For your reference as me move forward into Hurricane season, lets review the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, taken from NOAA’s website:

Category One Hurricane:

Sustained winds 74-95 mph (64-82 kt or 119-153 km/hr). Damaging winds are expected. Some damage to building structures could occur, primarily to unanchored mobile homes (mainly pre-1994 construction). Some damage is likely to poorly constructed signs. Loose outdoor items will become projectiles, causing additional damage. Persons struck by windborne debris risk injury and possible death. Numerous large branches of healthy trees will snap. Some trees will be uprooted, especially where the ground is saturated. Many areas will experience power outages with some downed power poles. Hurricane Cindy (pdf) (2005, 75 mph winds at landfall in Louisiana) and Hurricane Gaston (2004, 75 mph winds at landfall in South Carolina) are examples of Category One hurricanes at landfall.

Category Two Hurricane:

Sustained winds 96-110 mph (83-95 kt or 154-177 km/hr). Very strong winds will produce widespread damage. Some roofing material, door, and window damage of buildings will occur. Considerable damage to mobile homes (mainly pre-1994 construction) and poorly constructed signs is likely. A number of glass windows in high rise buildings will be dislodged and become airborne. Loose outdoor items will become projectiles, causing additional damage. Persons struck by windborne debris risk injury and possible death.. Numerous large branches will break. Many trees will be uprooted or snapped. Extensive damage to power lines and poles will likely result in widespread power outages that could last a few to several days. Hurricane Erin (1995, 100 mph at landfall in northwest Florida) and Hurricane Isabel (2003, 105 mph at landfall in North Carolina) are examples of Category Two hurricanes at landfall.

Category Three Hurricane:

Sustained winds 111-130 mph (96-113 kt or 178-209 km/hr). Dangerous winds will cause extensive damage. Some structural damage to houses and buildings will occur with a minor amount of wall failures. Mobile homes (mainly pre-1994 construction) and poorly constructed signs are destroyed. Many windows in high rise buildings will be dislodged and become airborne. Persons struck by windborne debris risk injury and possible death. Many trees will be snapped or uprooted and block numerous roads. Near total power loss is expected with outages that could last from several days to weeks. Hurricane Rita (pdf) (2005, 115 mph landfall in east Texas/Louisiana) and Hurricane Jeanne (2004, 120 mph landfall in southeast Florida) are examples of Category Three hurricanes at landfall.

Category Four Hurricane:

Sustained winds 131-155 mph (114-135 kt or 210-249 km/hr). Extremely dangerous winds causing devastating damage are expected. Some wall failures with some complete roof structure failures on houses will occur. All signs are blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes (primarily pre-1994 construction). Extensive damage to doors and windows is likely. Numerous windows in high rise buildings will be dislodged and become airborne. Windborne debris will cause extensive damage and persons struck by the wind-blown debris will be injured or killed. Most trees will be snapped or uprooted. Fallen trees could cut off residential areas for days to weeks. Electricity will be unavailable for weeks after the hurricane passes. Hurricane Charley (2004, 145 mph at landfall in southwest Florida) and Hurricane Hugo (1989, 140 mph at landfall in South Carolina) are examples of Category Four hurricanes at landfall.

Category Five Hurricane:

Sustained winds greater than 155 mph (135 kt or 249 km/hr). Catastrophic damage is expected. Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings will occur. Some complete building failures with small buildings blown over or away are likely. All signs blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes (built in any year). Severe and extensive window and door damage will occur. Nearly all windows in high rise buildings will be dislodged and become airborne. Severe injury or death is likely for persons struck by wind-blown debris. Nearly all trees will be snapped or uprooted and power poles downed. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last for weeks to possibly months. Hurricane Camille (pdf) (1969, 190 mph at landfall in Mississippi) and Hurricane Andrew (1992, 165 mph at landfall in Southeast Florida) are examples of Category Five hurricanes at landfall.

In observance of the opening of Hurricane season, we’ll be examining each day this week various dynamics of hurricanes and hurricane season.  Today, lets appease our basic, visceral side and look at just how nasty a hurricane can get in terms of sheer force.

