What Is a Designated Home State Adjuster License, and Do I Need One?
A designated home state (DHS) adjuster license is a resident-level adjuster license you get from a state you do not live in, because the state where you live does not license adjusters. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) calls this the Adjuster Designated Home State (ADHS): you qualify in that state as if you were a resident, and other states can then treat it as your home-state license. You only need one if your own state has no adjuster license for you to hold.
The rest of this post answers the questions people ask next. For the full picture of adjuster license types, classes and fees in every state, see our guide to getting an insurance adjuster license.
Who needs a designated home state adjuster license?
You need one if you want to work as an independent or company adjuster and your state of residence does not issue that license. Chapter 18 of the NAIC State Licensing Handbook says plainly that "some states do not license adjusters," and that adjusters living in those states can select an Adjuster Designated Home State so they can still be licensed and use the electronic nonresident licensing systems.
Colorado is one example. The National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) Colorado resident licensing page, as transcribed in our records on 2026-09-16, states that the Colorado Division of Insurance does not license Independent Adjusters. A Colorado resident who wants to work independent claims in states that do license adjusters has no Colorado independent adjuster license to build on, so a designated home state is the usual route.
If your state does license adjusters, the DHS route is generally not for you. Florida's NIPR page for nonresident licensing with no home state says the applicant must not hold an active resident license in another state, and cannot use that application if their residence and business addresses are in a state that licenses adjusters.
What does a designated home state license let you do?
It lets you get nonresident adjuster licenses in other states without a resident license of your own. According to the NAIC State Licensing Handbook, a state that allows nonresidents to designate it as their home state requires them to meet the same requirements as a resident, including exams, fingerprinting where required, and continuing education. Once you meet them, that state issues your license, and other states can issue you nonresident licenses based on it.
There is a limit. The same handbook notes that "a few states" will not grant a nonresident license based on an exam passed in another state and require their own exam. Our post on using a Texas adjuster license in other states explains how reciprocity works in practice.
Which states offer a designated home state adjuster license?
The NAIC handbook does not publish a list, so check each state directly. Here is what the sources checked for this post say:
| State | What the source says | Source, date checked |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | The Colorado Division of Insurance does not license Independent Adjusters, so Colorado residents need another state as their home state for that work. | NIPR, Colorado Resident Licensing (Individual), read 2026-09-16 |
| Florida | The Florida Department of Financial Services offers a Designated Home State Adjuster license with General Lines (All) authority. Fees: $50 application fee plus $5 per line of authority. Fingerprints required. Continuing education due every two years by the end of your birth month. | NIPR, Florida Non-Resident Licensing (No Home State, Individual), checked 2026-11-05 |
| Texas | Texas Insurance Code section 4101.053 refers to individuals who designate Texas as their home state for adjuster licensing. | Texas Insurance Code section 4101.053, checked 2026-11-05 |
Texas is a common choice. Our Texas adjuster license guide walks through the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) requirements and application step by step.
What continuing education does a DHS adjuster need?
Your designated home state sets your continuing education (CE) and tracks whether you complete it. The NAIC State Licensing Handbook says that for states allowing a designated home state, "the home state will require and track CE compliance for that adjuster." The NAIC model standard it describes is 24 hours every two years, three of them in ethics, but each state adopts its own rule, so confirm the hours with your designated home state's regulator before your first renewal.
How do you choose which state to designate?
Choose a state that meets four practical tests:
- It accepts designated home state applicants for the license type you need. Confirm on the state's NIPR requirements page or with its Department of Insurance.
- The license scope matches your work. An all-lines or general lines license covers more claim types than a single-line license, which matters if you plan to take property, auto and liability files.
- Its license is recognized where you will work. Check the reciprocity rules of the states you expect to deploy into, especially any that require their own exam.
- You can keep it current. You will owe that state renewal fees and CE for as long as you hold the license.
Can you switch to a resident license later?
If you move to a state that licenses adjusters, you will generally need a resident license there, because the DHS route is for people whose state of residence does not license adjusters. Florida's NIPR page, for example, bars DHS applicants who hold another active resident license. Contact both states' regulators before you move so you do not let a license lapse while you change your home state.
Sources: NAIC State Licensing Handbook, Chapter 18 (Adjusters), checked 2026-11-05; NIPR Florida Non-Resident Licensing (No Home State, Individual), checked 2026-11-05; Texas Insurance Code section 4101.053, checked 2026-11-05; NIPR Colorado Resident Licensing (Individual), read 2026-09-16. Requirements change; confirm with the state regulator before you apply.