For Floridians interested in obtaining or learning more about the Florida adjuster license, it may be helpful to break down and simplify the multitude of license categories and types that are available. This will help ensure the most efficient path to getting exactly what you want by the most direct means available.

At the broadest level, there are three general categories of Florida adjuster licenses: Series 6, Series 5, and Series 3.

Series 6 – Company Adjuster Licenses

Series 6 refers to the types of license held by the Company’s adjusters. What is a company adjuster? The Florida Department of Financial Services defines a Company adjuster as “any person employed on the adjusting staff of an insurer or wholly owned subsidiary of an insurer.” In other words, an employee of an insurance company, a “staff” adjuster, as the position is sometimes called. And to qualify for this type of license, you will obviously need to be employed by a company. The following 6 types of series are available, which will be discussed in detail below: 6-20, 6-44, 6-21, 6-24.

Series 5 – Independent Appraiser Licenses

Series 5 refers to the types of licenses held by independent adjusters. Independent adjusters are adjusters who are “self-employed or associated with or employed by an independent adjusting firm or other independent adjuster.” Keep in mind that an independent adjuster can be an employee, but as long as you are an employee of an adjusting company rather than an insurance company directly, you are still considered independent. Most adjusters interested in handling that particularly lucrative type of claims resulting from catastrophic events (for example, Hurricane Wilma), would be looking at one of the 5 series of licenses. It is also worth noting that, unlike the 6 series, you do not have to be employed or contracted to work at the time you apply for the license. Like the 6 series, the following types are available: 5-20, 5-44, 5-21, 5-24 (detailed explanation of each below).

Series 3 – Public Adjuster License

Series 3 refers to the types of licenses that public adjusters have. Public adjusters are categorically different from independent or Company adjusters in that they represent the insured rather than the insurer. FLDFS defines a public adjuster as follows:

…any person who for money, commission or anything else of value prepares, completes or files an insurance claim form for an insured or a third party claimant or who for money, commission or anything else of value acts or assists in any way on behalf of an insured or third party claimant in negotiating or making settlement of a claim or claims for loss or damage covered by an insurance contract or who is advertised for employment as an adjuster for such claims, and also includes any person who, for money, commission, or anything else of value, requests, investigates, or adjusts such claims on behalf of such public adjuster.

The Public Adjuster license and license enforcement are handled differently than the Company and Independent licenses and, in particular, require that you post a bond prior to becoming licensed. At the time of this writing, you must complete a one-year apprenticeship (license type T31-20) and then pass the state exam for a full 3-series license.

As the 3 series of licenses are of a different breed, from now on we will deal exclusively with appraiser licenses of series 5 and 6. Let’s see the types:

All Lines: 6-20, 5-20

The 6-20 and 5-20 are All-Lines licenses. All-Lines is exactly what it sounds like: each and every line of insurance. The 5-20 Independent and 6-20 Company All-Lines licenses qualify you to handle the full range of auto, property and casualty, and workers’ compensation claims.

Property and Casualty: 6-44, 5-44

The -44s refer to the property and casualty adjuster license types. Property and Casualty would include residential and commercial property and liability claims, but would exclude auto, health, and workers’ compensation.

Automatic: 6-21, 5-21

The -21s refer to physical damage and mechanical breakdowns in automobiles and, specifically, in motor vehicles. If you plan to focus exclusively on processing vehicle damage claims due to accidents and weather events (eg hail), this is your license.

Workers Compensation: 6-24, 5-24

The -24s refer to the adjustment of Workers’ Compensation claims. Workers’ compensation adjusters determine the benefits to be awarded to employees injured in the workplace.

What Florida license must you obtain and how?

First, determine the series. If you have just joined an insurance company as a salaried employee, simply follow their lead to apply for the series 6 license. However, if you are looking to enter the independent side and are either not employed or have a contract to work as such Look for something in the 5 series. There’s no reason not to apply for your 5-20 adjuster’s license, it’s just as easy to obtain as the 5-44, 5-21, or 5-24. It gives you the most flexibility to find your claims niche without limitations.

If you first obtain a series 5 license and then obtain full-time employment status with an insurance company, you will be able to change your license status to series 6 through a relatively simple process that does not require further exams or courses. .

Bottom line: Whichever series 5 or 6 license you choose to pursue, there are several Florida-approved designations (online or in the classroom) that allow you to become licensed immediately without further testing or coursework. Such designations will generally represent the fastest and safest means of obtaining the right Florida adjuster license for you.