How to become a public adjuster

By Open PA Jobs · Last updated Oct 25, 2026

What public adjusters do, how they get paid, how licensing works, and the license rules in ten big PA states, each linked to the official source. Not legal advice. Always confirm with your state Department of Insurance (DOI).

What a public adjuster does

A public adjuster (PA) is a licensed claims professional who works for the policyholder, not the insurance company. When a home or business has a fire, storm, water, or other property loss, the PA reads the policy, inspects and documents the damage, writes the estimate, puts the claim package together, and negotiates with the insurer’s adjuster until the claim is paid.

A staff (company) adjuster is an insurer’s employee, and an independent adjuster is hired by the insurer on contract. Both work for the carrier. As the Illinois Department of Insurance puts it, a PA “does not work for any insurance company” (Illinois DOI).

The work is part field, part desk: inspecting roofs and water-damaged rooms, building estimates (often in Xactimate), reading policy language, and following up with the carrier. Many roles also include bringing in new claims.

How public adjusters get paid

A PA signs a written contract with the policyholder. Most contracts pay the PA a percentage of what the insurer pays on the claim, so the PA earns more when the claim pays more. Some states also allow hourly or flat fees.

Many states cap the fee. Two examples, as of Oct 2026:

• Florida: on residential claims, no more than 10% of claim payments for claims tied to a governor-declared state of emergency (for the year after the declaration), and no more than 20% on other claims. The fee can’t be charged on the deductible, and a PA can’t charge on money the insurer paid before the contract was signed (Fla. Stat. § 626.854).
• Texas: the total commission may not exceed 10% of the settlement, and a percentage fee isn’t allowed when the insurer pays or commits to pay the policy limit within 72 hours of the loss being reported (Tex. Ins. Code § 4102.104).

If you work for a PA firm rather than for yourself, the firm usually holds the client contract and pays you. Common setups are a commission split on the claims you work or bring in, a base salary plus commission, or a 1099 contractor deal. Ask every employer how the split works, who pays for your bond and licenses, and when you get paid (often only after the insurer pays the claim). Our pay guide covers how PA compensation works.

How to get a public adjuster license: the general path

Every state that licenses PAs sets its own rules, but the steps look similar almost everywhere:

1. Pick your home state. Your first (resident) license comes from the state you live in.
2. Meet any experience rule. Florida and California require claims experience first, and both offer an apprentice route.
3. Take a pre-licensing course if required. California, New York, and Georgia require one. Others don’t list one.
4. Pass the state public adjuster exam, given by vendors such as PSI or Pearson VUE.
5. Get fingerprinted for a criminal background check.
6. Buy a surety bond (or, in some states, a letter of credit). Amounts range from $1,000 in New York to $50,000 in Florida, Illinois, and Louisiana.
7. Apply and pay the fee, usually online through NIPR or Sircon.
8. Get your client contract approved where the state requires it. Illinois, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Texas all have contract rules.
9. Add nonresident licenses for other states. Many waive the exam if you hold a current home-state PA license.
10. Keep up with continuing education (CE) and renewals, usually every two years.

Many candidates start as an apprentice, trainee, or estimator at a PA firm. Some firms help pay for the course, exam, and bond.

Public adjuster license requirements by state

Rules for a resident individual license in ten big PA markets. Each fact links to the state insurance department or the law it came from. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the department before you pay for anything. Where we couldn’t confirm a detail, we say so.

* New York CE starts once the license has been in effect more than 2 years; Colorado CE starts with the second renewal cycle. Fees exclude exam and fingerprint costs. Sources are in each state section.

