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Becoming an insurance adjuster requires obtaining the right certification and licenses. In the United States, insurance adjusters must be licensed in the state where they work.
There are two main types of licenses: resident and non-resident. Resident licenses are required for adjusters who work in the state where they are licensed, while non-resident licenses are required for adjusters who work in other states.
To become licensed, adjusters must pass a certification exam administered by the state's insurance department. The exam covers topics such as insurance law, policy interpretation, and claims handling.
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5 Steps to Become
Becoming an insurance adjuster requires a strong understanding of insurance policies and the investigative process. You'll need to familiarize yourself with the specifics of insurance coverage and policies.
To start, you'll need to meet your state's license requirements. All insurance professionals, including insurance adjusters, must comply with their state's license requirements. This typically involves completing a certain number of hours of pre-license education and passing a licensing exam.
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Next, you'll need to choose a pre-license education course. StateRequirement recommends AdjusterPro, a recommended course for insurance adjuster pre-license education. This will help you prepare for the licensing exam and understand the insurance process.
Another important step is to determine your eligibility for a reduced or waived application fee. If you're a recently-separated military veteran, you may be able to have your application fees waived or reduced. Check with your state and submit documentation showing your honorable discharge.
Finally, follow a step-by-step guide to get your insurance adjuster's license. This will walk you through the process and ensure you don't miss any important steps.
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Licensing Exams and Forms
To become an insurance adjuster, you'll need to pass a licensing exam. Each state has its own exam content outline, which covers topics like property and liability insurance, casualty and liability insurance, fire and allied lines, and more. You can find your state's specific exam content outline by reviewing their requirements.
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The exam is typically administered by your state's Department of Division of Insurance, and you can expect to pay around $50 for the application fee. Some states also require fingerprints, which can cost around $50.
Here are some common licensing exams you may encounter:
- General Adjuster (Property & Casualty including Workers Compensation)
- Workers Compensation Adjuster
- Public Adjuster
Remember to check your state's specific requirements for the exam and application process.
Examinations
To pass an insurance adjuster licensing exam, you'll need to study and prepare. The exam content varies by state, but typically covers property and liability insurance concepts, contracts, law, and adjusting practices.
In most states, the exam is administered by a state-approved testing vendor. You can find the exam content outline on your state's insurance department website or through a pre-license education course.
The exam typically includes questions on casualty and liability insurance, fire and allied lines, motor vehicle physical damage and mechanical breakdown, health insurance, and state-specific laws and regulations.
To help you prepare, many states offer a pre-license education course, which covers the material you'll need to know for the exam. These courses are usually approved by the state and can be found through StateRequirement.
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The exam is usually multiple-choice, and you'll need to score a certain percentage to pass. The passing score varies by state, so be sure to check with your state's insurance department for the specific requirements.
Here are some common exams for insurance adjusters:
- General Adjuster (Property & Casualty including Workers Compensation)
- Workers Compensation Adjuster
- Public Adjuster
Remember to check with your state's insurance department for the specific exam requirements and to make sure you're taking the right exam for your license.
Entity Licensing Forms
Entity licensing forms are a crucial part of the insurance adjuster licensing process. You'll need to complete these forms to obtain a license as an independent adjuster entity or a public adjuster entity.
To start, you'll need to choose the type of entity licensing form you need to submit. As an independent adjuster entity, you'll need to complete forms for instructions, application, reinstatement, renewal, and amendment. On the other hand, a public adjuster entity will need to complete forms for instructions, application, and reinstatement.
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Some states, like Texas, offer an emergency insurance adjuster license during disasters. If you apply as an emergency insurance adjuster, you must be sponsored by a licensed insurance adjuster or licensed insurance company in that state. Emergency insurance adjuster licenses are only valid for 90 days.
Here are the entity licensing forms you may need to submit:
Keep in mind that specific requirements can vary depending on your state, so be sure to check with your state's requirements to determine your path.
Certification and Renewals
You can obtain completion certificates through the RMS system, which can be printed and provided to other contracted adjusting firms to confirm your eligibility to handle TWIA/TFPA claims.
These certifications are good for 365 days from completion, so make sure to renew your certification before it expires.
To renew your insurance adjuster license, you can visit www.sircon.com/Mississippi or www.nipr.com during your renewal period, or apply online as a first-time adjuster if your license has expired over 12 months.
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Continuing Education
Continuing Education is a crucial part of being a licensed insurance adjuster. You'll need to complete continuing education (CE) courses to maintain your licensure, and Kaplan offers a wide variety of courses for insurance professionals to do so.
CE courses are available to help you stay up-to-date on industry developments and maintain your expertise. Kaplan is a recommended provider for CE credit.
To keep your license active, you'll need to complete CE courses within a certain timeframe, which varies by state. It's essential to check your state's requirements for CE completion.
Here are some CE options to consider:
Remember, CE courses are an ongoing requirement for licensed insurance adjusters. Staying on top of CE requirements will help you maintain your licensure and stay competitive in the industry.
License Renewals
To renew your insurance adjuster license, you can do so online at www.sircon.com/Mississippi or www.nipr.com. The renewal period is available on the website, and MID staff will verify your non-resident home state licensure on the national state producer licensing database (SPLD).
If your license has expired, you can reinstate it within 12 months of the expiration date by applying online or by submitting a first-time adjuster application with required fees by mail. Licenses expired over 12 months require you to re-apply as a first-time adjuster and we will verify home state licensure with a reciprocal exam on the SPLD.
A reinstatement will result in a lapse in licensure, and a late fee of 50% of the renewal fee will be assessed to all renewal invoices received after May 31 for entities and within 12 months of the license expiration date for individuals.
You can also find the necessary forms for license renewals on the MID website, including the Independent Adjuster – Instructions, Application, Renewal, Reinstatement, Affidavit, and Public Adjuster – Instructions, Application, Renewal, Reinstatement.
Here's a list of the forms you can find on the MID website:
- Independent Adjuster – Instructions, Application, Renewal, Reinstatement, Affidavit
- Public Adjuster – Instructions, Application, Renewal, Reinstatement
- Independent Adjuster Entity – Instructions, Application, Reinstatement, Renewal, Amendment
- Public Adjuster Entity – Instructions, Application, Reinstatement
Sources
- https://www.texasinsurancetrainingacademy.com/blog/5-steps-to-become-an-insurance-adjuster
- https://www.mid.ms.gov/mississippi-insurance-department/licensing/adjuster-licensing/
- https://staterequirement.com/insurance-adjuster-licensing/
- https://www.twia.org/adjusters/
- https://www.kaplanfinancial.com/insurance/virginia/adjuster
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