Does Colorado require an adjuster license?
Colorado does not license independent or staff (company) adjusters who work for insurers, so no license is needed to adjust claims for an insurer there. Only public adjusters are licensed, as a 'Public Adjuster' line of authority on a Colorado license, with an exam and a $20,000 surety bond.
What to do if you want to adjust claims from Colorado
Because Colorado does not issue its own adjuster license, residents who want to work as independent or catastrophe adjusters in other states usually earn a designated home state (DHS) license from a state such as Texas or Florida. Many licensing states then issue nonresident licenses based on that DHS license.
License fees
No independent/company adjuster license exists in Colorado.
Continuing education
Not applicable to independent/company adjusters.
Nonresident adjusters, reciprocity and DHS
Not applicable: Colorado issues no independent adjuster license (NIPR lists only the Non-Resident Public Adjuster license).
Designated home state license: Colorado does not issue a DHS adjuster license. Colorado residents who adjust in licensing states usually get a DHS license from another state: Alabama, Alaska and Florida (70-20) all list Colorado as a non-licensing state for DHS purposes.
See every state's rules side by side on the adjuster license reciprocity map.
Emergency and catastrophe adjusters
Not applicable: Colorado does not license independent or company adjusters.
Public adjusters in Colorado
Licensed. Public adjusters must pass the Pearson VUE Public Insurance Adjuster exam (code 14, 1 hr 15 min, $41) and file a signed $20,000 surety bond with power of attorney (C.R.S. 10-2-417(2), Reg. 1-2-19). Fees are $44 per authority for residents and $68 per authority for nonresidents. Licenses continue every 2 years at the end of the birth month, and residents need 24 CE credits per cycle (including 3 ethics) from the second cycle on.
Insurance adjuster salary in Colorado
| Claims adjusters, examiners and investigators | Colorado | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Mean annual wage | $84,250 | $80,470 |
| Median annual wage | $77,620 | $78,000 |
| 10th to 90th percentile | $59,550 to $123,360 | $48,850 to $117,040 |
| Employment | 5,680 | 324,230 |
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a license to be an insurance adjuster in Colorado?
No license is required for company or independent adjusters in Colorado. Colorado does not license independent or staff (company) adjusters who work for insurers, so no license is needed to adjust claims for an insurer there. Only public adjusters are licensed, as a 'Public Adjuster' line of authority on a Colorado license, with an exam and a $20,000 surety bond.
Can a nonresident get an adjuster license in Colorado?
Not applicable: Colorado issues no independent adjuster license (NIPR lists only the Non-Resident Public Adjuster license).
How much do insurance adjusters make in Colorado?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, claims adjusters, examiners and investigators in Colorado earned a mean of $84,250 a year in May 2025, with a median of $77,620. The national mean was $80,470. Independent catastrophe adjusters are paid by fee schedule and can earn more or less than this.
Official Colorado resources
Regulator: Colorado Division of Insurance (Department of Regulatory Agencies)
Sources
- doi.colorado.gov/insurance-industry/for-producers/agents
- pearsonvue.com/us/en/co/insurance.html
- pearsonvue.com/content/dam/VUE/vue/en/documents/publications/120600.pdf
- nipr.com/licensing-center/state-requirements/colorado-non-resident-adjuster-licensing-indi
- commerce.alaska.gov/web/ins/IndependentAdjuster
- web.archive.org/web/20260521102905/https://aldoi.gov/Licensing/AdjusterReq.aspx
- myfloridacfo.com/docs-sf/insurance-agents-and-agency-services-libraries/agents-docs/licens
Adjuster license requirements in other states
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