Florida

• License: Public adjuster, issued by the Department of Financial Services.
• Before you can apply: you must hold an all-lines adjuster license and have been appointed for the previous 6 continuous months as a public adjuster apprentice, independent adjuster, or company employee adjuster (or have held a Florida nonresident PA license for 6 months) (§ 626.865).
• Apprentice rules: a public adjuster apprentice must hold an all-lines adjuster license, be appointed by a PA firm, and file its own $50,000 bond. A firm can have at most four apprentices, a supervising PA can oversee only one at a time, and apprentices can’t sign client contracts (§ 626.8651).
• Exam: yes. Florida won’t issue a PA license without the public adjuster exam (§ 626.865(3)).
• Bond: $50,000, kept in force for the life of the license and 1 year after (§ 626.865(2)).
• Fees: $50 application filing fee and a $60 adjuster appointment fee (original and each two-year renewal). The exam fee is the actual cost of the exam (§ 624.501).
• CE: 24 hours every 2 years: a 4-hour update course plus 20 elective hours (16 elective hours once you’ve been licensed 6 or more years) (§ 626.2815).

Verified as of Oct 2026.

See Florida public adjuster jobs or the Florida location page.

Texas

• License: Public insurance adjuster, issued by the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI). A resident applicant must live in Texas (Tex. Ins. Code § 4102.053).
• Exam: yes. Pass it before you apply; if you don’t apply within a year of passing, you retake it (TDI).
• Pre-licensing / apprenticeship: TDI’s application page doesn’t list a required pre-licensing course or an apprentice license. The law requires “sufficient experience or training” in property values and property loss; check with TDI on how that is shown.
• Bond: a surety bond of $10,000 or more, with you as the sole principal (TDI).
• Fees: $50 application fee (TDI). You also have to use TDI’s contract (Form FIN535) or your own contract that meets the rules.
• CE: 24 hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics; at least half must be classroom or classroom-equivalent (TDI CE).

Verified as of Oct 2026.

See Texas public adjuster jobs or the Texas location page.

California

• License: Public insurance adjuster, issued by the California Department of Insurance (CDI).
• Pre-licensing: a 20-hour course; waived if you hold a current out-of-state PA license (CDI).
• Experience: two years of claims experience (CDI counts 2,000 paid hours as one year), or 12 full months as a licensed apprentice public insurance adjuster. You also need a California office open to the public during business hours (Ins. Code § 15011).
• Apprentice license: no exam, lasts up to 12 months and can’t be renewed, you must be employed and supervised by a licensed PA, and you finish the 20-hour course during the term (§ 15016).
• Exam: yes, and residents must pass it before applying (CDI).
• Bond: $20,000 from a California-admitted surety (§ 15011(f)).
• Fees: $264 license filing fee, $264 renewal, $68 exam. The apprentice license filing fee is listed at $264 (CDI fee schedule).
• CE: 24 hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics (§ 15059.1).

Verified as of Oct 2026.

See California public adjuster jobs or the California location page.

New York

• License: Public adjuster, issued by the Department of Financial Services (DFS).
• Pre-licensing: a DFS-approved course of at least 40 hours. You can skip it if you’ve worked at least one year in the insurance industry in sales, underwriting, or claims and send a signed Statement of Employer (DFS).
• Exam: yes, passed within 2 years of applying (DFS).
• Bond: $1,000 for the licensing period. You also need five Certificates of Character from people who have known you at least five years and aren’t related to you (DFS).
• Fees: $100 for a license issued for more than one year, $50 for one year or less. Adjuster licenses expire December 31 of even years (DFS).
• CE: 15 credits per two-year licensing period once the license has been in effect more than 2 years, including at least one hour each of insurance law, ethics, and diversity/elimination of bias (DFS CE).

Verified as of Oct 2026.

See New York public adjuster jobs or the New York location page.

