This article aims to serve as a roadmap for securing your Maine adjuster license. It will walk you through the process of finishing your pre-exam studies, succeeding in the Pearson VUE exam, and smoothly navigating the background checks.
Once all this is complete, all you’ll have left to do is submit your licensing paperwork to the Maine Insurance Division and wait — you’ll soon hear back to find out if you’ve got your Maine insurance adjuster license.
In this article, we offer everything you need to know in order to get started, helping you find the best way of getting your Maine insurance adjuster license.
Recommended: Interested in getting started? We recommend using AdjusterPro’s online study packages, which come with a 98% satisfaction rate.
How to Become an Insurance Adjuster in Maine
Getting your Maine 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 your 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 Maine, we believe that purchasing a pre-exam course can go a long way in ensuring that you pass your exam(s) on your first attempt.
Recommended Course
Over 80% of our readers use AdjusterPro’s online courses — which come with a 98% satisfaction rate — when preparing for their insurance adjuster exam(s). For comprehensive study packages, StateRequirement recommends:
Step 2: Maine Insurance Adjuster License Exam
Once you have completed all of your coursework, you will be able to take (and hopefully pass) the Maine 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.
In Maine, you are able to choose between four distinct adjuster lines for your licensing exam, namely:
- The Multi-Peril Crop Adjuster license exam — This consists of fifty (50) questions and you have one hour (1:00:00) to complete it
- The Property and Casualty Insurance Adjusters license exam — This consists of fifty (50) questions and you have one hour (1:00:00) to complete it
- The Workers’ Compensation Adjuster license exam — This consists of fifty (50) questions and you have one hour (1:00:00) to complete it
- The All Line Adjuster license exam — This consists of one hundred fifty (150) questions, and you have one and a half hours (1:30:00) to complete it
An outline of included subjects for these exams can be found here: Pearson VUE Maine Examination Content Outlines.
Each attempt at the exam costs $77 and will be paid when you make your reservation.
A total score of 70% or more is required to pass this test. To know more about the scoring of these exams, we will quote the Pearson VUE Maine Insurance Licensing Candidate Handbook:
Scaled Score
The passing score of an examination was set by the Maine Bureau of Insurance (in conjunction with Pearson VUE) after a comprehensive study was completed for each examination. Raw scores are converted into scaled scores that can range from 0 to 100.
To avoid misuse of score information, numeric scores are only reported to fail 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.
Score Reporting
When candidates complete the examination, they will receive a score report marked “pass” or “fail.” Candidates who pass the examination will receive a score report that includes information on how to apply for a license.
Candidates who fail the examination will receive a score report that includes a numeric score and diagnostic information as well as information about re-examination.
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 Maine Insurance page or by calling Pearson VUE at (800) 274-4959.
Note: Before registering for your exam, we recommend completing some form of pre-exam education. Even though this is not a legal requirement in Maine, it can go a long way in ensuring that you pass your exam(s) on your first attempt.
Step 3: Maine Insurance Adjuster License Application
Once you have completed all your coursework and passed the exams, you are now ready to apply for your Maine insurance license.
Note: The fee for an online application is $45.
Apply online with the Maine Insurance Adjuster License Application.
You may also submit a mail application together with a check for $45 payable to “Treasurer State of Maine”.
For US Postal Service deliveries including overnight express, use the mailing address in the contact information section below.
For private deliveries such as FedEx and UPS:
Bureau of Insurance
76 Northern Ave
Gardiner, Maine 04345-2832
Step 4: Application Review
Once you have submitted your application and have completed all the other requirements, your Maine license application will be reviewed by the state.
This process generally takes about twenty-four to forty-eight (24-48) hours to get your license online while seven to ten (7-10) business days through mail applications.
Depending on the results of your background check, the Department of Insurance 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 adjusters: staff 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 – Independent insurance adjusters that customers choose to hire in order to settle insurance claims. Public adjusters are not hired by insurance companies
Note: To become a public adjuster, you must obtain a standard adjuster license in Delaware, get an appointment from a public adjusting firm, gain work experience, and eventually pass an additional exam.
Maine Department of Insurance Contact Information
Mailing Address:
Maine Bureau of Insurance
34 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333
Phone: (207) 624-8475
Fax: (207) 624-8599
Email: Insurance.PFR@maine.gov
Website: http://www.maine.gov/pfr/insurance/
Maine Insurance Adjuster License FAQ
How do I become an insurance adjuster in Maine?
You’ll need to pass the state insurance adjuster exam administered by Pearson VUE before submitting an application to the Maine Bureau of Insurance, along with your exam scores, background check, and application fee. Once you obtain your license, you could be eligible for equivalent licenses in a number of other states. To find out more about these reciprocal licensing privileges, read our article on Adjuster License Reciprocity.
Does Maine require an adjuster license?
Similar to an insurance agent, you’re going to need to be licensed by the Maine Bureau of Insurance to be able to evaluate and settle insurance claims. To ensure you pass the licensing exam, which is notoriously difficult, it is imperative to follow a reputable pre-examination course. See our article on the Best Adjuster Licensing Courses to find one that suits your needs.
Which state has the hardest adjuster exam?
The difficulty of the adjuster exam varies based on the state and the individual’s preparedness. However, many adjusters find the Texas and Florida exams particularly challenging due to their extensive coverage of complex insurance laws and scenarios. Regardless of your state, ensure you are as prepared as possible by taking a look at our How to Pass the Insurance Adjuster Exam article.
How do I renew my Maine adjuster license?
To renew your Maine adjuster license, you need to complete the required continuing education hours before the resident adjuster renewal dates and submit a renewal application through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) with the renewal fee. To read more about Maine’s CE requirements, see our article on Adjuster Continuing Education.
How much does a Maine adjuster license cost?
Expect the total cost of acquiring an adjuster license as a Maine resident to cost about $300, though this figure may be higher if you decide to choose a different pre-exam education provider. To read more about why we chose the provider we did, see our AdjusterPro Course Review.