Reviewed October 2, 2026 by the CoveragePrep editorial team · Sources: state insurance departments, statutes, exam candidate handbooks · How we research

Licensing guide · IN

Indiana insurance adjuster license

Indiana requires a license to act as an independent adjuster (IC 27-1-28-10). An independent adjuster is someone who contracts with insurers or self-insurers, and is treated as an independent contractor, to investigate, negotiate or settle property, casualty or workers' compensation claims. Insurer-employed staff adjusters are not covered by this definition. Public adjusters need a separate certificate of authority under IC 27-1-27.

License required

Exam vendor

Pearson VUE

Exam questions

100 in 105 min

Passing score

70 (scaled)

Exam fee

$69

Resident license fee

$40

Nonresident license fee

$90

Continuing education

24 hours / 2 years

Accepts DHS licenses

Yes

Offers a DHS license

Yes

How to get licensed in Indiana, step by step

Confirm the license type. Indiana issues the Independent Adjuster license (Property & Casualty; Workers' Compensation (lines of authority)).
Complete prelicensing education. Indiana requires 40 hours of approved prelicensing education before the exam.
Pass the state exam. It is given by Pearson VUE: 100 questions in 105 minutes, passing score 70 (scaled), fee $69. Some applicants can skip it (see exemptions below). Practice first with our Indiana Independent Adjuster practice test.
Apply for the license with the Indiana Department of Insurance (IDOI) and pay the $40 license fee.
Keep it active. Complete 24 hours of continuing education every 2 years and renew on time (license term: 2 years from the date of issuance (IC 27-1-28-14)).

Indiana adjuster license types

License	Covers	Exam	Prelicensing
Independent Adjuster	Property & Casualty; Workers' Compensation (lines of authority)	Required Under IC 27-1-28-16, no prelicensing or exam is required for applicants who: hold an independent adjuster license for the same line in another state that requires an exam (or held one that expired less than 90 days before); show contracting insurers' proof of claims adjudication in that line during the past 5 years; or hold a current certification from a claims association approved by the department (IC 27-1-28-15(e)).	40 hours required

The Indiana adjuster exam

Vendor	Pearson VUE
Exam	Indiana Independent Adjuster
Questions	100
Time limit	105 minutes
Passing score	70 (scaled)
Exam fee	$69
Candidate handbook	Official handbook (PDF)

Take the free Indiana Independent Adjuster practice test

License fees

Resident license: $40
Nonresident license: $90

Resident application fee is $40 (IC 27-1-28-12) and resident renewal is $40. A designated home state (DHS) license costs $90 to apply and $90 to renew, the nonresident fee under IC 27-1-28-17(b), with $180 to reissue an expired DHS license (Indiana DOI home-state page, June 2026). Reissuance within 12 months after expiration is $80 (IC 27-1-28-14). The nonresident license and renewal are $90 each (IC 27-1-28-17); California residents pay a retaliatory fee. NIPR transaction fees are extra.

License term: 2 years from the date of issuance (IC 27-1-28-14).

Continuing education

Indiana adjusters need 24 hours of continuing education every 2 years. Nonresidents who meet their home state requirement are generally exempt.

IC 27-1-28-19 requires 24 hours every two years. It does not apply to licensees licensed less than 12 months before the end of the biennium, nonresidents who met their designated home state's CE, or holders of an approved claims certification. The statute specifies no separate ethics hours; secondary sources sometimes cite 3 ethics hours, which was not verified.

Nonresident adjusters, reciprocity and DHS

IC 27-1-28-17 requires a license in good standing in the home state or DHS, and that the home state license Indiana residents on the same basis. There is no Indiana exam, and the fee is $90. Nonresident lines are Property & Casualty and Workers' Compensation. The license terminates if the home-state license ends, other than through a move.

Designated home state license: Yes, the Independent Adjuster DHS (Designated Home State) license. Under IC 27-1-28-5, a person whose state of residence does not license independent adjusters for the line sought may designate Indiana as home state. The person must meet resident requirements: the 40-hour prelicensing course and the Indiana Independent Adjuster exam. NIPR rules: the applicant may not hold an active resident adjuster license anywhere, and may not designate a home state if their resident state licenses adjusters.

See every state's rules side by side on the adjuster license reciprocity map.

Emergency and catastrophe adjusters

Under IC 27-1-28-11, when a catastrophe is declared, an insurer may use unlicensed but otherwise qualified individuals as temporary emergency independent adjusters. The insurer must obtain the temporary emergency license, applying within 5 days of the individual starting work. The license is valid up to 90 days and can be extended by the commissioner.

Public adjusters in Indiana

Yes, separately licensed. Public adjusters must hold a public adjuster certificate of authority ('Certified Public Adjuster', IC 27-1-27-2). This requires passing the Pearson VUE Public Adjuster exam (60 questions, 60 minutes, $50; IDOI Certificate of Test Eligibility required first) and a $10,000 surety bond. There is a $50 annual fee, and certificates expire December 31 each year (IC 27-1-27-4). A person may hold both IA and PA licenses but may not act as both on the same claim.

Insurance adjuster salary in Indiana

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 13-1031. Compare all states.
Claims adjusters, examiners and investigators	Indiana	United States
Mean annual wage	$74,310	$80,470
Median annual wage	$73,560	$78,000
10th to 90th percentile	$48,660 to $101,270	$48,850 to $117,040
Employment	4,340	324,230

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a license to be an insurance adjuster in Indiana?

How much does an adjuster license cost in Indiana?

In Indiana, the exam fee is $69, the resident license fee is $40. Add the cost of the required prelicensing course. Fees change, so confirm current amounts with the Indiana Department of Insurance (IDOI).

Can a nonresident get an adjuster license in Indiana?

How many continuing education hours do Indiana adjusters need?

24 hours, every 2 years. IC 27-1-28-19 requires 24 hours every two years. It does not apply to licensees licensed less than 12 months before the end of the biennium, nonresidents who met their designated home state's CE, or holders of an approved claims certification. The statute specifies no separate ethics hours; secondary sources sometimes cite 3 ethics hours, which was not verified.

How much do insurance adjusters make in Indiana?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, claims adjusters, examiners and investigators in Indiana earned a mean of $74,310 a year in May 2025, with a median of $73,560. The national mean was $80,470. Independent catastrophe adjusters are paid by fee schedule and can earn more or less than this.

Official Indiana resources

Regulator: Indiana Department of Insurance (IDOI)

Sources

Adjuster license requirements in other states

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