- ANFI 205 is 50 questions in 65 minutes with a 70% minimum passing score, closed book.
- 2026 fees: USD 319 early, USD 399 standard, USD 319 for a same-window retake.
- Six course domains run Before You Start through Key NFIP Appendix Topics - not weighted exam sections.
- Testing windows are fixed quarterly blocks: Jan 15-Mar 15, Apr 15-Jun 15, Jul 15-Sep 15, Oct 15-Dec 15.
What This Cheat Sheet Covers
This is the one-page reference version of everything you need to know about the Associate in National Flood Insurance (ANFI) designation before you sit for ANFI 205: National Flood Insurance, Fundamentals. It's built for candidates who already have a study plan in motion - maybe from the ANFI Study Guide 2026 - and just need the facts condensed into one scannable reference for the final week before exam day.
If you haven't yet mapped out what the exam actually tests, start with the ANFI Exam Domains 2026 guide for the deeper breakdown. This page assumes you already know the basics of what ANFI is and is focused purely on rapid recall of numbers, deadlines, and logistics.
The Six ANFI 205 Domains at a Glance
The ANFI 205 course is organized into six official domain assignments. These are course structure labels, not officially weighted exam sections - but they still tell you exactly what content categories will appear on the exam and roughly how the material is sequenced.
Domain 1: Before You Start
Foundational NFIP concepts you need before writing any policy - program structure, eligibility basics, and how flood insurance fits within the broader NFIP framework.
- Program eligibility and community participation rules
- Foundational terminology used throughout the rest of the course
Domain 2: How to Write
The mechanics of writing a compliant flood policy - this is typically the most application-heavy domain, testing your ability to apply rules to specific policy-writing scenarios.
- Coverage selection and application requirements
- Rating and documentation accuracy
Domain 3: How to Endorse
Mid-term policy changes: what triggers an endorsement, how it's processed, and how it affects existing coverage.
- Endorsement eligibility and effective dates
- Coverage adjustments mid-policy-term
Domain 4: How to Renew
Renewal procedures, timing, and the conditions under which a policy continues without a coverage gap.
- Renewal notice timing
- Avoiding lapses in coverage
Domain 5: How to Cancel
Cancellation and nullification rules - one of the more precise, rule-driven domains on the exam.
- Valid reasons for cancellation
- Refund and effective-date rules
Domain 6: Key NFIP Appendix Topics
A catch-all domain pulling from NFIP manual appendices - often where candidates get surprised because it draws from reference material rather than core policy workflow.
- Appendix-based definitions and edge cases
- Cross-references back to Domains 1-5
For a domain-by-domain study breakdown with more context on how each area typically shows up in exam questions, see the full ANFI Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 6 Content Areas.
Exam Format & Passing Score Facts
ANFI 205 is an application-based exam, not a pure definitions test. That distinction matters more than any single fact on this page - questions tend to present a short scenario and ask what action or coverage outcome applies, rather than asking you to define a term in isolation.
- Question count: 50 questions
- Time limit: 65 minutes
- Passing score: 70% minimum
- Format: Closed book, application-based scenarios
- Allowed tools: An approved standalone calculator and scratch paper
- Timer: Cannot be paused once started
Because this is a closed-book, application-driven test, memorizing definitions alone won't get you to 70%. You need to practice applying NFIP rules to scenario questions - the official course practice resources are built for exactly that question format. For a deeper look at exactly what "passing" requires and how the score is structured, see ANFI Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Key Takeaway
Don't confuse ANFI 205 with ANFI 206. The 205 exam is closed book with 65 minutes; the follow-on ANFI 206 exam is 50 questions but runs 120 minutes and permits use of the flood manual. Study accordingly - closed-book recall matters far more for 205.
Registration Windows & Fees
Getting the registration mechanics wrong is one of the most avoidable ways to lose money on this designation. Here's the 2026 fee structure for ANFI 205:
| Registration Type | 2026 Fee (USD) | Key Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Early registration | $319 | Must be completed before the testing window opens |
| Standard registration | $399 | Registered closer to or within the testing window |
| Same-window retake | $319 | Retake scheduled within the same testing window as the original attempt |
The four 2026 testing windows are fixed calendar blocks: January 15-March 15, April 15-June 15, July 15-September 15, and October 15-December 15. If a closing date lands on a weekend, it extends to the next business day. Early registration must be locked in before the window itself opens - miss that cutoff and you default to the standard rate.
