How to get your insurance adjuster license

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An Independent Adjuster is any  person, firm, association, or corporation who acts in this state on behalf of an insurer when investigating and  adjusting  claims  arising  under  insurance contracts  issued  by the insurer

A Public Adjuster is  any  person,  firm,  association  or corporation who  acts on behalf of an insured in negotiating the  settlement  of  a claim or claims for loss or damage to property of the insured.

Temporary Independent Adjuster Permit (for Catastrophes)

To facilitate the settlement of claims resulting from a  catastrophe or an emergency, an individual who is not licensed as an independent adjuster in New York, but otherwise is qualified to adjust claims, can obtain a Temporary Adjuster permit if sponsored by a New York authorized insurance company.

Prelicensing Requirements

To qualify for a license, the licensing candidate must meet the following prelicensing requirements:

• the public adjuster candidate must complete a Department approved prelicensing education course totaling not less than 40 hours of instruction. Visit the Prelicensing Provider/Course List on the portal for provider contact information.
• no prelicensing course is required for the independent adjuster candidate
• all adjuster applicants must pass, within 2 years of applying for the license, the appropriate licensing exam administered by the exam vendor.  Visit the Exam Vendor Information page for registration and scheduling instructions.

Exceptions from the prelicensing course requirements:

A candidate for the public adjuster license may wave the education requirement if he/she were regularly employed in the insurance industry for no less than one year in duties involving sales, underwriting or claims.  The candidate must submit a signed and completed Statement of Employer with the license application.

Fingerprints

All adjuster applicants must submit fingerprints of both hands.

New York resident applicants must be electronically fingerprinted through IdentoGo.

Non-resident applicants must mail a completed fingerprint card and fingerprint fees to the Department.

Detailed instructions can be found on the Fingerprinting Procedures and page.

Bond

A Public Adjuster candidate must submit a bond in the amount of $1000 to cover the licensing period (from date issued to expiration date). The bond, with Acknowledgements and Power of Attorney forms can be uploaded with the application.

A bond is no longer required of Independent Adjuster applicants.

Certificates of Character

A Public Adjuster applicant must submit five (5) Certificates of Character from members of the community, in which he/she resides or transacts business, certifying, under penalty of perjury,  that they have personally known the applicant for at least five years, that he/she is honest, competent and of good character and that they are not related, by blood or marriage, to the applicant.  The certificates can be uploaded with the application.

Certificates of Character are no longer required for Independent Adjuster applicants.

Application Requirements

Public adjuster candidates must upload the following documents with the online application:

• Complete Bond, including Acknowledgements and Power of Attorney form
• Certificates of Character
• Signed IdentoGO pre-enrollment confirmation/receipt
• Statement of Employer (if applicable)

Independent adjuster candidates must upload the following documents with the online application:

• Signed IdentoGO pre-enrollment confirmation/receipt

Fees and Renewal Period

Licenses are issued for up to 2 years.  A non-refundable fee of $100 is charged when a license is issued for a licensing period of more than one year. A non-refundable fee of $50 is charged when a license is issued for a period of one year or less.

All adjuster licenses expire on 12/31 of even years.  After the initial licensing period, all licenses will be issued effective 01/01 of odd years to 12/31 of even years.

Payment Options

You may pay the licensing fees by credit card, electronic funds transfer (e-check) or paper check.  If electing to pay by paper check, your application will remain pending until the Department receives and processes the check.

As a result of licence renewals, FSRA is not accepting applications for new adjuster licences between June 1-30, 2022. Applications will re-open on July 1.

If you want to be an independent or public insurance adjuster in Ontario, you must apply for a licence with the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA). If you are an adjuster employed by a licensed insurance company, you do not need your own adjuster licence.

About the licence

Types of adjusters

Insurance adjusters investigate insurance claims and determine the amount of loss or damages covered. There are three types of adjusters:

1. Insurance company adjusters work in the claims departments of insurance companies and represent insurers.
2. Public adjusters represent policyholders.
3. Independent adjusters represent insurers or policyholders.

Public adjusters and independent adjusters need to be licensed by FSRA. Insurance company adjusters do not need a licence.

Sponsorship required with an adjusting firm

As an adjuster, you must be sponsored by an adjusting firm at all times.

• Your adjusting firm is responsible for confirming you meet all licensing requirements, and for managing the application process for your licence.
• As the adjuster, you are responsible for maintaining your licence, such as completing the education program.

Fee for a new application

The fee to apply for a new adjuster licence is $75. This fee will cover your first year up to June 30. Then, you will need to renew it to keep your licence active.

Depending on the arrangement you have with your adjusting firm, they may pay the fee OR you may be responsible for paying this fee. Check with your adjusting firm for details.

