Florida has been the most active state in catastrophic claims adjusting due to its high number of hurricanes that have made landfall. Florida residents must obtain the Florida adjuster licence if they are interested in becoming a staff adjuster or an independent claims adjuster. If you are a non-resident of Florida and want to pursue a career in catastrophic claim handling, especially if you live in a state that does not require an adjuster license for this job, it is worth looking into a non-resident license for the “hurricane” state. These are the steps you need to follow in order to get and keep your Florida adjuster license.
Step 1: Observe the Requirements
Individuals must meet the following requirements to become a licensed resident adjuster or independent adjuster in Florida:
- At least 18 years old
- Florida residents are eligible to apply.
- Submit the required fees and complete an online application to obtain a License.
- You must be a U.S citizen or legal alien and have a work authorization to use the Immigration and Naturalization Services.
- You can get your fingerprints taken at any of the Department’s fingerprinting sites.
- A Letter of Clearance is required if you are licensed in another state in less than 3 years.
- Successfully complete one of the approved adjuster designation courses (i.e. Florida Certified Adjuster (CA) Designation or the Florida Adjuster Examination.
A person who already has a general agent license must submit an online application and pay the $55 fee. No examination is necessary.
Individuals must meet the following requirements to become a licensed resident staff member or an independent adjuster in Florida:
- At least 18 years old
- You do not need to be a Florida resident.
- Submit the required fees and complete an online application to obtain a License.
- You must be a U.S citizen or legal alien and have a work authorization to use the Immigration and Naturalization Services.
- You will need to be fingerprinted using cards issued by the Florida Department of Financial Services. Two fingerprint cards will be mailed to each applicant.
- Reciprocal licensing requires that the applicant’s home country has a reciprocal agreement to Florida.
- If an applicant fails to meet the above reciprocal requirements, he/she must either 1) take and pass the approved adjuster designation course (i.e. Florida Certified Adjuster Designation or 2) pass the Florida Adjuster Examination.
Step 2: Obtain the Florida Claims License
You must pass the state exam or successfully complete a designated course to be eligible for reciprocal licensure. For example, the Florida Certified Adjuster Designation Course fulfills all educational requirements and evaluation requirements to obtain a Florida adjuster license.
You can choose to take the course online or in a classroom setting. Each day of the 4 day classroom course includes 40 hours of in-class instruction and a series quizzes that are administered twice daily. These quizzes, which count as a final exam, are meant to be student-friendly. The course covers topics such as General & Homeowner’s Liability, Automobile Physical Damage Adjusting, and Commercial and Homeowner’s Property Adjusting. The pass rate for design courses like the Certified Adjuster course is extremely high. After the course has been completed, graduates can submit an online application following the above requirements and be licensed in a matter of weeks.
To satisfy educational requirements, the state exam can be taken. It is not an easy exam and requires a lot of preparation to be successful. It can, however, sometimes offer a faster route to licensure, even if it is not clear.
Step 3: Maintain the License
Florida requires that continuing education (CE), must be completed in 24 hours. It must include at least 2 hours ethics and 10hrs law. The 12 remaining hours can be taken as an option. Florida CE reporting is for 2 years.
Summary: Those who are interested in handling catastrophic claims during volatile weather events will find it increasingly important to become licensed Florida insurance adjusters. The requirements for licensure are important to ensure that you can transition smoothly into the world of claims. Potential licensees will be exempt from the state exam if they have access to solid educational opportunities.
