With 2023 coming to a close and New Year’s resolutions peeking around the corner, it’s a great time to take stock of the past year and consider our goals for 2024. This past year, the insurance claims industry seemed to hold its collective breath for a good portion of the summer and fall, waiting for hurricanes that never materialized. But if your goal is a successful career as an insurance adjuster, don’t fret. There are always claims, storms, and work just around the corner. So get prepared now!
While it may be tempting to put off getting your adjuster license until the next hurricane season, I recommend getting started while things are calm. This allows you to really create a plan and focus on courses that will give you a head start (and the best chance) of getting work when it becomes available.
And it will become available.
Insurance Adjusting is more than just Hurricanes
We often think hurricane season is all there is to insurance claims, but nothing could be further from the truth. Every day, all over the country, people are submitting their first notice of loss for a claim. Perhaps it’s for a simple issue at home, or a fender bender, or maybe it’s damage from a host of weather-related events that, while not as big a hurricane, still affect families year-round.
As we write this article, massive flooding is taking place in the Pacific Northwest. A bulk of the country is enjoying unseasonably warm temperatures that will result in spring-like storms come this weekend as the cold front moves through. Those storms may result in snow and flash floods and, in some cases, ice. We are just getting into winter storm season which brings its own set of challenges and insurance claims.
All this is to say, don’t put off your goals while waiting for the perfect time. Making the decision to get your license now means that when the time comes, you’ll be ready. You won’t be waiting on the state to approve your license or your reciprocal license applications. It will allow you to prepare your vehicle and gear. You can spend some time learning Xactimate which is vital if you want to be field-ready and start making money immediately.
Additional Training & Certifications
If you’re in a bit of a work lull or still waiting for that first opportunity, this is also the perfect time to jump into some of those more challenging certifications and licenses.
New York & California Adjuster License
As we’ve discussed in other articles, neither California nor New York offer reciprocal licenses to out-of-state insurance adjusters. If you want to adjust claims in those states, you must take and pass their state exams. That makes these two licenses incredibly valuable for adjusters to have. IA Firms and insurance carriers are always looking for people who can work in these states so obtaining one or both of these licenses will really make your resume stand out from the crowd.
NFIP Flood Certification
Thankfully, the NFIP has finally started offering online training courses for this certification online. This is great for adjusters, but more importantly, it’s great for the industry. Flood claims that fall under FEMA’s control have skyrocketed in recent years. And rarely have there been enough certified adjusters to handle claims from these events. There are a host of requirements and steps to getting this license, but again, those who hold it are always in demand.
Please note that training webinars are not listed on FEMA’s website. You must sign up for FEMA’s email updates to be notified of available classes.
Xactimate Certification
Knowing your way around Xactimate is a must for any adjuster. If you haven’t worked in estimating software previously, learning to operate efficiently and effectively can take some time. If you want to hit the ground running in claims, don’t wait until you’re in the field to learn Xactimate. Use the time you have today to really understand the program so that once you’ve been assigned claims, you can input the information and close them fast. Our 5-star rated Tactical Xactimate Training course was designed for and hosted by insurance adjusters. It’ll help you learn what you need to know.
Pro-tip: There are official Xactimate certifications you can obtain through Verisk (previously Xactware.) These are only offered by the manufacturer, but our webinar will give you the skills you need to pass levels I and II. The certifications aren’t ‘required’ by employers but having them will get their attention so dedicating some downtime to mastering estimating software and gaining official certifications is well worth it.
Everyone’s journey to becoming an adjuster is different, but if you’re committed to the path, don’t wait to get started. Getting licensed and prepared today means you will be ready the moment you get the opportunity.