Official ANFI learning materials are free; only the exam registration carries a fee. For the complete cost breakdown across the whole designation path, including the follow-on course, check ANFI Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown, and for a full calendar view of every window and cutoff, see ANFI Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
Designation Path: 205, 206, and Ethics 311
Earning the full ANFI designation isn't a single exam - it's a three-part path:
- ANFI 205 - National Flood Insurance, Fundamentals (the exam this cheat sheet focuses on)
- ANFI 206 - a separate exam, 50 questions, 120 minutes, and the flood manual is permitted during the test
- Ethics 311 - a free ethics course required for the designation
Estimated total completion time for the full path is 3-6 months, with ANFI 205 alone typically taking 4-6 weeks to prepare for. Once earned, the ANFI designation does not expire. There is one nuance worth flagging early: credits earned on or after July 1, 2026 must be applied within ten years of exam completion, while credits earned before that date remain valid through July 1, 2036. State insurance-license continuing education requirements are handled separately from the designation itself.
If you're still weighing whether this whole path is worth pursuing before you commit time and money, read Is the ANFI Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026. For the eligibility side of things, see ANFI Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Test-Day Logistics
The exam is delivered on The Institutes' virtual platform using Talview, with webcam and screen recording captured for later review - this is not live human proctoring in real time, but the session is recorded and reviewed after the fact.
- You need a desktop or laptop with a working webcam and microphone.
- The exam is closed book - no notes, no manual, no outside material.
- An approved standalone calculator and scratch paper are the only permitted aids.
- The 65-minute timer cannot be paused once the exam starts, so plan bathroom breaks and setup checks before you begin.
For a broader sense of how tough candidates find this exam relative to its format and time pressure, see How Hard Is the ANFI Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026, and for context on how other candidates have performed, see ANFI Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows.
Last-Mile Review Schedule
If you're in the final stretch before your testing window closes, don't try to re-read the whole manual. Instead, map your remaining review days to the domains most likely to trip you up on an application-based test.
Domains 1 & 2
- Re-drill "Before You Start" eligibility rules
- Run through "How to Write" scenario questions until coverage-selection logic feels automatic
Domains 3, 4 & 5
- Contrast endorsement, renewal, and cancellation triggers side by side
- Focus on effective-date rules, since these three domains are easy to confuse under time pressure
Domain 6
- Skim Key NFIP Appendix Topics for definitions you haven't seen elsewhere
- This domain is the easiest to under-prepare for since it's reference-based, not workflow-based
Full Mixed Review
- Run full-length timed practice sets on our ANFI practice test platform to simulate the 65-minute closed-book pressure
- Review missed questions by domain, not by question number
This isn't a generic study calendar - it's sequenced specifically around where ANFI 205 candidates tend to lose points: mixing up endorsement/renewal/cancellation timing and under-studying the appendix domain. If you want the fully detailed version of this plan with pacing guidance for a first-attempt pass, go back to the ANFI Study Guide 2026.
Who This Designation Is Built For
ANFI is designed for insurance professionals who work directly with National Flood Insurance Program policies - writing, endorsing, renewing, or servicing flood coverage as part of their day-to-day role. It's a specialized credential rather than a broad insurance license, which is why the entire course content maps so tightly to real policy workflow: writing, endorsing, renewing, and canceling NFIP policies, plus the appendix material that governs edge cases.
If you're evaluating whether pursuing this designation lines up with your career goals, the ANFI Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis and ANFI Jobs pages walk through where this designation tends to show up in job requirements. For a plain-language explanation of the credential itself before you commit, see What Is ANFI Certification? or the shorter ANFI Meaning explainer.
Key Takeaway
Because ANFI 205 questions are scenario-based, professionals who already handle flood policy paperwork day-to-day often find the content familiar - but the closed-book, timed format still requires dedicated review, not just job experience.
FAQ
ANFI 205 has 50 questions to complete in 65 minutes, and you need a minimum score of 70% to pass.
No, ANFI 205 is closed book. You may use an approved standalone calculator and scratch paper only. The follow-on ANFI 206 exam, by contrast, permits use of the flood manual.
In 2026, early registration costs $319 versus $399 for standard registration - but early registration must be completed before the testing window opens, not just before the exam date.
No, earned ANFI designations do not expire. However, credits earned on or after July 1, 2026 must be applied within ten years of exam completion, while earlier credits remain valid through July 1, 2036.
The six domains (Before You Start, How to Write, How to Endorse, How to Renew, How to Cancel, and Key NFIP Appendix Topics) are official course assignments rather than officially weighted exam sections, so treat them as content areas to master rather than a fixed scoring breakdown.
Keep this page bookmarked for a quick recheck the morning of your test, and pair it with timed practice sets on ANFI Exam Prep's practice test platform to make sure the numbers above translate into actual exam-day performance.