Montana insurance adjuster license
Anyone acting as an adjuster for an insurer as an independent contractor (or employee of one) or for a fee must hold a Montana adjuster license (MCA 33-17-301). License types are Adjuster (multi-line), Crop Adjuster and Public Adjuster. Salaried employees of an insurer or managing general agent are excluded from the definition of adjuster (MCA 33-17-102).
How to get licensed in Montana, step by step
- Choose the license you need. Montana issues Adjuster (Multi-line), Crop Adjuster. Most new independent adjusters start with the Adjuster (Multi-line) license.
- Pass the state exam. It is given by Pearson VUE: 88 questions in 105 minutes, passing score 75 (scaled score), fee $65. Practice first with our Montana Multi-Line 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 Office of the Montana State Auditor, Commissioner of Securities and Insurance (CSI) and pay the $50 license fee.
- Keep it active. Complete 24 hours of continuing education, including 3 hours of ethics, every 2 years and renew on time (license term: 2 years (biennial renewal; the license stays in force until it lapses, is suspended or revoked)).
Montana adjuster license types
| License | Covers | Exam | Prelicensing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adjuster (Multi-line) | Property/casualty claims adjusted on behalf of insurers (no separate lines of authority) | Required | Not required |
| Crop Adjuster | Crop insurance claims | Required | Not required |
The Montana adjuster exam
| Vendor | Pearson VUE |
|---|---|
| Exam | Montana Multi-Line Adjuster |
| Questions | 88 |
| Time limit | 105 minutes |
| Passing score | 75 (scaled score) |
| Exam fee | $65 |
| Candidate handbook | Official handbook (PDF) |
License fees
- Resident license: $50
- Nonresident license: $50
- Fingerprinting: about $30
MCA 33-2-708 sets the adjuster license application fee at $50, the biennial renewal at $100 and lapsed-license reinstatement at $200. NIPR lists $50 for nonresident Adjuster, Crop Adjuster and Public Adjuster applications (the CSI's general nonresident page cites $100, which is the nonresident producer fee). Residents are fingerprinted: $30 is paid to Montana DOJ Criminal Records with the card (fingerprinting vendors may charge extra). Exam fee $65. The Crop Adjuster exam is 1 hour.
License term: 2 years (biennial renewal; the license stays in force until it lapses, is suspended or revoked)
Continuing education
Montana adjusters need 24 hours of continuing education, including 3 hours of ethics, every 2 years.
Adjusters need 24 approved hours per biennium, including at least 3 hours of ethics and 1 hour of Montana legislative changes. Nonresident adjusters living in a state with no CE requirement must complete 24 hours, either Montana CE or through a designated CE completion state.
Nonresident adjusters, reciprocity and DHS
Residents of states that let Montana residents act as adjusters may be licensed. A nonresident previously licensed in another state needs no prelicensing education or exam if currently licensed there (or applying within 90 days of cancellation in good standing) (MCA 33-17-301(4)). A nonresident whose home state has no adjuster licensing may designate a home state where they qualify as if a resident (33-17-301(2)(b)(ii)). Apply through NIPR. MCA 33-17-301(2)(f) also requires licensees to keep an office in Montana open to the public (a home office is allowed) and to keep records there for 5 years.
Designated home state license: MCA 33-17-301(2)(b)(ii) and NIPR show Montana accepts DHS designations from nonresidents of non-licensing states. Whether Montana itself can be chosen as the designated home state (i.e., whether it issues a DHS license) was not confirmed on an official page.
See every state's rules side by side on the adjuster license reciprocity map.
Emergency and catastrophe adjusters
MCA 33-17-301(5): no Montana adjuster license or qualifications are needed for an adjuster sent into the state by and on behalf of an insurer or adjusting business entity to adjust a particular loss, or a series of losses from a catastrophe common to all of them.
Public adjusters in Montana
Public adjusters hold an adjuster license (MCA 33-17-301(7)) and must pass the Public Adjuster exam (60 minutes), file a $5,000 surety bond (A.R.M. 6.6.1611), and file their written contracts with the Commissioner (MCA 33-17-302). Per the Pearson handbook, public adjusters may adjust first-party physical damage claims only. Fees are $50 application and $100 biennial renewal.
Insurance adjuster salary in Montana
| Claims adjusters, examiners and investigators | Montana | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Mean annual wage | $70,660 | $80,470 |
| Median annual wage | $63,860 | $78,000 |
| 10th to 90th percentile | $46,080 to $101,390 | $48,850 to $117,040 |
| Employment | 1,230 | 324,230 |
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a license to be an insurance adjuster in Montana?
Anyone acting as an adjuster for an insurer as an independent contractor (or employee of one) or for a fee must hold a Montana adjuster license (MCA 33-17-301). License types are Adjuster (multi-line), Crop Adjuster and Public Adjuster. Salaried employees of an insurer or managing general agent are excluded from the definition of adjuster (MCA 33-17-102).
How much does an adjuster license cost in Montana?
In Montana, the exam fee is $65, the resident license fee is $50, fingerprinting costs about $30. Fees change, so confirm current amounts with the Office of the Montana State Auditor, Commissioner of Securities and Insurance (CSI).
Can a nonresident get an adjuster license in Montana?
Residents of states that let Montana residents act as adjusters may be licensed. A nonresident previously licensed in another state needs no prelicensing education or exam if currently licensed there (or applying within 90 days of cancellation in good standing) (MCA 33-17-301(4)). A nonresident whose home state has no adjuster licensing may designate a home state where they qualify as if a resident (33-17-301(2)(b)(ii)). Apply through NIPR. MCA 33-17-301(2)(f) also requires licensees to keep an office in Montana open to the public (a home office is allowed) and to keep records there for 5 years.
How many continuing education hours do Montana adjusters need?
24 hours, including 3 hours of ethics, every 2 years. Adjusters need 24 approved hours per biennium, including at least 3 hours of ethics and 1 hour of Montana legislative changes. Nonresident adjusters living in a state with no CE requirement must complete 24 hours, either Montana CE or through a designated CE completion state.
How much do insurance adjusters make in Montana?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, claims adjusters, examiners and investigators in Montana earned a mean of $70,660 a year in May 2025, with a median of $63,860. The national mean was $80,470. Independent catastrophe adjusters are paid by fee schedule and can earn more or less than this.
Official Montana resources
Regulator: Office of the Montana State Auditor, Commissioner of Securities and Insurance (CSI)
Sources
- csimt.gov/insurance/licensing/
- csimt.gov/steps-to-obtaining-a-resident-insurance-license/
- csimt.gov/steps-to-obtaining-a-nonresident-insurance-license/
- csimt.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Fingerprints-for-Insurance-Licensing-Purposes_2026.pd
- leg.mt.gov/bills/mca/title_0330/chapter_0170/part_0030/section_0010/0330-0170-0030-0010.ht
- leg.mt.gov/bills/mca/title_0330/chapter_0170/part_0010/section_0020/0330-0170-0010-0020.ht
- leg.mt.gov/bills/mca/title_0330/chapter_0170/part_0030/section_0020/0330-0170-0030-0020.ht
- leg.mt.gov/bills/mca/title_0330/chapter_0020/part_0070/section_0080/0330-0020-0070-0080.ht
- home.pearsonvue.com/mt/insurance
- home.pearsonvue.com/content/dam/VUE/vue/en/documents/publications/122700.pdf
- home.pearsonvue.com/content/dam/VUE/vue/en/documents/publications/122703.pdf
- nipr.com/licensing-center/state-requirements/montana-non-resident-adjuster-licensing-indiv
Adjuster license requirements in other states
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