News: 2010 Press Release

Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner today announced the addition of examination sites across California in an ongoing effort to improve service delivery and increase customer service. This improvement will assist the California Department of Insurance (CDI) in the development and administration of examinations to applicants for insurance agent and broker, insurance adjuster, and bail agent licenses.

"This collaboration will provide improved and enhanced customer service and convenience to applicants by adding an additional 20 examination sites across the state," said Commissioner Poizner. "It is important to provide fair and equitable examinations that are both current and relevant."

As part of a recent internal audit, CDI found that the student to proctor ratio was sometimes as high as 30-1. In a move to address this finding, CDI believes that these additional locations will allow applicants to take the qualifying license examination in an environment with a significantly reduced ratio of about 10-1 and also provide applicants with greater access. Individuals not located near one of CDI's four examination sites (Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and Sacramento ) will find the option of taking the examination at a nearby testing center which will allow for saving time as well as mileage, parking, and lodging expenses.

The agreement is with PSI Services, LLC based in Burbank. PSI provides for several services to assist CDI to improve the quality and integrity of the examination process. On a volunteer basis, CDI will collect and analyze demographic data (i.e. gender, ethnicity/race, education level) on its licensing examinees. Further, PSI will assist CDI with periodic reviews of examination questions to ensure that questions and answers are relevant, accurate, current and free of cultural biases. CDI administers approximately 60,000 exams each year and is only one of a few other states that do not fully contract out for the administering of its insurance agent/broker qualifying examinations. Other states contract with testing vendors who provide all of the examination services noted above, including the proctors and exam locations.

PSI has over 60 years of experience with providing solutions to corporations, professional associations and government regulatory agencies. There are several state Department of Insurance offices that collaborate with PSI including: Maryland, New York, New Jersey, and Oklahoma.

The anticipated date for PSI to begin offering licensing examinations is spring 2011. The agreement is for twelve months, with an option for CDI to renew for up to two additional years.