In order to get your North Carolina adjuster license and become a licensed insurance claims adjuster, you will need to:

• Submit a licensing application to the North Carolina Department of Insurance
• Complete your adjuster pre-exam education
• Pass a North Carolina Pearson VUE adjuster exam

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

How to Become an Insurance Adjuster in North Carolina

Getting your North Carolina 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: North Carolina Insurance Adjuster License Application

In North Carolina, the first step involved in getting your insurance adjuster license is to submit an application.

The fee for an online application is $169, and you will be able to apply online through the North Carolina Insurance Adjuster License Application.

After doing so, you will receive an exam admission ticket and candidate ID in an email within 24 to 48 hours of submitting your application.

Step 2: 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 North Carolina, 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.

Step 3. North Carolina Insurance Adjuster License Exam

Once you have completed all of your coursework, you will be able to take (and hopefully pass) the North Carolina 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.

For your exam, you can choose between one of several distinct lines offered by North Carolina, including:

• The Independent Adjuster line — Consists of 100 questions, and you have two hours and 15 minutes (2:15:00) to complete it
• The Company/Independent Firm Adjuster line — Consists of 100 questions, and you have two hours and 15 minutes (2:15:00) to complete it
• The Hail Adjuster license line — Consists of 19 questions, and you have 30 minutes (00:30:00) to complete it

Each exam attempt costs $45 and will be paid when you make your reservation.

A total score of 70% or more is required to pass this test. The Pearson VUE North Carolina Insurance Licensing Candidate Handbook explains exam scoring in detail:

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 North Carolina Insurance or by calling Pearson VUE at (855) 288-3161.

Note: We encourage applicants to undertake some form of pre-licensing course before registering for the examination. Although this is not legally required in North Carolina, its practice tests can be essential in helping you pass on your first attempt.

Step 4. Application Review

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

This process generally takes two to six weeks.

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 Pearson VUE 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.

North Carolina Department of Insurance Contact Information

Mailing Address:

Agent Services
1204 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699

Phone: (919) 807-6800

Fax: (919) 715-3794

Email: ASD@ncdoi.gov

Website: http://www.ncdoi.com/