Washington insurance adjuster license
Washington licenses three adjuster types: independent (representing insurers), public (representing insureds) and crop. Under RCW 48.17.010, as amended in 2021, anyone who negotiates P&C claim settlements or applies the facts of a loss to policy provisions is an adjuster. Salaried employees of insurers or MGAs are not adjusters for licensing purposes unless they adjust crop claims without USDA-RMA (CAPP) certification. All resident adjusters must be licensed.
How to get licensed in Washington, step by step
- Choose the license you need. Washington issues Independent Adjuster, Crop Adjuster. Most new independent adjusters start with the Independent Adjuster license.
- Complete prelicensing education. Washington requires approved prelicensing education before the exam.
- Pass the state exam. It is given by PSI: 100 questions in 135 minutes, passing score 70%, fee $38. Some applicants can skip it (see exemptions below). Practice first with our Washington 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 Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC), Producer Licensing and Oversight 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 per renewal period (OIC)).
Washington adjuster license types
| License | Covers | Exam | Prelicensing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independent Adjuster | Property and casualty (both lines) | Required OIC's prelicensing page says applicants qualifying through 12 consecutive months as a full-time salaried adjuster for an admitted insurer or MGA 'may not have to take' the exam (exact rule not verified). AIC, CPCU or AEI designations satisfy only the experience/education requirement; the exam is still required. | Required |
| Crop Adjuster | Crop insurance claims (private-market and/or federal crop) | Required Applicants with current CAPP (Crop Adjuster Proficiency Program) certification do not take the Washington crop adjuster exam. CAPP is required to adjust federal crop insurance claims; the state exam applies to private-market crop only. | Not required |
The Washington adjuster exam
| Vendor | PSI |
|---|---|
| Exam | WA Adjuster |
| Questions | 100 |
| Time limit | 135 minutes |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Exam fee | $38 |
| Candidate handbook | Official handbook (PDF) |
License fees
- Resident license: $50
- Nonresident license: $50
- Fingerprinting: about $52
OIC fee table: new individual adjuster license (crop, independent or public) $50; renewal $50; late renewal $75 (up to 30 days) or $100 (31-60 days); reinstatement within 61 days to 12 months $150. Fingerprints (IdentoGO) are required only for resident applicants and nonresidents designating Washington as home state: $49, rising to $52 effective October 1, 2026. PSI exam fees: Adjuster $38 (100 questions, 135 minutes) and Crop Adjuster $38 (50 questions, 60 minutes); the PSI bulletin was last revised 8/3/2026. 'Prelicensing' for independent and public adjusters means a qualification requirement (12 months salaried insurer/MGA adjusting experience, AIC/CPCU/AEI designation, or a 6-9 month, 960-hour supervised adjuster-trainee program), not a classroom course.
License term: 2 years per renewal period (OIC). Licenses can be renewed up to 90 days before and 60 days after expiration, and reinstated up to 12 months after expiration without re-examination.
Continuing education
Washington adjusters need 24 hours of continuing education, including 3 hours of ethics, every 2 years (each license renewal period). Nonresidents who meet their home state requirement are generally exempt.
Required since July 1, 2022 (SHB 1037) for resident independent, public and crop adjusters and for nonresidents who designate Washington as their home state. OIC says Washington does not require nonresident adjusters to complete its CE even if their home state requires none. Excess credits do not carry over.
Nonresident adjusters, reciprocity and DHS
Nonresidents apply online through NIPR with a home-state or designated-home-state adjuster license (RCW 48.17.380(1)(b), (4)-(5)); no exam and no fingerprints. Independent and public adjuster applicants must take both property and casualty. NIPR ADHS rules: the DHS must show an active nonresident adjuster license on the PDB, the applicant must hold no active resident adjuster license anywhere, and public adjusters cannot designate a home state.
Designated home state license: RCW 48.17.380(4) lets an applicant whose residence state has no substantially similar adjuster law designate Washington as home state. Such applicants must meet Washington's resident requirements, including exam, experience and fingerprints, and must complete Washington CE. NIPR does not let applicants pick Washington as ADHS while applying for a Washington nonresident license, so the Washington-as-home-state route goes through OIC's resident-type application. Wyoming lists Washington among the DHS states it accepts.
See every state's rules side by side on the adjuster license reciprocity map.
