For years we’ve been asked whether or not you need to know construction to be an insurance adjuster. Like any new career or job, there are things you’re going to need to learn. In insurance claims, constructions basics, estimating software, and insurance policies are just some of the areas that are vital to understand if you want to be successful. But just because you aren’t an expert in those areas today does not mean you can’t become one. 

This new course will give you the knowledge you need to start your career with confidence. It was created specifically for insurance adjusters by an insurance adjuster who’s been there. Matt’s been an adjuster or in a claims-related field for almost 20 years. We asked why he decided to create this course, and why it’s important new adjusters and would-be adjusters familiarize themselves with the basics of building. 

Why Construction 101?

Why should you take Construction 101? Is it really that important? Can’t you just…learn on the job? We’ll let Matt take over here and tell you in his own words.

Written by Matt Daniels

Confession time: when I first launched into property claims adjusting, I knew absolutely nothing about construction. Most people think that I’m kidding when I say I didn’t know what a stud wall was. While funny, sadly, I’m not joking.

When I started in this industry, I picked up Xactimate quickly – sketching, using, and even finding line items. But as quickly as I progressed in Xactimate, I could tell something was missing. I could find line items, but were they the “right” line items? What exactly would the construction process look like? When a contractor begins to fix the damage, what is actually needed to complete the repair? 

I had a big hole in my knowledge at it related to construction. Perhaps most importantly, I had no clue how to differentiate between what a contractor would claim was necessary versus what was actually necessary. Plus, there are so many opinions on construction. Which one is right? How do you know? Is there a governing body with the ultimate authority? 

These questions are why construction knowledge is crucial in adjusting. Xactimate and other estimating software can do a lot of the claims work for you, but only if you know how to give it the right information.

Throughout my claims career, I’ve realized that I wasn’t alone in having these questions or lacking this knowledge. But the great part is that these are things you CAN learn. And that’s why I wanted to partner with AdjusterPro to create this course. We’ll help build your knowledge about construction so you can walk into the field with confidence. If you can populate Xactimate correctly and quickly, you’ll close more claims and make more money. 

What You’ll Learn

At the end of the day, being an insurance claims adjuster means reviewing damages and creating an estimate to make the policyholder “whole” again. In this course, I’ll walk you through the following topics so you can create an accurate estimate.

• Quantity of Materials
• Types of Material
• Grade of Material
• Construction Process
  • What trades will be needed?  
  • What is the order of the process? 
  • How much debris will be created? 
  • How much will the permits cost? 
  • What building code(s) apply? 

• Roofing
  • Overview assessment
  • 6-point inspection process
  • Safety & ascension

I remember how daunting the construction aspects felt when I first started. And how frustrating and time-consuming it was to try and learn on the job. (For both myself and my managers!) We created this course to fill that void. We’ll cover basic and commonly found materials, taking you from foundations to framing, from siding to roofing, and from interior flooring to finishes throughout the home.

If you’re just starting in insurance adjusting, or licensed but struggling with the construction items during your estimate, I hope you’ll take Construction for Insurance Adjusters. It’s also great training for those prepping to take the Adjusterpro Xactimate Webinar! I know what it’s like to have little experience in this area so I designed the course I wish was available to me before I started. I know it will help you.

Matt Daniels is an Air Force Veteran and AdjusterPro Alumni. Find out more about Matt’s journey to becoming an insurance adjuster on our YouTube channel here: Adjuster Story: Matt Daniels.

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Learning styles are general categories that most people fit into when it comes to absorbing new information. In this article, we’ll look at the four types of learners, where you fit, tips for studying, and how our courses can be tailored to work with you.

Visual Learners

Visual learners prefer graphics, diagrams, and all things visually stimulating. Infographics, charts, and mind maps are their trusty sidekicks on the journey of discovery. If you are a visual learner, you like to “see” what you are learning. To recall information, these learners will often use the “picture” they have in their head. Those who find themselves doodling or making “art” out of information are often visual learners.

Tip for Visual Learners: 

YouTube tutorials, documentaries, and visually-rich presentations are your go-to resources. If nothing visual is presented, create your own!

How our courses help Visual Learners: 

We add charts, graphs, art, and images to all of our courses to illustrate concepts. We even have some illustrators in-house to create custom drawings for us.

