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How to Become a Public Adjuster in Florida (2026)

To become a public adjuster in Florida, you need 6 months of qualifying adjuster experience (usually an all-lines adjuster license plus 6 months appointed as an apprentice, independent, or company adjuster), then you pass the Pearson VUE 3-20 exam, get fingerprinted, file a $50,000 surety bond, and apply to the Department of Financial Services (DFS) through MyProfile. Florida mandates no pre-licensing course for the 3-20 license. This guide walks each step with citations to Chapter 626 of the Florida Statutes, then covers the rules that shape every Florida public adjuster's practice: the fee caps, the solicitation hours, and the cancellation windows.

Quick summary6 months of qualifying experience (F.S. 626.865(1)(e)) · pass the 3-20 exam (100 scored questions, 2 hours, $44, 70 percent) · fingerprints · file a $50,000 bond · apply in MyProfile ($50 filing fee, $5 license ID fee) · $60 appointment · no pre-licensing course · 24 hours CE every 2 years · fee caps of 10, 20, 1, or 0 percent.

Free download: the Public Adjuster Field Guide

First-contact checklists, the documentation standard, ACV and RCV valuation with a worked roof claim, estimate and scope method, and fraud red flags in one printable PDF. The statute pages are written for Texas; the field sections work on any Florida claim.

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What does a Florida public adjuster do?

Under F.S. 626.854(1), a public adjuster is anyone (other than an exempt attorney) who, for compensation, prepares, completes, or files an insurance claim for an insured or third-party claimant, or helps negotiate or settle that claim, or advertises to do so. In plain terms, the insurer's adjuster works for the carrier; a public adjuster works for the policyholder. Florida public adjusters may not give legal advice or handle claims for bodily injury, death, or noneconomic damages (F.S. 626.854(3)).

Florida regulates public adjusters more heavily than almost any other state. Most of the conduct rules in F.S. 626.854(5) through (18), including the solicitation hours and fee caps, apply to claims under residential property and condominium unit-owner policies (F.S. 626.854(19)), which is where most Florida public adjusting happens.

Florida public adjuster license: requirements at a glance

Regulator	Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS), Bureau of Licensing; governed by F.S. Chapter 626, Part VI
License type	3-20 Resident Public Adjuster (active only with an appointment)
Prerequisite	6 continual months as a nonresident PA, or an all-lines adjuster license plus 6 months appointed as apprentice, independent, or company adjuster (F.S. 626.865(1)(e))
Exam	Pearson VUE 3-20: 100 scored plus 10 pretest questions, 2 hours, $44, 70 percent to pass; no exemptions
Attempt limit	5 attempts per exam type in 12 months (Pearson VUE handbook)
Pre-licensing course	Not mandated for the 3-20 license; focused exam prep recommended
Fingerprints	Required; vendor fees paid separately (DFS 3-20 checklist)
Bond	$50,000 surety bond, in force 1 year after the license ends (F.S. 626.865(2))
State fees	$50 application filing fee, $5 license ID fee, $60 appointment fee (F.S. 624.501; Pearson VUE handbook)
Continuing education	24 hours every 2 years by the end of your birth month: 4 hours Law and Ethics (5-320) plus 20 elective
Fee caps	10 percent (declared emergency, first year), 20 percent (other claims), 1 percent (early policy-limit payment), 0 percent (paid before contract) (F.S. 626.854(11)(b))
Cancellation	10 days after signing; after a declared emergency, 30 days after loss or 10 days after signing, whichever is longer (F.S. 626.854(7))
Solicitation	Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. only (F.S. 626.854(5))

