Delaware insurance adjuster license
Delaware defines an adjuster as a licensee who investigates or negotiates claims as an independent contractor or on behalf of an independent contractor, insurer, self-insurer, producer or MGA (18 Del. C. 1702). Staff and independent adjusters therefore both need an Adjuster license, issued by line of authority. Separate licenses exist for Motor Vehicle (property damage) Appraisers, Apprentice Adjusters/Appraisers (1 year) and Public Adjusters.
How to get licensed in Delaware, step by step
- Choose the license you need. Delaware issues Adjuster, Motor Vehicle Appraiser (Property Damage Appraiser), Apprentice Adjuster / Motor Vehicle Appraiser (valid 1 year). Most new independent adjusters start with the Adjuster license.
- Pass the state exam (InsDE-PropAdj14). It is given by Pearson VUE: 50 questions in 75 minutes, passing score Scaled 70 or 80 depending on exam (shown on score report), fee $90. Some applicants can skip it (see exemptions below). Practice first with our Delaware Property Adjuster practice test.
- Apply for the license with the Delaware Department of Insurance, Producer Licensing Division and pay the $125 license fee.
- Keep it active. Complete 12 hours of continuing education, including 3 hours of ethics, every 2 years and renew on time (license term: 2 years (biennium)).
Delaware adjuster license types
| License | Covers | Exam | Prelicensing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adjuster | Lines of authority: Property; Casualty; Fidelity & Surety; Automobile (Motor Vehicle); Marine & Transportation; Crop; Workers' Compensation | Required Resident crop adjusters submit a CAPP card in lieu of an exam. Licensees moving to Delaware who apply within 90 days need no exam for lines held in the prior state (18 Del. C. 1709(b)). | Not required |
| Motor Vehicle Appraiser (Property Damage Appraiser) | Appraisal of damage to motor vehicles | Required | Not required |
| Apprentice Adjuster / Motor Vehicle Appraiser (valid 1 year) | Adjusting/appraising as a full-time employee under a licensed adjuster/appraiser who assumes responsibility | Not required No exam; requires a supervising licensee's statement and state and federal criminal history reports | Not required |
The Delaware adjuster exam
| Vendor | Pearson VUE |
|---|---|
| Exam | DE Property Adjuster (separate line exams: Casualty, Motor Vehicle, Marine & Transportation, Surety, Workers' Compensation, Crop) (InsDE-PropAdj14) |
| Questions | 50 |
| Time limit | 75 minutes |
| Passing score | Scaled 70 or 80 depending on exam (shown on score report) |
| Exam fee | $90 |
| Candidate handbook | Official handbook (PDF) |
License fees
- Resident license: $125
- Nonresident license: $125
Adjuster, appraiser and public adjuster license fee is $125, and the biennial renewal fee is also $125. Apprentice license $75; Emergency CAT adjuster license $0 plus NIPR transaction fee. Residents must submit state and FBI criminal history reports dated within 90 days (cost not verified). Pearson VUE adjuster exams cost $90 each: Property InsDE-PropAdj14 (50 scored + 5 pretest, 1 hr 15 min); Casualty InsDE-CasAdj15 (50 + 5, 1 hr 30 min); Motor Vehicle InsDE-VehAdj16 (1 hr); Marine & Transportation InsDE-MarAdj17 (1 hr); Surety InsDE-SurAdj18 (25 scored, 45 min); Workers' Comp InsDE-WCAdj32 (50 scored, 1 hr); Motor Vehicle Appraiser InsDE-VehAppr19 (45 min); Crop InsDE-Crop31 (1 hr).
License term: 2 years (biennium). License stays in force while the renewal fee and CE are met. Resident licenses were due by Feb 28, 2026 and nonresident licenses are due by Feb 28, 2027.
Continuing education
Delaware adjusters need 12 hours of continuing education, including 3 hours of ethics, every 2 years (biennium).
Reg. 504 sec. 8.2.2 sets 12 hours (3 ethics) per biennium for resident adjusters and public adjusters. Adjusters licensed only for Fidelity & Surety and/or Marine & Transportation are exempt. Nonresident adjusters and PAs licensed before 03/01/2021 must also meet 12 hours (9 general + 3 ethics); Delaware accepts credits from the resident or designated home state, and from another state's approved courses if the home state has no CE. Licensees with 25+ years of licensure or a listed designation get 6 automatic credits.
Nonresident adjusters, reciprocity and DHS
Nonresidents licensed in a home state where they passed an exam apply online through NIPR (18 Del. C. 1708, 1717). Nonresidents whose home or designated home state has no adjuster exam must pass the Delaware exam. Applicants holding only a nonresident license because their home state doesn't license adjusters may designate that nonresident state as domicile. Applicants licensed nowhere must pass the Delaware exam and submit state and FBI criminal history reports with Form 2A.