Auditory Learners

These individuals absorb knowledge through the power of sound. Whether it’s lectures, podcasts, or engaging discussions, auditory learners have their ears tuned to the frequency of wisdom. They understand and remember things best by hearing it. Auditory learners store information by the way it sounds, and they have an easier time understanding spoken instructions than written ones. You often learn by reading out loud because you have to hear it or speak it in order to know it.

Tip for Auditory Learners: 

Grab those headphones and explore the world of educational podcasts and audiobooks. If you’re an auditory learner, you have to hear it or speak it in order to know it. If no audio is present, we recommend reading aloud. Simply hearing the information, even if it’s in your own voice, will help you understand and retain knowledge.

How our courses help Auditory Learners: 

All of our courses are narrated so students can listen to the information. You can pause and rewind the audio if you want to take a note or listen to a topic again.

Reading-Writing Learners

Reading and writing learners are like sponges for information, soaking up knowledge from textbooks, articles, and good ol’ fashioned written content. If you’re a reading-writing learner, you likely enjoy reading for both educational and entertainment purposes, and have a knack for finding the main concept in a big block of unruly text. These learners often organize information by tagging or underlining in bright colors.

Tip for Reading/Writing Learners: 

Dive into well-crafted literature and keep those matching highlighters and post-its handy.

How our courses help Reading/Writing Learners: 

The information included in every course is presented in written form. Our platform also allows you to disable the audio that reading learners sometimes find distracting. We offer downloadable and printable PDFs of our courses, including transcripts of the audio. Your online classroom includes a space to type notes, as well as additional resources like our fast facts and glossary.

Kinesthetic Learner

These learners thrive in the realm of action, using their hands to grasp new concepts. If you find yourself needing to “do something” to learn, you might be a kinesthetic learner. Kinesthetic learners understand and remember things through physical movement. They are “hands-on” learners who prefer to touch, move, build, or draw what they learn.

Tip for Kinesthetic Learners: 

Engage in interactive learning experiences and experiment with hands-on projects. If possible and appropriate in your environment, move around, chew gum, or rock in a chair while learning. You also might need to take more frequent study breaks.

How our courses help Kinesthetic Learners: 

We include interactive activities in our courses, like matching activities and digital flash cards to practice concepts. The online classroom also allows you to move, walk, rock, chew gum while you are learning. And, of course, with a digital class, you can take a break whenever you need to.

Most people find they don’t fit perfectly into one, and only one, category. You might have a primary style or a mix of a few of them. Understanding what works for you and embracing your unique strengths can unlock the door to more effective and efficient learning and knowledge retention. Whether you are studying for an AdjusterPro course, trying to learn a skill, or training at a new job, understanding and applying your learning style will get you farther, faster. Good luck!

Want more tips on how to set yourself up for successful online learning? Check out our Succeeding as an Online Student blog series.

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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.

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Understanding the Basics of Insurance Adjusters:

An insurance adjuster is a licensed professional who works on behalf of insurance companies, policyholders, or third-party administrators to assess and determine the value of insurance claims. They act as a mediator between the insured party and the insurance company, ensuring a fair and accurate resolution.

An adjuster’s primary responsibility is to assess the damage, investigate the circumstances surrounding the loss, and determine the appropriate amount of compensation based on the terms of the insurance policy. If you’d like to take a deeper dive on what an adjuster does, you should check out our blog.

Types of Insurance Adjusters:

There are a few different types of insurance adjusters, or insurance adjusting jobs: independent adjusters, staff adjusters, and public adjusters. This article focuses on independent adjusters.

The term “independent” refers to insurance adjusters who work independently or on a contract basis rather than being directly employed by a specific insurance company. They are typically employed by Insurance Adjusting Firms – not insurance carriers. These firms are hired by insurance companies to handle excess claims. A single firm can be hired by multiple insurance companies, and an independent adjuster can be contracted with multiple firms.

For example, independent adjuster Nicole is contracted by three different firms, and each firm is contracted by two different insurance companies. So one day she could be working on a claim for Allstate through one firm and the next day working on a claim for State Farm through a different firm. So, while Nicole is acting on behalf of, and representing the insurance carrier, she is contracted and employed independently by the adjusting firm.

If you’d like to learn more about Independent Adjusting Firms (also known as IA Firms), check out our blog!

Independent adjusters will be contracted by these IA Firms and are usually paid based on the number of claims and the size of claims handled. These adjusters work all types of claims: home, auto, agricultural, flood, cyber, and more.

