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.