NOW!
It’s really that easy to answer the question. So when should I get my insurance adjuster license? Now. If you currently have a job, don’t quit it. Sign up for an online licensing class like the one we have here at 2021Training and get your license in the evenings and weekends. That’s what I did and it worked out great.
In a matter of a week or two, you should be able to finish the class and get your certificate. In Texas, you then need to get your fingerprints as directed by the state and fill out your application. It may take 6 weeks for them to process your license. So with the storm season just starting, don’t delay in getting the essentials taken care of.
After your application is sent of to the state, turn your attention to getting yourself educated on the skills you will need in the field. 2021Training has 2 classes that are essential for the new insurance adjuster. The first one is “Practical Adjusting”. This class will give you the common sense “how to” of being an adjuster. You will learn about tools, software, scheduling, and other helpful topics. The second MUST HAVE on your list is learning Xactimate. The vast majority of all claims written today are in Xactimate. Yes, other software is out there, but Xactimate is the most in demand skill as far as adjusting software is concerned.
Once you get your home state license, you need to begin to get your licenses for the states you want to work in. This can almost always be done through reciprocity. For example, I have my Texas license. I was able to apply for LA, MS, AL, FL, GA, and OK by simply filling out an application and submitting the fee. No additional testing or classes were needed. You may think you can just get an emergency license when the storm hits, but this isn’t the case anymore. The states are becoming slower and slower to declare storms as a Federal Disaster due to how state funding is affected. And unless it is declared an official Federal Disaster, then no emergency adjuster licenses can be issued for that storm. So only those holding current licenses for that state will be working.
The great part is, you can keep your day job and do all this online. Take this time to continue honing your skills and preparing for all that 2013 is going to hold. But don’t let this time pass. Waiting for the storm to hit can make this process much longer as the state always has huge workload from the flood of applicants during storms. It’s easy to accomplish all of this and retain your current employment while you train with just a small amount of effort on your part.
See you in the field!
John Bowers has a background in construction and decided to add claims adjusting to create a new income source. Follow John’s journey as he shares his experiences on training and deployment.