Staff adjusters, on the other hand, are hired directly by and work for one insurance company. Their employment is what many would call ‘more traditional.’ They earn a set salary and receive benefits like time off and insurance coverage.

Since they can determine how much they make by how many claims they work, independent adjusters have a higher earning potential. Many will travel to disaster areas on what is called ‘a deployment’ and work long hours 7 days a week for a certain period of time. They are flexible to take on the contracts they want, from employers they trust, and many will take time off after long deployments. The work is not as steady or reliable as that of staff adjusters, but the earning potential is worth it to independent adjusters.

As opposed to staff and independent adjusters, public adjusters are hired by and represent individuals. Their earnings come from a portion of the claim settlement. If you want to learn more about this line of work, check out our Independent vs. Public Adjuster blog.

Getting an Insurance Adjuster License

The process to become an independent or staff adjuster is basically the same and AdjusterPro courses do work for both career paths. If you’re interested in becoming an insurance adjuster, join our Introductory Webinar Course or read our 5 Steps Blog. You can also contact us and we’d be happy to answer any questions you have about the career or the licensing process.

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Put simply, claims estimating software systems help insurance adjusters and contractors produce detailed estimates for repairs and replacements. In this blog post, we’ll explore what the software does and delve into the key differences between the two most popular platforms: Xactimate and Symbility.

The Good Old Days of Estimating:

Let’s step back in time for a moment and look at what insurance adjusters used to do to create estimates for damage and replacements. Say you had a home flood and submitted a claim to your insurance company. They’d send an adjuster to your home to assess the damage and determine how much of a settlement you would receive. Your carpet is destroyed. The tile in the bathroom is damaged and the piping suffered as well. The tub, toilet, drywall, wallpaper – all of it is unsalvageable and will need to be replaced. 

So, how did that adjuster figure out the settlement value? There is the initial cost to consider. The age of your home and those materials, as well as the quality. Was it builder’s standard for a modest home at that time, or did you live in a mansion? What is a fair replacement value? Can you replace it with the exact product or do you need a different but equivalent material? Is that product even available? What will be the labor costs for the work itself?

The short answer is that everything was calculated manually. Adjusters had to perform a ton of research in books, comb through numerous catalogs, make calls to vendors and tradesmen, and do A LOT of math.

Today’s Claims Estimating Software

Thankfully, claims estimating software was created, and it greatly improved the speed, accuracy, and consistency of this part of the claims process. The software is basically a computer program that lets insurance adjusters tap into an extensive database and use the information to generate estimates for property damage. 

These programs streamline the claims process by providing a digital platform where users can enter everything they need into the program and get results in real-time. You can document, assess, and quantify everything from the area, the materials, the type of damage, enter photos, and more.

Claims estimating software uses advanced algorithms and industry databases, to simplify the estimation process, resulting in improved efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Detailed Features of Claims Estimating Software:

• Documentation and Imagery: Claims estimating software allows users to upload and organize documentation and images, such as photos of damaged areas. This visual documentation enhances accuracy and assists in presenting a comprehensive overview of the claim.

• Measurement and Sketching: Precise measurements are critical for generating accurate estimates. Claims estimating software includes built-in tools for measuring dimensions and creating detailed sketches, ensuring the estimation process is thorough and meticulous.

• Cost Databases: These software solutions incorporate extensive cost databases that provide users with real-time pricing information for materials, labor, and other relevant factors. This ensures estimates reflect current market rates, promoting transparency, fair pricing, and consistency.

• Customization and Templates: Users can create custom templates or utilize pre-existing templates tailored to specific industries or claim types. This feature saves time by automating repetitive tasks and ensuring consistency across estimates.

Xactimate and Symbility

Without a doubt, the two most popular claims estimating software programs are Xactimate by Verisk, and Symbility by CoreLogic. Xactimate is used by many insurance companies and claims professionals and is widely considered the industry standard.

Both programs offer cost databases, sketching tools for diagrams and floor plans, and integrations with other claims management systems and project tools. Along with other features, these platforms greatly enhance a field adjusters’ productivity and help reduce turnaround time.

As an insurance adjuster, you will need to learn how to operate one, if not both, of these programs expertly. AdjusterPro does offer a highly rated Tactical Xactimate class specifically for insurance adjusters. Through our live webinar format, you receive real-time, hands-on experience from a professional instructor.