Three phases of licensing

There is a three-step process for getting an adjuster licence in Ontario.

To graduate through each phase, you will need to complete the required courses offered by the Insurance Institute. Go to Education program for new adjusters for more details about the courses.

Phase

Requirement

Restrictions

1. Letter of Authority

You must successfully meet all the requirements for a new licence.

You cannot:

• sign any report or communication addressed to an insurer
• sign any other correspondence without permission of your adjusting company.
• negotiate the settlement of any bodily injury claim
• authorize repairs to property, or agree to accept any bill regarding a claim without the consent of your adjusting company

2. Probationary Licence

You must complete the first four Insurance Institute courses.
 

Go to Education program for new adjusters for details.

3. Full Adjuster Licence

You must:

• complete the next four Insurance Institute courses
• pass the Canadian Independent Adjusters’ Association (CIAA) exam

Go to Education program for new adjusters for details.

None

Exemptions:

• If you have a Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) designation or a Fellow Chartered Insurance Professional (FCIP) designation in good standing, you can bypass the the courses and write the CIAA exam. As proof, you will need to provide:
  • A screenshot of the CIP or FCIP membership page showing the active status and expiry date; or
  • An official Insurance Institute letter dated in the last 12 months with the expiry date of the CIP or FCIP designation
• If you have already completed any of the requirements from the education program, you can bypass the Letter of Authority and move to either the Probationary Licence or the Full Adjuster Licence.

What are the requirements for a new licence?

Surrender your insurance agent licence

If you have a licence to sell insurance, you will need to surrender it before you can apply for an adjuster licence. Review Surrender my insurance licence for more details

If you have an insurance broker licence, go to Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario (RIBO) to cancel your licence.

Checklist for a new licence

Review this checklist to ensure you are ready to apply for a new licence.

Requirements:

• Be sponsored by an adjusting firm.
• Be legally entitled to work in Canada.
• Be 18 years of age or older.
• Confirm you are not licensed as an insurance agent or broker.
• Be familiar with the laws of Ontario relating to adjusters.

Once you have met all of these requirements, you will need to begin the application process.

Ready to apply for a new licence?

1. Download the Insurance Adjuster Application.

• Right click on the link and choose Save link as to download the PDF to your computer or drive.

2. Fill out the application electronically.

• Select the Letter of Authority as the Type of Licence.
  • If you have already completed any of the requirements from the education program, you can select Probationary Licence or Full Adjuster Licence. You will need to include documentation as part of your application.
• You will need to verify your suitability to have a licence by confirming:
  • You are a person of good character and reputation.
  • You meet all licensing requirements and are a suitable person to receive a licence as an adjuster.
  • You have provided information about bankruptcies, lawsuits, criminal records, decisions from other regulators or licensing bodies or other employment information.
  • You will comply with Ontario’s laws and the requirements of the adjuster’s licence.

3. Ask your adjusting firm to fill out Part D (Notice of Appointment).

4. Your adjusting firm can submit the completed form through the Online Services Portal.

• If you need to pay the fee, you can make the payment through the Online Services Portal with credit card (VISA, Mastercard) or select debit cards (RBC, TD, First Nations Bank of Canada, most credit unions).

What happens after the application is submitted:

The review should take 10 business days. If your application is approved, your adjusting firm will receive a copy of your licence. You will need to ask them to give you a copy.

Education program for new adjusters

To get through the next two phases of your licence, you will need to complete an education program, which includes the following:

Probationary Licence

• Complete the first four Insurance Institute courses

Full Adjuster Licence

• Complete the next four Insurance Institute courses
• Pass the Canadian Independent Adjusters’ Association (CIAA) exam

Probationary Licence

1. Complete the following four courses:

• C11 - Principles and Practice of Insurance
• C12 - Insurance on Property
• C14 - Automobile Insurance – Part 1
• C110 - Essentials of Loss Adjusting

To review course descriptions, fees and registration details, go to Insurance Institute.

2. Request your Probationary Licence:

• When you have completed the first four courses, inform your adjusting firm.
• Your adjusting firm will need to send an email to FSRA ([email protected]) to request the upgrade.
• FSRA will send the updated licence to your adjusting firm.
• You can get a copy of the licence from your adjusting firm.

Full Adjuster Licence:

1. Complete the following four courses AND the four courses outlined above:

• C13 - Insurance Against Liability – Part 1
• C32 - Bodily Injury Claims
• C111 - Advanced Loss Adjusting
• C112 - Practical Issues in Claims Management

To review course descriptions, fees and registration details, go to Insurance Institute.

2. Pass the Canadian Independent Adjusters’ Association (CIAA) exam

When you finish all eight Insurance Institute courses, you are eligible to complete an online exam through the CIAA. You will need to score 70% or higher to get a Full Adjuster Licence.

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