5 Steps to Become an Insurance Claims Adjuster

Step 1: Determine the insurance adjuster license you need.

First things first, what state do you call home? Where you live can have the greatest initial impact upon the path you take to your claims adjuster career. Each state has slightly different regulations governing the activity of insurance adjusters working within their borders. Some states have very strict rules and requirements while others may have virtually none at all. So how do you find out? Use AdjusterPro’s convenient state-by-state requirements directory to determine your state’s insurance adjuster regulations.

Many will find that their state does not require an insurance adjuster license. However, it is still highly recommended that you obtain your claims license. This is for three reasons:

Insurance Knowledge is Adjusting Power. Preparing for an adjuster licensing exam or taking an adjuster licensing course will require you to read and understand a wide spectrum of insurance policy and apply them within the context of an insurance claim. Knowing how to read and apply insurance policy is an absolute necessity when you hit the field as a claims adjuster.
Increase Professional Credibility. Increase your likelihood of landing a job - all things being equal, employers will favor a licensed adjuster over an unlicensed adjuster every time.
Work anywhere…just about. Advance your career - having an adjuster license in a state that enjoys a high level of adjuster license reciprocity with other states will greatly increase your geographical range of operating. This increased flexibility, of course, is favored by those who hire and fire in the insurance claims industry.

If your state does not have an insurance license requirement to work as an adjuster, AdjusterPro generally recommends obtaining a Property and Casualty Adjuster’s License from the state of Texas. This license has the most convenient and widely available course options as well as the highest level of nationwide adjuster reciprocity.

Step 2: Determine the most convenient way for you to obtain your insurance adjuster license.

Once you determine which state's insurance adjuster license best suits your needs, you should consider your licensing course choices. In general there are two options:

Take your state's exam. Either Thompson-Prometric or Promissor will act as the testing agency for your state’s adjuster license exam. If you were blessed with an infused knowledge of the nuances of inland marine insurance policies from birth – this is a good option for you. For the rest of us, these exams are notoriously difficult and there is no guarantee of passing. The bad news is that in many states this is the only option for obtaining the adjuster license. The good news is that there are preparatory courses available that can dramatically increase the likelihood of passing your state’s adjuster licensing exam. If there is a licensing prep course for your state - AdjusterPro has it here.
Take a pre-licensing course. In some states, notably Texas and Florida, you have the option of taking a course rather than the exam. These courses are 30 to 40 hours in length and are offered either online or in a classroom. Online pre-licensing courses are self-paced and can be taken from the comfort of your home. Classroom pre-licensing courses are available in various locations in Texas and Florida with most companies offering them on a monthly basis. Pre-licensing courses are generally 3 to 5 full days in length.

Choosing the right insurance adjuster licensing option is an important decision. Not all schools and programs deliver the caliber of insurance claims education you deserve. Beware of red flags and stick to educational providers with a proven track record of excellence in insurance adjuster training.

Step 3: Get Licensed!

So you have passed your insurance adjuster exam but they didn’t hand you your adjuster license? Don’t worry, in order to get licensed you still need to successfully fill out and submit your application to correct regulating authority. Its not a big deal – just find the state you are applying to and we will walk you through it.

More people than you might think fail to obtain their adjuster license simply because they don’t follow the application rules, don’t fill the application out in time, or amazingly just never fill them out in the first place! Get your state’s application, be proactive, and get that license!

Step 4: Assess your Strengths and Weaknesses

If you have your adjuster license but have no other insurance claims training you might suddenly find yourself feeling somewhat inadequate for the job. To become a professional insurance claims adjuster you must combine a unique range of knowledge and art – a range that most of us don’t naturally possess. Take an honest look at our 7 habits of highly effective adjusters, and if you see an area that needs work – get cracking.

Step 5: Sharpen your Adjuster Skills

Most staff insurance adjusters should be provided with rigorous claims training sufficient to equip them with the basic skill-set needed for the job. Independent insurance adjusters, however, will likely be expected to have already provided for themselves with such training prior to being hired. Contact us today for the best career training options available.

While the best insurance adjuster training is the school of hard-knocks, sometimes there is no need to spend hours in the field attempting a task that a minute’s timely instruction can show you how to do in 30 seconds. If you need to sharpen your skills, give us a call and we’ll help you explore the available options.

Go Back to AdjusterPro's Insurance Adjuster Homepage.