 small tips to improve the efficiency of revision and enhance the understanding of concepts! Improve Studying Efficiency Question Answering Skills How can we help? 2CExam provides HKSI LE, IIQE, EAQE…

How to change the game by passing the IIQE exam even with a low educational background?

January 31, 2022

You do not need a strong educational background to be successful in the insurance industry Always feel that your salary is low, and you cannot be promoted due to a low educational background? Do you want to have higher achievements and a faster and more professional career path? In fact, education is not the main…

9 Easy Secrets for Preparing the HKSI LE Licensing Examination

January 26, 2022

  Before taking the HKSI LE securities exam, students need to do some preparations:   1. Registration Students need to register for the exam on HKSI’s website first.   2. Download the study manual Students can download it for free after registration.   3. Search 2CExam’s free video courses Our senior tutors has navigated the…

5 Reasons You Should Not Study Only the HKSI LE manual

January 24, 2022

  Students who are taking the HKSI LE or took it before would know that the study manual is a several-hundred pages exam coverage full of long paragraphs. Not to mention the length of the texts, the expression of ideas requires the readers a lot of concentration to understand. Thus, some candidates think only studying…

5 Key Points Mainlander Candidate Must Know When Partaking in the HKSI LE Exam

January 17, 2022

  What is the HKSI LE exam? The full name of the exam is called the Licensing Examination, or LE for short. The organizer of the exam is not the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), but a non-government organization named Hong Kong Securities and Investment Institute, or HKSI for short. Generally speaking, this exam is…

Why do people still buy materials from 2CExam while PEAK provides free study notes?

January 10, 2022

  In addition to organizing IIQE exams, VTC PEAK Academy will also provide students who take the IIQE exam with the exam coverage called the Study Note. It depicts what is covered in the exam with hundreds of pages and full of paragraphs. It is lengthy and contains a lot of datas and examples that…