Insurance adjuster license requirements by state
Adjuster licensing is set state by state. Some states license every adjuster who handles a claim there, some license only independent adjusters, and some license none at all. Pick a state for its exam, fees, continuing education and nonresident rules, each linked to the official source.
All states at a glance
| State | Licensing | Exam | License fee | CE hours | Accepts DHS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | License required | other, 150 Q | $110 | 24 | Yes |
| Alaska | License required | Pearson VUE, 80 Q | $75 | 24 | Yes |
| Arizona | License required | PSI, 150 Q | $120 | 0 | |
| Arkansas | License required | PSI, 25 Q | 24 | Yes | |
| California | License required | PSI, 100 Q | $311 | 24 | Yes |
| Colorado | No license required | ||||
| Connecticut | License required | Pearson VUE, 100 Q | $130 | 0 | Yes |
| Delaware | License required | Pearson VUE, 50 Q | $125 | 12 | Yes |
| District of Columbia | No license required | ||||
| Florida | License required | Pearson VUE, 100 Q | $55 | 24 | Yes |
| Georgia | License required | Pearson VUE, 105 Q | $100 | 24 | Yes |
| Hawaii | License required | Pearson VUE, 90 Q | $165 | 0 | |
| Idaho | License required | Pearson VUE, 60 Q | $80 | 24 | Yes |
| Illinois | No license required | ||||
| Indiana | License required | Pearson VUE, 100 Q | $40 | 24 | Yes |
| Iowa | License required | Pearson VUE, 50 Q | $50 | 24 | |
| Kansas | No license required | ||||
| Kentucky | License required | See state page | $50 | 24 | Yes |
| Louisiana | License required | PSI, 150 Q | $75 | 24 | Yes |
| Maine | License required | Pearson VUE, 50 Q | $45 | 0 | Yes |
| Maryland | No license required | ||||
| Massachusetts | Limited licensing | Pearson VUE | |||
| Michigan | License required | PSI, 100 Q | $15 | 0 | Yes |
| Minnesota | License required | PSI, 35 Q | $50 | 24 | Yes |
| Mississippi | License required | Pearson VUE, 60 Q | $100 | 24 | Yes |
| Missouri | No license required | ||||
| Montana | License required | Pearson VUE, 88 Q | $50 | 24 | Yes |
| Nebraska | No license required | ||||
| Nevada | License required | Pearson VUE, 90 Q | $185 | 24 | Yes |
| New Hampshire | License required | PSI, 150 Q | $75 | 24 | Yes |
| New Jersey | No license required | ||||
| New Mexico | License required | PSI, 50 Q | $30 | 24 | Yes |
| New York | License required | PSI, 100 Q | $100 | 0 | No |
| North Carolina | License required | Pearson VUE, 100 Q | $169 | 24 | Yes |
| North Dakota | No license required | ||||
| Ohio | No license required | ||||
| Oklahoma | License required | PSI, 85 Q | $30 | 24 | Yes |
| Oregon | License required | PSI, 150 Q | $100 | 24 | Yes |
| Pennsylvania | No license required | ||||
| Rhode Island | License required | Pearson VUE, 35 Q | $250 | 24 | Yes |
| South Carolina | License required | Pearson VUE, 105 Q | $80 | 0 | Yes |
| South Dakota | No license required | ||||
| Tennessee | Limited licensing | See state page | $100 | 24 | |
| Texas | License required | Pearson VUE, 150 Q | $50 | 24 | Yes |
| Utah | License required | Prometric, 150 Q | $75 | 24 | Yes |
| Vermont | License required | Prometric | $150 | Yes | |
| Virginia | No license required | ||||
| Washington | License required | PSI, 100 Q | $50 | 24 | Yes |
| West Virginia | License required | Pearson VUE, 80 Q | $50 | 24 | Yes |
| Wisconsin | No license required | ||||
| Wyoming | License required | Pearson VUE, 100 Q | $100 | 24 | Yes |
How adjuster licensing works
An adjuster license lets you investigate and settle insurance claims on behalf of an insurer. You get your first license from your home state, usually by passing a state exam or finishing an approved prelicensing course. Other states can then issue you a nonresident license, often without another exam, under reciprocity agreements.
If your home state does not license adjusters, you can pick a designated home state such as Texas or Florida, qualify there as if you were a resident, and use that license as the basis for nonresident licenses elsewhere. Our reciprocity map shows where each license is accepted, and how to become an insurance adjuster walks through the whole process.
Frequently asked questions
Which states require an insurance adjuster license?
Of the 51 jurisdictions in our guide, 35 license independent adjusters (and often company adjusters), 2 have limited licensing, and 14 do not license independent or company adjusters at all: Colorado, District of Columbia, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Virginia, Wisconsin. Public adjusters, who represent policyholders, are licensed in almost every state.
What is a designated home state (DHS) adjuster license?
If your state does not license adjusters, you can choose another state to act as your "home state" and earn its license as if you were a resident. States in our guide that offer a DHS license include Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming. Read the DHS guide for details.
Do company (staff) adjusters need a license?
It depends on the state. Some states, such as Texas and Florida, license both company and independent adjusters; others license only independent adjusters or exempt salaried staff adjusters. Each state page above explains who must be licensed.
How long does it take to get an adjuster license?
Most candidates finish in two to eight weeks: a week or more of study or a prelicensing course, the exam, then fingerprint processing and the application review. Emergency licenses after a declared disaster can be issued in days, but only through a sponsoring insurer or adjusting firm.