West Virginia insurance adjuster license
Since July 1, 2021 (HB 4502, W. Va. Code 33-12B), West Virginia issues three adjuster licenses: Company Adjuster (staff employees of insurers), Independent Adjuster (independent contractors for insurers or self-insurers) and Public Adjuster. Company and independent adjusters may hold property and casualty, workers' compensation and crop lines. Out-of-state company adjusters who adjust only by phone, mail, fax or email and never physically enter West Virginia are exempt.
How to get licensed in West Virginia, step by step
- Choose the license you need. West Virginia issues Independent Adjuster, Company Adjuster. Most new independent adjusters start with the Independent Adjuster license.
- Pass the state exam (InsWV-Adj14). It is given by Pearson VUE: 80 questions in 90 minutes, passing score 70 (scaled score), fee $84. Some applicants can skip it (see exemptions below). Practice first with our West Virginia 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 West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC), Agent Licensing & Education Division 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, renewing based on the licensee's birth month).
West Virginia adjuster license types
| License | Covers | Exam | Prelicensing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independent Adjuster | Lines: property and casualty; workers' compensation; crop | Required For the crop line, a USDA Risk Management Agency-approved proficiency exam is accepted instead of an OIC exam. | Not required |
| Company Adjuster | Lines: property and casualty; workers' compensation; crop (staff adjusters employed by insurers) | Required Same as independent adjuster: the crop line accepts an RMA-approved proficiency exam. | Not required |
The West Virginia adjuster exam
| Vendor | Pearson VUE |
|---|---|
| Exam | WV Adjuster (InsWV-Adj14) |
| Questions | 80 |
| Time limit | 90 minutes |
| Passing score | 70 (scaled score) |
| Exam fee | $84 |
| Candidate handbook | Official handbook (PDF) |
License fees
- Resident license: $50
- Nonresident license: $50
- Fingerprinting: about $45.75
License fee is $25 per year by statute (W. Va. Code 33-12B-8), charged as $50 per 2-year license (Pearson VUE handbook; NIPR lists $50 for company, independent and public adjuster nonresident licenses). Business entity license $200 per year. Temporary emergency license $25. Fingerprinting (IdentoGO) costs $45.75 ($12.50 vendor + $20.00 WV State Police + $13.25 FBI) and is required of resident adjusters and nonresidents designating West Virginia as home state. Pearson VUE exam fee $84 (handbook dated September 2026). WV Adjuster exam: 80 questions (75 scored + 5 pretest) in 90 minutes. Workers' Compensation Adjuster exam (InsWV-WCAdj21): 45 questions in 60 minutes. No prelicensing education is required of adjusters.
License term: 2 years, renewing based on the licensee's birth month.
Continuing education
West Virginia adjusters need 24 hours of continuing education, including 3 hours of ethics, every 2 years (biennium based on birth month). Nonresidents who meet their home state requirement are generally exempt.
Required since July 1, 2021 for West Virginia resident adjusters and nonresidents who designate West Virginia as home state (W. Va. Code 33-12B-13; OIC Adjuster FAQs). Workers' compensation adjusters are encouraged to take at least 3 hours on WC claims. Nonresidents who meet their home state's CE are not subject to WV CE.
Nonresident adjusters, reciprocity and DHS
A nonresident holding a similar home-state license is licensed on a reciprocal basis (33-12B-9) through NIPR, with no WV exam and no fingerprints. 'Home state' includes a state the adjuster designates when their residence state does not license that adjuster type (33-12B-1), and NIPR accepts ADHS filings for West Virginia.
Designated home state license: Nonresidents whose home state does not license adjusters may choose West Virginia as their designated home state after passing the West Virginia adjuster exam. They must then be fingerprinted and complete WV CE. Wyoming lists West Virginia among the DHS states it accepts.
See every state's rules side by side on the adjuster license reciprocity map.
