{"id":5575,"date":"2023-11-14T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-11-14T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businessyield.com\/ins\/?p=5575"},"modified":"2023-11-14T12:33:44","modified_gmt":"2023-11-14T12:33:44","slug":"claims-adjuster-license-application-how-to-go-about-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businessyield.com\/ins\/insurance-guide\/claims-adjuster-license-application-how-to-go-about-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Claims Adjuster License Application: How To Go About It"},"content":{"rendered":"
To become an insurance claims adjuster and get a license, you need to meet certain requirements, which may vary based on the state and the type of work you want to do. Generally, you need a high school diploma or GED and complete insurance adjuster training.<\/p>
You also need to pass the State Insurance Adjuster’s Licensing Exam.<\/p>
The adjuster works on behalf of an insurance carrier to investigate, evaluate, adjust, and negotiate the value of your claim for payment under an insurance policy written by the firm represented. This individual will determine if you have a valid claim under the insurance contract and, if so, how much money you are entitled to.<\/p>
Some insurance companies have multiple titles for insurance adjusters. The insurance you are dealing with, for example, may employ the following job titles: claim examiners, claim agents, claim representatives, investigators, or claim auditors.<\/p>
However, in general, these distinct titles play the same roles in legal claims.<\/p>
Desk adjusters, also known as inside adjusters, work in offices. They handle claims using their computers by information, including images, sent to them by policyholders. Field adjusters, meanwhile, go to the center of the action. They travel to where the damage occurred, interview people there, take pictures, and assess the damage firsthand.<\/p>
Catastrophe adjusters, also called CAT adjusters, are tasked to handle large-scale calamities and are often deployed to disaster zones to work on the claims. Given that these professionals work extremely long hours, with each assignment lasting weeks to even months, and face brutal conditions, they are also among the highest-paid adjusters.<\/p>
Daily claims adjusters, on the other hand, handle claims resulting from losses that can happen in our everyday lives, including clogged toilets, grease fires, and burglary.<\/p>
Becoming a claims adjuster is not typically a career path that people think about, but is an industry in high demand of careers. Typically, insurance claims adjusters need at least a high school diploma, although an associate’s or bachelor’s degree can be preferred. From there, individuals will need to study and pass a licensing exam.<\/p>
Some states require a certain number of hours of training that must be done ahead of time. From there, insurance adjusters need to complete continuing education credits in order to keep their licenses. In California, licensed independent insurance adjusters must complete a minimum of 24 hours of continuing education, per every two-year license term.<\/p>
For example, in Florida, insurance claims adjusters must take and pass the Florida Adjuster Examination from an approved vendor. The state also requires adjusters to complete 24 hours of continuing education every two years.<\/p>
The following jurisdictions do not require licenses for insurance adjusters:<\/p>
Insurance adjusting is a stable industry with excellent earning potential, but it is not for everybody:<\/p>
Most insurance adjusters choose between two career paths, electing to become either a staff adjuster or an independent insurance adjuster.<\/p>
Both types of adjusters \u2014 staff employees and independent contractors \u2014 may handle both regular \u2018daily claims\u2019 that happen on a normal basis, as well as catastrophe claims from weather events and manmade disasters.<\/p>
There are many, many more directions you can take with your claims career. As they gain experience, many adjusters will specialize in a certain type of work or claim, such as CAT, auto, workers\u2019 comp, or marine.<\/p>
To start, you\u2019ll need to know whether your home state licenses insurance adjusters. <\/p>
An insurance adjuster license is only the starting point of your new career. Software training is the next step, but good adjusters never stop adding to their resume and skill set.<\/p>
Proficiency in the industry-standard claims writing software, Xactimate, is critical for success in this career field. It is the top software used by adjusting firms and frankly, you won\u2019t be able to successfully close claims until you learn it. <\/p>
Carrier certifications are often required to work claims for a specific insurance company. We recommend obtaining your\u00a0State Farm Certification\u00a0as soon as you can as they are a bit harder to come by than most carrier certifications. Once you\u2019ve been hired, your employer will recommend additional training as needed.<\/p>
This one-of-a-kind new training course was developed to give newly licensed adjusters an inside look at the claims industry and help them develop a systematic approach to launching their career as claims adjusters. In the\u00a0Adjuster Success Method, veteran adjusters share best practices for getting hired, what tools you\u2019ll need to get the job done, show you how to successfully close your first claims.<\/p>
Whether you are looking for employment as a staff adjuster or prefer to remain independent and handle claims on a contractual basis,\u00a0treat your job search as a job in itself,\u00a0and you will not be disappointed.<\/p>
Yes. Some states have their own insurance adjuster licensing process. This affects where and how you get licensed.<\/p>
Most states (34 out of 50) issue their own licenses for claims adjusters. Some states are more difficult than others. New York and California are notorious due to two rules. First, neither state offers reciprocity (along with Hawaii), so if you want to process claims in those states, you need to complete all their requirements. Secondly, both New York and California (along with New Mexico) require adjusters to get bonded.<\/p>
These two obstacles combined mean that few nonresidents hold California or New York adjuster’s licenses, but if you make the effort, they can be valuable.<\/p>
It’s worth noting that reciprocity agreements can change over time, so it’s always best to check with the individual state’s insurance department for the most up-to-date information.<\/p>
17 jurisdictions don’t issue their own license:<\/p>
You still need to earn a license if you live in a non-licensing state. Since most adjusters work in multiple states and most require a license, most adjusting positions require you to be licensed regardless of type.<\/p>
Residents of any above jurisdictions can obtain a nonresident Designated Home State (DHS) license. You pick which state will be your “home” and then apply from there.<\/p>