First, pop quiz.  Do you know what the strongest Atlantic Hurricane in the last 20 years is?  If you were given the options of  Katrina, Ike, Wilma, and Andrew, which would you choose?  It may surprise you to know that its actually Hurricane Wilma from 2005.  She didn’t make landfall as the strongest, but at sea Wilma recorded winds of 185 mph - the most intense hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic basin,  (sources suggest that Hurricane Camille of 1979 was even stronger, making landfall at 190 mph).  For reference, a Category 5 is classified on the Saffir-Simpson scale by winds over 155mp.  If a Category 6 existed, Wilma and Camille would be there.  They never bothered going higher than a 5, because according to Mr. Simpson: “If that extreme wind (156mph+) sustains itself for as much as six seconds on a building it’s going to cause rupturing damages that are serious no matter how well it’s engineered. So I think that it’s immaterial what will happen with winds stronger than 156 miles per hour.”

So how intense could a hurricane theoretically get?  Are there natural limits imposed on size and intensity?  LiveScience addresses this issue in an interesting article.  Apparently, the maximum sustainable winds, calculated by a super smart guy at MIT, is 190 mph.  If, however, the ocean were to continue to warm (oops…it actually appears to be cooling) then those limits could increase.  More on the destructive capabilities of hurricanes tomorrow.

The Atlantic hurricane season officially began June 1st.  Lets get an overview of what we could expect:

How Long is Hurricane Season?

Hurricane season begins June 1st and ends November 30th.  As the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) notes, however, “There is nothing magical in these dates, and hurricanes have occurred outside of these six months, but these dates were selected to encompass over 97% of tropical activity.”

Peaks and Troughs

June is historically among the quietest of months for hurricane activity.  In his most superlative blog, Dr. Jeff Master’s summarizes June’s hurricane history:

June is typically the quietest month of the Atlantic hurricane season. On average, we see only one named storm every two years in June. Only one major hurricane has made landfall in June–Category 4 Hurricane Audrey of 1957, which struck the Texas/Louisiana border area on June 27 of that year, killing 550. The highest number of named storms for the month is three, which occurred in 1936 and 1968. In the fourteen years since the current active hurricane period began in 1995, there have been eleven June named storms (if we include last year’s Tropical Storm Arthur, which really formed on May 31). Five tropical storms have formed in the first half of June in that 14-year period, giving a historical 36% chance of a first-half-of-June named storm.

The most active months occur between August and October, with early to mid-September being the absolute apex of activity.  According to AOML per above, August to October historically includes 78% of Tropical Storm days, 87% of minor Hurricane days, and 96% of major Hurricane days.  For example, in 2005, in the most active hurricane season on record, Hurricane Katrina struck land August 29th, Hurricane Rita made Texas/Lousiana landfall September 24th, and Hurricane Wilma struck Florida October 24th.

Forecast for 2009

According to prognosticators, the 2009 Atlantic Hurricane Season is expected to yield average storm activity.

From their website, NOAA’s National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center calls for a 50 percent probability of a near-normal season, a 25 percent probability of an above-normal season and a 25 percent probability of a below-normal season. Global weather patterns are imposing a greater uncertainty in the 2009 hurricane season outlook than in recent years. Forecasters say there is a 70 percent chance of having nine to 14 named storms, of which four to seven could become hurricanes, including one to three major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5).

According to Dr. William Gray’s annaul Extended Range Forecast - 12 Named Storms are predicted with 2 intense Hurricanes expected of the 12.  Dr. Gray’s estimates a 54% chance of a Category 3 or higher Hurricane making landfall on U.S. soil (52% is average for the last century).

Mitigating factors that could suppress activity include development of El Nino in the equatorial Eastern Pacific and possible cooling in the eastern tropical Atlantic.  Revised forecasts generally begin to surface around late July when El Nino conditions typically arise.

Impact on Adjusting

It is difficult to overstate the impact hurricanes have on the careers of independent adjusters.  Such sweeping and destructive occurences spike demand for adjusters exponentially, and can level the employment playing field for new adjusters with little or no prior experience.  Keep an eye on the Atlantic as we move through the summer.