Once you can efficiently operate one software program, our adjusters report that it isn’t a huge jump to learning the other one. The interfaces differ, but the overall concepts and operations are very similar.

Estimating Software is Vital for Insurance Adjusters

Claims estimating software has transformed the insurance industry by providing a streamlined and efficient approach to processing claims. Tools like Xactimate and Symbility are faster, more accurate, and more consistent than humans could ever be. In most cases, the insurance carrier determines which program must be used for their claims so the adjuster doesn’t get to choose. Regardless of the program itself, proficiency in estimating software is the single most important technical skill a new adjuster must acquire.

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Independent Adjusting Firms, often called I.A. Firms, are relatively new to the long-standing insurance industry. The firms are comprised of insurance adjusters who often operate as independent contractors. When there is a spike in claim submissions, insurance companies hire these firms to handle their overflow claims.

Why Use an Independent Adjusting Firm?

The key word, however, is independent. These firms, and their employees, are not affiliated with any one insurance company. Instead, they work on behalf of the insurer that hired them to investigate, evaluate, and settle claims for the length or scope of the contract between the two parties. That contract may be for a set of dates, a specific weather event, or simply a long-term partnership.

So why can’t the insurance company and/or its employees, just handle the claims themselves?

The answer really boils down to the unpredictability of insurance claims.

Insurance companies spend a lot of money to predict risk. There are whole departments, models, programs, and recently, AI assistance helping them create averages and expectancies for insurance claims. But as we’ve seen, one storm can throw everything into chaos.

When there is a high influx of claims due to a large-scale weather event, they need a lot of adjusters at the ready so the claims can be handled immediately. However, if the insurance company kept that huge number of adjusters on staff all year, they wouldn’t have anything to do most of the time. There simply aren’t enough claims to justify having so many adjusters employed full-time.

This is why Independent Adjusting Firms were created. I.A. Firms have huge rosters of independent adjusters ready and willing to work when and where they are needed. The insurers will contract with the I.A. Firms to get the extra help they need to handle an influx of claims. Because I.A. Firms contract with multiple insurance companies at the same time, they can readily move staff to where they are needed the most.

Today, insurance companies regularly rely on I.A. firms to handle most major disaster work, such as hurricane catastrophe claims, as well as spikes in local “daily” claims. Or they might need to contract daily claims in areas where “holes” have been left from their adjusters who’ve been deployed to a disaster. Either way, it’s created an environment where the industry can efficiently shuffle claims adjusters to where they are needed most. This is best for both insurance companies AND policyholders.

Another benefit available to insurers is that some independent adjusting firms specialize in certain types of claims. This allows the insurer to access an expert in specific areas such as flood damage or large liability claims. They’ll get a more thorough and efficient investigation and a quicker resolution to the claim…all without keeping a knowledgeable expert on staff 24-7.

Who Works for an Independent Adjusting Firm?

Most independent insurance adjusters work for independent adjusting firms. In fact, most adjusters are on the rosters of multiple I.A. Firms at the same time. There are different kinds of firms, both large and small, with many different types of specialties all over the nation. You can read more details about where independent insurance adjusters work in our blog article.

If you’re interested in working with an IA Firm, make sure you get your adjuster license! Here at AdjusterPro, we can help make your journey quick and easy. Check out our courses to see what it’ll take for you to get your license!

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Insurance adjusters play a vital role in the insurance industry by evaluating, managing, and settling insurance claims. When you file a claim on your insurance policy, it is the job of the insurance adjuster to investigate and determine the validity and value of your claim. Think of them as the mediator between you and your insurance company. Your insurance policy is their guide.

What does an insurance adjuster do?

Let’s say, for example, you have a small kitchen fire, so you file a claim with your insurance company. Yes, your insurance policy covers home damage. But the insurance company isn’t going to take your word on what caused the damage, how much it cost, and what it’s going to take to replace it.

That’s where the insurance adjuster comes in. They’ll investigate the incident, take a look at the damage, and figure out, according to your policy, how much money your insurance company should pay out to cover the costs.

But there is so much more to insurance than the home damage and auto accidents most of us deal with on an individual basis. Insurance adjusters handle all kinds of insurance policies, each with various individual claims. Health, personal injury, commercial, agriculture-related, workers’ comp, excess lines, pet, and cyber insurance are a few of the most common.