The five steps

1
Meet the 6-month experience prerequisite
Florida is not an entry-level public adjuster state. Under F.S. 626.865(1)(e), you must either have been licensed and appointed in Florida as a nonresident public adjuster on a continual basis for the previous 6 months, or hold an all-lines adjuster license and have been appointed on a continual basis for the previous 6 months as a public adjuster apprentice, an independent adjuster, or a company employee adjuster. The all-lines adjuster license carries its own licensing requirements. You must also be at least 18, a U.S. citizen or legal alien with work authorization, and a Florida resident or maintain your principal place of business in Florida, per the DFS 3-20 checklist.
2
Study for the 3-20 Public Adjuster exam
Florida mandates no pre-licensing course for the 3-20 license; the DFS 3-20 checklist lists the experience prerequisite, the bond, fingerprints, and the exam, not a course. The exam is heavy on Florida law: per the Pearson VUE outline effective January 1, 2026, Florida Laws and Regulations Pertinent to Public Adjusters is 31 percent of the exam and Selected Florida Statutes and Rules another 15 percent, alongside General Property Insurance Product Knowledge (25 percent) and Property Insurance Policies (25 percent). Our $49.99 Florida public adjuster exam prep course is built around that outline. Take the free practice exam first to benchmark yourself.
3
Pass the Pearson VUE exam: 100 scored questions, 2 hours, $44
The exam is titled Florida Public Adjuster's All Lines Insurance (3-20). It has 100 scored questions plus 10 unscored pretest questions and a 2-hour time limit, per the Pearson VUE content outline. The exam fee is $44, and the passing score is 70 percent, computed as questions answered correctly divided by total questions, per the Pearson VUE Florida candidate handbook. You get at most 5 attempts at the same exam type in a 12-month period, and a passing score is valid for 1 year. Every applicant must pass: the DFS checklist says there are no exemptions, and F.S. 626.865(3) requires passing the exam again after a suspension or a lapsed, cancelled, or revoked license.
4
Apply in MyProfile, get fingerprinted, and file the $50,000 bond
Apply online through your DFS MyProfile account. The state application filing fee is $50 (F.S. 624.501(5)), the handbook lists a $5 license identification fee, and fingerprints are required, with fingerprint fees paid directly to the vendor. F.S. 626.865(2) requires a $50,000 surety bond filed with DFS at application, conditioned on faithful performance, kept unimpaired for the life of the license, and in force for 1 year after the license expires or terminates. The DFS checklist requires the original bond on the DFS bond form, mailed to the Bureau of Licensing in Tallahassee.
5
Get appointed and learn the F.S. 626.854 rules
A Florida license is active only with an appointment, either in your own name or by a licensed public adjusting firm; the adjuster appointment fee is $60, original and biennial renewal (F.S. 624.501(12)(a)). Before your first client, learn the core conduct rules: you may solicit only Monday through Saturday between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. (F.S. 626.854(5)); fees are capped at 10, 20, 1, or 0 percent depending on the claim (F.S. 626.854(11)(b)); the insured may cancel within 10 days of signing, or longer after a declared emergency (F.S. 626.854(7)); and you must deliver an itemized written estimate within 60 days of the contract and keep it at least 5 years (F.S. 626.854(12)(a)).

Before you book Pearson VUE, take our free practice exam to see whether you're ready. Nearly half the 3-20 exam is Florida statutes and rules, so law is where most study time should go.

What makes Florida different

Florida rewrote much of its property-claims law in 2022 and 2023, so older summaries are often wrong. Five distinctives every candidate should know:

An experience gate before the license. Most states let you test in and start working. Florida requires 6 continual months of qualifying experience first (F.S. 626.865(1)(e)), and the apprentice route itself requires an all-lines adjuster license and a $50,000 bond (F.S. 626.8651).
A four-tier fee cap. 10 percent on declared emergency claims during the year after the declaration, 20 percent otherwise, 1 percent when the insurer commits to the policy limit early, and nothing when the insurer paid or agreed to pay before you signed the client (F.S. 626.854(11)(b)). No fee on the deductible.
Clock-based solicitation rules. Solicitation is allowed only Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (F.S. 626.854(5)). Roof-claim inducements such as gift cards or deductible waivers carry fines of up to $10,000 per act, and up to $20,000 per act during a declared emergency (F.S. 626.854(23)).
Strict contract formalities. F.S. 626.8796 requires a contract titled Public Adjuster Contract, the fraud statement and compensation percentage in at least 18-point bold type, a copy to the insurer within 7 days, and a separate DFS claim process disclosure form signed before the contract. A noncompliant contract is invalid and unenforceable.
A 60-day estimate deadline. You must give the insured and insurer an itemized, per-unit written estimate within 60 days of the contract and keep it at least 5 years (F.S. 626.854(12)(a)). Miss it without good cause and the insured gains a new right to cancel. You also may not take part in the repair or restoration of property you are adjusting (F.S. 626.8795).

What it costs to become a Florida public adjuster

The 3-20 fees are modest; the bond premium and the time spent on the experience prerequisite are the real costs. Verify current amounts before paying:

Exam-prep course: $49.99 with Elite Training Academy
Pearson VUE exam fee: $44 per attempt
DFS application filing fee: $50, plus a $5 license identification fee
Adjuster appointment fee: $60, original and every biennial renewal
Fingerprints: paid directly to the vendor at its current rate
Surety bond: a yearly premium on the $50,000 bond; premiums vary by surety and applicant

Prep, exam, and DFS fees add up to about $209 before fingerprints and the bond premium. Each failed attempt adds another $44, and you get only 5 attempts in 12 months.

Ready to start studying?

Our Florida public adjuster exam prep course is $49.99 with lifetime access, built around the Pearson VUE 3-20 content outline, including the Florida law sections that make up nearly half the exam. Not sure yet? Take the free practice exam first, or grab the free Field Guide PDF.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I become a Florida public adjuster with no experience?