While hurricane season won’t officially begin until Monday, June 1st, the first Tropical Depression of the 2009 Atlantic Hurricane Season has already formed.

Located about 225 east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, “Tropical Depression One” doesn’t appear to threaten land although it does appear poised to become a named storm (Ana) by Friday.  Read more…

This could mark the 3rd year in a row where a named storm preceded the official start date of the Atlantic Hurricane season.  By comparison, in 2008 Tropical Storm Arthur formed May 31st and sub-Tropical Storm Andrea formed May 6th in 2007.

We’ll be covering the 2009 Hurricane Season outlook in greater detail on Monday.

Quick scheduling update here for summer Texas adjuster licensing courses.

We’ve added dates for our 3 day, TDI approved Texas adjuster prelicensing course in both Houston and Chicago.  These locations join Dallas and New Orleans on our regular schedule.  To view the our entire early summer schedule and register online, please visit our Texas Adjuster Licensing page.  The added dates are as follows:

Houston, June 26th-28th

Chicago, July 10th-12th

In the past 5 years, we have enjoyed over a 99% first-time pass percentage among our students.   Please keep in mind that successful completion of our 3 day course eliminates the state exam requirement.   Further, we will provide you with TDI’s application as well as detailed instructions on filing before you leave the classroom.  No further testing or coursework is required.  Applications are typically processed within 4 weeks by the Department of Insurance.

If you have any questions, please call (214) 606-8370, send us an email, or find the answer to most Tx prelicensing questions online.

Mastering Xactimate is one of the primary challenges confronting incoming field adjusters handling residential and light commercial claims.  Unfortunately, it is too often the case that when new adjusters fail in the field it is due to inadequacies in utilization of this program.  Robust and sophisticated, Xactimate is not immediately intuitive and is best retained through systematic guidance.  In partnership with Richard Beckner of LearnXactimate.com, AdjusterPro is pleased to bring you a much needed resource:

The Xactimate Training Manual

Xactimate Training E-Book: Reference Guide to Estimatics

Available in instantly downloadable format, this 405 pg. guide to Xactimate 25 will serve both new adjusters needing systematic guidance and existing adjusters in need of a comprehensive reference source while afield.  The convenient pdf file is extremely user-friendly, easy to navigate and is loaded with full color screen shots ordered in building block fashion.  For more information about topics covered, take a look at the Table of Contents.

This tool was designed to serve 2 types of adjusters:

1) Those just learning the program who, in addition to online or classroom training, need a supplemental source of instruction to stay sharp on existing skills while honing new ones.

2) Existing field adjusters in need of a good reference.  Spending time with the program’s tech support can be maddening, especially if you’re trying to close claims.  This manual covers nearly every possible functionality within Xactimate, including Sketch (interior rooms, roofs, etc).  This will save you time in the field and empower you to close claims faster and with less headache.  This is the type of reference tool that pays for itself very quickly.

Price: $199

Download Time: 2 to 3 minutes with standard internet connection

Requirements: Adobe Reader

Read more or, if you’re ready to get started, download now.

Tornadoes, hurricanes, and micro-bursts are all more or less familiar terms to us in the storm

Derecho in Nebraska

lexicon.  But would you believe that there is a terrifying behemoth of a storm - a storm that seems like the product of a child’s nightmare - that happened just recently?  Its called a derecho.

Derecho, taken from Spanish “straight”, refers to a highly powerful straight-line storm defined as follows:

…a widespread and long-lived, violent convectively induced straight-line windstorm

that is associated with a fast-moving band of severe thunderstorms in the form of a squall line usually taking the form of a bow echo.

Derechos although rare, have phenonemal destructive power.  These storms can carry sustained straight line winds of 130 mph, travel at 70 mph, and span 250 miles in width and 800 miles in depth.  A true uber-storm!  For more information, check out this neat video on recent derechos in the South or Wikipedia’s full entry of the matter.

Folks, its T-minus 34 days to the start of the 2009 Hurricane season and an opportune to reflect upon the final results of the 2008 season.  Claims Magazine online has published the 2008 Storm Season Year Review.  Of interest, the article cites Guy Carpenter as noting that “2008 was the fourth most severe hurricane season since reliable records have been available.“  Read the entire article.

