Residents of the State of Florida and non-residents of states that do not require an adjuster license are eligible for a Florida All Lines Business or Independent Adjuster license if:
1. You are 18 years of age or older;
2. An online application is completed and the $55.00 application fee is paid;
3. You are a US citizen or legal alien with work authorization;
4. Fingerprints are submitted at one of the sites authorized by the Florida Department of Financial Services (out-of-state applicants will receive a fingerprint card from the department to complete);
5. Successfully completes the Accredited Claims Adjuster designation through the University of Central Florida, or one of the other authorized licensing designations, or passes the state licensing exam.
Florida also maintains a reciprocal license agreement with the following states.
Alabama: Independent Adjusters Only
Alaska: Independent Adjusters Only
Arkansas: Independent Adjusters Only
Connecticut – Independent, Public and Business Appraisers
Georgia: Independent and public adjusters only. (No license required for Company adjusters)
Idaho: Independent Adjusters Only
Illinois – Public Adjusters Only
Kentucky – Independent, Public and Business Appraisers
Maine – Public and Independent Adjusters
Michigan – Public and Independent Adjusters
Mississippi: Independent Adjusters Only
New Mexico – Independent and Company Adjusters
North Carolina – Independent, Public and Business Appraisers
Oklahoma – Independent, Public & Business Appraisers
Oregon – Public and Independent Adjusters
Pennsylvania – Public Adjusters
South Carolina: Independent and company adjusters only
Texas – Independent and Company Adjusters
West Virginia – Independent, Public & Business Appraisers
Washington – Public and Independent Adjusters
Wyoming – Independent, Public & Business Appraisers
Utah – Independent & Public Adjusters
States that do not require an appraiser license include Colorado, District of Columbia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
LICENSE DESIGNATION
Florida first approved the Accredited Claims Adjuster designation in 2003. This designation provided the first and original exemption from the state licensing exam. The course became available as a distance learning course through the University of Florida Insurance in partnership with the University of Central Florida in 2004. One in four adjuster licenses in Florida have been approved using the ACA Designation.
Although other providers now offer claims adjuster designations, more than 250 insurance companies and adjusters use the ACA designation to license resident and nonresident adjusters. The ACA website can be located at http://www.ce.ucf.edu/insurance
The ACA Designation consists of a series of open-book multiple-choice tests and a written assignment. Students will learn to read and research policy questions, identify claim issues, and upon completion of the course, receive a certificate of completion from the University of Central Florida that will exempt them from the state licensing exam.
CONTINUING EDUCATION
Every FL adjuster is required to complete 24 hours of CE every two years to retain the license. The 24 hours must include 2-hour state-approved courses: Ethics; 10 hours-Law; 12 hours-Optional.
All required courses are located on the UCF website and all work can be completed online at:
http://www.ce.ucf.edu/ASP/insurance
