Hawaii Insurance Adjuster License

Written by: Kevelyn Rodriguez

Last updated:

Hawaii Insurance Adjuster License

This article will guide you through the essential steps to obtaining your Hawaii adjuster license, including completing the pre-exam education, acing the Pearson VUE exam, and navigating background checks.

By following these steps and submitting your licensing application to the Hawaii Insurance Division, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a licensed adjuster, ready to assess and settle claims efficiently and professionally.

In this article, we offer everything you need to know in order to get started, helping you find the best way of getting your Hawaii insurance adjuster license.

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How to Become an Insurance Adjuster in Hawaii

Getting your Hawaii adjuster license can be a simple and easy process, but this will ultimately depend on how you go about completing the required steps.

Step 1: Adjuster Pre-Exam Education

Preparing for the Hawaii insurance adjuster exam is not something to take lightly. This is because the average pass rate of insurance exams nationwide is around 55% for first-time test-takers and even less for any following attempts.

This means that it is generally recommended that you complete some form of education — such as purchasing a study guide or a state-approved online course — before sitting your exam(s).

These courses are composed of video, audio, and text, and include short knowledge quizzes and practice exams which will help you obtain the necessary understanding of the material that you will need to know.

Even though this is not a legal prerequisite in Hawaii, we believe that purchasing a pre-exam course can go a long way toward ensuring that you pass your exam(s) on your first attempt.

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Step 2: Hawaii Insurance Adjuster License Exam

Once you have completed all of your coursework, you will be able to take (and hopefully pass) the Hawaii insurance adjuster license exam.

This is a proctored test, which means that you will be in a controlled environment with a person watching over you. It is, therefore, a good idea to work on both your timing and nerves prior to sitting for your exam.

You can choose between the following two lines for your Hawaii Insurance license exam:

  • The Adjuster License exam — This consists of one hundred forty (140) questions, and you have two hours and forty-five minutes (2:45:00) to complete it
  • The Workers’ Compensation Adjuster license exam — This consists of twenty-five (25) questions, and you have forty-five minutes (0:45:00) to complete it

Each attempt at the exam costs $75 and will be paid when you make your reservation.

A total score of 70% or more is required to pass this test. To explain the scoring of these exams, we will quote the Pearson VUE Hawaii Insurance Licensing Candidate Handbook:

There are multiple versions of each of the licensing examinations. These versions are known as forms. Although all forms of an examination are developed based on the content outlines, the difficulty of the forms of an examination may vary slightly because different questions appear on each form.

To ensure that no candidate is put at an unfair advantage or disadvantage due to the particular form of an examination that he or she is given, a statistical procedure known as equating is used to correct for differences in form difficulty.

The passing score of an examination was set by the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (in conjunction with Pearson VUE) after a comprehensive study was completed for each examination. Raw scores are converted into scaled scores. 

To avoid misuse of score information, numeric scores are only reported to failing candidates. The scaled score that is reported to you is neither the number of questions you answered correctly nor the percentage of questions you answered correctly.

With a passing score of 70, any score below 70 indicates how close the candidate came to passing, rather than the actual number or percentage of questions the candidates answered correctly.

StateRequirement recommends that you study for one exam at a time. This is because insurance adjuster exams are difficult enough on their own without the possibility of confusing information from one line to another. This will allow you to work incrementally towards completing your final exam.

You can register to take your exams — as well as find out more information — on the Pearson VUE Hawaii Insurance page or by calling Pearson VUE at (800) 274-2608.

Note: Before registering for your exam, we recommend completing some form of pre-exam education. Even though this is not a legal requirement in Hawaii, it can go a long way in ensuring that you pass your exam(s) on your first attempt.

Step 3: Fingerprinting and Background Check

The State of Hawaii requires that all insurance license applications provide fingerprints prior to licensing. Giving your fingerprints will initiate a background check.

Giving your fingerprints will initiate a background check. If you have any prior misdemeanors or felonies, this may affect the outcome of your licensing efforts.

If you have specific questions regarding things that may come up on your background check you may call the Hawaii Insurance Division at (808) 586-2790 or send them an email.

You will make your fingerprinting reservations through Fieldprint. Appointments can be made on their website or by phone at (877) 614-4364.

Note: The fee for fingerprinting services is $58.95 (additional fees are incurred if fingerprint collection is processed at a non-Livescan site).