We are occasionally asked about the feasibility of claims adjusting on a part time basis and I think it worth considering in more detail.

Understandably, many folks would like to supplement their existing income with another revenue stream.  Or, if looking to make a wholesale career change, initial part time supplementation of the existing job while that transition is made is also an attractive option.  Independent claims adjusting seems like it could be a natural fit given that you do work as an independent contractor (ability to make your own schedule, etc) and the seasonal nature of work volume might lend itself to doing other things.  So, is it really a good fit?

I would propose that it is not.  The type of claims handling where a few claims right next to home trickle in here or there over the course of month, providing that extra $2,000 in income, is actually pretty rare.  Moreover, arrangements of that type will be generally made only with tried and trusted adjusters with proven experience as opposed to someone just learning the ropes.

For those getting started in independent adjusting, opportunity generally knocks when a storm (cat) has wrought widespread and significant damage.  Demand for independent adjusters increases proportionate to the scale of damage and when the tipping point is reached, new folks on the outside looking in are suddenly thrust into deployment.  When assignment of claims occurs, its a 24/7 commitment.  Not only is the commitment level very high, the deployment itself will almost certainly send you beyond the geographic range of your home area - making it physically impossible to handle claims and your hometown job as well.

That said, once you have demonstrated your reliability as an adjuster and have earned the trust of an adjusting firm more opportunities will arise that could include daily claims in your home area.  Such an arrangement could even be “part-time” and certainly could admit of other work.  But, just out of the gates, working part time is not typical and probably ought not be expected.

At long last, the new and improved CatManDo adjuster toolbelts are in stock.  For more information or to immediately  order your toolbelt, please click here.

For those of you unfamiliar with this nifty item, the CatManDo is an all-in-one toolbelt designed specifically for claims adjusters who want to keep both hands free for the task before them.  Each belt can hold clipboard, digital camera, measuring tape, laser tape measure, chalk, business cards, and literally any smaller tools you may need.

If purchased with the comprehensive Adjuster Tool Set, each belt is shipped to you with the following:

Accu-Line Drawing System, Hail/Wind Tick Sheets, Compass, Calculated

Tool Belt with 100 Ft Reel Tape & Tool Kit (Tools are Enlarged for Detail)

Industries Project CalcPlus, Multi-Tool, Lighted Pop-Up Magnifier, Magnet to test steel vs. aluminum, Roof Pitch Guage, Putty Knife, Haag Shingle Gauge, Chalk, Maglite Mini Flashlight, Hammer Holder, and your choice of either 1) a walk behind Johnson Wheel Measure or 2) a 100ft Lufkin Reel Tape Measure.

Cost is $199 if you select the Johnson Wheel Measure or $193 for the Lufkin Reel Tape.   Shipping is free.

I have personally used this item in the field and recommend it enthusiastically.  I would not consider scoping without it.  I see three major advantages to owning this belt as opposed to a fanny pack or standard contractors tool belt :

1) It improves overall safety.  Climbing ladders with a clipboard in one hand isn’t advisable but many people do it anyway.  This belt (unlike fanny packs and most standard toolbelts) carries your clipboard snug and secure and allows you to ascend and descend roofs with both hands.

2) Extends the life of your equipment.  It makes me cringe to  see adjusters climbing their ladder with digital camera slung around their neck - clanking each rung.  The CatManDo comes with a custom fitted, padded pouch for your camera that will preserve it from harm.  Dropped cameras, particulary from rooftops, are common occurrences that can be eliminated with the custom tool belt.

3) It is super comfortable and looks professional.  These belts not only feel like an extension of your body - they look sharp!  The belts come in Black, Navy Blue, and Hot Pink (makes a statement, ladies!).  You won’t have to worry about looking the part if you arrive wearing this belt.

For further information, please visit our Custom Tool Belt product page.

