How Do I Become an Insurance Adjuster?

An insurance or claims adjuster can be an excellent job for the right person. If you enjoy insurance and also enjoy performing investigations in the field, then this job might be a good fit. Adjusters can either be employed directly by insurance companies or freelance and self-employed. As a property owner, you may prefer to hire a freelance adjuster to ensure a non-bias relationship. However, as an adjuster, being a designated employee may offer more job security. In either case, before you can even secure a job, you need to get licensed, which can be broken down into four steps.

1. Determine Which Available Licenses You Prefer

The first thing you need to know when looking into this career field is that there are different types of adjuster licenses, and these vary from state to state. Therefore, you will need to determine the licensing requirements of your state, and then decide which type of adjuster you want to become. For example, do you want to be a staff adjuster working full-time for an insurance company, or do you want to be an independent adjuster working for yourself and contracting with other insurance companies? The last option is to become a public adjuster who primarily works on behalf of the policyholders.

2. Enroll in a Pre-licensing Course and Take the Necessary Exam

Once you determine the type of adjuster that appeals to your strengths, you can enroll in pre-licensing courses that will help prepare you for your licensing exam. While you can just pay to take the exam, doing so is not advisable. Insurance adjusters need to understand sophisticated practices, and the best way to learn is through course work and study. Once you have completed the necessary course work, you need to schedule and pass the licensing exam with at least 60% or better in most states.

3. Take Additional Training as Needed

When searching for the phrase “How do I become an insurance adjuster?” you will likely come across several training courses for things like analysis software training and rope and harness courses. These types of classes are useful to only specific groups of adjusters, and they can be used to help boost the resume of a new license holder.

4. Find Employment

Once you pass any required background checks and additional training, you will be able to move forward with your job hunt. However, you will likely have to wait until you receive your license in the mail.

Becoming an insurance adjuster can be a fulfilling career for the right individual, but it is not for everyone. Find yourself a pre-licensing course to get an idea of what it takes to be a successful adjuster.