California insurance adjuster license
Independent insurance adjusters (people who for any consideration investigate or adjust claims on behalf of insurers) must hold a California Insurance Adjuster license. The license requires 2 years (4,000 compensated hours) of adjusting experience, a CDI exam and a $2,000 bond unless the adjuster works under a bonded licensee. Employees working exclusively for one employer, such as insurer staff adjusters, are exempt (Ins. Code 14022). Public adjusters and crop adjusters hold separate licenses.
How to get licensed in California, step by step
- Choose the license you need. California issues Insurance Adjuster (Independent), Crop Insurance Adjuster. Most new independent adjusters start with the Insurance Adjuster (Independent) license.
- Pass the state exam. It is given by PSI: 100 questions in 158 minutes, passing score 70%, fee $79. Some applicants can skip it (see exemptions below). Practice first with our California Insurance 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 California Department of Insurance (CDI), Licensing Services Division - Adjuster Unit and pay the $311 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; begins on the issue date and ends on the last day of the same calendar month two years later).
California adjuster license types
| License | Covers | Exam | Prelicensing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance Adjuster (Independent) | Adjusting/investigating claims on behalf of insurers (no separate lines of authority) | Required Only the qualified manager (the licensee or another person running the business) must pass the exam | Not required |
| Crop Insurance Adjuster | Crop insurance claims | Not required Exempt from the Section 14026 exam, but must meet the other Insurance Adjuster requirements and complete the FCIC Standard Reinsurance Agreement loss adjustment training and competency testing (Ins. Code 14085) | Not required |
The California adjuster exam
| Vendor | PSI |
|---|---|
| Exam | Insurance Adjuster |
| Questions | 100 |
| Time limit | 158 minutes |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Exam fee | $79 |
| Candidate handbook | Official handbook (PDF) |
License fees
- Resident license: $311
- Nonresident license: $311
- Fingerprinting: about $74
License application $311 per qualified manager for a 2-year term. Exam $79 paid to PSI. Branch office certificate $52. $2,000 Bond of Insurance Adjuster (form LIC 31A-14) unless working solely for a qualified licensee, firm or association that has filed a bond. Live Scan through CDI's vendor (Capital Live Scan) costs $74 total ($17 FBI, $32 DOJ, $25 CLS). Applicants also submit a 2x2 passport photo.
License term: 2 years; begins on the issue date and ends on the last day of the same calendar month two years later
Continuing education
California adjusters need 24 hours of continuing education, including 3 hours of ethics, every 2 years (each license term). Nonresidents who meet their home state requirement are generally exempt.
Ins. Code 14090.1 applies to California resident independent adjusters. Separately, all claims adjusters must complete Fair Claims Settlement Practices Regulations training and certification by September 1 each year (10 CCR 2695.6).
Nonresident adjusters, reciprocity and DHS
No exam reciprocity: nonresident Independent Adjuster applicants must have passed the California exam (verified by CDI after submission), hold an equivalent resident or DHS adjuster license elsewhere, file the $2,000 bond and may need fingerprints (NIPR). California cannot be selected as a designated home state.
Designated home state license: No DHS for independent adjusters: NIPR states applicants cannot select California as their designated home state. (For public adjusters only, CDI will license residents of states that do not license public adjusters if they meet all California resident requirements.)
See every state's rules side by side on the adjuster license reciprocity map.
Emergency and catastrophe adjusters
Ins. Code 14022.5: after the Commissioner declares an emergency, unlicensed adjusters may adjust related claims under the active direction of a licensed adjuster or admitted insurer. The supervisor must register them with CDI within 15 calendar days of starting work, and each must certify reading CDI's disaster notice and guide. Registration lasts 180 days and can be extended in 180-day increments.
Public adjusters in California
Separate Public Insurance Adjuster license. Residents need 20 hours of prelicensing, the PSI exam (100 questions, 165 minutes), 2 years of adjusting experience (or 12 months as an Apprentice Public Insurance Adjuster), a $20,000 bond, an approved contract and a California business address. Fee is $264 for 2 years, and residents need 24 hours CE including 3 ethics. Nonresidents are licensed by reciprocity with no exam, prelicensing or CE.
Insurance adjuster salary in California
| Claims adjusters, examiners and investigators | California | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Mean annual wage | $91,860 | $80,470 |
| Median annual wage | $91,790 | $78,000 |
| 10th to 90th percentile | $60,020 to $124,990 | $48,850 to $117,040 |
| Employment | 24,290 | 324,230 |
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a license to be an insurance adjuster in California?
Independent insurance adjusters (people who for any consideration investigate or adjust claims on behalf of insurers) must hold a California Insurance Adjuster license. The license requires 2 years (4,000 compensated hours) of adjusting experience, a CDI exam and a $2,000 bond unless the adjuster works under a bonded licensee. Employees working exclusively for one employer, such as insurer staff adjusters, are exempt (Ins. Code 14022). Public adjusters and crop adjusters hold separate licenses.
How much does an adjuster license cost in California?
In California, the exam fee is $79, the resident license fee is $311, fingerprinting costs about $74. Fees change, so confirm current amounts with the California Department of Insurance (CDI), Licensing Services Division - Adjuster Unit.
Can a nonresident get an adjuster license in California?
No exam reciprocity: nonresident Independent Adjuster applicants must have passed the California exam (verified by CDI after submission), hold an equivalent resident or DHS adjuster license elsewhere, file the $2,000 bond and may need fingerprints (NIPR). California cannot be selected as a designated home state.
How many continuing education hours do California adjusters need?
24 hours, including 3 hours of ethics, every 2 years (each license term). Ins. Code 14090.1 applies to California resident independent adjusters. Separately, all claims adjusters must complete Fair Claims Settlement Practices Regulations training and certification by September 1 each year (10 CCR 2695.6).
How much do insurance adjusters make in California?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, claims adjusters, examiners and investigators in California earned a mean of $91,860 a year in May 2025, with a median of $91,790. The national mean was $80,470. Independent catastrophe adjusters are paid by fee schedule and can earn more or less than this.
Official California resources
Regulator: California Department of Insurance (CDI), Licensing Services Division - Adjuster Unit
Sources
- insurance.ca.gov/0200-industry/0050-renew-license/0200-requirements/insurance-adjuster.cfm
- insurance.ca.gov/0200-industry/0050-renew-license/0200-requirements/Crop-Insurance-Adjuste
- insurance.ca.gov/0200-industry/0050-renew-license/0200-requirements/public-adjuster/App-Pr
- insurance.ca.gov/0200-industry/0050-renew-license/0200-requirements/public-adjuster/App-Pr
- insurance.ca.gov/0200-industry/0050-renew-license/0200-requirements/public-adjuster/Licens
- insurance.ca.gov/0200-industry/0020-apply-license/0100-indiv-resident/upload/PSI-Candidate
- leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=INS§ionNum=14021.
- leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=INS§ionNum=14022.
- leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=INS§ionNum=14022.5
- leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=INS§ionNum=14025.
- nipr.com/licensing-center/state-requirements/california-non-resident-adjuster-licensing-in
Adjuster license requirements in other states
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