- Daniel Kerr

Texas and Florida are unique to adjuster licensing in that they offer prospective licensees an alternative to taking the state exam.  In Texas, a certified “pre-licensing” course, and in Florida, a certified “designation” course, satisfy all educational and examination requirements for obtaining a permanent adjuster license.  A prelicensing or designation course can be a very attractive option to aspiring adjusters as the courses impart useful, practical knowledge in a student friendly format and will all but guarantee succesfull licensure.

Most states, however, will require their residents to take a state exam in order to be licensed and, in some cases, even non-residents wishing to become licensed in that state.  As a general rule, we typically recommend obtaining your own state’s adjuster license when possible.  It provides the best coverage in terms of reciprocity with other states - even better than Texas or Florida if those would be held as non-resident licenses.

State adjuster exams are usually administered by national testing providors such as Prometric or Pearson Vue.  The exams can be difficult and become near impassible without study.  Issues regarding inland marine policy enforcement or coverage calculations are not typically things people know naturally!  Studying is highly recommended and the options are often poorly understood.

We like study packages that include online practice exams, textbooks, and particularly online Virtual Classroom courses  specific to each state’s license.  These give you the most comprehensive and effective way to prepare for state exams.  We’ve compiled a list of licensing exam study study packages, ranging in cost from $49 to $189, that are presently available through our partnership with Insurance Schools.  Here they are:

Alaska Adjuster Exam

Arizona Adjuster Exam

Arkansas General Adjuster Exam

California Independent Adjuster Exam

Connecticut Casaulty Adjuster for All-Lines Exam

Connecticut Casualty Adjuster for Auto Exam

Connecticut Workers Compensation Adjuster Exam

Delaware Casualty Adjuster Exam

Florida All Lines Adjuster Exam

Florida Property & Casualty Adjuster Exam

Hawaii Independent Adjuster Exam

Hawaii Workers Compensation Adjuster Exam

Idaho Independent Crop/Hail Adjuster Exam

Idaho Independent General Lines Adjuster Exam

Idaho Workers Compensation Adjuster Exam

Kentucky Property and Casualty Adjuster Exam

Louisiana Automobile Adjuster Exam

Louisiana Comprehensive Adjuster Exam

Louisiana Personal Lines Adjuster Exam

Louisiana Commercial Lines Adjuster Exam

Maine Property & Casaualty Adjuster Exam

Michigan Adjuster WITH Workers Compensation

Michigan Adjuster WITHOUT Workers Compensation

Minnesota Fire, Allied Lines, and Casualty Adjuster

Minnesota Fire & Allied Lines Adjuster Exam

Minnesota Casualty Adjuster Exam

Montana Adjuster Exam

Nevada Property and Casualty Adjuster

New Hampshire Life, Accident & Health Adjuster Exam

New Hampshire Property & Casualty Adjuster Exam

New Hampshire Workers Compensation Adjuster Exam

New York Independent General Adjuster Exam

New York Accident & Health Adjuster Exam

New York Independent Fire Adjuster Exam

New York Independent Casualty Adjuster Exam

New York Independent Automobile Adjuster Exam

New York Independent Inland Marine Adjuster Exam

New York Independent Motor Vehicle No-Fault & Workers Comp. Health Services Adjuster

North Carolina Adjuster Exam

Oklahoma Property and Casualty Adjuster Exam

Oklahoma Crop & Hail Adjuster Exam

Oklahoma Crime & Fidelity Bonds Adjuster Exam

Oklahoma Fire & Allied Lines Adjuster Exam

Oklahoma Property & Casualty, Motor Vehicle Adjuster Exam

Oklahoma Casualty Adjuster Exam

Oregon General Lines Adjuster Exam

Rhode Island Commercial Insurance Adjuster Exam

Rhode Island Workers Compensation Adjuster

South Carolina Commercial Lines Adjuster Exam

South Carolina Property, Casualty, Surety, & Marine Adjuster Exam

South Carolina Personal Lines Adjuster Exam

South Carolina Workers Compensation Adjuster Exam

Texas Workers Compensation Adjuster Exam

Texas Property & Casualty Adjuster Exam

Texas All-Lines Adjuster Exam

Utah Property & Casualty Adjuster Exam

Vermont Property & Casualty Adjuster Exam

Vermont Workers Compensation Adjuster Exam

Washington Independent Adjuster Exam

West Virginia Adjuster (Independent or Staff) Exam

Wyoming General Adjuster Exam

For those absolutely new to the claims adjusting business, this article is reprised from a page on AdjusterPro.com and provides an extremely basic profile of claims adjusting as a career.

