How to Train to Become an Insurance Adjuster

Insurance adjusters inspect damage to homes and property to adjust insurance claims.

An insurance adjuster inspects damage to insured property to place a value on insurance claims related to any covered property damage. Adjusters may work either for the insurance company or for individuals insured by a policy. Aspiring adjusters may choose from a variety of training sources to obtain insurance adjuster training. Trainees can select live adjuster schools, books or online training materials. A trainee who intends to work in a state requiring a license must sometimes pass an exam. Trainees in such states should choose a combination of live adjuster training and state-specific adjuster exam study guides.

Things You'll Need

• Internet access
• Adjuster study guides

Instructions

1. Open the CatAdjuster "Business Directory" page (see Resources). Click on the links for the insurance-adjuster school names to get details on the adjuster courses. You can see a link to each school's website on the individual school's page.

2. Contact individual schools to get details on each course offering. Many of the schools provide general training for insurance adjusters throughout the country. Some schools tailor courses to adjuster trainees in specific states. If possible, choose and attend one of the live courses to get hands-on training for your insurance-adjuster career. As of 2010, prices for live training vary widely but generally cost around $1000.

3. Open the "Adjuster Prelicensing Materials by State" page on the Insurance Schools website. This page lists important insurance adjuster exam requirements for each state. You can also find links to the website of each exam administrator.

4. Click on the links for your state to find materials designed to train you for your state adjuster exam. Use the exam study guides, practice exams and other adjuster learning materials in conjunction with any live classes that you attend. You need these state-specific materials because states can include state insurance laws and rules on your adjuster exam. As of 2010, prices range from about $50 to $190, payable by credit card, for the various study guides and courses.

5. Review the exam administrator's website for additional information. For example, you can use the Pearson VUE "Test Taker Services" page to find information on state exams administered by Pearson VUE. Pearson and other exam administrators generally provide free exam content outlines and other study tips in publications like the "Insurance Licensing Candidate Handbook" for Georgia.

Tips & Warnings

• Taking classes on property and casualty insurance can also help you gain knowledge of insurance adjustment. Sircon provides a list of available property and casualty insurance courses in various states. Click on "Available Course Offerings Inquiry" on the Sircon "Inquiries" page to search for insurance courses on property and casualty.

• AdjusterPro has a convenient resource for finding information on your state's licensing requirements. Click on your state on the "Insurance Adjuster Career Resources" page to find links and other contact information for your state's insurance department.

References

• Insurance Schools: Adjuster Prelicensing Materials by State
• Pearson VUE: Insurance Licensing Candidate Handbook (For Georgia)

Resources

• Sircon: Inquiries
• CatAdjuster: Schools and Training
• Pearson VUE: Test Taker Services
• AdjusterPro: Insurance Adjuster Career Resources