Designated home state license: Apparently yes, though the process is not described as such. 18 Del. C. 1706(i) assumes applicants may designate Delaware as their adjuster home state (Canadian residents only after passing the exam). DOI procedures let nonresidents who hold no license anywhere qualify by passing the Delaware exam and submitting state and FBI background reports.
See every state's rules side by side on the adjuster license reciprocity map.
Emergency and catastrophe adjusters
No license is required for adjusters or appraisers an insurer sends in for an unusual loss or a catastrophe series of losses, but they must notify the Commissioner within 10 calendar days (18 Del. C. 1707(e)(1)). In practice, apply via NIPR for an Emergency CAT Adjuster/Appraiser license, free of charge plus a NIPR transaction fee. It is valid 60 days unless extended and requires a letter from the insurer naming the responsible company official.
Public adjusters in Delaware
Separate Public Adjuster license under Title 18 Ch. 17A: Pearson VUE exam InsDE-PubAdj20 (50 questions, 1 hr 15 min, $90), $20,000 bond, a copy of the contract, $125 fee, and 12 hours CE (3 ethics) per biennium. Nonresidents file the bond and contract without an exam.
Insurance adjuster salary in Delaware
| Claims adjusters, examiners and investigators | Delaware | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Mean annual wage | $77,570 | $80,470 |
| Median annual wage | $72,370 | $78,000 |
| 10th to 90th percentile | $51,430 to $116,710 | $48,850 to $117,040 |
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a license to be an insurance adjuster in Delaware?
Delaware defines an adjuster as a licensee who investigates or negotiates claims as an independent contractor or on behalf of an independent contractor, insurer, self-insurer, producer or MGA (18 Del. C. 1702). Staff and independent adjusters therefore both need an Adjuster license, issued by line of authority. Separate licenses exist for Motor Vehicle (property damage) Appraisers, Apprentice Adjusters/Appraisers (1 year) and Public Adjusters.
How much does an adjuster license cost in Delaware?
In Delaware, the exam fee is $90, the resident license fee is $125. Fees change, so confirm current amounts with the Delaware Department of Insurance, Producer Licensing Division.
Can a nonresident get an adjuster license in Delaware?
Nonresidents licensed in a home state where they passed an exam apply online through NIPR (18 Del. C. 1708, 1717). Nonresidents whose home or designated home state has no adjuster exam must pass the Delaware exam. Applicants holding only a nonresident license because their home state doesn't license adjusters may designate that nonresident state as domicile. Applicants licensed nowhere must pass the Delaware exam and submit state and FBI criminal history reports with Form 2A.
How many continuing education hours do Delaware adjusters need?
12 hours, including 3 hours of ethics, every 2 years (biennium). Reg. 504 sec. 8.2.2 sets 12 hours (3 ethics) per biennium for resident adjusters and public adjusters. Adjusters licensed only for Fidelity & Surety and/or Marine & Transportation are exempt. Nonresident adjusters and PAs licensed before 03/01/2021 must also meet 12 hours (9 general + 3 ethics); Delaware accepts credits from the resident or designated home state, and from another state's approved courses if the home state has no CE. Licensees with 25+ years of licensure or a listed designation get 6 automatic credits.
How much do insurance adjusters make in Delaware?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, claims adjusters, examiners and investigators in Delaware earned a mean of $77,570 a year in May 2025, with a median of $72,370. The national mean was $80,470. Independent catastrophe adjusters are paid by fee schedule and can earn more or less than this.
Official Delaware resources
Regulator: Delaware Department of Insurance, Producer Licensing Division
Sources
- delcode.delaware.gov/title18/c017/index.html
- regulations.delaware.gov/AdminCode/title18/500/504.shtml
- insurance.delaware.gov/divisions/renewlicense/
- insurance.delaware.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2025/06/Lic_Proc.pdf
- insurance.delaware.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2022/05/CatastrophicNotice.pdf
- insurance.delaware.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2017/05/Adjusters-Continuing-Education-
- insurance.delaware.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2025/05/Res_Ind_Bus_Ren_Web.pdf
- insurance.delaware.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2025/05/NonRes_Ind_Bus_Ren_Web.pdf
- insurance.delaware.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2025/06/PublicAdjusterNotice.pdf
- pearsonvue.com/us/en/de/insurance.html
- pearsonvue.com/content/dam/VUE/vue/en/documents/publications/120800.pdf
- pearsonvue.com/content/dam/VUE/vue/en/documents/publications/120801.pdf
- nipr.com/licensing-center/state-requirements/delaware-non-resident-adjuster-licensing-indi
Adjuster license requirements in other states
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