WHY GREAT TEST ACADEMY?
California Insurance Education Built for Real People, Not Just Compliance Requirements
Most insurance prelicensing courses are designed to check a regulatory box. Students are handed a textbook, given a few practice quizzes, and expected to figure out the rest on their own.
We built Great Test Academy differently.Our goal is simple: help students understand the material, pass the California insurance exam, and launch their careers with confidence.
Every course, quiz, flashcard, simulation, and study tool was built from the ground up to solve the challenges real students face while preparing for their license. That's why Great Test Academy includes AI-powered exam preparation, adaptive testing, flashcards, exam simulations, and personalized study tools designed to help students learn faster and retain more.
Whether you're earning your first insurance license, adding a new line of authority, or completing continuing education, our mission is to provide a smarter, more supportive learning experience.
Why We Built
Great Test Academy
We Saw Too Many Students Struggling With Courses That Were Designed to Check a Box Instead of Help Them Pass.
Great Test Academy was built after seeing firsthand how difficult the California insurance licensing process can be for new agents. Too many students were spending hundreds of dollars on courses that met the state's requirements but did little to prepare them for the actual licensing exam.
Most programs followed the same formula: read a textbook, complete a few quizzes, and hope for the best. Students who struggled were often left on their own with no meaningful way to identify weaknesses, reinforce concepts, or build confidence before test day.
We believed there had to be a better way.
Instead of creating another generic insurance course, we set out to build a learning platform designed around the student experience. Every chapter, quiz, flashcard, simulation, and study tool was created with one goal in mind: helping students understand the material and pass the California insurance exam.
What started as a simple idea grew into a California Department of Insurance-approved education platform offering prelicensing courses, continuing education, AI-powered exam preparation, flashcards, exam simulations, audio learning tools, and in-person study support through the GTA Study Center.
Today, Great Test Academy continues to focus on the same mission that inspired it from the beginning: helping students spend less time feeling overwhelmed and more time moving toward a successful career in insurance.
WHAT MAKES GREAT TEST ACADEMY DIFFERENT?
More Than a Course.
A Complete Licensing Success System.
Most insurance schools provide the minimum required education and leave the rest up to the student. Great Test Academy was designed differently. We combine California Department of Insurance-approved education with advanced learning tools, testing technology, and student support systems that help students learn faster, identify weak areas, and prepare with confidence.
Meet our Founder
Built by an Insurance Agent, Not a Venture Capital Firm
Great Test Academy was founded by Gareth Ayers, a California insurance professional who has been licensed since 2004.
For more than two decades, Gareth has worked directly with insurance clients, trained agency team members, managed insurance operations, and helped new professionals enter the insurance industry. Through that experience, he gained firsthand insight into the challenges students face when pursuing an insurance license.
Like many insurance professionals, Gareth became frustrated with the quality and cost of many licensing and continuing education programs. While most courses satisfied regulatory requirements, they often relied on outdated learning methods and provided little support beyond a textbook and a final exam.
What started as an effort to create a better training solution for agency team members gradually evolved into something much larger.
Rather than building another generic insurance course, Gareth set out to create a learning platform focused on helping students understand the material, retain information, and build confidence before exam day. The goal was simple: give students the tools needed not only to complete a course, but to successfully earn their license and begin their career.
As more students began using the platform, Great Test Academy expanded beyond traditional prelicensing education. Today, the company provides California insurance prelicensing courses, continuing education, AI-powered exam preparation, flashcards, audio learning tools, full exam simulations, and in-person support through the GTA Study Center in Burbank, California.
Great Test Academy has grown far beyond its original vision, but the mission remains the same: provide insurance students with practical education, modern learning tools, and the support needed to succeed in the insurance industry.
Founder Background
-
California Insurance Professional Licensed Since 2004
-
More Than 20 Years of Insurance Industry Experience
-
Founder of Great Test Academy
-
Developer of the GTA Smart Prep Platform
-
Creator of 16,000+ Original Insurance Practice Questions
-
Founder of a California Department of Insurance Approved Education Provider
In addition to developing the curriculum and learning tools used throughout Great Test Academy, Gareth continues to work directly with students through the GTA Study Center, helping future insurance professionals prepare for licensing exams and career success.
What Students Are Saying About Great Test Academy
5-Star Rated by California Insurance Students
Since launching, Great Test Academy has helped hundreds of California insurance students prepare for licensing exams, complete continuing education requirements, and begin their careers in the insurance industry. The reviews below represent real student experiences with our courses, study tools, AI-powered exam preparation platform, flashcards, simulations, and support team.
I had an outstanding experience with Great Test Academy! From the start, the course material was clear, well-structured, and genuinely enjoyable to study. The concepts are explained in a way that makes them easy to understand and remember, which made learning feel smooth and confidence-building.
The learning process is incredibly effective — you learn the topic first and then reinforce it through quizzes so the information really sticks. There are plenty of quizzes and practice exams, and the AI-guided quizzes are a game changer. They pinpoint exactly what you need to review, helping you focus your study time efficiently. I also loved how you can jump straight to the relevant material from each question instead of searching for it yourself - it makes studying much faster and more productive.
Gareth was amazing throughout my entire preparation journey. He was always responsive, encouraging, and helpful right up until I passed my licensing exam.
