To become a licensed claims adjuster in Illinois, you'll need to meet the state's requirements. The first step is to be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or equivalent.
You'll also need to complete 20 hours of pre-licensing education in a state-approved claims adjuster course. This course will cover topics such as property and casualty insurance, ethics, and Illinois insurance laws.
The course must be approved by the Illinois Department of Insurance and must include at least 3 hours of ethics instruction. You'll need to pass a final exam to complete the course.
After completing the course, you'll need to apply for the license through the Illinois Department of Insurance. You'll need to submit an application, pay the required fee, and provide proof of completing the pre-licensing education course.
Becoming a Licensed Claims Adjuster
To become a licensed claims adjuster, you'll need to meet the requirements set by the state of Illinois. In Illinois, you can choose to become a company/staff adjuster, an independent adjuster, or a public adjuster.
To become an independent adjuster, you'll need to be licensed in your home state, and you'll need to meet the specific requirements for your state, such as prelicensing education or work experience. Currently, 34 states require independent adjuster licensing, and Illinois is one of them.
To become a licensed claims adjuster in Illinois, you'll need to pass a state licensing exam, which will test your knowledge of insurance concepts, claims investigations, and settlement negotiations. You can prepare for the exam by taking an insurance adjuster licensing course, which will cover topics such as homeowners and dwelling coverage, commercial property, and workers' compensation.
You can apply for your license 24 hours after passing the exam by completing an application on the Sircon website. The application process must be completed within one year of passing the exam or the exam must be retaken.
Here are the states that require independent adjuster licensing, as well as the states that require prelicensing education or work experience:
Company/Staff Requirements
Becoming a Company/Staff Adjuster requires a license in some states. If you're interested in this career path, it's essential to know which states require a license and what the requirements are.
In the United States, there are currently 15 states that require Staff/Company adjuster licensing: Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
You'll need to take your home state exam, which is the same exam for independent adjusters. In some states, you may also need to take the exam for the specific line of insurance for which you'll be adjusting.
Licensing Course
To become a licensed claims adjuster, you'll need to take an insurance adjuster licensing course. This course will cover the necessary topics to pass the state licensing exam, including homeowners and dwelling coverage, personal auto, and commercial property.
The course will also cover adjuster-specific information, such as claims investigations, handling disputes of coverage, and settlement negotiations. You'll also learn about general insurance and contract concepts, basic insurance terminology, and state-specific regulations.
Some of the specific topics you can expect to learn about in the course include:
- Homeowners and dwelling coverage
- Personal auto
- Personal umbrella
- Commercial property
- Commercial general liability
- Businessowners' coverage
- Commercial auto
- Crime
- Surety
- Workers' compensation
- Farm insurance
- Commercial umbrella coverage
By taking this course, you'll be well-prepared to pass the state licensing exam and start your career as a licensed claims adjuster.
Exam and Application Process
To get your claims adjuster license in Illinois, you'll need to pass the Illinois Public Adjuster Examination. The exam is administered through Pearson Vue and can only be taken at a testing center - no online exams are offered.
If you fail the exam the first time, you must wait 7 days to take it again, and if you fail again, you must wait 30 days before you can take the exam again.
After passing the exam, you can apply for your license 24 hours later by completing an application at https://www.sircon.com/products/apply.jsp. The application process must be completed within one year of passing the exam or the exam must be retaken.
To complete the application, you'll need to submit electronic copies of your Financial responsibility and the Public Adjuster Contract through the National Insurance Producer Registry. There is a $250 licensing fee that must be paid by electronic funds transfer (EFT) during the application process.
Before your license can be issued, you must submit your fingerprints through an approved Illinois live scan vendor. Once the results of the scan have been received by the Department of Insurance, they can complete the issuance process.
Here's a summary of the exam and application process:
Bonding and Insurance
To become a licensed claims adjuster in Illinois, you'll need to meet the state's financial responsibility requirements. You can satisfy this requirement by purchasing a surety bond or establishing an irrevocable line of credit.
The Illinois Department of Insurance requires a surety bond or irrevocable line of credit in the amount of $50,000. You can purchase a surety bond with a low fixed price, with options for a 1, 2, or 3-year bond term.
Purchasing a surety bond for a longer term can save you 17% on the cost. For example, a 1-year bond term costs $200, a 2-year bond term costs $350, and a 3-year bond term costs $500.
You can instantly purchase your bond today and get it issued within one business day. If you have any questions, you can call one of the bond specialists at 1-800-608-9950.
Here are the prices for a surety bond in Illinois:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do public adjusters make in Illinois?
According to current data, public adjusters in Illinois earn an average annual salary of $62,931. For more information on this profession, including job requirements and growth prospects, see our related articles.
Sources
- https://www.adbanker.com/blog/insurance-adjusters-licensing-requirements-everything-you-need-to-know/
- https://staterequirement.com/insurance-adjuster-licensing/illinois-adjuster-license/
- https://www.suretybondsdirect.com/blog/illinois-public-adjuster-license
- https://www.adbanker.com/licensing-requirements/insurance/illinois/insurance-adjuster/
- https://illinois.licenselookup.org/insurance/
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