Which New York adjuster license exam do you need?

Two questions settle it

New York does not issue one adjuster license. The state bulletin lists a separate license for each kind of claim, and you pass a separate exam for each license you want to hold. Before you book anything, answer two questions: who will pay you, and what will you be looking at when you arrive at a loss.

First: the policyholder or the insurance company

The bulletin draws the line in one sentence each. Public adjusters "investigate and adjust, on behalf of the insured" claims for losses such as fire, water, burglary and theft, glass, and boiler and machinery. Independent adjusters "act on behalf of the insurer in the work of investigating and adjusting claims."

So if a homeowner or a business owner will hire you to present their claim, you need Series 17-62, the Public Adjuster exam. If a carrier or an adjusting firm will send you out on its behalf, you need one of the independent adjuster exams.

Second: which kind of claim

The independent licenses are divided by line of insurance. We have built practice exams for the six an adjusting firm is most likely to ask about:

• 17-70 General. The widest one. Its outline runs from homeowners and auto through workers' compensation, health, surety and fidelity bonds, and aviation. 100 questions in 2 hours.
• 17-64 Fire. Property: dwelling, homeowners, commercial package and businessowners policies. 60 questions in 1 hour.
• 17-65 Casualty. Liability-heavy, with homeowners, auto, commercial policies and workers' compensation. 60 questions in 1 hour.
• 17-66 Automobile. More than half of it is auto insurance itself. 60 questions in 1 hour.
• 17-63 Accident and Health. Medical plans, disability income, long-term care and the Affordable Care Act. 60 questions in 1 hour.
• 17-71 Auto Damage or Theft Appraiser. Inspecting and pricing damaged vehicles. 60 questions in 1 hour.

The bulletin also lists aviation, fidelity and surety, inland marine, and no-fault and workers' compensation health services charges as separate independent lines. We have not built those.

General or a single line?

The 17-70 outline contains most of what the fire, casualty and auto exams test, plus bonds and aviation. It is also forty questions and an hour longer. If you are not sure which claims a firm will hand you, ask the firm before you book; it costs nothing, and passing one exam does not count toward another.

The pass mark is the same everywhere

Whichever you pick, the bulletin's rule is identical: "You must get 70% correct to pass the examination."