Indiana Adjuster License: Requirements, Steps, and Costs

To get an Indiana adjuster license, you choose between an independent adjuster license (for people who contract with insurers) and a public adjuster license (for people who represent policyholders), meet the state’s eligibility rules, complete pre-licensing education if required, pass the state exam, and apply through Sircon or NIPR with the correct fee. Public adjusters also post a $10,000 surety bond. Staff adjusters employed directly by a single insurer do not need a license in Indiana at all.¹

Which License You Need

Indiana issues two individual adjuster licenses, and they serve opposite sides of a claim.¹

An independent adjuster works on contract for insurance carriers, investigating and settling claims. This is the common path for catastrophe work and for adjusters serving multiple insurers.
A public adjuster represents policyholders in their own property damage claims. Public adjusters carry a surety bond and follow a separate fee and renewal schedule.

If you’re joining an insurance company’s in-house claims team as a full-time employee handling only that company’s claims, you’re a staff adjuster, and Indiana does not require you to be licensed.¹ The rest of this guide is for independent and public adjusters.

Who Qualifies

Under Indiana Code 27-1-28, you must be at least 18, keep your principal residence or place of business in Indiana, and be considered trustworthy, reliable, and of good reputation by the Department of Insurance. You also cannot have committed any act that would be grounds for license denial, suspension, or revocation, which generally covers fraud, misrepresentation on an application, and certain criminal convictions.¹

If your home state doesn’t license adjusters at all, you can designate Indiana as your home state for licensing (a Designated Home State arrangement). To qualify, you cannot hold an active resident adjuster license anywhere else, and your actual home state must genuinely not offer adjuster licensing.²

Steps for an Independent Adjuster License

First, complete a 40-hour pre-licensing education program through an IDOI-approved provider. The coursework covers insurance products and services, claims adjustment duties, and Indiana statutes and rules. You can search approved courses through the Sircon inquiry service on the IDOI website. Your provider will issue a certificate of completion; keep the completion date and certificate number handy, because you’ll need both to schedule your exam and submit your application.¹

Then take the state exam. Indiana contracts with Pearson VUE, so you register and schedule online. The exam covers general insurance principles and Indiana-specific regulations, and the passing score is 70%.³

Steps for a Public Adjuster License

The public adjuster path skips pre-licensing education but adds a bond.

Before scheduling the exam, email agentlicensing@idoi.in.gov to request a certificate to take the exam, including your name exactly as it appears on your driver’s license. The exam has 60 questions, requires a 70% passing score, and costs $50.³

You also need to post a $10,000 Indiana surety bond that is no more than six months old at the time of application. The bond protects the policyholders you represent and must stay active for the life of your license.¹

How to Apply and What It Costs

Once you’ve passed the exam and gathered your paperwork, submit the application through either Sircon or NIPR; IDOI authorizes both.⁴ You’ll be asked for your Social Security number, exam score, pre-licensing certificate number (independent adjusters), residential history, and employment background. Enter the certification numbers from your education and exam providers exactly as issued, since the system uses them to link your records; mismatches cause delays or rejections.

State license fees:

Each portal adds its own electronic processing fee, usually $10 to $15. After payment, you’ll get a confirmation and tracking number. IDOI asks that you allow 7 to 10 business days for processing before contacting the department, assuming no issues with your background check or exam records.⁶

Keeping the License Active

Independent and public adjuster licenses renew on different schedules, which trips up people who hold both.

An independent adjuster license lasts a minimum of two years and renews on the last day of your birth month. You need at least 24 hours of Indiana-approved continuing education during each two-year cycle, and every course must be registered with IDOI before you take it; unapproved hours won’t count. The renewal fee is $40.⁷⁸

A public adjuster license expires every year on December 31. Applications received on or after October 1 get an expiration date of December 31 of the following year, so timing your application can give you nearly two years on your first license.¹

Letting either license lapse means you cannot adjust claims in Indiana until you reinstate or reapply. Keep your CE completion certificates in case IDOI audits.

Shortcuts and Special Situations

Already Licensed in Another State

If you hold an active resident adjuster license elsewhere, Indiana generally issues a non-resident license without a new exam or Indiana-specific education. Apply through Sircon or NIPR, pay the fee, and confirm your home state license is in good standing; your home state must also grant non-resident licenses to Indiana residents on the same basis.⁵

Residents of California, Hawaii, and New York are the exception: they must complete an Indiana independent adjuster pre-licensing course and pass the Indiana exam. Holding an active Uniform Claims Certification (UCC) waives that requirement regardless of home state; attach a copy of the UCC certificate to your application. Non-resident public adjusters still need to post the $10,000 Indiana surety bond.⁵

Working After a Declared Catastrophe

After a declared catastrophe such as a major storm or tornado, insurers can bring in unlicensed adjusters under a temporary emergency license. The insurer, not the adjuster, files the application, and it must be submitted within five days of the adjuster starting work, so you can begin adjusting claims immediately. The license runs 90 days unless the Commissioner extends it, and it covers any additional catastrophe that occurs during that window. The fee is $20, paid by the sponsoring insurer.⁹

Running an Adjusting Firm

If you’re forming or operating an adjusting firm rather than working as an individual, you need a separate business entity adjuster license. The entity must designate a licensed individual adjuster who takes responsibility for the firm’s compliance with Indiana insurance law. The license fee is $40 for an independent adjuster entity and $50 for a public adjuster entity, and public adjuster firms must post a $10,000 surety bond in the business name. Entity applications can be filed through Sircon, NIPR, or the uniform NAIC paper application mailed to IDOI.¹⁰

1
Indiana Department of Insurance. Resident Adjuster Licensing Requirements
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NIPR. Indiana Non-Resident Adjuster Licensing Individual
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Indiana Department of Insurance. Examination Procedure Checklist
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Indiana Department of Insurance. IDOI: Licensing
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Indiana Department of Insurance. Non-Resident Adjuster Licensing
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Indiana Department of Insurance. Initial Resident Application Steps
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Indiana Department of Insurance. Resident Adjuster License Renewal Requirements
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Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code Title 27 Article 1 Chapter 28 Section 27-1-28-14 – Qualifications, Renewal, Fees
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Indiana Department of Insurance. Temporary Emergency Independent Adjuster License
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Indiana Department of Insurance. Business Entity Adjuster Licensing Requirements