Emergency and catastrophe adjusters
During an insurance emergency declared by the commissioner, an insurer may use otherwise-qualified unlicensed persons as emergency company or independent adjusters if it notifies the OIC within 5 days of the declaration (name, NPN, insurer, contract date, event). The temporary emergency license lasts up to 90 days unless extended, and the fee is $25 (W. Va. Code 33-12B-4, 33-12B-8).
Public adjusters in West Virginia
Separate Public Adjuster license (property and casualty line only) for those who act for insureds on first-party property claims. Pearson VUE exam InsWV-PubAdj17: 45 questions, 45 minutes, passing scaled score 70. License fee $50 (NIPR, nonresident). Resident CE 24 hours with 3 ethics. No bond amount was found in W. Va. Code 33-12B.
Insurance adjuster salary in West Virginia
| Claims adjusters, examiners and investigators | West Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Mean annual wage | $73,400 | $80,470 |
| Median annual wage | $67,290 | $78,000 |
| 10th to 90th percentile | $45,650 to $106,330 | $48,850 to $117,040 |
| Employment | 1,340 | 324,230 |
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a license to be an insurance adjuster in West Virginia?
Since July 1, 2021 (HB 4502, W. Va. Code 33-12B), West Virginia issues three adjuster licenses: Company Adjuster (staff employees of insurers), Independent Adjuster (independent contractors for insurers or self-insurers) and Public Adjuster. Company and independent adjusters may hold property and casualty, workers' compensation and crop lines. Out-of-state company adjusters who adjust only by phone, mail, fax or email and never physically enter West Virginia are exempt.
How much does an adjuster license cost in West Virginia?
In West Virginia, the exam fee is $84, the resident license fee is $50, fingerprinting costs about $45.75. Fees change, so confirm current amounts with the West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC), Agent Licensing & Education Division.
Can a nonresident get an adjuster license in West Virginia?
A nonresident holding a similar home-state license is licensed on a reciprocal basis (33-12B-9) through NIPR, with no WV exam and no fingerprints. 'Home state' includes a state the adjuster designates when their residence state does not license that adjuster type (33-12B-1), and NIPR accepts ADHS filings for West Virginia.
How many continuing education hours do West Virginia adjusters need?
24 hours, including 3 hours of ethics, every 2 years (biennium based on birth month). Required since July 1, 2021 for West Virginia resident adjusters and nonresidents who designate West Virginia as home state (W. Va. Code 33-12B-13; OIC Adjuster FAQs). Workers' compensation adjusters are encouraged to take at least 3 hours on WC claims. Nonresidents who meet their home state's CE are not subject to WV CE.
How much do insurance adjusters make in West Virginia?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, claims adjusters, examiners and investigators in West Virginia earned a mean of $73,400 a year in May 2025, with a median of $67,290. The national mean was $80,470. Independent catastrophe adjusters are paid by fee schedule and can earn more or less than this.
Official West Virginia resources
Regulator: West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC), Agent Licensing & Education Division
Sources
- wvinsurance.gov/Divisions/Licensing
- wvinsurance.gov/Portals/0/Adjuster%20FAQs.pdf
- wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2020_SESSIONS/RS/bills/HB4502%20ENR.pdf
- codes.findlaw.com/wv/chapter-33-insurance/wv-code-sect-33-12b-3/
- codes.findlaw.com/wv/chapter-33-insurance/wv-code-sect-33-12b-4/
- codes.findlaw.com/wv/chapter-33-insurance/wv-code-sect-33-12b-8/
- codes.findlaw.com/wv/chapter-33-insurance/wv-code-sect-33-12b-9/
- codes.findlaw.com/wv/chapter-33-insurance/wv-code-sect-33-12b-13/
- pearsonvue.com/us/en/wv/insurance.html
- pearsonvue.com/content/dam/VUE/vue/en/documents/publications/124900.pdf
- pearsonvue.com/content/dam/VUE/vue/en/documents/publications/124901.pdf
- nipr.com/licensing-center/state-requirements/west-virginia-non-resident-adjuster-licensing
- nipr.com/licensing-center/state-information/west-virginia
Adjuster license requirements in other states
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