Who are adjusters?

Anyone can become an insurance adjuster. As no college degree is required of most independent adjusters, the only sine qua non is that you be 18 years of age. While some professionals have started out from the very outset in the claims industry, many folks begin their insurance claims career after work in other fields. Common backgrounds include construction, contracting, insurance sales, insurance underwriting, appraisals, and property inspections. However, teachers, farmers, attorneys, truckers, plumbers, dog whisperers, hvac specialists, and entrepreneurs (to name but a few) have all transitioned smoothly into the world of insurance claims adjusting.

What do insurance adjusters do?

Insurance claims adjusters inspect claims of damage or loss, interprets and applies the customer’s insurance policy, negotiates settlement, and may authorize payments.

Why are insurance adjusters needed?

Insurance adjusters are needed because settling insurance claims ultimately requires human judgment. As each claim is unique, call-in centers with computers can only take insurance companies so far - finally, field adjusters must be relied upon to bring their own senses and intelligence to bear upon the particular demands of each claim. It is reassuring to know that insurance adjusters will always be needed. Outsourcing to technology can decrease the workload for adjusters, but will never eliminate the need for adjusters themselves.

The need for adjusters is never higher than when catastrophe strikes. In the wake of Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma, and Rita in 2005, major insurance companies were desperate for licensed and trained independent insurance adjusters. Even though major companies staffed a contingent of their own salaried “storm troopers” - these adjusters simply were unable to handle the sheer volume of claims created just by Katrina. When Rita and Wilma made landfall, it seemed the requirement for getting hired as an independent adjuster dropped from having a license to having a car. Thousands of new and inexperienced “cat adjusters” cut their teeth in the fall of 2005 and many more will join the ranks as meteorologists expect the next 10 to 15 years to yield unusually high storm activity.

What types of adjusters are there?

• Independent Adjuster. Independent adjusters are independent contractors who will generally work wherever mother nature has wrought violence. Where an adjuster lives may have no bearing upon where an he or she works. An independent adjuster residing in Minnesota may contract with an adjusting firm in Iowa and be sent to work hurricane claims in Florida! An independent claims adjuster should be prepared for extensive travel.
• Staff Adjuster. Staff adjusters typically works a limited geographical region in their vicinity. While extensive travel is possible, the range and frequency of travel is much less than for the average independent adjuster. Operating this way may be more suitable for those where family demands are prohibitive to extensive time away from home.

When do Insurance Adjusters work?

• Independent Adjuster. Independent adjusters will work as long as the job requires. A hail storm may require only 3 weeks of claims adjusting while a category 4 hurricane will put some independent adjusters to work for over a year. The intensity and scope of damage determine the amount of claims filed which greatly effects the time allotted for settling each claim. It is common for independent adjusters to go without work for months at a time. However, compensation for “cat adjusting” is excellent, and prudent independent claims adjusters should be able to survive the lean times.
• Staff Adjuster. Staff adjusters will generally have a far more consistent schedule than an independent adjuster. As a salaried employee, staff adjusters will work year round as with most other types of jobs. The security and consistency of cash flow make staff adjusting the more appealing option for some adjusters.

Good news! I’m pleased to announce open enrollment in an exciting new course – Rope & Harness Certification for Two Story/Steep Roofs. This one day, 8 hour course is open to the general public and carries 8 CEUs for Texas adjusters. Our next course will be April 24^th in the greater Houston area.

WHY ROPE & HARNESS?

As safety and liability concerns become more and more critical to adjusting firms, the demand for field personnel trained in Two Story/Steep roof adjusting is rising exponentially. In fact, the Occupational Safety & Hazard Administration requires implementation of safety procedures when inspecting roof slopes of 7/12 pitch or steeper. By properly utilizing safety protocol as proscribed by OSHA, adjusters are able to confidently handle steeply pitched and/or high roofs without danger of catastrophic falls. These specially trained adjusters can also command a higher fee and are historically the first called and last to leave for assignment.

