New Mexico insurance adjuster license
New Mexico licenses independent adjusters, staff (company) adjusters and public adjusters under NMSA 59A-13 and 13.4.8 NMAC; an individual may hold both independent and staff licenses but must apply separately for each. Residents must pass a PSI exam and complete a fingerprint-based background check. Only public adjusters file the $10,000 surety bond (NMSA 59A-13-5 as amended in 2023). An insurer that ends a staff adjuster's appointment must notify OSI within 30 calendar days (13.4.8 NMAC as amended April 1, 2025).
Some details on this page could not be confirmed on the regulator's own website. Check with the New Mexico Office of Superintendent of Insurance (OSI), Producer Licensing Bureau before you apply, and tell us if anything has changed.
How to get licensed in New Mexico, step by step
- Choose the license you need. New Mexico issues Independent Adjuster, Staff Adjuster. Most new independent adjusters start with the Independent Adjuster license.
- Pass the state exam (18-41). It is given by PSI: 50 questions in 60 minutes, passing score 70%, fee $75. Some applicants can skip it (see exemptions below). Practice first with our New Mexico 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 New Mexico Office of Superintendent of Insurance (OSI), Producer Licensing Bureau and pay the $30 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: Continuous license; biennial renewal fee due by the last day of the licensee's second birth month after issuance (13).
New Mexico adjuster license types
| License | Covers | Exam | Prelicensing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independent Adjuster | Lines of authority: Property and Casualty, Workers Compensation, Public Entity | Required Exam waived for adjusters licensed in NM before July 1, 2017 whose license never lapsed, and (per OSI's current waiver form) for applicants whose prior adjuster license was cancelled no more than 90 days before applying. | Not required |
| Staff Adjuster | Lines of authority: Property and Casualty, Workers Compensation, Public Entity; application must name the sponsoring insurer and its NAIC CoCode | Required Same exemptions as independent adjuster (13.4.8.12 NMAC). | Not required |
The New Mexico adjuster exam
| Vendor | PSI |
|---|---|
| Exam | New Mexico Independent and Staff Adjuster P/C Excluding WC Insurance (18-41) |
| Questions | 50 |
| Time limit | 60 minutes |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Exam fee | $75 |
| Candidate handbook | Official handbook (PDF) |
License fees
- Resident license: $30
- Nonresident license: $30
State fee per OSI's 2026 fee schedule: $30 for a new adjuster license and $60 to renew, plus the NIPR transaction fee. Other PSI adjuster exams: 18-40 (P/C and W/C, 50 items, 1 hour); 18-58 (Public Entity) and 18-59 (W/C), each 35 items in 1 hour. Residents must complete an IdentoGO background check (OSI service code 2BH27J) before applying; fingerprint fee not published by OSI.
License term: Continuous license; biennial renewal fee due by the last day of the licensee's second birth month after issuance (13.4.8.13 NMAC).
Continuing education
New Mexico adjusters need 24 hours of continuing education, including 3 hours of ethics, every 2 years (24 months before renewal). Nonresidents who meet their home state requirement are generally exempt.
13.4.7 NMAC applies to public, staff and independent adjusters. At least 3 hours per period must be in a classroom or live-instructor format. Nonresidents may renew on home-state CE if substantially equivalent; per Bulletin 2024-019, nonresidents whose home state has no adjuster CE must complete NM-approved CE (enforced on renewals expiring April 2026 onward).
Nonresident adjusters, reciprocity and DHS
Nonresidents need an active resident or DHS adjuster license of the same type, in a state that requires an exam (no NM exam then). Per OSI Bulletin 2024-019, NM accepts DHS licenses only from AL, AR, FL, ID, IN, KY (independent adjusters only), LA, MN, MT, NH, NC, NV, OK, TX, UT, WA, WV, WY, and will not accept a DHS from AZ, CT, HI, ME, MI, NY, SC or VT.
Designated home state license: Yes. 13.4.8.7 NMAC defines a resident adjuster to include one who has designated New Mexico as home state for licensing, and OSI's licensing instructions provide a 'Resident or DHS' path. A DHS applicant must pass the NM PSI exam and complete the NM background check; the license is an NM Independent (or Staff) Adjuster license with NM as designated home state.
See every state's rules side by side on the adjuster license reciprocity map.
Emergency and catastrophe adjusters
Under 13.4.8.18 NMAC, an insurer or licensed public adjuster may ask the superintendent to use emergency adjusters licensed in good standing in their home or DHS state. The request is deemed approved unless OSI disapproves it within 3 business days. Use is limited to claims from the emergency and to 90 days after it, unless extended.
Public adjusters in New Mexico
Separate Public Adjuster license. PSI exam 18-39 (50 items, 1 hour). $10,000 surety bond on the NM bond form. Must sign an authorization to disclose fiduciary financial records. Fees on catastrophic-disaster claims are capped at 10% of the settlement. Nonresident public adjusters may not designate a home state.
Insurance adjuster salary in New Mexico
| Claims adjusters, examiners and investigators | New Mexico | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Mean annual wage | $70,890 | $80,470 |
| Median annual wage | $67,930 | $78,000 |
| 10th to 90th percentile | $40,620 to $101,520 | $48,850 to $117,040 |
| Employment | 1,280 | 324,230 |
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a license to be an insurance adjuster in New Mexico?
New Mexico licenses independent adjusters, staff (company) adjusters and public adjusters under NMSA 59A-13 and 13.4.8 NMAC; an individual may hold both independent and staff licenses but must apply separately for each. Residents must pass a PSI exam and complete a fingerprint-based background check. Only public adjusters file the $10,000 surety bond (NMSA 59A-13-5 as amended in 2023). An insurer that ends a staff adjuster's appointment must notify OSI within 30 calendar days (13.4.8 NMAC as amended April 1, 2025).
How much does an adjuster license cost in New Mexico?
In New Mexico, the exam fee is $75, the resident license fee is $30. Fees change, so confirm current amounts with the New Mexico Office of Superintendent of Insurance (OSI), Producer Licensing Bureau.
Can a nonresident get an adjuster license in New Mexico?
Nonresidents need an active resident or DHS adjuster license of the same type, in a state that requires an exam (no NM exam then). Per OSI Bulletin 2024-019, NM accepts DHS licenses only from AL, AR, FL, ID, IN, KY (independent adjusters only), LA, MN, MT, NH, NC, NV, OK, TX, UT, WA, WV, WY, and will not accept a DHS from AZ, CT, HI, ME, MI, NY, SC or VT.
How many continuing education hours do New Mexico adjusters need?
24 hours, including 3 hours of ethics, every 2 years (24 months before renewal). 13.4.7 NMAC applies to public, staff and independent adjusters. At least 3 hours per period must be in a classroom or live-instructor format. Nonresidents may renew on home-state CE if substantially equivalent; per Bulletin 2024-019, nonresidents whose home state has no adjuster CE must complete NM-approved CE (enforced on renewals expiring April 2026 onward).
How much do insurance adjusters make in New Mexico?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, claims adjusters, examiners and investigators in New Mexico earned a mean of $70,890 a year in May 2025, with a median of $67,930. The national mean was $80,470. Independent catastrophe adjusters are paid by fee schedule and can earn more or less than this.
Official New Mexico resources
Regulator: New Mexico Office of Superintendent of Insurance (OSI), Producer Licensing Bureau
Sources
- osi.state.nm.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/INDIVIDUAL-LICENSING-INSTRUCTIONS.pdf
- osi.state.nm.us/en/news/bulletin-2024-019/
- osi.state.nm.us/en/wp-content/uploads/2024-adjuster-bulletin-final-atk-signed.pdf
- srca.nm.gov/parts/title13/13.004.0008.html
- srca.nm.gov/parts/title13/13.004.0007.html
- law.cornell.edu/regulations/new-mexico/N-M-Admin-Code-SS-13.4.8.9_v2
- law.cornell.edu/regulations/new-mexico/N-M-Admin-Code-SS-13.4.8.11_v2
- test-takers.psiexams.com/api/content/bulletin/11909
- proctor2.psionline.com/media/programs/NMINS/1841.pdf
- proctor2.psionline.com/media/programs/NMINS/1839.pdf
- nipr.com/licensing-center/state-requirements/new-mexico-non-resident-adjuster-licensing-in
- nipr.com/licensing-center/state-requirements/new-mexico-resident-licensing-individual
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