Illinois

• License: Public adjuster, issued by the Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI).
• Exam: yes. The fee is $92, which includes a $50 state administrative fee (IDOI). After a first failed attempt you wait 7 days to retest, then 30 days after later failures (215 ILCS 5/1530).
• Pre-licensing / apprenticeship: IDOI’s licensing page doesn’t list a pre-licensing course or an apprentice license. You must keep an office in your home state that the public can visit by appointment or during business hours (215 ILCS 5/1525).
• Bond: $50,000 surety bond or irrevocable letter of credit (IDOI).
• Fees: $250 license fee. Your client contract must be approved by IDOI, and you can’t sign a client until both the contract and the license are approved (IDOI).
• CE: 24 hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of classroom or webinar ethics (215 ILCS 5/1565).

Verified as of Oct 2026.

See the Illinois location page.

Georgia

• License: Public adjuster, issued by the Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire (OCI).
• Pre-licensing: a state-approved Property and Casualty Public Adjuster course (Georgia OCI).
• Exam: yes, the Public Adjuster exam (Georgia OCI).
• Bond: $5,000, in favor of the Commissioner (Georgia OCI).
• Fees: $120 application fee. Since July 1, 2021, your client contract must be approved by the Commissioner; you get 30 days after the license is approved to submit it (Georgia OCI).
• CE: resident licensees complete 24 hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics (20 hours after 20+ years of service) (Georgia OCI CE).

Verified as of Oct 2026.

See Georgia public adjuster jobs or the Georgia location page.

Louisiana

• License: Public adjuster, issued by the Louisiana Department of Insurance (LDI).
• Order of steps: file your license application through NIPR first. LDI then tells the testing vendor (PSI) that you’re eligible to schedule the exam (LDI).
• Exam: yes. PSI lists the Public Adjuster exam (Series 301) at $19 (LDI candidate bulletin, PSI).
• Pre-licensing / apprenticeship: check with the department. LDI’s page doesn’t describe a PA pre-licensing course or apprentice license.
• Bond: $50,000 surety bond or irrevocable letter of credit (La. R.S. 22:1701). LDI won’t issue the license until it receives the original, wet-signed bond form (LDI).
• Fees: application fees are collected through NIPR when you apply; check with the department for the current amount.
• CE: 24 hours per renewal, including 3 hours of ethics. Starting with July 2027 renewals, 2 of those hours must cover legislative updates in insurance law (LDI CE).

Verified as of Oct 2026.

See the Louisiana location page.

Pennsylvania

• License: Public adjuster, issued by the Pennsylvania Insurance Department.
• Exam: yes, through PSI; you can apply right after passing (PID resident process). Test scores are valid for 1 year (31 Pa. Code § 115.16).
• Pre-licensing / apprenticeship: the department’s resident licensing steps don’t list a pre-licensing course or apprentice license.
• Bond: at least $20,000, in place before you do business. You must also use the department’s approved contract or get your own contract approved (PID resident process).
• Fees: $200 initial license and $200 renewal; licenses run 2 years (PID).
• CE: 24 credit hours for each two-year license period; up to 24 extra hours carry forward (Public Adjuster Licensing Law § 2.4).

Verified as of Oct 2026.

See Pennsylvania public adjuster jobs.

New Jersey

• License: Public adjuster, issued by the Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI).
• Exam: yes, passed within the 12 months before you apply (N.J.A.C. 11:1-37.4).
• Pre-licensing / apprenticeship: the state rule doesn’t list a pre-licensing course. New Jersey does license temporary sublicensees, who are covered by the bond of the licensed PA they work under (N.J.A.C. 11:1-37.4); check with DOBI on how that status works.
• Bond: $10,000 per licensee (N.J.A.C. 11:1-37.9).
• Fees: $70 for an initial individual license ($50 license fee plus $20 processing) and $50 to renew (DOBI fees).
• CE: 15 credit hours before each renewal; licenses renew every two years in your birth month (DOBI).

Verified as of Oct 2026.

See New Jersey public adjuster jobs.