COURSE INSTRUCTOR

Course instructor and accomplished independent adjuster Kevin Kramer has spent nearly 30 years teaching Rope & Harness Safety to a diverse array of students from major adjusting firms and insurance carriers to government agencies including NASA. Kevin has enjoyed tremendous success as a member of a Rope & Harness adjusting team and is excited to assist others from all levels of physical skill to “learn the ropes.” Rest assured, you will be in expert hands!

SCHEDULE & REGISTRATION

Enrollment is currently limited to 8 students per class and will fill very quickly. Courses are to be scheduled roughly once per month in the Houston area. We currently have the following course scheduled:

April 24^th, 2009 – Montgomery, Texas

Late Spring and Summer dates are forthcoming. Please call (214) 606-8370 or click here for online enrollment or for additional information.

Obtaining your appropriate adjuster license and training in estimatics (Xactimate 25, IntegriClaim) are the first steps in launching your career as an independent claims adjuster.  But they shouldn’t be your last.  Adding further licenses and certifications can and will dramatically improve your “deployability” in the eyes of adjusting firms and can mean making the cut where others of similar experience and background do not.

Over the course of the next several days, I’ll be discussing various ways of diversifying and optimizing your professional profile.  First, however, lets consider licensing itself and strategies for improving your odds of deployment by acquiring more licenses.

Obtaining your home state’s license is a good place to begin your formal entry into the independent claims industry.  (NOTE: Texas or Florida licenses are good options if your home state doesn’t license adjusters…read more).  But don’t stop there!   Through reciprocal licensing privileges, you can utilize your license to obtain most other states’ licenses without having to take those states’ exams or prelicensing courses.  And you should make every attempt to do just that.

Here is a list of states that are friendly to reciprocal licensing and historically host high numbers of adjusters working claims: Alabama, Florida, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, Texas.

If you do nothing else, obtaining just these states licenses will drastically improve your odds of landing a job.  Enforcement of licensing compliance is becoming more and more critical to adjusting firms.

The Training Director for a major adjusting firm I spoke with recently said that diversifying one’s licenses was probably the best equalizer for those with little or no adjusting experience.

Obtaining all these states licenses will cost you about a day filing applications and around $300 in application fees.  Its well worth the effort and monetary investment.  For applications and licensing information for these states, click here.

Most adjusters begin and end with their home state’s license.  Separate yourself from the rest by expanding your license portfolio and you’ll consistently reap the rewards with more assignments.

New and aspiring adjusters seeking to distinguish themselves beyond adjuster licensing and Xactimate training ought seriously to consider becoming State Farm property certified. State Farm insures more cars and homes than any other insurer in the United States…read more. So if you are seeking carrier certification that gives you the best overall chance of deployment, this is the place to start. There is, however, a surprising lack of information on the subject so lets quickly review the where, what, when, and how of State Farm adjuster certification.

Where…

At present, the following adjusting companies are approved to offer State Farm certification: Eberls, Pilot, Worley, and E.A. Renfroe. No other adjusting firms are capable of certifying you specifically for State Farm claims aside from these. Certification courses are conducted at specified locations such as a company training facility and are not available online.

What…

The certification is a 2 day process. The first day consists of an initial 6 hour LDP (Live Desktop Presentation) streamed from State Farm to the classroom. The material covers protocol specific to handling State Farm claims. In previous years, this Live Desktop Presentation was referred to as the IDL or Interactive Distance Learning segment. The second day is comprised of the two certification exams: Wind/Hail and Estimatics.

When…

Certification courses are conducted roughly on a quarterly basis and then according to demand. Check with each of the companies per above to determine scheduling. In some cases, you will be required to create an account and submit your resume to access the scheduling information.

How…

Each of the companies per above will require a resume and/or online application be submitted prior to registration for the certification. The fees for the course vary but are generally nominal.

Bottom Line…

Get certified! State Farm certification increases credibility and your odds of deployment and can serve as a foot in the door with 4 major adjusting firms.  Contact firms above for further details and to schedule your LDP and exams.