If you’re committed to becoming an insurance claims adjuster, there’s no bad time to start your training. But when things around us feel uncertain, making that decision can be a little tougher. So while it’s important for every individual to make the best choice for him or her, I wanted to share some reasons why I think now is a good time to get your adjuster license.

#1: It’s Better to Be Prepared

Too often, I see potential adjusters waiting for the ‘ideal time’ to start their education. Usually, it’s the next big hurricane. When that happens, the person will take our course, apply and wait for their license to be processed, and then start joining IA Firm rosters. But in my experience, it is always better to start now so that when the next ‘thing’ happens, you already have your license in hand and are ready to go. 

Remember, those who held a license prior to Hurricane Harvey – even if they’d never worked – were sent out en masse during the storms. In fact, hundreds were deployed before the storm even made landfall.

In addition to licenses, adjusters with Xactimate training were able to hit the ground running, writing and scoping claims from the get-go. Our owner, Adam Gardiner, wrote a great piece about his experience, (or lack thereof) on his first deployment during Hurricane Charley. It’s worth a read.

At the end of the day, time is money in this industry. The faster you can get in the field (meaning you have your license and are ready for deployment) and the faster you can write and close claims via Xactimate knowledge, the more customers you will help and the more money you will make. To put it plainly, having your license in hand is always better than, well…not.

#2: Insurance Claims Don’t Stop

As many of us know all too well, insurance claims don’t care about uncertainty or the economy or what you need to do that day. Pipes burst, fender benders crunch, and house fires spark regardless of what else is going on in our lives or businesses.

Another example is the pandemic. Coronavirus put nearly everything in our lives on hold for a while. But not insurance claims. Those actually increased with so many at home 24 hours a day. The industry couldn’t simply stop settling claims because because of the pandemic. The policies we sign with insurance companies are binding legal contracts that require certain actions to take place within specified time periods.

That’s not to say that everything moved ahead exactly as did during normal periods, but it did move. Companies started getting creative on ways to meet their obligations while making sure that both claimants and adjusters stayed healthy. Whether the solutions are technology-based in the office or safety-related in the field, insurance companies and their adjusters must continue settling claims regardless of the circumstances around them.

#3: ‘Tis the Storm Season

In this industry, hurricanes and their resulting claims receive the most attention, and rightfully so. They do account for a huge amount of insured losses and they certainly receive the bulk of headlines. But at any given point in America, it is some sort of storm season, somewhere.

In fact, using the term “season” doesn’t make as much sense as it has in the past. The “California wildfire season” has recently started far earlier and lasted much longer than ever before. It has also extended far beyond California, with states like Utah, Montana, Washington, and Oregon all fire-threatened more in today’s climate.

Flooding is another weather risk that seems to have jumped in recent years with more floods reoccurring in more areas than ever before. Tornados are still a threat in ‘tornado alley’ but the past few years have also seen a big increase in tornadic activity in the deep south.

All this is to say, there is much more to weather-related and catastrophe insurance claims than hurricane season. Regardless of the time of year, there are weather threats all over the country, all year round.

It’s also important to note that our weather is more volatile and less predictable than ever as well. While the number of disasters still varies, experts agree that all of these disasters are causing more damage than ever before. Insurance Business Magazine’s Are Billion-Dollar Storms the New Normal? looks at some of these issues in detail.

Unfortunately, storms and catastrophes will occur every year. If you are serious about a career in insurance claims, getting your adjuster license now means you’ll be ready to help when the need arises.

#4: Whenever you’re ready, we’re ready to help

One of the best parts of online education is that you can complete the courses on your own time, when and where it works for you. And no matter when that is or how long it takes, I want to assure you that AdjusterPro is ready to assist you.

All of our courses are 100% online and available to you 24/7. Additionally, your course will remain available in your classroom until you complete it. Whether that takes you a few weeks or the better part of the year, there is no deadline for our courses. (With the exception of annual, state-specific CE courses.)

You can be confident that you’ll have our support behind you every step of the way.

It can be tempting to wait for ‘the ideal time’ to get your insurance adjuster license. But in my experience, sooner is always better than later. The sooner you have your license in hand, the faster you can start getting on employers’ rosters and getting to work.