It gets even weirder. You can get alien abduction insurance (don’t ask us, we don’t know), insurance to cover a group winning the lottery, and even body part insurance. Julia Roberts insured her famous smile. Bruce Springsteen has an insurance policy on those raspy pipes. And Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham insured their valuable soccer legs for over 100 million dollars each.

And if something has an insurance policy and a claim is filed on that policy, an insurance adjuster will need to investigate the claim. To some, it may sound a little boring, but most adjusters will tell you they have seen their fair share of interesting or outlandish claims, like a man who tried to pass off his pet parrot as a dependant on his insurance policy. Or the woman who wrecked her car because she panicked at the spider on her rearview mirror. True stories!

Insurance adjusting as a career

As an adjuster, it’s possible to work at a desk, but many work outside the office setting. They need to review damage, investigate, inspect, and take pictures of claim damage. Catastrophe adjusters, one of the most lucrative positions in claims, travel to disaster zones to work on claims from hurricanes, tornados, and floods. But there are many options and positions in the claims field.

So what is an insurance adjuster? Think of it as an interesting, albeit not very well-known, profession. One where every day is a little bit different. There’s a dash of Sherlock Holmes mystery, sometimes a little bit of humor, and often a sense of gratification in being able to help someone who’s suffered a loss. If you want to know more, the AdjusterPro Blog is full of articles and information on insurance adjusting.

If you’re interested in becoming an insurance adjuster, check out our online courses to get started or contact us. We’re here to help.

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So what is an inside adjuster?

Inside adjusters, sometimes referred to as “desk” or “remote” adjusters handle claims from…you guessed it, inside. They are the policyholder’s main contact and the person who ultimately applies the insurance policy terms and standards to the claim. But they don’t actually go into the field and inspect the claim.

Insurance claims that get assigned to an inside adjuster are often small claims, those that equal $3,000 or less. The damage can be easily seen and causation is simple to determine. Theft, vandalism, or a small kitchen fire are examples of claims that may be assigned to a desk adjuster. But to settle the claim, information and proof are still required so inside adjusters may work with field adjusters or third-party inspection companies to obtain the information and photos they need for the claim file.

The partnership between inside adjusters and outside inspectors allows for a quicker and more efficient settlement process. This is especially important when it comes to smaller claims.

Where do inside adjusters work?

Most inside or desk adjusting jobs take place in an office or call center. There is often an inside adjusting team with a manager or supervisor available to assist. Both insurance carriers and independent adjusting firms use inside adjusters. Once of the most common places you’ll find inside adjusting positions is in the auto claims sector. If you’re intersted in adjusting auto claims, check out our Guide to Handling Auto Claims courses and blog.

We are often asked whether or not claims adjusters can work from home, or if inside adjusters work from home. More and more, remote adjusting positions are becoming available. But the standard, even for inside adjusters is to work in an office with a team.

Who are inside adjusters?

Inside adjusters can be anyone from a newly licensed and hired employee, to a veteran adjuster who isn’t comfortable climbing roofs anymore. Or anything in between. It’s truly a great entry-level job as it allows you to learn with support around you, something many independent adjusters don’t have. Once you gain experience and prove yourself, there are also opportunities for desk adjusters to move into management or training.

Inside adjusting is also great for those that want to be an adjuster but need to stay closer to home. Whereas independent adjusters love the adventure of getting a call and having to leave within 36 hours for a hurricane disaster zone for 8 weeks, inside adjusters, for one reason or another, usually want or need the opposite. It is a steady and reliable job where you know where you’ll be on the daily.

How do you become an inside adjuster?

Like any insurance claims adjuster, you will need to be licensed in your home state or designated home state. We also recommend Xactimate training since inside adjusters usually receive all the information from someone in the field, but still need to do the estimating themselves.

There are also some soft skills that are important if you want to be a successful inside adjuster. While these types of claims are often smaller, you are still dealing with people who’ve suffered damage and are often upset and frustrated. Since none of your communication takes place face to face, inside adjusters need to be excellent communicators, able to display patience and empathy through the phone and email.

Inside adjusters also need to be organized and detail-oriented since they aren’t handling every part of the claim. Being able to record information, parse out details from the policyholder’s story, work through the inspection information provided and turn it all around into a comprehensive claim settlement requires skill.