Emergency and catastrophe adjusters
After a governor-declared emergency or disaster, nonresident independent adjusters not licensed in Washington must complete OIC's free emergency adjuster registration (RCW 48.17.420(2)-(3)) before working claims, listing their home-state license and the insurers they represent. Registration is per declared disaster, valid 180 days from the proclamation date unless extended, and does not apply to crop losses, which have separate rules.
Public adjusters in Washington
Separate public adjuster license. Residents must meet the same experience/education requirement, pass the PSI adjuster exam and be fingerprinted. All public adjusters (resident and nonresident) must file a $5,000 surety bond (RCW 48.17.430). Fee $50. Resident CE is 24 hours with 3 ethics. A person licensed as both independent and public adjuster may not represent both sides in one transaction.
Insurance adjuster salary in Washington
| Claims adjusters, examiners and investigators | Washington | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Mean annual wage | $85,270 | $80,470 |
| Median annual wage | $80,700 | $78,000 |
| 10th to 90th percentile | $50,080 to $122,840 | $48,850 to $117,040 |
| Employment | 6,180 | 324,230 |
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a license to be an insurance adjuster in Washington?
Washington licenses three adjuster types: independent (representing insurers), public (representing insureds) and crop. Under RCW 48.17.010, as amended in 2021, anyone who negotiates P&C claim settlements or applies the facts of a loss to policy provisions is an adjuster. Salaried employees of insurers or MGAs are not adjusters for licensing purposes unless they adjust crop claims without USDA-RMA (CAPP) certification. All resident adjusters must be licensed.
How much does an adjuster license cost in Washington?
In Washington, the exam fee is $38, the resident license fee is $50, fingerprinting costs about $52. Add the cost of the required prelicensing course. Fees change, so confirm current amounts with the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC), Producer Licensing and Oversight.
Can a nonresident get an adjuster license in Washington?
Nonresidents apply online through NIPR with a home-state or designated-home-state adjuster license (RCW 48.17.380(1)(b), (4)-(5)); no exam and no fingerprints. Independent and public adjuster applicants must take both property and casualty. NIPR ADHS rules: the DHS must show an active nonresident adjuster license on the PDB, the applicant must hold no active resident adjuster license anywhere, and public adjusters cannot designate a home state.
How many continuing education hours do Washington adjusters need?
24 hours, including 3 hours of ethics, every 2 years (each license renewal period). Required since July 1, 2022 (SHB 1037) for resident independent, public and crop adjusters and for nonresidents who designate Washington as their home state. OIC says Washington does not require nonresident adjusters to complete its CE even if their home state requires none. Excess credits do not carry over.
How much do insurance adjusters make in Washington?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, claims adjusters, examiners and investigators in Washington earned a mean of $85,270 a year in May 2025, with a median of $80,700. The national mean was $80,470. Independent catastrophe adjusters are paid by fee schedule and can earn more or less than this.
Official Washington resources
Regulator: Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC), Producer Licensing and Oversight
Sources
- insurance.wa.gov/producers-adjusters/licensing/get-licensed/adjuster-crop-independent-or-p
- insurance.wa.gov/producers-adjusters/licensing/get-licensed/adjuster-crop-independent-or-p
- insurance.wa.gov/producers-adjusters/education/first-time-license/adjuster-pre-licensing-e
- insurance.wa.gov/producers-adjusters/education/first-time-license/how-schedule-insurance-l
- insurance.wa.gov/producers-adjusters/licensing/get-licensed/producer-and-adjuster-licensin
- insurance.wa.gov/producers-adjusters/licensing/get-licensed/fingerprint-requirements
- insurance.wa.gov/producers-adjusters/education/continuing-education-ce/continuing-educatio
- insurance.wa.gov/producers-adjusters/licensing/renew-or-reinstate-your-license
- insurance.wa.gov/producers-adjusters/laws-and-rules-affecting-licensees-and-providers/chan
- app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=48.17.010
- app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=48.17.380
- app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=48.17.430
- app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=48.17&full=true
- test-takers.psiexams.com/waoic
- test-takers.psiexams.com/api/content/bulletin/6608
- nipr.com/licensing-center/state-requirements/washington-non-resident-adjuster-licensing-in
- nipr.com/licensing-center/state-information/washington
Adjuster license requirements in other states
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