How to Become an Adjuster
Adjusting is a growing field, and is one of the few jobs in America that isn't completely dependent on the ups and downs of the economy. This article will outline the different types of adjusters and give you basic information on how to pursue insurance adjuster jobs.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Determine whether you meet the job requirements. To become an insurance adjuster, you need to be physically able to climb roofs, muck through flooded areas, and potentially travel long distances. Mentally, you need to be able to calculate areas, view and analyze damages, and provide excellent customer service. A degree in insurance is an excellent foundation for any kind of insurance adjuster, but is not absolutely necessary.
-
2
Decide what kind of claims you want to handle. Insurance adjusters can work on many different types of claims. Homeowners, commercial, automobiles, and workman's compensation are a few types of claims you may see. Most public adjusters work with homeowner and commercial claims, while independent adjusters and staff adjusters will handle different type of claims depending on their career path.
-
-
3
Decide what kind of adjuster you want to be. There are several types of insurance adjusters. Public adjusters work on the policyholder's behalf to get them the most money possible, and are compensated by receiving a percentage of the final claim. Staff adjusters work for the company in salaried, year-round positions. Independent adjusters work for insurance companies on a per-claim basis and often work during catastrophes. Here is a summary of adjuster jobs: independent adjusters do the most traveling (50-100% of the year), public adjusters travel 25-50% of the year, and staff adjusters usually work in a specific area, traveling only if there is a disaster and the company temporarily needs additional resources.
-
4
Make sure you have basic skills. A few skills are universal in the insurance adjusting field; for example customer service, basic math, and computer skills are necessary. Insurance adjusters deal with customers constantly. They are responsible for determining the area of roofs and rooms, and must be able to use computers to respond to e-mail, work in claims management software, and prepare estimates. If you can learn to use an estimating program like Xactimate, you will be at an advantage.
-
5
Pursue additional training. Beyond the previous step, the type of training you pursue will depend on the type of adjuster you become. Staff adjusters generally have four-year degrees and receive training from the insurance company after getting a job offer. Public adjusters generally have some kind of insurance or contracting background, and either seek training independently or are trained by the public adjusting company they go to work for. Independent adjusters also usually have background in insurance or contracting, and seek training independently. They may also receive training from a specific adjusting firm.
-
6
Once you're trained, start looking for a job. Once you've decided what kind of adjuster you want to be, you'll want to pursue that specifically. If you want to be a staff adjuster, begin by looking at insurance company websites for job openings. Take advantage of networking opportunities. If you don't have a background in insurance, pursue training opportunities. Two well-recognized certifications are the Associate in Claims and Associate in Insurance Services designations. You can also go to training with independent adjusting firms to beef up your resume and experience. In most states, direct employees of insurance companies are not required to be state licensed, or have their adjusting license and adjuster training through their company.
-
7
Get licensed. Independent adjusters must seek their own licensing from their state. Start with either your home state or the state you plan to work in the most. Consult that state's department of insurance for your state's requirements. Seek training from independent adjusting firms, and network as much as possible. The more independent firms you talk to, the better your chances of working. There are more detailed instructions on becoming an independent adjuster linked below.
-
8
This page has many links to adjuster training resources. The best way to advance in any field is to become an expert, so get started!
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Getting your Florida Insurance Adjuster license and Texas insurance adjuster license first will help you, as many states reciprocate their licensing.
You may also see adjuster spelled adjustor
To become a public adjuster (PA), you'll need to get a state adjuster license as a public adjuster. Your state department of insurance will have information on this process. You'll need to pursue training as a PA, preferably through an established public adjusting firm. Requirements to become a PA vary from state to state- for example in Alabama, only licensed attorneys can act on behalf of policyholders, while in Florida you must pass a test and complete a year long apprenticeship to become a licensed PA.
Insurance claims are time-sensitive. If you can't handle pressure or work on a deadline, this isn't the career for you.
