Alabama insurance adjuster license
Independent adjusters (independent contractors, or employees of independent contractors, who adjust property, casualty or workers' compensation claims for insurers) must hold an Alabama Independent Adjuster license under Ala. Code Title 27, Ch. 9A. Salaried insurer employees, attorneys, appointed producers with claim authority, self-insured employees and several other groups are excluded, so staff adjusters generally need no license. A one-time, 12-month Apprentice Adjuster license is also available; ALDOI does not license public adjusters.
How to get licensed in Alabama, step by step
- Choose the license you need. Alabama issues Independent Adjuster, Apprentice Adjuster (12-month, one-time temporary license). Most new independent adjusters start with the Independent Adjuster license.
- Pass the state exam. It is given by other: 150 questions in 180 minutes, passing score 70% (105 of 150 correct), fee $75. Practice first with our Alabama Independent Adjuster practice test.
- Submit fingerprints for the criminal background check if your application type requires them (see fees below).
- Apply for the license with the Alabama Department of Insurance (ALDOI) and pay the $110 license fee.
- Keep it active. Complete 24 hours of continuing education, including 3 hours of ethics, every 2 years and renew on time (license term: 2 years; renews biennially in the birth month, in odd or even years matching the licensee's birth year).
Alabama adjuster license types
| License | Covers | Exam | Prelicensing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independent Adjuster | Lines of authority: Property & Casualty (excluding Workers' Compensation and Crop); Property & Casualty (including Workers' Compensation and Crop); Workers' Compensation; Crop | Required | Not required |
| Apprentice Adjuster (12-month, one-time temporary license) | Same four lines as the Independent Adjuster license; must be supervised by an actively licensed independent adjuster (max 5 apprentices per supervisor) | Not required No exam to obtain the apprentice license, but the appropriate exam and fingerprinting must be completed before the 12-month apprentice license expires in order to convert to an Independent Adjuster license | Not required |
The Alabama adjuster exam
| Vendor | other |
|---|---|
| Exam | Alabama Property & Casualty Adjuster exam including Workers' Compensation & Crop (administered by The University of Alabama Continuing Education Lifelong Learning for ALDOI) |
| Questions | 150 |
| Time limit | 180 minutes |
| Passing score | 70% (105 of 150 correct) |
| Exam fee | $75 |
| Candidate handbook | Official handbook (PDF) |
License fees
- Resident license: $110
- Nonresident license: $110
ALDOI: total initial license fee $110; biennial renewal $80; late renewal $120; reinstatement $160. Nonresident application $110 per NIPR (plus NIPR transaction fee). Resident fingerprints must be taken through Fieldprint (fee not published on the pages reviewed). Other adjuster exams ($75 each): P&C without WC/Crop 125 questions / 2.5 hrs (87 correct to pass); Workers' Compensation 100 questions / 1 hr 40 min (70 correct); Crop 100 questions / 1 hr 40 min (70 correct). Emergency adjuster registration $60 per individual.
License term: 2 years; renews biennially in the birth month, in odd or even years matching the licensee's birth year
Continuing education
Alabama adjusters need 24 hours of continuing education, including 3 hours of ethics, every 2 years (each biennial renewal). Nonresidents who meet their home state requirement are generally exempt.
Required for resident independent adjusters and Alabama DHS licensees; renewal is rejected if no CE is on the transcript. Excess hours do not carry over. Nonresidents who meet CE in their resident or designated home state are exempt.
Nonresident adjusters, reciprocity and DHS
Nonresidents licensed in their home state apply through NIPR without an Alabama exam, except residents of California, Hawaii and New York, who must pass the Alabama exam (effective 9-8-2014). DHS licenses are accepted when the applicant has an active nonresident adjuster license on the Producer Database and no active resident adjuster license (NIPR).
Designated home state license: Yes. Since 1-1-2015 a nonresident from a state that does not license independent adjusters (ALDOI lists CO, DC, IA, IL, KS, MA, MD, MO, ND, NE, NJ, OH, PA, SD, TN, VA, WI) may designate Alabama as home state after passing the appropriate Alabama adjuster exam and completing fingerprinting; Alabama DHS licensees must complete Alabama's 24-hour CE.
See every state's rules side by side on the adjuster license reciprocity map.
Emergency and catastrophe adjusters
Ala. Code 27-9A-5: only for emergencies declared by the Governor. Adjusters not licensed in Alabama acting on behalf of an insurer must be registered online through ALDOI's T.E.A.R.S. system ($60 per individual); Emergency Adjuster passes are good for 90 days from issue.
Public adjusters in Alabama
Not licensed: NIPR's Alabama page states that public adjusters are not licensed or regulated by the Alabama Department of Insurance. No public adjuster license, exam or bond exists.
Insurance adjuster salary in Alabama
| Claims adjusters, examiners and investigators | Alabama | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Mean annual wage | $80,130 | $80,470 |
| Median annual wage | $79,710 | $78,000 |
| 10th to 90th percentile | $49,190 to $106,370 | $48,850 to $117,040 |
| Employment | 4,040 | 324,230 |
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a license to be an insurance adjuster in Alabama?
Independent adjusters (independent contractors, or employees of independent contractors, who adjust property, casualty or workers' compensation claims for insurers) must hold an Alabama Independent Adjuster license under Ala. Code Title 27, Ch. 9A. Salaried insurer employees, attorneys, appointed producers with claim authority, self-insured employees and several other groups are excluded, so staff adjusters generally need no license. A one-time, 12-month Apprentice Adjuster license is also available; ALDOI does not license public adjusters.
How much does an adjuster license cost in Alabama?
In Alabama, the exam fee is $75, the resident license fee is $110. Fees change, so confirm current amounts with the Alabama Department of Insurance (ALDOI).
Can a nonresident get an adjuster license in Alabama?
Nonresidents licensed in their home state apply through NIPR without an Alabama exam, except residents of California, Hawaii and New York, who must pass the Alabama exam (effective 9-8-2014). DHS licenses are accepted when the applicant has an active nonresident adjuster license on the Producer Database and no active resident adjuster license (NIPR).
How many continuing education hours do Alabama adjusters need?
24 hours, including 3 hours of ethics, every 2 years (each biennial renewal). Required for resident independent adjusters and Alabama DHS licensees; renewal is rejected if no CE is on the transcript. Excess hours do not carry over. Nonresidents who meet CE in their resident or designated home state are exempt.
How much do insurance adjusters make in Alabama?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, claims adjusters, examiners and investigators in Alabama earned a mean of $80,130 a year in May 2025, with a median of $79,710. The national mean was $80,470. Independent catastrophe adjusters are paid by fee schedule and can earn more or less than this.
Official Alabama resources
Regulator: Alabama Department of Insurance (ALDOI)
Sources
- aldoi.gov/Licensing/AdjusterReq.aspx
- web.archive.org/web/20260521102905/https://aldoi.gov/Licensing/AdjusterReq.aspx
- web.archive.org/web/20251116144640/https://aldoi.gov/PDF/Licensing/AdjusterExclusions.pdf
- web.archive.org/web/20260420062542/https://aldoi.gov/Licensing/EmergencyAdjusterInfo.aspx
- web.archive.org/web/20260420065942/https://aldoi.gov/Licensing/ApprenticeAdjusterReq.aspx
- training.ua.edu/insurance-testing/
- nipr.com/licensing-center/state-requirements/alabama-non-resident-adjuster-licensing-indiv
Adjuster license requirements in other states
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