To become an adjuster starts with getting your license. Learning about coverage and valuations is where you need to begin. In most states there are little or no required courses before you take your license exam. So, without course materials, or training class makes it more difficult to begin.
I offer live and recorded webinars, sample exam questions, and charts to assist you to absorb the concepts needed to pass your exam. Whether you’ve taken a course or not, I will assist you in passing.
The Insurance Adjuster Exam Curriculum is designed for individuals seeking to become licensed claims adjusters. Adjusters are responsible for evaluating insurance claims, determining policy coverage, and resolving claims disputes. The curriculum is tailored to specific state requirements and often depends on the type of adjuster license (independent, staff, or public adjuster).
Here is a typical Insurance Adjuster Exam Curriculum that covers general and state-specific requirements:
1. General Insurance Principles
- Insurance Basics
- Definition of insurance and risk management principles
- Types of insurance: Property, casualty, life, health
- Law of large numbers and insurable risks
- Contract Law
- Elements of an insurance contract (offer, acceptance, consideration, legal purpose)
- Characteristics of insurance contracts: Adhesion, aleatory, unilateral, conditional
- Insurance Regulation
- Role of state insurance departments
- Federal regulations impacting insurance
- Licensing and continuing education requirements
2. Adjuster Role and Responsibilities
- Claims Process Overview
- First notice of loss (FNOL) and initial contact with the insured
- Investigation: Documenting damages, taking statements, and gathering evidence
- Evaluation: Determining coverage, liability, and damages
- Resolution: Settlement negotiation and payment
- Adjuster Types
- Independent adjusters
- Staff adjusters (company employees)
- Public adjusters (representing the insured)
- Ethical Responsibilities
- Avoiding conflicts of interest
- Acting in good faith and fair dealing
- Adherence to state regulations and guidelines
3. Property Insurance Adjusting
- Policy Types
- Homeowners insurance (HO policies)
- Dwelling policies (DP policies)
- Commercial property insurance
- Inland marine coverage
- Coverage Analysis
- Dwelling and other structures
- Personal property
- Additional living expenses or loss of use
- Exclusions and endorsements
- Loss Valuation
- Actual cash value (ACV) vs. replacement cost (RC)
- Functional replacement cost
- Depreciation and appraisal processes
- Special Considerations
- Catastrophic events: Hurricanes, wildfires, floods
- Water damage and mold claims
- Earthquake endorsements
4. Liability Insurance Adjusting
- Liability Basics
- Legal liability: Negligence, strict liability, vicarious liability
- Policy provisions: Limits of liability, supplementary payments, exclusions
- Claims Process
- Investigation: Determining liability and fault
- Coverage analysis and reservation of rights
- Settlement and subrogation
- Common Claims
- Auto liability claims
- Premises liability claims
- Product liability claims
5. Auto Insurance Adjusting
- Personal Auto Policies (PAP)
- Liability coverage: Bodily injury (BI) and property damage (PD)
- Physical damage: Comprehensive and collision
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
- Commercial Auto Policies
- Business auto coverage forms
- Garage liability and garagekeepers insurance
- Loss Adjustment
- Estimating repair costs
- Total loss valuation methods
- Diminished value claims
6. Workers’ Compensation Adjusting
- Coverage Basics
- Medical benefits, lost wages, rehabilitation
- Employer liability coverage
- Claims Process
- Reporting and investigating workplace injuries
- Calculating disability benefits
- Managing return-to-work programs
- Legal Considerations
- State-specific workers’ compensation laws
- Subrogation against third parties
7. Catastrophe Adjusting
- Special Training for Catastrophe Events
- Handling large-scale disaster claims
- FEMA and National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) protocols
- Mobile adjuster units and surge capacity
- Emergency Licensing
- Temporary licensing for catastrophe events
- Multi-state adjusting requirements
8. Ethics and Market Conduct
- Adjuster Ethics
- Acting in good faith
- Avoiding unfair claims practices
- Protecting consumer confidentiality
- Prohibited Practices
- Misrepresentation of policy terms
- Engaging in unauthorized activities (e.g., adjusting without a license)
- State-Specific Guidelines
- Unique requirements for claims handling in specific states
9. State-Specific Laws and Regulations
- Licensing Requirements
- Pre-licensing education hours and exam specifics
- Reciprocal licensing for adjusters (e.g., through Designated Home State licensing)
- Claims Handling Standards
- Timeframes for acknowledging, investigating, and resolving claims
- Requirements for issuing reservation of rights or denial letters
- Unique Coverage Rules
- Hurricane deductibles, wildfire exclusions, or no-fault auto systems