Does Maryland require an adjuster license?
Maryland does not license staff (company) or independent adjusters; the only adjuster license the MIA issues is the Public Adjuster license (individuals and business entities) for those who represent policyholders.
What to do if you want to adjust claims from Maryland
Because Maryland 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.
Nonresident adjusters, reciprocity and DHS
Designated home state license: Maryland issues no company/independent adjuster license and no Designated Home State adjuster license. Maryland residents who need licenses to work in licensing states generally obtain a DHS license from a state that offers one; Minnesota, for example, lists MD among the jurisdictions whose residents may designate a home state.
See every state's rules side by side on the adjuster license reciprocity map.
Emergency and catastrophe adjusters
Not applicable for company/independent adjusters (no license required, including catastrophe deployments). No emergency public adjuster provision was found.
Public adjusters in Maryland
Separate MIA Public Adjuster license (Ins. Art. Title 10, Subtitle 4). Residents must pass the Public Adjuster exam (Prometric is the current MIA exam vendor; its 2021 bulletin listed exam 2023 at $60). License fee $50; biennial term ending on the last day of the birth month; renewal $65 ($50 + $15 fraud prevention fee). CE: 24 hours per 2-year term, including 3 hours of ethics. Nonresidents are licensed on a reciprocal basis; residents of non-reciprocal states must meet resident requirements. Bond amount not verified on an official source.
Insurance adjuster salary in Maryland
| Claims adjusters, examiners and investigators | Maryland | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Mean annual wage | $94,280 | $80,470 |
| Median annual wage | $95,560 | $78,000 |
| 10th to 90th percentile | $53,190 to $135,040 | $48,850 to $117,040 |
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a license to be an insurance adjuster in Maryland?
No license is required for company or independent adjusters in Maryland. Maryland does not license staff (company) or independent adjusters; the only adjuster license the MIA issues is the Public Adjuster license (individuals and business entities) for those who represent policyholders.
How much do insurance adjusters make in Maryland?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, claims adjusters, examiners and investigators in Maryland earned a mean of $94,280 a year in May 2025, with a median of $95,560. The national mean was $80,470. Independent catastrophe adjusters are paid by fee schedule and can earn more or less than this.
Official Maryland resources
Regulator: Maryland Insurance Administration (MIA)
Sources
- insurance.maryland.gov/Producer/pages/publicadjusters.aspx
- insurance.maryland.gov/producer/documents/licensing-docs/public_adjuster_licensing.pdf
- prometric.com/files/2021-09/MDINS%20LIB%202021%20one%20part%20exam_9.23.21.pdf
- nipr.com/licensing-center/state-requirements/maryland-non-resident-adjuster-licensing-indi
- mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gin§ion=10-401&enactments=fals
- mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gin§ion=10-404&enactments=fals
- mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gin§ion=10-408&enactments=fals
- mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gin§ion=10-409&enactments=fals
- mn.gov/commerce/licensing/list/insurance/adjusters.jsp
Adjuster license requirements in other states
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