Open positions for inside adjusters can be found on standard job boards like Indeed.com or CareerBuilder.com. Most carriers also advertise these jobs on their own sites as well.

Today’s claims industry offers multiple paths to a successful career. It’s important to take some time to think about which type of position will work best for your lifestyle, family, and career goals. That being said, we always recommend saying “yes!” when you have an opportunity gain some experience. Even if inside adjusting isn’t your final goal, it’s a great way to learn about the industry and get your foot in the door with an employer.

If you have questions, contact us. We’re here to help.

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Let’s review some of the most common titles and terms regarding claims adjusters:

Inside Adjusters vs Field Adjusters

Inside adjusters, sometimes known as desk adjusters, work in an actual office. It has doors and walls, computers and desks, and probably a kitchenette. We’re not sure if they all have a Dwight Schrute but it’s likely some also have one of those. These adjusters handle claims on a computer using information and images they receive from the policyholder.

Field adjusters, on the other hand, go out into the field (occasionally, but not usually, an actual field) to handle all aspects of the claim. They will talk with the policyholder, walk the space, take pictures, inspect the damages, etc. They frequently work from their vehicles, spending the day going from claim to claim, often performing tasks on a laptop or cell phone.

Staff vs Independent vs Public Adjusters

Staff adjusters work for insurance carriers like Allstate or Progressive. The key here is that they work for a single insurance carrier, handling claims only for that insurer. Staff adjusters are usually hired as full-time employees that get the standard employee benefits such as health insurance, paid holiday and vacation time, and sick leave.

Independent adjusters (IA’s) work a bit differently. They also adjust claims on behalf of the insurer, but not directly as an employee of that insurance company. Typically, independent adjusters are contracted by a third-party claims-handling company, or “Independent Adjusting Firm.” These adjusters are employed by the IA Firm but operate as representatives of the insurance company.

For example: Let’s say ABC Insurance Company has an influx of claims from a hurricane – too many for its staff adjusters to handle. So ABC outsources the claims to an Independent Adjusting Firm. The firm then contracts with 10 of their independent adjusters who will go handle the claims as representatives of ABC.

Perhaps the biggest difference is that independent adjusters handle claims on behalf of many different insurers, often at the same time.

Public adjusters are self-employed and do not work for an IA firm or a carrier. They are hired by the policyholder, usually when the policyholder believes they have received an unfair or incorrect settlement offer from the insurance company. Public adjusters must sell their services to the public and are usually paid a percentage of the settlement fee.

CAT vs Daily

Catastrophe (or CAT if you’re cool) claims are those that arise out of some large-scale event, typically a natural disaster like a flood, hurricane, or hailstorm. CAT adjusters are usually ‘deployed’ out to a disaster zone to work those claims. When a CAT adjuster is deployed to the hard-hit area, it can be for weeks or sometimes even months. They can be staff or independent adjusters but in either case, they are “on-call” and when an event happens, they often have to leave with little notice and only get their assignments/claims once on site.

Handling CAT claims can be an extremely tough job with long hours working under brutal conditions, but this is where adjusters can make a lot of money. So while it’s difficult, the opportunity to make in a few months what you normally would in a year while helping people is exactly what most CAT adjusters love about it.

Daily claims, on the other hand, are claims arising from losses that happen every day in every community throughout the country but are not associated with a catastrophe. It can be anything from a grease fire to a toilet flood to a burglary.

Adjuster Licensing

For the most part, to do any job classifications above you just need to obtain an adjuster license. There isn’t a special license to handle one or the other with the exception of public adjusters. Public adjusters do often need additional licensing and education, which is the case in Florida.

There are certain certifications to consider getting if you’re interested in becoming an independent adjuster. While staff adjusters often get training and certifications through their insurance carrier employer, as an independent adjuster, that responsibility falls to you individually.

The State Farm Certification, Construction 101, and Xactimate Training are great examples of above-and-beyond training that will make you a more attractive candidate to IA Firms than those without.

Additional Claims-Related Jobs

Adjusters aren’t the only people who work on or deal with insurance claims. Here are a few other positions you might see referenced: 

Appraisers estimate the cost or value of an insured item. In some states, you need a separate appraiser license, but in others, an adjuster license is enough to be an appraiser.

Claims Examiners review claims after they are submitted to ensure claimants and adjusters followed proper guidelines. They may help adjusters with complicated claims or when, for example, a natural disaster occurs and the volume of claims increases.

