Hawaii insurance adjuster license
Hawaii requires a license to act as an adjuster, meaning independent adjusters working for insurers and public adjusters working for insureds. It also issues limited licenses for workers' compensation adjusters and crop insurance adjusters. Salaried employees of insurers are excluded from the definition of adjuster (HRS 431:9-105).
Some details on this page could not be confirmed on the regulator's own website. Check with the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Insurance Division before you apply, and tell us if anything has changed.
How to get licensed in Hawaii, step by step
- Choose the license you need. Hawaii issues Independent Adjuster, Workers' Compensation Adjuster (limited license), Crop Insurance Adjuster (limited license). Most new independent adjusters start with the Independent Adjuster license.
- Pass the state exam (14 (InsHI-Adj14 at test centers; OPAdj14 via OnVUE)). It is given by Pearson VUE: 90 questions in 105 minutes, passing score 70 (scaled score), fee $75. Some applicants can skip it (see exemptions below). Practice first with our Hawaii 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 Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Insurance Division and pay the $165 license fee.
Hawaii adjuster license types
| License | Covers | Exam | Prelicensing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independent Adjuster | Adjusting claims under insurance contracts on behalf of insurers (the general adjuster license) | Required The exam is waived for applicants who held a Hawaii adjuster license within the past 12 months (Act 111 of 2021, effective January 1, 2022, cut the period from 24 months; the Pearson VUE handbook still says two years). Out-of-state licensees get no waiver: the Hawaii adjuster exam is required of residents and nonresidents alike. | Not required |
| Workers' Compensation Adjuster (limited license) | Workers' compensation claims | Required | Not required |
| Crop Insurance Adjuster (limited license) | Crop insurance claims | Not required No exam. The applicant submits a valid, unexpired Crop Adjuster Proficiency Program (CAPP) card for initial and renewal applications. | Not required |
The Hawaii adjuster exam
| Vendor | Pearson VUE |
|---|---|
| Exam | Hawaii Adjuster (14 (InsHI-Adj14 at test centers; OPAdj14 via OnVUE)) |
| Questions | 90 |
| Time limit | 105 minutes |
| Passing score | 70 (scaled score) |
| Exam fee | $75 |
| Candidate handbook | Official handbook (PDF) |
License fees
- Resident license: $165
- Nonresident license: $165
$165 initial fee for the independent, public, workers' compensation and crop adjuster licenses, resident or nonresident. Renewal is $90. Reapplying within one year of nonrenewal costs $270; within one year of a voluntary surrender, $90 (NIPR lists $120, so confirm). The exam fee is $75 and the public adjuster bond is $10,000. NIPR transaction fees are extra. Resident applicants must be fingerprinted before applying; the fingerprint fee was not verified.
License term: Generally 2 years, under a biennial two-year service fee (HAR 16-171-305). Individual licenses renew on the last day of the licensee's birth month (HAR 16-171-302).
Continuing education
Hawaii has no continuing education requirement for adjusters.
Hawaii has no continuing education requirement for adjusters: the adjuster CE sections (HRS 431:9-301 to 305) were repealed in 2002 (L 2002, c 155, s 108). The 24-hour CE rule in HRS 431:9A-124 applies only to producers. Workers' compensation adjusters instead pass the WC adjuster exam again at each renewal.
Nonresident adjusters, reciprocity and DHS
Nonresidents apply through NIPR ($165) but must pass the Hawaii adjuster exam: 'Pass the Hawaii insurance adjuster examination for resident and non-resident applicants.' WC adjusters must pass the Hawaii WC exam for initial applications and renewals. Crop adjusters need a CAPP card. Whether a DHS license affects eligibility was not verified, since an exam is required regardless.
Designated home state license: Not verified. Hawaii requires its own exam of all adjuster applicants. No Hawaii DHS rule was found.
See every state's rules side by side on the adjuster license reciprocity map.
Emergency and catastrophe adjusters
Under HRS 431:9-201(b), after the Commissioner declares that a disaster's losses cannot be adjusted timely by Hawaii licensees, nonresident independent adjusters licensed in a state with substantially similar requirements may register and work without a Hawaii license for up to 120 days. The insurer, adjusting firm or producer must file the adjuster's details within 3 working days. One example is the Hurricane Lala declaration of Aug. 17, 2026. Public adjusters are excluded.
Public adjusters in Hawaii
Yes, a separate Public Adjuster license class. It requires the same Hawaii Adjuster exam (Pearson VUE) and a $10,000 surety bond filed via NIPR's Attachments Warehouse; the fee is $165. Nonresident PA applications are deferred to the state for review.
Insurance adjuster salary in Hawaii
| Claims adjusters, examiners and investigators | Hawaii | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Mean annual wage | $80,650 | $80,470 |
| Median annual wage | $79,080 | $78,000 |
| 10th to 90th percentile | $51,830 to $106,690 | $48,850 to $117,040 |
| Employment | 900 | 324,230 |
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a license to be an insurance adjuster in Hawaii?
Hawaii requires a license to act as an adjuster, meaning independent adjusters working for insurers and public adjusters working for insureds. It also issues limited licenses for workers' compensation adjusters and crop insurance adjusters. Salaried employees of insurers are excluded from the definition of adjuster (HRS 431:9-105).
How much does an adjuster license cost in Hawaii?
In Hawaii, the exam fee is $75, the resident license fee is $165. Fees change, so confirm current amounts with the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Insurance Division.
Can a nonresident get an adjuster license in Hawaii?
Nonresidents apply through NIPR ($165) but must pass the Hawaii adjuster exam: 'Pass the Hawaii insurance adjuster examination for resident and non-resident applicants.' WC adjusters must pass the Hawaii WC exam for initial applications and renewals. Crop adjusters need a CAPP card. Whether a DHS license affects eligibility was not verified, since an exam is required regardless.
How much do insurance adjusters make in Hawaii?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, claims adjusters, examiners and investigators in Hawaii earned a mean of $80,650 a year in May 2025, with a median of $79,080. The national mean was $80,470. Independent catastrophe adjusters are paid by fee schedule and can earn more or less than this.
Official Hawaii resources
Regulator: Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Insurance Division
Sources
- cca.hawaii.gov/ins/insurance-license-categories/
- cca.hawaii.gov/ins/producers-exam_info/
- cca.hawaii.gov/ins/fee-individual-applicant/
- cca.hawaii.gov/ins/faqs/continuing-education-ce-faq/
- cca.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/HAR-16-171-C-Misc-Insurance-Rules-effective-0101
- cca.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IC-Memo-2022-10LIC-re-SBS.pdf
- cca.hawaii.gov/ins/hurricane-lala-declaration/
- pearsonvue.com/us/en/hi/insurance.html
- pearsonvue.com/content/dam/VUE/vue/en/documents/publications/121200.pdf
- pearsonvue.com/content/dam/VUE/vue/en/documents/publications/121201.pdf
- nipr.com/licensing-center/state-requirements/hawaii-resident-licensing-individual
- nipr.com/licensing-center/state-requirements/hawaii-non-resident-adjuster-licensing-indivi
- codes.findlaw.com/hi/division-2-business/hi-rev-st-sect-431-9-105.html
- codes.findlaw.com/hi/division-2-business/hi-rev-st-sect-431-9-201.html
Adjuster license requirements in other states
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