Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get email news alerts on insurance adjusters

Set up a separate email account to get email alerts, RSS feeds and industry newsletters that will send you news as it happens, the latest trend pieces and information about what the major industry players are up to. Check this email daily so you don't miss out on important news.

I recommend: Keep up with daily news and read about trend reports that affect the industry at IFA Webnews. Stay informed with the news and stories put out by Adjuster.com.

Join claims adjuster groups

Association with other professionals in the same field will provide you with an inside track to news, often before it hits the press. Get involved with your trade association and take advantage of the networking opportunities to develop relationships as well as the group's newsletters and communication vehicles.

I recommend: Stay updated with the news and trend reports put out by the National Association of Independent Insurance Adjusters. The American Association of Insurance Services will keep you updated with the latest news affecting your business.

Read about the latest information on insurance adjusters

Take time to read in-depth reports and magazines that cover the industry further than the headlines. Often the best information that can help drive your own business decisions comes from investigative reporting and research articles that take a deeper look into industry issues.

I recommend: Insurance Adjuster News is an integral part of the website that helps professionals with their career. Read the pages to keep up on the news and trends of the day. Go to the Claims Portal for daily news updates among other industry resources.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Encourage your staff to read publications and websites that can bring even more news about insurance adjusters. Make it fun by giving a prize to the team member who comes up with the best news tidbit each month.

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Create a website to showcase your insurance adjusting services

A website can provide cost-effective local and national exposure of your personalized services. The right marketing approach can reach thousands of potential clients for a relatively small amount of money.

I recommend: Hire DynaClaim to customize a website that caters to the needs of insurance adjusters. The professionals at DynaClaim can market your website to potential clients and offer tools to streamline insurance adjusting operations.

Network with reputable insurance claims adjusters

Join with experienced claims adjusters to promote your insurance adjusting services. A relationship with an association of insurance adjusters boosts your visibility on the Internet.

I recommend: Join the National Association of Independent Insurance Adjusters to gain national recognition as an independent insurance adjuster for disasters. Fraternize with other claims adjusters at the annual NAIIA conference to discuss the many aspects of insurance adjusting. Advertise your services as a claims adjuster on a broad website like the National Data Exchange to reach countless potential clients.

Keep up with insurance adjusting technology

Use software programs to create an efficient, streamlined operation, designed specifically for insurance claims adjusters.

I recommend: Learn the basic and advanced applications of Xactimate software, used by public insurance adjusters to quickly and accurately estimate costs and damages. Take online courses or find a seminar to attend in person. Capstone Consulting, Inc. offers software packages that create claim time sheets, build reports and manage files.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Create banner ads to advertise your insurance adjusting services and to reach the masses.

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Look for training from websites that offer independent liability adjusters training

The best way to ensure a smooth transition into a career as an insurance adjuster is to take the classes that prepare you for the state exam. You can save time and money by waiting until you've studied and taken practice exams that you can find online or through local insurance agencies or training centers.

I recommend: ABTrainingCenter.com is a good place to start out your pre-license training online through the books and CD classes they offer. Get certifications and advanced professional development courses through AdjusterPro.

Find additional training to supplement your for insurance adjusting skills

Continue to become more of an expert with new software and estimating tools as well as becoming proficient in other areas of adjusting such as commercial and disaster adjusting.

I recommend: Find advanced training in using specific software and other estimating tools at All-Lines Training. Insurance Schools has a variety of choices for online training to advance your career, such as catastrophe adjusting training courses.

Join insurance claims adjuster associations for continuing education choices

Most trade associations offer continuing education and professional development courses for their members. Some groups can guide you to special certification courses for designations such as the Certified Professional Public Adjuster (CPPA) or Senior Professional Public Adjuster (SPPA) that will help you advance your career while offering events and meetings at which you can meet other professionals.

I recommend: Find out how you can study to get certifications and find resources to help at the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters. As a member of the National Association of Independent Insurance Adjusters, you’ll have access to a number of educational resources and professional development opportunities.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Most states require 15 hours of continuing education units (CEUs) for insurance claims adjusters. These can be attained in a variety of forms, from certified classes to seminars and conferences.

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Catastrophe adjuster

A catastrophe adjuster is a professional who is licensed to handle large-scale disaster events. These professionals arrive on the scene soon after the event to assess the damage.

I recommend: Insurance Schools provides more details on what a catastrophe adjuster does.

Public adjuster

A public adjuster is a professional who works on behalf of the policyholder to assess damage. These professionals help with flood, theft, smoke damage, fire and other types of claims.

I recommend: The National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters provides a thorough look at what public adjusters do and what can be expected of them.

Insurance claim settlements

An insurance claim settlement refers to the money awarded to an insurance policyholder once damage has been assessed and the claim has been settled.

I recommend: CarInsurance fully outlines insurance claim settlements and details how to negotiate them.

Non-resident adjusters licensing

Each state has its own requirements for insurance adjusters. Some states do not require insurance adjusters to be licensed. Insurance adjusters who are not licensed in their resident state need to determine the requirements for providing services outside of their state. States with licensing requirements also define non-resident adjuster licensing requirements.

I recommend: The State of Utah's Insurance Department outlines its rules for non-resident adjuster licensing.

National Association of Independent Insurance Adjusters

The National Association of Independent Insurance Adjusters is a professional organization of insurance adjusters. Independent insurance adjusters who wish to join this group will need to meet strict membership criteria.

I recommend: The National Association of Independent Insurance Adjusters offers more information and membership requirements on its website.

Insurance adjuster license

Many states require insurance adjusters to have an insurance adjuster license. If that's the case, the license requires the individual to have specific training and to sit for a state-provided licensing exam. Continuing education may also be required.

I recommend: Inside Insurance provides an overview of the insurance adjuster license.