[PROTECTIVE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY LETTERHEAD]

EXHIBIT 32(a)

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Annual Report of Protective Life Insurance Company (the “Company”) on Form 10-K for the period ending December 31, 2003 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, John D. Johns, Chairman of the Board and President of Protective, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to the best of my knowledge:

(1)         The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)         The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of Protective.

/s/ John D. Johns                                  
Chairman of the Board and President
March 29, 2004

This certification accompanies the Report pursuant to §906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and shall not, except to the extent required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, be deemed filed by Protective for purposes of §18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.