Failed the Washington Life & Health Exam? Retake Rules, Waiting Periods and Fees (2026)

If you do not pass the Washington Life and Disability exam, you can try again. PSI's candidate bulletin says: there is no limit to the number of times a candidate may retake an examination, if necessary, to pass. The only waiting rule is that you cannot make a new appointment on the same day you tested.

The bulletin explains the timing with an example. A candidate who tests unsuccessfully on a Wednesday can call the next day, Thursday, and retest as soon as Friday, depending on space availability. In other words, the practical wait is a day or two, and it depends on how many seats are open at a test center or how many remote slots are available. There is no formal cooling-off period beyond the same-day block. That is helpful if you simply had a bad day, but it is a trap if you rebook immediately without changing how you study. Use the gap to find out what went wrong, then book when you can answer fresh practice questions comfortably above the 70% standard.

Every sitting carries the exam fee:

These figures come from PSI's current bulletin. If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, do it at least 2 calendar days (48 hours) before the scheduled date, or you forfeit the fee. Because the exam fee recurs with every attempt, a quick failed retake is an expensive way to find out you needed more preparation.

Once you pass, the clock starts on your application. Candidates must submit all application requirements, meaning the application and fees, fingerprints and any conviction documentation, within 180 days of passing. If you miss that window, you must retake the exam. So do not pass and then wait; line up your application and fingerprinting soon after you pass. Passing the exam does not guarantee a license.

The pass-rate data does not report on repeat takers, so we cannot quote how retakes perform. What we can say from the exam's structure is that rushing back with the same preparation rarely changes the result. Instead:

1. Reconstruct where you lost marks. The Washington Laws, Rules, and Regulations section is 45 of 150 items on the combined exam, so a weak result there can sink an otherwise solid attempt.
2. Drill the weak topic sets, not the whole course. Our free practice question hub breaks the exam into topic sets.
3. Check your timing. The combined exam allows 195 minutes for 150 items. If you ran short on time, practise in full-length blocks.
4. Consider the other format. Some candidates who struggled with a long combined sitting do better on shorter single-line exams, although two attempts cost more in total.

Remote online proctoring is available. Breaks are not allowed during remote exams, and a second camera device is required, so pick a quiet location and test your setup first. If you think you cannot finish without a break, the bulletin advises against registering for the remote option.

When you are ready to go again, try the course preview, and read why candidates find the exam hard.