Insurance Investigators look deeper into insurance claims when the carrier suspects fraudulent or criminal activity may be involved.

Arbitrator is an independent person or a body officially appointed to settle a dispute.

Umpire is a person chosen to decide on a controversial issue or question that has been submitted to arbitration but that hasn’t been resolved because the arbitrators cannot agree.

Examiners, investigators, arbitrators, and umpires are all positions that require experience working in claims and an ability to mediate tough situations between adversarial parties.

Insurance Producers, Agents, & Brokers sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance policies You can learn more about how to become an agent and the difference in titles in the All-Lines Training blog article: What is the Difference Between an Insurance Agent VS. Broker VS. Producer.

Most of us have interacted with insurance on some level, usually through either an agent or an adjuster. But there is a lot more depth in the industry than those two careers. Many adjusters find that they enjoy a certain part of the claims process, such as the inspection or mediating a problem, and enter one of these more specialized areas.

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However, the concept of reciprocity is often misunderstood or, at the very least, misrepresented. For an adjuster, knowing the true ins and outs of state licensing reciprocity can save significant time, money, and aggravation. So what is reciprocity? And what does an insurance adjuster need to know about it?

What Reciprocity Isn’t

First, it’s important to understand what adjuster reciprocity doesn’t mean. There is a common misconception that once you have obtained a state’s license – say Texas for example – you can waltz into any other state, at any time, and begin working claims. This is not the case. Sure, on occasion, a state’s insurance commissioner will declare a ‘state of emergency’ and approve licensed adjusters from other states to come in and assist. But this actually has less to do with reciprocity and more to do with meeting the demands of a catastrophe.

So it’s important to recognize that emergency licensing and reciprocal licensing are two different animals.

What Reciprocity Is

Adjuster license reciprocity refers to a mutual agreement between states that says an adjuster holding a license in his or her home state can successfully apply for a license in another state without having to take that state’s exam or pre-licensing course. This is important to adjusters because meeting other states’ educational and testing requirements involves a significant investment of time and money. Reciprocity bypasses those requirements. But to obtain a reciprocal license, the adjuster still needs to apply for the other state’s license and pay any required fees.

Are Some states better for Reciprocity?

Another common misconception suggests that some states enjoy more reciprocity than others (e.g. Texas is reciprocal with 32 states!). That may have been true once upon a time, but in today’s industry, reciprocity is predicated not on what state you have but on whether it’s your home state.

In this sense, the term reciprocity is somewhat ill-cast. It’s not true reciprocity in the sense that there is a quid pro quo, or a mutual agreement of exchange between two specific parties. Rather, it’s a more general, nation-wide acceptance that says ‘if you have your home state license, you can get our license too.’ Again, it doesn’t have anything to do with which state, so long as that state is your home state.

Again, it doesn’t have anything to do with which state you have your adjuster license in, so long as that state is your home state.

For example, let’s say you live in and have an adjuster license in Oklahoma. You are applying for a North Carolina license. North Carolina will grant you a North Caroline nonresident license but not because of some previously agreed upon arrangement with Oklahoma. They grant you the license because Oklahoma is your state of residence and you have its license.

A few humbugs

Today, most states have gotten on board with offering adjusters licensed in their home state reciprocity but there are a few caveats to the standard reciprocity rules. Some states do not offer any kind of reciprocal agreement or observance. California, Hawaii, and New York all require adjusters to take their specific state adjuster exam to adjust claims in their state. No exceptions and no reciprocal licenses are available.

The lack of reciprocity offered by the three states above has created a bit of a domino effect. Some states, like Florida and Delaware, put a regulation in place that in essence says, “If your state doesn’t offer our adjusters a reciprocal license, then we won’t give your adjusters a license in our state either.”

So according to this rule, New York adjusters may not obtain a reciprocal license in Florida because Florida adjusters can’t get one in New York. Likewise, other states such as Oklahoma have specifically written in that adjusters from California, New York, and Hawaii cannot obtain a reciprocal license in their state. But the exceptions are few and far between and are mostly rooted around the three non-reciprocal states.

The primary pitfall adjusters encounter with reciprocity is when they attempt to skip their own state’s licensing requirements and obtain another state’s license first.

