Rhode Island Insurance Adjuster License

Written by: Kevelyn Rodriguez

Last updated:

Rhode Island Insurance Adjuster License

Getting your Rhode Island adjuster license is a simple process that only requires you to complete four steps.

  • Study a pre-exam course
  • Achieve a passing grade on the Rhode Island Pearson VUE adjuster exam
  • Get fingerprinted and complete a background check
  • File an application to the Rhode Island Insurance Division

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

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How to get Become an Insurance Adjuster in Rhode Island

Getting your Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island exam prep 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 Rhode Island, 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.

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Step 2. Rhode Island Insurance Adjuster License Exam

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

Depending on the lines of authority you wish to carry, you may need to take more than one exam. Rhode Island offers two main lines:

  • The Property and Casualty Adjuster license exam — This consists of 35 questions, and you have one hour (1:00:00) to complete it
  • The Workers’ Compensation Adjuster license exam — This consists of 50 questions, and you have one hour (1:00:00) to complete it

Each attempt of the exam costs $80 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 Rhode Island Department of Insurance Licensing Candidate Handbook:

Candidates who pass all parts of the examination will receive a score report that reads “pass;” no numeric score will be reported. The score report will also include information on how to apply for a license.

Candidates who fail the General (or national) section of Life, Accident & Health, Property, Casualty or Personal Lines receive diagnostic information relevant to each major area of the examination. Diagnostic information is intended to help failing candidates identify their areas of strength and weakness in order to prepare for future examinations. Candidates may use the content outlines in this handbook to interpret the diagnostic information on a failing score report.

Examination results are confidential and are released only to the candidate and the state licensing agency. The scores will be given at the test center after the examination is completed. To protect the candidate’s privacy and to maintain the confidentiality of examination results, Pearson VUE does not give score information over the telephone.

Scaled Score

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 Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation (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.

Insurance license tests are intentionally difficult but not impossible by any means. You should study to the point of comfort with the information before you attempt the test. Failing the exam isn’t the end of the world, but keep in mind that you will need to pay the fee each time you attempt the test.

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 Rhode Island Insurance or by calling Pearson VUE at (800) 274-3739.

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

Step 3. Background Check

The State of Rhode Island requires that all insurance license applications provide background check reports from the Attorney General’s office prior to licensing.

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 Rhode Island Division of Business Regulation Insurance Division at (401) 462-9520 or send them an email.

To obtain this report, you may visit the Rhode Island Bureau of Criminal Identification – State Background Check page or call (401) 274-4400.

Note: The fee for the background check report is $5.

Be sure to submit the result of your background check to the Rhode Island Insurance Division.

Step 4. Rhode Island Insurance Adjuster License Application

Once you have completed your exams and fingerprinting, you will be ready to apply for your independent adjuster license.

Note: The fee for an online application is $250.

Apply online with the Rhode Island Insurance Adjuster License Application.

Step 5. Application Review

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

This process generally takes about 10 business days. Depending on the results of your background check, the 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 (5) 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 – 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.

Rhode Island Department of Insurance Contact Information

Mailing Address:

Rhode Island Division of Business Regulation
Insurance Division
1511 Pontiac Avenue, Building 69-2
Cranston, Rhode Island 029301

Phone: (401) 462-9520

Fax: (401) 462-9602

Email: DBR.Insurance@dbr.ri.gov

Website: http://www.dbr.state.ri.us/divisions/insurance/

Rhode Island Insurance Adjuster License FAQ

Does Rhode Island require an adjuster license?

Yes. To practice as a Rhode Island resident independent adjuster, you are required to pass the adjuster licensing exam and obtain your active resident license. Our article on the subject of How to Pass the Insurance Adjuster Exam is a great starting place if you are feeling unsure about how to begin the process of preparing for this examination.

How do I become a claims adjuster Rhode Island?

Becoming a licensed claims adjuster Rhode Island is very straightforward. After you have completed your pre-exam education and passed the licensing exam, submit your background check along with your application to the Rhode Island Insurance Division. Take a look at our What Does an Insurance Adjuster Do article for a glimpse at some of the things you’ll be able to do when you have acquired this license.

How much is an adjuster license Rhode Island?

It should cost you around $515 to become a licensed insurance adjuster in Rhode Island. This accounts for the costs of pre-course fees ($179), each exam attempt ($80), fingerprinting ($5), and submitting your application ($250). However, this figure does not include the maintenance costs of your license. Namely the fees associated with satisfying any continuing education requirements. See our article on Adjuster Continuing Education for more information.

What states are reciprocal with the Rhode Island adjuster license?

Rhode Island adjuster licenses share reciprocity with 29 other states. This means that, without any additional certification, you can obtain licenses in each of these states by simply applying. Our Adjuster License Reciprocity goes into detail on the specific states that Rhode Island grants reciprocal licenses for.

How long is a Rhode Island adjuster license good for?

All insurance adjuster license-holders must renew their license every two years by the last day of their birth month. If you were born in an even-numbered year, you will renew in even years (and vice versa). More information on Rhode Island renewals can be found in our How to Renew Your Rhode Island Insurance Adjuster License article.

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