United States · Licensing examWhat does a public insurance adjuster do?
Florida defines a public adjuster as anyone who, for pay, prepares, completes or files a claim for an insured, or acts for them in negotiating the settlement of a covered loss. It also covers people who advertise to adjust such claims. Licensed lawyers are exempt.
Company and independent adjusters do the opposite job: they work for the insurer. The difference is whose side they're on and who pays them.
Public adjuster license rules by state
As of October 2026:
| State | Exam | Bond | Other requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | Pearson VUE, 100 scored questions, 120 minutes, $39 | $10,000 | A contract that meets Texas rules, or TDI's Form FIN535; $50 application |
| Florida | Pearson VUE, 100 scored questions plus 10 pretest, 2 hours; no exemptions | $50,000 | 6 months appointed as a nonresident public adjuster, or as an apprentice, independent or company adjuster |
| California | PSI, 100 questions, 165 minutes | $20,000 | 2 years of experience (or 12 months as an apprentice), a 20-hour course, $264 filing fee |
| Georgia | Pearson VUE public adjuster exam | $5,000 | 16-hour property and casualty course; contracts approved by the Commissioner |
| North Carolina | Pearson VUE, 2 hours 15 minutes, $45 | $20,000, or a letter of credit | Fingerprints; $169 plus $38 fingerprint fee for residents |
| New York | PSI | $1,000 | 40-hour course or 1 year of insurance work; 5 certificates of character |
How to become a public insurance adjuster
Florida, California and New York expect experience or training first. Florida wants 6 months of continuous appointment as an adjuster, California 2 years (counting 2,000 paid hours as a year), and New York a 40-hour course or a year of insurance work. Texas and Georgia list no experience rule; they require the exam, the bond and a contract that meets state rules. In Florida you also need a Florida address or a principal place of business there, and once licensed you're appointed in your own name or by a public adjusting firm.
Before you hire one
- Check the license on your state's lookup tool.
- Ask for the contract and read the fee. Texas and Georgia both set rules for public adjuster contracts, and Georgia approves them before an adjuster can use them with consumers.
- Make sure the license is for public adjusting. A company or independent adjuster license doesn't let someone represent you.
Sources: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook · Florida DFS · Pearson VUE and 8 more. Checked October 2026.
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Claims Adjusters, Appraisers, Examiners, and Investigators ↗
- Florida DFS: 3-20 Resident Public Adjuster License (PDF) ↗
- Pearson VUE: Florida Examination Content Outlines, effective January 1, 2026 (PDF) ↗
- Texas Department of Insurance: Adjuster, public insurance (updated 3/24/2025) ↗
- Pearson VUE: Texas Insurance Licensing Candidate Handbook, October 2024 (PDF) ↗
- California Department of Insurance: Public Adjuster, Application Procedures for Individual Residents ↗
- California Department of Insurance: Candidate Information Bulletin, revised March 2026 (PDF) ↗
- Georgia OCI: Licensed Adjusters, Public Adjusters, Counselors and Surplus Lines Brokers ↗
- Pearson VUE: North Carolina Insurance Licensing Candidate Handbook, October 2025 (PDF) ↗
- NC Department of Insurance: Registration Fees for Adjusters (modified 07/16/2025) ↗
- NY DFS: Independent Adjuster and Public Adjuster licensing ↗
Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.
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