Exam at a glance
| Questions | 50 multiple-choice |
|---|---|
| Duration | 1 hour 15 minutes |
| Pass mark | 70%. One mark per correct answer; no deduction for wrong or blank answers |
| Mode | Computer-screen exam, in English, closed book |
| How often | Daily on weekdays. Dates can change, so check SCI's exam schedule before you register |
| Resits | No limit |
| Results | Given immediately after the exam; final, with no appeal or recheck. A result slip is issued, no certificate |
| CPD | 1.25 CPD hours on passing |
Source: SCI, HI exam details; SCI Examination Rules and Regulations. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
Who needs HI
MAS Notice 117 sets the minimum exam requirement for health insurance.
It applies to:
- direct insurers and their agents
- direct insurance brokers and their broking staff
- licensed financial advisers and their representatives
- exempt financial advisers and their representatives who advise on or arrange health insurance policies
SCI lists HI for life and general insurance intermediaries and company staff who advise on or sell health insurance, including:
- medical expense
- disability income
- long-term care
- critical illness
- managed healthcare insurance
If you advise on or arrange life insurance, MAS Notice FAA-N26 adds that for life policies with accident and health benefits you also need the health insurance qualification, HI, under MAS Notice 117, unless one of that notice's exceptions applies.
In practice, expect to sit HI if you'll sell life insurance, whether at an insurer or a bank. All life insurers require their representatives to pass HI, some as a condition of joining and others within 3 or 6 months of the representative's appointment under MAS's Representative Notification Framework (RNF).
Almost all retail banks also require HI of their sales staff. When your bank expects you to pass it varies, so ask HR or compliance. This timing is firms' practice, not MAS's rule.
Joining a bank? See Which CMFAS exams do you need for a bank sales job?
The critical-illness exception
SCI's exam page summarises an exception in MAS Notice 117. You don't need HI if both apply:
- the health insurance products you advise on or arrange contain only critical illness benefits, hospital income benefits or both
- you have passed BCP (Basic Insurance Concepts and Principles) and PGI (Personal General Insurance), SCI's Certification in General Insurance modules, or CMFAS M9 (Life Insurance and Investment-Linked Policies)
For anything wider (medical expense, disability income, long-term care), HI applies. The detail sits in MAS Notice 117. In practice, all life insurers require their representatives to pass HI, even where the exception applies.
What the HI syllabus covers
15 chapters:
- Overview of Healthcare Environment in Singapore
- Medical Expense Insurance
- Group Hospital and Surgical Insurance
- Disability Income Insurance
- Long-Term Care Insurance
- Critical Illness Insurance
- Other Types of Health Insurance
- Managed Healthcare
- Healthcare Financing
- Common Policy Provisions
- Health Insurance Pricing
- Health Insurance Underwriting
- MAS Notice 120: Disclosure and Advisory Process Requirements for Accident and Health Insurance Products
- Financial Needs Analysis
- Case Studies
Source: SCI, HI exam details ("Contents"). Retrieved 24 September 2026.
HI fees
| Session | Exam fee (GST included) |
|---|---|
| Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm | S$109.00 |
| Mon–Fri, after 5pm | S$119.90 |
Per attempt, including GST and SCI's non-refundable S$10.90 registration fee.
- The same fee applies to first attempts and resits.
- Weekend sessions between 9am and 5pm, subject to availability, are charged the after-5pm fee.
- These fees apply to registrations submitted on or after 1 August 2026, whatever the exam date.
- UTAP funding is available to eligible NTUC members.
Source: SCI, HI "Exam Fees"; SCI, "Revision of Examination Fees with Effect from 1 August 2026". Retrieved 24 September 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the passing score for the HI exam, and how long is it?
70%. The exam has 50 multiple-choice questions in 1 hour 15 minutes, one mark each, with no deduction for wrong answers.
Do I need HI to sell life insurance?
In practice, yes. All life insurers require it of their representatives, some as a condition of joining and others within 3 or 6 months of the representative's appointment under MAS's Representative Notification Framework (RNF), and almost all retail banks require it of their sales staff. Under MAS's rules, life policies with accident and health benefits need the health insurance qualification under MAS Notice 117, unless one of that notice's exceptions applies.
Do I need HI to sell critical illness plans?
Under an exception in MAS Notice 117, not if the product contains only critical illness benefits, hospital income benefits or both, and you have passed CMFAS M9, or BCP and PGI. For other health insurance products, you need HI. In practice, all life insurers require their representatives to pass HI, even where the exception applies.
Is HI a CMFAS exam?
No. SCI runs it as its Certificate in Health Insurance (CHI) exam. The requirement comes from MAS Notice 117; MAS's CMFAS notice (FAA-N26) points to it for life policies with accident and health benefits.
Which version of the study text is the HI exam based on?
For exams before 22 October 2026, SCI's 8th Edition, Version 1.2. From 22 October 2026, SCI's 9th Edition, Version 1.0.
Preparing for HI?Study notes, exam traps on the mistakes candidates commonly make, and a worked explanation for every practice question. Notes and explanations are also available in Chinese as a paid add-on.
Try the free trial questionsLast updated: 24 September 2026