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Insurance Adjuster Renewal Requirements

Most states in the U.S. require insurance adjusters to complete a certain number of continuing education hours in order to renew their license. Some even require you to take certain courses or meet an hourly requirement in specific subjects, like Ethics or Flood, before you can renew. Fulfilling your home state CE requirements will also satisfy your reciprocal license CE requirements.

Many new adjusters in states like New York and Michigan are then thrilled to learn they don’t have to take CE hours every two years to renew their license. However that lack of requirement has some significant consequences when it comes to reciprocal licensing.

If you want to learn more about reciprocal licensing, visit our Adjuster License Reciprocity blog article.

Reciprocal License Requirements

Let’s cover our basics first. Reciprocal licensing allows you to get licensed to adjust claims in another state without having to take and pass that state’s exam. It’s an incredibly important quid pro quo that keeps claims moving through their settlement process when available adjuster quantities are low.

You do have to apply and pay for the reciprocal license(s). Your home state or designated home state license also needs to be in good standing. But other than that, it’s relatively simple. At least at first glance.

When you delve a little deeper into reciprocity, you’ll learn that equality is also required. Reciprocal licenses are only offered when you hold an equivalent license or a license with more lines of authority and requirements than what you are requesting. So, for example, you can’t hold a P&C adjuster license in Texas and then qualify for a reciprocal All-Lines license in Florida. Your P&C license doesn’t cover everything included in the All-Lines license.

This is where we run into the continuing education issue. While your home state license doesn’t require CE hours, many of your reciprocal licenses DO. Again, you need to meet equal education, requirements, and lines of authority to be compliant with the reciprocal state’s rules.

Let’s use another example. You hold a South Carolina adjuster license and want to get a reciprocal license in North Carolina. Licensing requirements are equal and in that regard, you qualify. But when it comes to renewal, NC requires continuing education and your SC license doesn’t meet that requirement. Now what?

The Result? You need to take CE.

Sorry, folks. Them’s the breaks.

But there is a relatively pain free solution. You simply need to pick a state where you hold a reciprocal license, and then purchase and complete CE that has been approved in that state. You do not have to complete CE for all the states where you hold a license. Thank goodness, right?

We recommend you complete CE from a state (where you hold a reciprocal license) with the most stringent requirements. Don’t worry – this doesn’t mean doing more CE or taking tougher courses. It means picking a state, like North Carolina, that requires the full 24 hours most states do, and also requires 3 hours of ethics and 3 hours of flood. Some states just require ethics or flood, but this way, you should be covered for any state you wish to apply for a reciprocal license in.

AdjusterPro offers two complete CE packages that include approved courses for that state, as well as the specific courses you’ll need to meet the state’s requirements. You can also check any state’s renewal requirements on our continuing education pages.

So long story short, or “TL;DR” as the kids say: You don’t have to complete CE to renew your license in some states, but you will need to complete CE if you want reciprocal licenses from any states that do require it for their adjusters. (And that is most states.)

If you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re happy to talk through your situation and find a solution that works best for you.

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The Securities & Insurance Licensing Association (SILA) is an organization that brings together licensing experts whose occupations encompass all aspects of insurance licensing and securities registration, including, but not limited to, the licensing and registration of agents, agencies, producers, and adjusters.

We’re proud to be Bronze sponsors as well as the Cornhole Tournament Championship Belt sponsor! Come visit us at booth #23 to learn how your organization can efficiently manage your Adjuster and Producer licensing needs in one place. We hope to see you there!

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AdjusterPro & All-Lines Training, a nationally recognized online insurance education provider, will be an exhibitor at this year’s Property & Liability Resource Bureau (PLRB) 2022 Technology & Claims Symposium to be held July 28-29 in Denver, CO.

This year’s symposium will include interactive educational sessions for insurance professionals, exploring how technology is changing the way claims are being managed and adjusted. Participants can select from a variety of technology-focused claims courses. This year’s event will also feature an Expo with 60+ service providers, including AdjusterPro & All-Lines Training!

