Every Medicare agent has to re-certify each year to sell Advantage and Part D plans — and the 2027 training opens June 22, 2026. Here is how the exam actually works, how to pass it without the stress, and how AHIP and NABIP compare so you pick the right one.
Both AHIP and NABIP 2027 certification open June 22, 2026. To be ready to sell when the Annual Enrollment Period starts, you need your certification and every carrier’s product certification done before October 15. Start early — the portals get slow in September, and you don’t want a failed attempt eating your runway. (See our AEP guide for the full season timeline.)
The AHIP final exam is 50 questions, 2 hours, and you need 90% to pass — that’s no more than 5 wrong. It costs $175 (many carriers offer a $50–$125 discount or reimbursement through their portal), and crucially it is closed-book — AHIP’s FAQ states it plainly: “The AHIP Medicare Final Exam is not an open book exam.” The exam auto-submits at the 2-hour mark, and navigating to another tab or closing the window voids the attempt. AHIP publishes no fixed attempt cap; cutoffs are carrier-set. Most agents spend 6–8 hours on the five training modules. It covers Medicare basics, Medicare Advantage & Part D, eligibility and enrollment, marketing and compliance rules, and Fraud, Waste & Abuse.
Because it’s closed-book, retention beats lookup. Two things separate agents who breeze through from agents who sweat it: (1) the review quizzes at the end of each module are gold — 30 to 45 of the 50 exam questions come straight from them, so save every quiz and your notes as searchable files. (2) Build one organized, searchable reference you can Ctrl‑F during the test instead of digging through a dozen separate PDFs — that single habit is what turns a 2-hour ordeal into 40 minutes. Keep your high-yield facts (enrollment dates, IRMAA brackets, penalties) on one page; our IRMAA and penalty tools give you the current 2026 figures to drop in.
You generally only need one, but your carriers decide which counts. Quick comparison:
Rule of thumb: if you write for many carriers or want zero acceptance risk, take AHIP. If your carriers all accept NABIP and you want the lower cost, easier passing score, and free CE credits, NABIP wins. Always confirm per carrier first — for example Cigna requires AHIP, while Devoted accepts either.
You’ll find sites selling “verified exam answers.” Using actual leaked exam questions violates the certification agreement and can get you decertified and stripped of renewals — a catastrophic risk for a $175 test you can pass legitimately. Study the official modules, build your searchable reference, and practice with original questions. That’s how you pass clean and keep your book of business safe. (TemplateTitanHQ is an independent business and is not affiliated with or endorsed by AHIP or NABIP.)
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The dates, penalties, IRMAA brackets, and compliance rules agents reference all season — one page, 2026-current. Get it free, plus occasional tools that save you time.
Both AHIP and NABIP 2027 certification open on June 22, 2026. Complete your certification and all carrier product certifications before October 15 to be ready for the Annual Enrollment Period.
AHIP costs $175 and requires a 90% score to pass (no more than 5 wrong out of 50 questions), AHIP publishes no fixed attempt cap (carriers set their own cutoffs). Many carriers offer a discount or reimbursement through their portal.
Yes, it is closed-book. AHIP’s FAQ states it plainly: “The AHIP Medicare Final Exam is not an open book exam.” Your notes stay shut, so drill the module Review Questions (unlimited submissions with feedback) until recall is automatic before you sit the 2-hour, 50-question test.
Take AHIP if you sell for multiple carriers or want near-universal acceptance ($175, 90% to pass). Take NABIP if your carriers accept it and you want lower cost and an easier passing score ($100, 85% to pass, includes 8 CE credits). Confirm which your carriers require before you register.
Yes. NABIP's own FAQ describes it as “an online, closed-book final exam” — 3 units of 15 questions (45 total), 85% to pass, up to 6 attempts at no extra cost. It is untimed but must be completed in one sitting; idling out ends the attempt.
Yes, NABIP's Medicare certification includes 8 continuing education credits at no additional charge, which AHIP does not.
Figures on this page are verified against U.S. government primary sources: