Become a Public Adjuster

Public adjusters, or public insurance adjuster, provide assistance to insurance policyholders when it comes to preparing, filing and adjusting insurance claims. They are self-employed and work for the client rather than the insurance company. However, some firms will hire adjusters to work on their behalf. The schedule for a public adjuster can be erratic, but the job pays well and can be rewarding.

Steps

Getting Started

1. Learn about the career. Before starting your journey to become a public adjuster, spend some time familiarizing yourself with the career. Public adjusters work with insurance companies determining payment amounts for losses.
   • Essentially, your job is determining how much an insurance company should pay to policy holders for various losses. As a public adjuster, you strive to make sure clients get as big a payout as possible from their insurance policy. You'll end up doing a lot of investigation work, looking into the claim that's being made and determining a fair payment amount.
   • The job outlook for a public adjuster is good. On average, public adjusters earn about $31 an hour, coming out to about $64,000 per year. However, you may earn more or less depending on your state and area of expertise. Adjusters working in the field of architecture and engineering tend to be the highest earners, for example.
   • The main downsides to becoming a public adjuster are the schedule and licensing. Your work schedule will be unpredictable as it will be based on the schedule your clients. Licensing in some states can be timely and expensive. Some states require you've worked a certain timeframe as an apprentice before completing an exam. Fees for taking a licensing exam can add up and the exam is timely and difficult.
2. Get a high school education. While education requirements vary by state, nearly all states require at least a high school education to become a public adjuster. You need a high school diploma or GED as a bare minimum. It's a good idea to stock up on relevant coursework in high school. Take high level mathematics courses, as well as any courses your high school offers on business, marketing, and management.
3. Consider higher education. While a college education is not always required, you should strongly consider pursuing a four year degree from a college or university. This can help set you apart during the hiring process. As many employers are looking for public adjusters with experience in specific fields, having a degree in a particular area can help you find work.
   • Consider where you ultimately hope to end up career wise. Do you want to work in worker's compensation claims? Accident claims? Health insurance? The field you're interested in pursuing down the road as a public adjuster will help you determine your major. As a public adjuster is a diverse field and there is no single field to choose from when selecting a major.
   • Choose a major relevant to the area where you wish to work down the road. A degree in automotive engineering may help if you want to work in accident claims. A paralegal or legal assistant degree can help for worker's compensation. If you want to assess damages to homes in the event of accidents, consider an engineering degree.
   • Community college or vocational schools may offer coursework in claims adjusting. Consider taking courses like these over the summer while earning your four year degree.
4. Gain some experience early on. As you near the end of college, try to gain some relevant experience in the field. Public adjusting can be a hard field to break into so the more experience you have entering the workforce the better.
   • Consider working part time at an insurance company. Even a clerical job can be valuable on a resume as it demonstrates you have some knowledge of the ins and outs of the field.
   • Look for internships. As public adjusting is a diverse field, your internship experience will be varied. If you're working in worker's comp, a internship with a law firm can help. An engineering internship can help if you want to work in accident claims.
   • Start looking for apprenticeship programs towards the end of college if your state requires it. During an apprenticeship program, you'll be required to work under the supervision of a licensed public adjuster for a set period of years before you can apply for licensing yourself. Ask college advises and existing public adjusters where you can find apprenticeship programs in your area.