Unfortunately, this happens all too often. For example, residents of Oklahoma or Arkansas who wish to become adjusters get the impression that “a Texas license is better” so they skip getting their home state license and jump right to obtaining Texas’. Or residents of smaller northern states might bypass their state license and opt to get one where more claims, and therefore more employment opportunities, are available.

And unfortunately, things don’t work like this any longer. Still, based on hearsay or poor advice, some people try it and are obviously disappointed with the results. They may be rejected when it comes time to get their own states’ license or they’ll be denied reciprocal licenses down the road.

The bottom line? Get your home state license first.

What if your home state doesn’t license?

In the event that your home state does not require an adjuster license, you will want to obtain another state’s license and then designate it as your home state – now commonly referred to as a designated home state or DHS license. This is a specific license type and not every state offers a DHS license. When it comes to getting your adjuster license, you’ll want to make sure you choose a course/state with a DHS option and then make sure you apply for the correct license type once you pass your exam.

The benefit is that once you have your DHS license, you now have a “home state” and can apply for reciprocal licenses. If you don’t obtain a home state license, you will have to go through each state’s licensing and testing process in order to legally adjust claims there.

Florida and Texas are two of the most popular DHS options and you really can’t go wrong with either of them. However, we strongly recommend pursuing the Florida 70-20 DHS license. We have found the Florida Dept. of Insurance to be extremely responsive and easy to work with. Most importantly for many would-be adjusters, Florida works quickly and can often turn around a license within the week. If you want to read more about the pros and cons of the DHS licensing options, visit our Which DHS License is Best? article.

Your License Type Matters Too

Getting an All-Lines license will also allow you to obtain the most reciprocal licenses available. States will only approve a reciprocal license for the same lines of authority you are already approved for via your home state (or DHS) license.

So, for example, if you have a Workers’ Comp license in your home state, you’ll only qualify to get Workers’ Comp reciprocal licenses as well. You won’t qualify for a P&C and/or All-Lines reciprocal license.

It’s also important to remember that not all states offer the same types of licenses. Florida doesn’t offer a P&C license for example. Many don’t offer a single LOA like workers’ comp or crop. And if the state you’re applying in doesn’t offer that lower license type, you are denied a reciprocal license completely.

You can avoid the confusion and potential denials by obtaining the All-Lines license, which covers the most lines of authority and, therefore, offers the most reciprocity.

Remember: reciprocity isn’t a magic wand that grants licenses automatically once you have obtained your home state. You still need to go through the application process and pay the licensing fees in order to get the other states’ licenses. Most reciprocal license applications can conveniently and quickly be submitted through NIPR or SIRCON once you have your home state license number.

If you are beginning your insurance adjuster career, be sure to check your state’s licensing rules and procedures. When properly understood, reciprocity offers great benefits to adjusters looking to maximize their earning potential. Having more state licenses means being able to work more claims, plain and simple.

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“What will this year’s hurricane season look like?”

Some years, we have to wait till the end of the summer to find out but, my oh my! 2020 doesn’t appear to be one of those years. We are just a few weeks into hurricane season and, already, we’ve had multiple named storms in the Atlantic. Cristobal, in early June, became the third named storm of the 2020 season. It’s the earliest a third named storm has ever formed.

Heightened early activity combined with warming Atlantic ocean temperatures has lead experts to almost unanimously predict the 2020 hurricane season to be above average at best, to disastrous at worse.

It is also hard to annually predict how the adjusting industry is gearing up for the season so we sat down with our friends at Pilot to get their take on the need for new adjusters. The bottom line? A very busy spring brought tornadoes, some flooding, and hail – as it usually does. Combine those claims with the daily claims load and the result is Pilot already utilizing most of their entire roster.

So, with most adjusters currently deployed, what does that mean heading into what experts are saying will be a busy hurricane season? It means that the need for new adjusters could be as high as it’s been in recent memory. It means…opportunity!

Having your license in hand and ready when a hurricane hits is always our recommendation. After all, why would employers wait on you to get a license when they could send a licensed adjuster out today? But this year, in particular, there seems to already be an increase in the need for good adjusters.

So if you’re serious about becoming an adjuster, set yourself up for success by preparing today. We have several great resources to get you going.

Hurricane Season Adjuster Resources

• Hurricane Season Resource Center
• Ready for the Storm blog article
• Free Live Q&A Webinar on Claims Adjusting
• Xactimate Training and Why You Need It

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