Stop by Booth #203 to learn how your organization can efficiently manage your Adjuster and Producer licensing needs in one place. Learn about our branded portals and highly rated national pre-licensing and CE courses. Click here to register.

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When I was first deployed, my lack of construction experience was one of my major sources of anxiety. I worried that I didn’t have enough know-how to be able to write claims. I even made an arrangement with my father, who’s a contractor, to take emergency calls if I got into a situation that was over my head. Fortunately, the experience I did have, combined with the amazing powers of Xactimate, did enable me to handle residential claims successfully as I grew my experience and knowledge. But this isn’t true for everyone.

I noticed a trend when I first started teaching Xactimate to Adjusters in 2005; about 70% of the class had an adequate working knowledge of basic residential construction, and about 30% did not. I’d give a direction such as “apply 10 linear feet of fascia and soffit to the north rake end of the roof” and they’d be stumped. The problem was so persistent, that we began giving an “Adjusting 101” class to go over the basics of residential construction. However, as good as the class was, only so much can be covered in a single day class (where we also have to cover how to get a job, write a resume, hiring, etc).
In a perfect scenario, every “newbie” would get a chance to mentor under an experienced adjuster, but the stark reality is that these opportunities are rare, especially in the heat of a storm.

There is finally a real solution to this dilemma online; KMC’s Property Technical Certification, or the PTC II. The PTCII is number two in a series of certifications that KMC is rolling out that will eventually define claims preparedness in the insurance industry. While the PTC I is an in-depth introduction to the essentials of handling claims, the PTC II is a comprehensive audio-visual study of all of the issues you’ll experience when adjusting losses to exteriors of buildings. The self-paced, 40+ hour course will walk you through, step-by-step, everything you ever wanted to know in the construction department to get up to speed to write claims. It’s quite impressive; they have detailed pictures and diagrams, and the narrator guides you through understanding what you’re looking at from the perspective of an adjuster. The PTC II guides you through all the ins and outs of;

1. Commercial Claim Handling I
2. Commercial Claim Handling II
3. Commercial Roofing
4. Concrete and Masonry
5. Drain, Sewer, & Septic
6. Exterior Walls I
7. Exterior Walls II
8. Fences
9. Framing I
10. Framing II
11. Residential Roofing I
12. Residential Roofing II

When you’re done with this course – even if you have very little experience with construction or construction terminology – you’ll be ready to write claims for exterior issues using Xactimate (or similar claims-writing software). In fact, you’ll be miles ahead of where I was when I started. I spent some time in the course, and I was humbled by what it had to teach me. It’s really, really good.

In summary; if you are looking to get into the claims business and you want to either boost your knowledge of the construction side of the business, or if you want to improve your marketability by adding this certification to your resume, we highly recommend the PTC II. Happy claims!

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To prepare for these SPOF’s, you have to ask yourself these question, “What do I absolutely depend on to do my job, and what would be the consequences if this fails, and how likely is it to fail?” Here are some examples:

• Your car–what is plan B if your car breaks down.
• Your laptop— in my opinion, 90% of modern day adjusting involves that glowing screen. What are you PROACTIVELY doing to get back in business in LESS THAN AN HOUR if your laptop fails?
• Your internet connection–Uploading claims, downloading claims, emails, alert notices, etc.
• Tools you absolutely depend on but would have a hard time replacing on a moments notice— for me these are, in order: my camera, my GPS, my cell phone,  and my laser ranging device. My plan B for the camera and cell phone tools are to have a spare phone- This solves camera and phone emergencies. My iPhone 4 has GPS, so this is plan B for GPS. I suppose plan B for the laser ranging device is my trusty tape measure, but this would be a poor replacement! I love my Hilti PD42!

Now, I know you’re thinking, “well of course those things are important.” Great, now what is your plan B? Plan C? Every day you’re down is another day you lose money and your claims may go to someone else. Even staff adjusters need to address these SPOF’s as their job may depend on it.

So, how about sharing with the rest of us what YOUR SPOFs are? This post is not an exhaustive list, just something to get the discussion started. Why don’t you hook us all up and share your plans to deal with SPOF’s? Thanks in advance!

Richard Krikorian, AdjusterPro

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