You must use the code HI-DCCA-INS to identify that the intended recipient of your fingerprint result is the Hawaii Insurance Division.

Step 4: Hawaii Insurance Adjuster License Application

Once you have completed your exams and fingerprinting, you are now ready to apply for your Hawaii license.

For the application fee, see the 2022 Hawaii Fee Schedule for Adjusters. Make a check payable to the “Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.”

You must mail a completed Hawaii Application Form for Individual Insurance License together with the check for the application fee. There is no option to apply for this license online. Mail your check and application to the address found in the contact information section below.

Step 5: Application Review

Once you have submitted your application and have completed all the other requirements, your license application will be reviewed by the state.

This process generally takes about ten (10) business days. Depending on the results of your background check, the Hawaii Insurance Division may request more information or documentation.

After the review is complete, you will receive an email from the state regarding the status of your license.

Congratulations!

You’ve done the work, put in the time and effort, and now hold the key to your own success! We’re proud of you. Take five minutes and celebrate.

What Kind of Insurance Adjuster Will You Be?

There are four main types of insurance adjustersstaff adjusters, independent adjusters, catastrophe adjusters, and public adjusters.

Each of these positions accomplishes essentially the same task: assess the damage to property brought about by some event and make an evaluation of what monetary value the insurance claim should carry.

The big difference between these different types of insurance adjusters is who pays them and, in the case of the public adjuster, who they are advocating for. Staff, independent, and catastrophe adjusters all require the same type of license, while a public adjuster license is a little different in its specifications.

  • Staff Adjuster – Works directly for one insurance company in order to investigate, evaluate, and potentially settle claims
  • Independent Adjuster – Works for a third-party company, often called an Independent Adjusting Firm, which has been contracted by insurance carriers to help settle their claims
  • Catastrophe (CAT) Adjuster – Can be an independent or staff adjuster who travels to an area that has been largely affected by an event (usually severe weather) and performs adjustment services to insurance claims en masse
  • Inside Adjuster – Inside adjusters, sometimes referred to as “desk” or “remote” adjusters, handle claims from an office. They are the policyholder’s main contact and the person who applies the policy terms and standards to the claim
  • Public Adjuster – Licensed independent adjusters that customers choose to hire in order to settle insurance claims are called public adjusters. They are not hired by insurance companies

Note: To become a public adjuster, you must obtain a standard adjuster license, get an appointment from a public adjusting firm, gain work experience, and eventually pass an additional exam.

Hawaii Insurance Division Contact Information

Mailing Address:

Hawaii Insurance Division 
P.O. Box 3614
Honolulu, Hawaii 96811

Phone: (808) 586-2790

Fax: (808) 586-2806

Email: insurance@dcca.hawaii.gov

Website: http://cca.hawaii.gov/ins

Hawaii Insurance Adjuster License FAQ

Does Hawaii require an adjuster license?

Yes, if you want to be able to handle insurance claims within the state, you are required to obtain an adjuster license by passing the Hawaii adjuster exam. For more guidance on how you can ensure you are prepared for the Hawaii licensing exam, see our article on How to Pass the Insurance Adjuster Exam.

How do I renew my Hawaii adjuster license?

It’s important to note that licensed adjusters in Hawaii must complete 24 hours of continuing education and submit a renewal application with the appropriate fee to the Hawaii Insurance Division before their licenses expire. To find out more about the renewal process in Hawaii, see our article on Hawaii Insurance Continuing Education.

Can I still renew my insurance license after it expires in Hawaii?

If your Hawaii adjuster license expires, it can still be renewed within 30 days by completing continuing education, submitting a renewal application, and paying a $135 fee ($90 renewal and $45 late penalty). To read how to renew your license after these 30 days, see our article on How to Renew Your Hawaii Insurance Adjuster License.

How much is an adjuster license in Hawaii?

In order to obtain an adjuster license in Hawaii, you can expect it to cost around $320. This includes the cost of your pre-exam education. We recommend AdjusterPro as the provider for this education due to its affordable prices and high pass rates of its students. For more information, see our AdjusterPro Course Review.

What states are reciprocal with the Hawaii adjuster license?

Many states offer reciprocal licenses to Hawaii adjusters, but Hawaii will not reciprocate its licenses to a nonresident adjuster. However, since the specific list of states may change, it’s best to verify reciprocity is offered for the state you’re interested in. Find out more in our Adjuster License Reciprocity article.

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