I wholeheartedly recommend Great Test Academy - their modern, intelligent approach to learning truly sets them apart and makes success very achievable!
Prajakta Mitra
Omar Suleiman
Amazing Experience!
I just passed my test on the 1st try!
The study material and quizzes matched the California state test almost word for word.
The reading is in simple English language making it easy to understand concepts. The explanation is so precise and easy to understand that I never repeated a section twice.
Thank you, will definitely use for my continuing education down the line.
I am very grateful!
Jackiann Aldapa
I had a really great experience with GTA while studying for my insurance exam.
Everyone was so supportive, encouraging, and helpful throughout the process.
Gareth took the time to connect with me periodically to ensure I was understanding the material and in case I had any questions.
Studying at cafés and taking practice exams really helped me better understand the material and feel more prepared.
I truly appreciated the patience, guidance, and positive environment.
Highly recommend to anyone preparing for their exam!
The GTA Study Center: A Different Way to Prepare for Your Insurance Exam
In-Person Study Space, Accountability, and
Support in Burbank, California
Many insurance students struggle not because they lack ability, but because they lack structure, accountability, and support.
The GTA Study Center was created to give students a dedicated place to focus, study, ask questions, and stay accountable while preparing for California insurance licensing exams.
Located in Burbank, California, the GTA Study Center provides students with access to a quiet study environment, scheduled study sessions, tutoring support, and a community of other insurance professionals working toward the same goal.
Students enrolled in eligible Great Test Academy programs can reserve study days, track their progress, and receive additional support throughout the licensing process.
For students who learn best with structure and accountability, the GTA Study Center offers an option that goes beyond traditional online insurance education.
Study Center Features
-
Located in Burbank, California
-
Reserved Study Sessions
-
Quiet Study Environment
-
Accountability & Structure
-
Licensing Exam Support
-
AI-Powered Study Tools
-
Small Group Learning
-
Available to Eligible Students
ONE PLATFORM. EVERY TOOL YOU NEED TO PASS.
California Insurance Education, Exam Preparation, and Student Support All In One Place.
Great Test Academy was built to provide students with more than just the minimum education required to satisfy California licensing requirements. Our goal is to give students the tools, support, and study resources needed to prepare for the licensing exam with confidence.
Everything Included With Great Test Academy
✓ California DOI Approved Courses
✓ Property & Casualty Prelicensing
✓ Life & Health Prelicensing
✓ Continuing Education Courses
✓ AI-Powered Exam Preparation
✓ Adaptive Testing Technology
✓ 16,000+ Original Practice Questions
✓ Flashcards
✓ Audio Learning Companion
✓ Full Exam Simulations
✓ Personalized AI Study Recommendations
✓ Performance Tracking
✓ GTA Study Center Access
✓ In-Person Support Options
✓ Pass Guarantee
✓ California-Focused Content
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE APPROVED PROVIDER
Approved Insurance Education for California Professionals
California Department of Insurance
Approved Provider #6016169
Great Test Academy is a California Department of Insurance approved provider offering California prelicensing and continuing education courses for insurance professionals.
Our courses are designed specifically for California licensing requirements and support students pursuing Property & Casualty, Life Insurance, and Accident & Health licenses.
In addition to approved coursework, students have access to AI-powered exam preparation, adaptive testing, flashcards, audio learning tools, full exam simulations, and the GTA Study Center.
Provider Information
• California Department of Insurance Approved Provider
• California Prelicensing Courses
• California Continuing Education Courses
• Property & Casualty Training
• Life & Health Training
• Ethics Course + Certificate
• GTA Study Center - Burbank, California
Great Test Academy serves students throughout California preparing for insurance licensing exams and continuing education requirements.
How Great Test Academy Compares to Traditional Insurance Courses
Built to Help Students Pass, Not Just Complete a Requirement
Most insurance education providers offer the minimum coursework required to meet licensing requirements. Great Test Academy combines California Department of Insurance approved education with modern learning tools, exam preparation technology, and student support designed to help students succeed.
Great Test Academy combines California Department of Insurance approved education with AI-powered exam preparation, adaptive testing, flashcards, simulations, audio learning, and student support designed to help students succeed.
Traditional Insurance Courses Great Test Academy
Textbook-Based Learning Interactive Learning Platform
Limited Practice Questions 16,000+ Original Practice Questions
One-Size-Fits-All Study Approach AI-Powered Personalized Study Recommendations
Basic Chapter Quizzes Adaptive Testing Technology
Few Exam Preparation Tools Full Exam Simulations
No Flashcard System Built-In Flashcards
No Audio Learning Option Audio Companion Learning
Study Alone GTA Study Center Available
Minimal Student Support In-Person and Online Support
Focused on Course Completion Focused on Licensing Success
No Study Center Available GTA Study Center in Burbank
Ready to Earn Your California Insurance License?
California Prelicensing, Continuing Education, AI-Powered Exam Preparation, and the GTA Study Center.
Everything you need to succeed in one place.
Whether you're earning your first insurance license, adding a new line of authority, or completing continuing education requirements, Great Test Academy provides the courses, study tools, and support needed to help you reach your goals.
Join hundreds of California insurance professionals who have used Great Test Academy to prepare for licensing exams and continuing education requirements.