If you want to practice as a claims adjuster, you will need to obtain a Vermont adjuster license; this process is composed of three parts:
- Taking a pre-exam licensing course
- Passing the relevant Prometric Vermont adjuster exam(s)
- Submitting an insurance license application to the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation
In this article, we offer everything you need to know in order to get started, helping you find the best way of getting your Vermont 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 Vermont
Getting your Vermont 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 Vermont, 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. Vermont Insurance Adjuster License Exam
Once you have completed all of your coursework, you will be able to take (and hopefully pass) the Vermont licensing exam insurance adjusters.
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.
Vermont offers a Property and Casualty Adjuster line and a Workers’ Compensation Adjuster line.
- The Property and Casualty Adjuster license exam consists of 150 questions, and you have two and a half hours (2:30:00) to complete it
- The Workers’ Compensation Adjuster license exam consists of 50 questions, and you have one hour (1:00:00) to complete it
Each attempt at the exam costs $65 and will be paid when you make your reservation.
Keep in mind that a total score of 70% or more is required to pass this test. To further explain the scoring of the exam, the Prometric Vermont Department of Financial Regulation Licensing Information Handbook says:
At the end of the exam, the score will be shown on the screen and you will receive a printed score report. The report indicates the overall score and grade, including the numerical percentage of questions answered correctly and whether you passed or failed.
The report also displays the correct percentage in each major section of the exam, as defined by the exam content outline. These section scores are shown to guide you, or your employer and/or trainer, about areas requiring additional preparation for retesting if you do not pass the exam. Even after you pass, you may want to focus on these areas as you begin to provide insurance products and services to the public.
Note that the section percentages will not average out to your total percentage score. That is because individual examination outline sections are allocated different numbers of questions on the examination. Your total percentage score is computed by dividing the number of questions you answered correctly by the total number of questions in the examination. The total score is not computed by adding the section percentages and dividing by the total number of sections.
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 Prometric Vermont Insurance page or by calling Prometric at (800) 868-6113.
Note: Before registering for your exam, we recommend completing some form of pre-exam education. Even though this is not a legal requirement in Vermont, it can go a long way in ensuring that you pass your exam(s) on your first attempt.
Step 3. Vermont Insurance Adjuster License Application
Once you have completed all pre-exam education and passed all the relevant tests, you are now ready to apply for your license.
The fee for an online application is $90.
Apply online with the NIPR – Vermont Insurance Adjuster License Application or with the Sircon.
Step 4. Application Review
Once you have submitted your application and have completed all the other requirements, your Vermont license application will be reviewed by the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation.
This process generally takes about 48 hours. Depending on the results of your background check, you may be required to provide additional 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 (5) 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, get an appointment from a public adjusting firm, gain work experience, and eventually pass an additional exam.
Vermont Insurance Department Contact Information
Mailing Address:
State of Vermont Department of Financial Regulation
89 Main St.
Montpelier, VT 05620
Phone: 802) 828-3303
Fax: (802) 828-1633
Email: dfr.producerlicensing@vermont.gov
Website: https://dfr.vermont.gov/insurance
Vermont Insurance Adjuster License FAQ
Does Vermont require an adjuster license?
Yes, in order to begin handling claims as a licensed adjuster in Vermont, you are required to hold an adjuster license. To find out more about what else you’ll be able to do as an insurance adjuster, check out our What Does an Insurance Adjuster Do article.
Am I eligible to become a claims adjuster in Vermont?
Applicants must meet certain requirements in order to obtain an adjuster license. Alongside being at least 18 years of age, they must also complete sufficient pre-exam education and pass their Vermont adjuster license exam. An explanation of all these requirements is included in our article about How to Become an Insurance Adjuster.
Do Vermont adjuster licenses have reciprocity with any states?
Yes, Vermont grants reciprocal licenses in 29 states, including Washington, Florida, and Texas. This means you are eligible to get any of these licenses by simply applying for them. More information about the different states with reciprocal licenses can be found in our Adjuster License Reciprocity article.
How long is a Vermont adjuster license good for?
In Vermont, all license holders must renew their adjuster license bi-annually before March 31st, when they expire. This expiration date is set in odd-numbered years. More information about this procedure and the license renewal fee can be found in our How to Renew Your Vermont Insurance Adjuster License article.
Does Vermont require continuing education for adjusters?
Yes, in order to renew your adjuster license in Vermont, you must first complete 24 hours of continuing education — with three of these hours spent on ethics coursework.
Our Adjuster Continuing Education article explores these requirements in greater depth, as well as other important details about the license renewal process.