Colorado

• License: Public adjuster, issued by the Colorado Division of Insurance.
• Exam: yes, through Pearson VUE; the exam fee is $41 (Colorado candidate handbook).
• Pre-licensing: not required for a PA license. Colorado’s handbook requires pre-licensing training only for the Life, Accident and Health, Property, Casualty, and Personal Lines producer lines (handbook).
• Bond: $20,000 surety bond plus a power of attorney, uploaded with your Sircon application (Colorado DOI).
• Fees: $44 for a new resident license (per authority) and $27 to renew, effective April 1, 2026 (handbook).
• CE: 24 credits per two-year cycle, starting with your second cycle: 18 in your line, 3 in ethics, and 3 of your choice (handbook).

Verified as of Oct 2026.

See Colorado public adjuster jobs or the Colorado location page.

States that don’t license public adjusters

Alabama does not license or recognize public adjusters (Alabama DOI FAQ). The department’s glossary adds that in Alabama, people who represent policyholders on claims must be attorneys (Alabama DOI).

A few other states have no PA license or restrict the work. We haven’t confirmed each against an official source, so we don’t list them; check with your state’s insurance department. If your state doesn’t license PAs, you may be able to designate another state as your home state. California allows this if you finish its pre-licensing course and pass its exam (Ins. Code § 15009.1).

How to land your first public adjuster job

Most PAs start inside a firm, and in Florida and California that time can count toward the full license. What tends to work:

• Look at apprentice and trainee listings first. Firms post these for people who are licensed or getting licensed. Search the job board for “apprentice” or “trainee,” and read the role types page to see how desk, field, and sales roles differ.
• Apply where the work is. Florida and Texas have the most PA firms and the most storm claims. Browse Florida jobs, Texas jobs, or every state.
• Consider remote desk roles. Estimating, file review, and claims support can often be done from home. See remote public adjuster jobs.
• Lead with useful skills. Xactimate, construction or roofing, restoration, and claims or sales experience all help.
• Ask the money questions early. What is the split, is there a base or draw, who pays for licenses and the bond, and what happens to open claims if you leave?
• Avoid red flags. Walk away from anyone who guarantees income, charges you to “join,” or wants you working claims before you are licensed or appointed.
• Get alerts. Sign up for job alerts or check the Open PA Jobs homepage.

Public adjuster FAQ

Do I need a license to work as a public adjuster?

In most states, yes. Every state covered in this guide requires a public adjuster license before you can contract with policyholders, and each requires an exam for a resident license. Alabama is an exception: it does not license or recognize public adjusters at all.

How long does it take to become a public adjuster?

It depends on the state. In states like Texas, Illinois, and Colorado, the main steps are the exam, fingerprints, bond, and application. Florida first requires 6 continuous months as an appointed apprentice or company or independent adjuster, and California requires two years of claims experience or 12 months as a licensed apprentice.

How do public adjusters get paid?

Usually a percentage of what the insurer pays on the claim, set in a written contract with the policyholder. Many states cap that fee. Texas caps it at 10% of the settlement, and Florida caps residential claims at 10% for state-of-emergency claims in the year after the declaration and 20% otherwise. Adjusters who work for a firm are usually paid through a commission split, salary plus commission, or a 1099 arrangement.

Can I work as a public adjuster in more than one state?

Yes. You hold a resident license in your home state and add nonresident licenses in other states. Many states, including Texas and Pennsylvania, waive the exam for nonresidents who hold a current PA license in a home state with similar rules. Each state still requires its own application, fees, and usually its own bond.

What is the difference between a public adjuster and an independent adjuster?

A public adjuster is hired by the policyholder and works for them. An independent adjuster is hired by the insurance company on a contract basis and works for the insurer. Both handle property claims, but they sit on opposite sides of the claim.

Disclaimers

This page is general information only. It is not legal, licensing, or career advice. State rules, fees, and forms change; always confirm the current requirements with your state Department of Insurance (DOI) or equivalent before you pay for a course, exam, or bond. Open PA Jobs is not affiliated with NAPIA, FAPIA, any state insurance department, or any carrier, and we don’t place candidates.