No. F.S. 626.865(1)(e) requires 6 months of qualifying experience before the 3-20 license: either 6 continual months licensed and appointed in Florida as a nonresident public adjuster, or an all-lines adjuster license plus 6 continual months appointed as a public adjuster apprentice, independent adjuster, or company employee adjuster. Most new entrants start with the all-lines adjuster license and an appointment, then sit for the 3-20 exam.

What is a Florida public adjuster apprentice?

The public adjuster apprentice (3-40) is an appointment, not a standalone license. Under F.S. 626.8561 and 626.8651, an apprentice must hold an all-lines adjuster license, be appointed by a public adjusting firm, and file a $50,000 surety bond. A firm may have no more than 4 apprentices at once, a supervising public adjuster may be responsible for only 1 apprentice at a time, and an apprentice may not execute contracts for public adjuster services. Current law sets no maximum length for an apprenticeship. Six continual months as an apprentice satisfies the 3-20 experience prerequisite.

How many questions are on the Florida 3-20 public adjuster exam?

100 scored questions plus 10 unscored pretest questions, with a 2-hour time limit, per the Pearson VUE Florida content outline effective January 1, 2026. The exam fee is $44 and the passing score is 70 percent. Section weights: General Property Insurance Product Knowledge 25 percent, Property Insurance Policies 25 percent, Motor Vehicle Physical Damage and Mechanical Breakdown 2 percent, Residual Markets 2 percent, Selected Florida Statutes and Rules 15 percent, and Florida Laws and Regulations Pertinent to Public Adjusters 31 percent.

How much is the Florida public adjuster bond?

$50,000. F.S. 626.865(2) requires a surety bond of $50,000 from a surety authorized in Florida, conditioned on faithful performance of your duties, in favor of DFS, kept unimpaired for the life of the license, and in force for 1 year after the license expires or terminates. The surety must give at least 30 days written notice before terminating the bond. You pay the surety a premium; you do not post the $50,000 yourself.

What are the Florida public adjuster fee caps?

F.S. 626.854(11)(b) sets four tiers. 10 percent for claims based on a Governor-declared state of emergency, for claims made during the year after the declaration. 20 percent for all other claims. 1 percent for any coverage part where the insurer pays or commits in writing to pay the policy limit within 14 days after the date of loss or within 10 days after the contract is signed, whichever is later. And 0 percent for any coverage part where the insurer paid or agreed to pay before the contract was signed. You also may not charge a fee on the deductible, and reopened or supplemental claims are capped at 20 percent of the new money.

When can a Florida public adjuster solicit clients?

Only Monday through Saturday, and only between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on those days. F.S. 626.854(5) bars soliciting an insured or claimant by any means, directly or through another person, outside those hours. Sunday solicitation is prohibited. Separate rules bar monetary inducements, gifts worth more than $25, and loans or advances to clients or prospects.

How long does a homeowner have to cancel a public adjuster contract in Florida?

10 days after the contract is signed, without penalty. If the claim is based on events that are the subject of a Governor-declared state of emergency, the window is 30 days after the date of loss or 10 days after the contract is signed, whichever is longer (F.S. 626.854(7)). The insured can also cancel if the public adjuster fails to provide a written estimate within 60 days of the contract, unless the delay was beyond the adjuster's control.

Does Florida require continuing education for public adjusters?

Yes. The DFS 3-20 checklist requires 24 hours of CE, due every two years by the end of your birth month. Per the DFS continuing education page, that is a 4-hour Law and Ethics update course specific to public adjusters (course authority 5-320) plus 20 elective hours from approved course authorities. CE compliance is a condition for keeping your appointment active.

Sources

Every factual claim in this guide traces to a primary source. The load-bearing ones:

F.S. 626.854 (definition, solicitation hours, cancellation, fee caps, estimate, residential scope)
F.S. 626.865 (qualifications, 6-month prerequisite, $50,000 bond, exam)
F.S. 626.8651 (public adjuster apprentice appointment)
F.S. 626.8796 and F.S. 626.8795 (contract formalities; conflict of interest)
F.S. 624.501 ($50 filing fee, $60 appointment fee)
DFS: 3-20 Resident Public Adjuster License checklist and the DFS continuing education page
Pearson VUE: Florida candidate handbook (#121000) ($44 fee, 70 percent passing score, 5-attempt limit) and content outlines (#121003, effective January 1, 2026) (3-20 format and section weights)

Related guides

Last verified 2026-09-22 against the 2026 Florida Statutes (leg.state.fl.us), the DFS 3-20 checklist and continuing education page, and the Pearson VUE Florida candidate handbook (#121000) and content outlines (#121003). Our course is exam preparation for the Florida 3-20 public adjuster examination; Florida does not mandate a pre-licensing course for the 3-20 license, and our course is not state-approved education. It does not satisfy the 6-month experience prerequisite. Fees and vendor procedures change; verify current requirements at myfloridacfo.com/division/agents and pearsonvue.com/us/en/fl/insurance.html before relying on any specific number. This guide is not legal advice.