Maine insurance adjuster license
Maine issues a single 'Adjuster' license and does not distinguish between independent and public adjusters. The license covers anyone who, for compensation, adjusts for an insurer, fraternal, workers' comp self-insurer or insured (24-A M.R.S. §1402). P&C and workers' comp adjusters who are employees of insurers (staff adjusters) are excluded, as are adjuster trainees under supervision. Authorities are Property & Casualty, Multiple-Peril Crop and Workers' Compensation.
How to get licensed in Maine, step by step
- Confirm the license type. Maine issues the Adjuster license (Property and Casualty; Multiple-Peril Crop Insurance; Workers' Compensation (authority based on exam(s) passed)).
- Pass the state exam (12-ME-31). It is given by Pearson VUE: 50 questions in 60 minutes, passing score 70 (scaled), fee $55. Some applicants can skip it (see exemptions below). Practice first with our Maine Property and Casualty Adjuster practice test.
- Apply for the license with the Maine Bureau of Insurance and pay the $45 license fee.
Maine adjuster license types
| License | Covers | Exam | Prelicensing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adjuster | Property and Casualty; Multiple-Peril Crop Insurance; Workers' Compensation (authority based on exam(s) passed) | Required For the Multi-Peril Crop line, federal crop certification (a CAPP card) is accepted in lieu of the exam; this requires a paper application. | Not required |
The Maine adjuster exam
| Vendor | Pearson VUE |
|---|---|
| Exam | Maine Property and Casualty Adjuster (12-ME-31) |
| Questions | 50 |
| Time limit | 60 minutes |
| Passing score | 70 (scaled) |
| Exam fee | $55 |
| Candidate handbook | Official handbook (PDF) |
Take the free Maine Property and Casualty Adjuster practice test
License fees
- Resident license: $45
- Nonresident license: $75
Resident adjuster application and license fee is $45; nonresident is $75 (both include a $15 application fee). There is no military exemption, and NIPR transaction fees are extra. Separate Pearson VUE exams cost $55 each: Workers' Compensation Adjuster (12-ME-32) and Multiple-Peril Crop Adjuster (12-ME-33). Online-proctored exams ended in May 2025, so exams are in person at test centers only.
License term: Continuous, with a biennial fee (24-A §1416-A). Resident adjuster renewals are due October 1 of even-numbered years; nonresident adjuster renewals are due January 1 of even-numbered years.
Continuing education
Maine has no continuing education requirement for adjusters.
There is no CE requirement. Bureau FAQ: 'adjusters, both resident and nonresident, are not currently required to complete continuing education credits.' The CE subchapter applies only to producers and consultants (24-A §1481-A).
Nonresident adjusters, reciprocity and DHS
Under 24-A §1477, requirements are waived for nonresidents with a valid home-state license if the home state reciprocates. If the home state does not license adjusters, the applicant designates any state where they are licensed and in good standing. No certification or clearance letter is needed. The nonresident authority is issued as 'Limited to Home State'. The Bureau reviews the DHS at renewal.
Designated home state license: Yes. Residents of states that do not license adjusters may designate Maine as home state. They must pass the Maine adjuster exam and apply as a nonresident licensee with Maine listed as DHS. Because Maine has no adjuster CE, other states may require CE or an exam for Maine-DHS holders.
See every state's rules side by side on the adjuster license reciprocity map.
Emergency and catastrophe adjusters
Under 24-A §1475, no license is required for an adjuster sent in by an authorized insurer or fraternal benefit society to investigate or adjust an unusual or extraordinary loss, or a series of losses from a common catastrophe. The Bureau FAQ says no official declaration is needed.
Public adjusters in Maine
No separate license: 'Maine does not differentiate between Independent and Public Adjusters', so public adjusters hold the same Adjuster license. 24-A §1476 bars offering an insured-paid adjustment contract until 36 hours after the loss event. Such contracts must allow rescission within 2 business days. No public adjuster bond requirement was found.
Insurance adjuster salary in Maine
| Claims adjusters, examiners and investigators | Maine | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Mean annual wage | $80,390 | $80,470 |
| Median annual wage | $78,590 | $78,000 |
| 10th to 90th percentile | $60,180 to $104,490 | $48,850 to $117,040 |
| Employment | 1,650 | 324,230 |
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a license to be an insurance adjuster in Maine?
Maine issues a single 'Adjuster' license and does not distinguish between independent and public adjusters. The license covers anyone who, for compensation, adjusts for an insurer, fraternal, workers' comp self-insurer or insured (24-A M.R.S. §1402). P&C and workers' comp adjusters who are employees of insurers (staff adjusters) are excluded, as are adjuster trainees under supervision. Authorities are Property & Casualty, Multiple-Peril Crop and Workers' Compensation.
How much does an adjuster license cost in Maine?
In Maine, the exam fee is $55, the resident license fee is $45. Fees change, so confirm current amounts with the Maine Bureau of Insurance.
Can a nonresident get an adjuster license in Maine?
Under 24-A §1477, requirements are waived for nonresidents with a valid home-state license if the home state reciprocates. If the home state does not license adjusters, the applicant designates any state where they are licensed and in good standing. No certification or clearance letter is needed. The nonresident authority is issued as 'Limited to Home State'. The Bureau reviews the DHS at renewal.
How much do insurance adjusters make in Maine?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, claims adjusters, examiners and investigators in Maine earned a mean of $80,390 a year in May 2025, with a median of $78,590. The national mean was $80,470. Independent catastrophe adjusters are paid by fee schedule and can earn more or less than this.
Official Maine resources
Regulator: Maine Bureau of Insurance
Sources
- maine.gov/pfr/insurance/licensees/individual/adjusters
- maine.gov/pfr/insurance/frequently-asked-questions/adjusters
- maine.gov/pfr/insurance/licensees/individuals-business-entities/ce-exam-information
- legislature.maine.gov/statutes/24-A/title24-Asec1402.html
- legislature.maine.gov/statutes/24-A/title24-Asec1415.html
- legislature.maine.gov/statutes/24-A/title24-Asec1416-A.html
- legislature.maine.gov/statutes/24-A/title24-Asec1472.html
- legislature.maine.gov/statutes/24-A/title24-Asec1475.html
- legislature.maine.gov/statutes/24-A/title24-Asec1476.html
- legislature.maine.gov/statutes/24-A/title24-Asec1477.html
- legislature.maine.gov/statutes/24-A/title24-Asec1481-A.html
- legislature.maine.gov/statutes/24-A/title24-Asec1482.html
- pearsonvue.com/us/en/me/insurance.html
- pearsonvue.com/content/dam/VUE/vue/en/documents/publications/122000.pdf
- pearsonvue.com/content/dam/VUE/vue/en/documents/publications/122006.pdf
- nipr.com/licensing-center/state-requirements/maine-resident-licensing-individual
- nipr.com/licensing-center/state-requirements/maine-non-resident-adjuster-licensing-individ
Adjuster license requirements in other states
Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming