Texas insurance adjuster license
Texas requires a TDI license for anyone who investigates or adjusts losses for an insurer or self-insurer. That covers independent adjusters and company (staff) adjusters, and only listed exemptions apply, such as salaried insurer employees not regularly engaged in adjusting, life/health claim handlers, and losses of $500 or less. The main license is the All Lines Adjuster license; narrower Property & Casualty and Workers' Compensation adjuster licenses also exist. Public adjusters need a separate license under Insurance Code Chapter 4102.
How to get licensed in Texas, step by step
- Choose the license you need. Texas issues Adjuster - All Lines, Adjuster - Property and Casualty, Adjuster - Workers' Compensation. Most new independent adjusters start with the Adjuster - All Lines license.
- Pass the state exam (InsTX-ALAdj16). It is given by Pearson VUE: 150 questions in 150 minutes, passing score 70 (scaled score), fee $49. Some applicants can skip it (see exemptions below). Practice first with our Texas All-Lines 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 Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), Agent and Adjuster Licensing Office 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).
Texas adjuster license types
| License | Covers | Exam | Prelicensing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adjuster - All Lines | Property, casualty and surety plus workers' compensation, employer's liability and U.S. Longshore & Harbor Workers' (28 TAC 19.602(a)) | Required The state exam is waived for completing a TDI-certified adjuster prelicensing course (at least 40 hours, at least 30 of them classroom or classroom-equivalent) and passing its course exam proctored by a disinterested third party. The course must be completed within the 12 months before applying. Also waived for CPCU or AIC designation holders, a license expired more than 90 days but less than 1 year, or a license held in a reciprocal state (TIC 4101.056; 28 TAC 19.602(b)). | Not required |
| Adjuster - Property and Casualty | Property, casualty and surety | Required Same exemptions as All Lines, including a TDI-approved course completed within the past 12 months. | Not required |
| Adjuster - Workers' Compensation | Workers' compensation, employer's liability and USL&H | Required Same exemptions as All Lines, including a TDI-approved course completed within the past 12 months. | Not required |
The Texas adjuster exam
| Vendor | Pearson VUE |
|---|---|
| Exam | Adjuster - All Lines (InsTX-ALAdj16) |
| Questions | 150 |
| Time limit | 150 minutes |
| Passing score | 70 (scaled score) |
| Exam fee | $49 |
| Candidate handbook | Official handbook (PDF) |
License fees
- Resident license: $50
- Nonresident license: $50
Application fee is $50 per license type, the same for resident, nonresident and DHS; renewal is $50 with a $25 late fee. Pearson VUE exam fees: All Lines (InsTX-ALAdj16, Spanish InsTX-ALAdj36) and Property & Casualty (InsTX-PCA81) are 150 questions, 150 minutes, $49. Workers' Compensation (InsTX-WCAdj32) is 60 questions, 60 minutes, $29. Fingerprints go through IdentoGO and are required for Texas residents and DHS applicants; the IdentoGO fee amount was not verified on an official page. Texas adjuster applications go through Sircon, not NIPR. Emergency license fee: $20 (TIC 4101.101; 28 TAC 19.802).
License term: 2 years. By statute (TIC 4003.001) an individual license expires on the holder's birthday; a TDI notice says expiration is moving to the last day of the birth month. Applications must be filed within 12 months of passing the exam.
Continuing education
Texas adjusters need 24 hours of continuing education, including 3 hours of ethics, every 2 years (each license period). Nonresidents who meet their home state requirement are generally exempt.
At least 12 of the 24 hours must be classroom or classroom-equivalent. Licenses that expired on or before August 31, 2022 needed only 2 ethics hours. Missing hours draw a $50 per hour fine (up to $500) within a 90-day cure period. Nonresidents follow their home state's CE rules, but if the home state requires no CE the adjuster must follow Texas rules, and Texas DHS licensees must complete Texas CE. Adjusters continuously licensed for 20 years may request an exemption.
Nonresident adjusters, reciprocity and DHS
A nonresident with an active adjuster license in good standing in a reciprocal home state gets a Texas nonresident license without exam, Texas CE or fingerprints ($50, applied via Sircon). TIC 4101.001(a)(4)(B) defines 'home state' to include a state the adjuster designates when their residence state does not license adjusters, so another state's DHS can serve as the home-state license. Nonresidents also need no Texas license to adjust a single loss, catastrophe losses, or to act as a temporary substitute (TIC 4101.002(b)).
Designated home state license: Texas issues the 'Adjuster: Designated Home State - All Lines' license, but only to residents of states that do not license adjusters (applicants from states that offer a resident adjuster license are not eligible). Applicants must pass the All Lines exam (InsTX-ALAdj16, $49) or qualify through a TDI-approved course or designation, get fingerprinted through IdentoGO, and pay $50. DHS licensees must complete Texas CE (24 hours, 3 ethics).
See every state's rules side by side on the adjuster license reciprocity map.
Emergency and catastrophe adjusters
After a catastrophe or emergency (disaster, act of God, riot, etc.), TDI issues a 90-day emergency adjuster license, which the commissioner may extend another 90 days (TIC 4101.101). The application must be certified by a licensed Texas adjuster or an authorized insurer within 5 days after the person starts work, and the sponsor is responsible for the adjuster's claim practices. No exam or fingerprints are required. The fee is $20 by statute (TDI's page also lists $50 for some nonresident applicants).
Public adjusters in Texas
Separate Public Insurance Adjuster license (TIC Chapter 4102). Requirements: Pearson VUE exam InsTX-PbAdj17 (100 questions, 120 minutes, $39), a $10,000 surety bond, fingerprints (nonresidents too), a contract meeting 28 TAC 19.708 or TDI form FIN535, and a $50 fee. CE is 24 hours with 3 ethics every 2 years. Commission is capped at 10% of the settlement.
Insurance adjuster salary in Texas
| Claims adjusters, examiners and investigators | Texas | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Mean annual wage | $79,560 | $80,470 |
| Median annual wage | $78,800 | $78,000 |
| 10th to 90th percentile | $46,560 to $116,610 | $48,850 to $117,040 |
| Employment | 29,220 | 324,230 |
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a license to be an insurance adjuster in Texas?
Texas requires a TDI license for anyone who investigates or adjusts losses for an insurer or self-insurer. That covers independent adjusters and company (staff) adjusters, and only listed exemptions apply, such as salaried insurer employees not regularly engaged in adjusting, life/health claim handlers, and losses of $500 or less. The main license is the All Lines Adjuster license; narrower Property & Casualty and Workers' Compensation adjuster licenses also exist. Public adjusters need a separate license under Insurance Code Chapter 4102.
How much does an adjuster license cost in Texas?
In Texas, the exam fee is $49, the resident license fee is $50. Fees change, so confirm current amounts with the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), Agent and Adjuster Licensing Office.
Can a nonresident get an adjuster license in Texas?
A nonresident with an active adjuster license in good standing in a reciprocal home state gets a Texas nonresident license without exam, Texas CE or fingerprints ($50, applied via Sircon). TIC 4101.001(a)(4)(B) defines 'home state' to include a state the adjuster designates when their residence state does not license adjusters, so another state's DHS can serve as the home-state license. Nonresidents also need no Texas license to adjust a single loss, catastrophe losses, or to act as a temporary substitute (TIC 4101.002(b)).
How many continuing education hours do Texas adjusters need?
24 hours, including 3 hours of ethics, every 2 years (each license period). At least 12 of the 24 hours must be classroom or classroom-equivalent. Licenses that expired on or before August 31, 2022 needed only 2 ethics hours. Missing hours draw a $50 per hour fine (up to $500) within a 90-day cure period. Nonresidents follow their home state's CE rules, but if the home state requires no CE the adjuster must follow Texas rules, and Texas DHS licensees must complete Texas CE. Adjusters continuously licensed for 20 years may request an exemption.
How much do insurance adjusters make in Texas?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, claims adjusters, examiners and investigators in Texas earned a mean of $79,560 a year in May 2025, with a median of $78,800. The national mean was $80,470. Independent catastrophe adjusters are paid by fee schedule and can earn more or less than this.
Official Texas resources
Regulator: Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), Agent and Adjuster Licensing Office
Sources
- tdi.texas.gov/agent/adjuster-all-lines-apply.html
- tdi.texas.gov/agent/adjuster-all-lines-manage.html
- tdi.texas.gov/agent/adjuster-designated-home-state-apply.html
- tdi.texas.gov/agent/adjuster-property-casualty-apply.html
- tdi.texas.gov/agent/adjuster-workers-compensation-apply.html
- tdi.texas.gov/agent/adjuster-emergency-apply.html
- tdi.texas.gov/agent/adjuster-public-insurance-apply.html
- tdi.texas.gov/agent/adjuster-trainee-apply.html
- tdi.texas.gov/agent/agrecip.html
- tdi.texas.gov/agent/agcehome.html
- tdi.texas.gov/agent/index.html
- statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/IN/htm/IN.4101.htm
- statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/IN/htm/IN.4102.htm
- statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/IN/htm/IN.4003.htm
- law.cornell.edu/regulations/texas/28-Tex-Admin-Code-SS-19-602
- law.cornell.edu/regulations/texas/28-Tex-Admin-Code-SS-19-1003
- law.cornell.edu/regulations/texas/28-Tex-Admin-Code-SS-19-802
- pearsonvue.com/us/en/tx/insurance.html
- pearsonvue.com/content/dam/VUE/vue/en/documents/publications/124400.pdf
- pearsonvue.com/content/dam/VUE/vue/en/documents/publications/124401.pdf
- nipr.com/licensing-center/state-requirements/texas-non-resident-licensing-individual
Adjuster license requirements in other states
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