Getting the Necessary Requirements

1. Familiarize yourself with all the requirements in your state to become a public adjuster. Requirements to become a public adjust vary greatly by state. As you begin seeking out necessary licenses and certifications, familiarize yourself with the requirements in your state. The licenses and certifications needed to legally practice as a public adjuster vary greatly depending on your area.
   • In some states, such as Florida and North Carolina, public adjusters must be licensed by the state Department of Financial Services. In such states, you will usually be required to complete a certain amount of work as an apprenticeship under the supervision of a licensed public adjuster. Then, you will likely take a certification or licensing exam provided by the state. You can find out information specific to your state by looking at their Department of Financial Services website. You can also ask a public adjuster in your area how he or she got licensed and certified.
   • Most states require you to pass some kind of licensing exam, regardless of whether you're required to have apprenticeship experience. All states require a minimum of a high school education to apply to take the exam.
2. Take on apprenticeship, if required by your state. If your state requires it, you may have to complete a certain number of work hours as an apprentice. Generally, the number of hours is around 100 although some states may require more or less. An apprenticeship is an invaluable experience. You'll be working one-on-one with a skilled, experienced public adjuster and learning the ins and outs of the field. Work hard at your apprenticeship and take the work seriously. The contacts you make during this time can be used later on when you're seeking work on the job market.
3. Take any licensing exams your state requires. Nearly all states require some kind of licensing exam to become a public adjuster. If you want to become a public adjuster, take the exam required by your state's laws.
   • Fees vary by state, but can be quite pricey. Put away money to go towards the required fees, which may be in the upper hundreds in some states.
   • Familiarize yourself with the nature of the exam in your state. Most exams will take at least 2 to 3 hours to complete. In some states, exams will be administered on a computer. In other states, exams will be pen and paper. Most states have set testing areas where you must go to complete the exam. You will likely not be allowed to bring electronics, outside notes, or outside food and drink into the exam room.
   • Know the retake policies in your states. Some states allow you to retake the exam after a certain period of time has passed. Some states may have limits on how many times you can take the exam per year or testing period.
4. Consider certifications through the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters. Regardless of your state's requirement, seeking certification from the National Association of Public Defenders can help you stand out on the job market. It can also help give you credibility if you change states as the NAPD across the US.
   • Consider membership. If you're a practicing public adjuster for a certain number of years, you may be eligible for membership in the organization. Being a standing member of the NAPD not only looks good on a resume but it can keep you informed on any changes to licensing requirements in your state and alert you to job openings earlier than your colleagues.
   • If you have five years of adjusting experience, you can apply for the Certified Professional Public Adjuster (CPPA) and the Senior Professional Public Adjuster (SPPA) designations. The application process is somewhat similar to a job application. You submit your resume, as well as a list of references and other evidence of your experience in the field. Such designations look great on a resume and can help you land clients down the road.

Finding Works

1. Write a solid resume. A solid resume is important to landing work in any field. Spend some time working on writing a resume when you seek out employment.
   • Learn about resume format. Resume designs should be neat and eye-catching without compromising legibility. Websites like Pinterest often post unique resume designs. You can also download free templates online. Being creative can set you apart. However, as a public adjuster is a less creative field in terms of design you should stick to a more formal look for your resume.
   • Be consistent with formatting choices throughout your resume. If you use bullet points to talk about your experience for one job, use bullet points to explain job responsibilities throughout your resume.
   • Include relevant information. This is not limited to work experience, such as internships and apprenticeships. This also includes any relevant coursework you took, such as public adjusting courses at a community college. List any licenses or certifications you hold. If you've done any volunteer work that might be related to the position you're looking for, include it in a section titled something like "Additional Experience."
   • Keep your specific goals in mind. If you want to work in worker's compensation, for example, include your law firm internship in college. If you volunteered at a rally for worker's rights, include that. If you're part of any organizations related to helping workers, or if you're a standing member of any labor unions, these would all be good things to include.
2. Watch for job postings relevant to your experience. You can find job postings through many online databases. You can also have access to postings if you're a member of the National Association of Public Adjusters. Networking can also be a great means to landing a job. Keep in touch with past employers and colleagues. Let people know you're looking for work as a public adjuster and to pass along job positions and possible positions to you.
3. Practice good interview skills. Make sure you know good interview skills in the event you get a callback about a job. Having confidence and being well informed about the position can help improve your chances of landing a job at any company.
   • Use nonverbal communication skills during an interview. Maintain eye contact throughout the interview. Nod and smile as the interviewer talks to maintain that you're listening. Maintain good posture to convey confidence.
   • Dress professionally. If you're not sure of a company's dress code, always err on the side of caution. Wear business professional attire for an interview. Dressing up can help convey that you're serious about landing the position.
   • Research the company before going into an interview. Make sure you have some sense of a company's goals, history, and ethics. Spend some time browsing the company website prior to an interview to learn this information.
   • Always ask questions at the end of an interview. Do not stick to questions of logistics, such as, "When can I expect to hear back about the position?" Ask open ended questions that convey an active interest in the company. Questions like, "How would you describe your company's culture?" or "What do you like about working here?" are helpful.

Warnings

• In some states, you must renew your adjuster's license by fulfilling any requirements as determined by your state or country. Make sure you know the requirements for renewing your license to make sure yours states up to date.

Things You'll Need

• Laptop or computer
• Internet access
• Telephone
• Digital camera
• Driver's license

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References

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