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How to Become a Public Adjuster in Indiana (2026)

To become a public adjuster in Indiana, you request an exam eligibility certificate from the Indiana Department of Insurance, pass the 60-question Pearson VUE Public Adjuster exam, post a $10,000 surety bond, and apply for a certificate of authority under IC 27-1-27. No pre-licensing course is required and there is no continuing education, but the certificate renews every year and Indiana rewrote its public adjuster contract rules in 2023. This guide walks every step, with citations.

Quick summaryA certificate of authority is required (IC 27-1-27-2) · email IDOI for a Certificate of Test Eligibility first · pass the Pearson VUE Public Adjuster exam (60 questions, 60 minutes, $50, 70 percent to pass) · $10,000 surety bond · $50 fee · no pre-licensing course, no CE · expires December 31 every year.

Free download: the Indiana Public Adjuster Field Guide

The scope limits in IC 27-1-27-1.5, the required contract contents, both three-business-day cancellation rights, the five-business-day policy-limit rule, and the bond, with citations, in one printable PDF you can keep in your truck.

Get the free Field Guide →

A certificate of authority, not a producer license

Indiana regulates public adjusters in their own chapter, IC 27-1-27. IC 27-1-27-2(a) bars anyone from acting as a public adjuster, or being paid for helping adjust a claim, without a certificate of authority from the commissioner of insurance, and IC 27-1-27-2(b) designates certificate holders as Certified Public Adjusters. The credential is not a line of authority on a producer license and it is not the independent adjuster license, which lives in a different chapter (IC 27-1-28) with its own 40-hour pre-licensing course and its own CE.

IC 27-1-27-1(g) defines a public adjuster as a person who, for compensation, renders advice or assistance to an insured in adjusting a claim for loss or damage under a policy covering real or personal property, or who advertises or holds out as one. So the definition reaches you as soon as you advertise, not just when you work a claim. To qualify for a resident certificate you must be at least 18 and a bona fide Indiana resident (IC 27-1-27-3). A nonresident certificate requires an equivalent resident public adjuster credential from your home state (IC 27-1-27-3(c)).

Indiana public adjuster requirements at a glance

Regulator	Indiana Department of Insurance (IDOI); governed by IC 27-1-27
Credential	Certificate of authority; holders are Certified Public Adjusters (IC 27-1-27-2)
Pre-licensing course	Not required (IDOI: "no pre-licensing education required"); focused exam prep strongly recommended
Exam eligibility	IDOI Certificate of Test Eligibility, requested by email to agentlicensing@idoi.in.gov before you schedule
Exam	Pearson VUE, Indiana Public Adjuster: 60 questions, 60 minutes, $50 fee, 70 percent to pass; 48-hour wait before a retake
Bond	$10,000 surety bond payable to the State of Indiana, renewed annually (IC 27-1-27-4(e)); proof not more than 6 months old at application
Application	Sircon or uniform NAIC paper application; $50 fee (IC 27-1-27-4(c)) plus an electronic processing fee
Term and renewal	Expires December 31 every year (IC 27-1-27-4(d)); renewals open 90 days before expiration; no exam on renewal (IC 27-1-27-6(b))
Continuing education	None; IDOI lists Public Adjuster among license types with no CE requirements
Fee cap	No percentage cap; percentage fees barred when the insurer pays or commits to policy limits within 5 business days of the loss report (IC 27-1-27-18)
Contract	Written, on a commissioner-approved form, copy to the insurer before services beyond emergency services (IC 27-1-27-13); required contents in IC 27-1-27-16
Cancellation	Two 3-business-day rights (IC 27-1-27-19 and 27-1-27-20); refund within 15 business days

The five steps

1
Study for the Indiana Public Adjuster exam
Indiana requires no pre-licensing course for public adjusters. The Indiana Department of Insurance (IDOI) lists the requirement as passing the written Public Adjuster examination with no pre-licensing education required, and IC 27-1-27-3 lists no education prerequisite. The exam is still broad: the Pearson VUE outline (publication #121501) has seven areas, with 15 scored questions on Adjusting Losses, 11 on Homeowners Policies, 10 on Insurance Basics, 9 on Building Construction, 7 on Insurance Regulations, 6 on Commercial Package Policies, and 2 on Dwelling Policies. Our $49.99 Indiana Public Adjuster exam prep course follows those seven areas with 550+ practice questions. Start with the free practice exam to benchmark yourself.
2
Request your IDOI Certificate of Test Eligibility
This is the step most candidates miss. You cannot simply book the public adjuster exam with Pearson VUE. IDOI instructs candidates to request a Public Adjuster Certificate of Exam Eligibility before scheduling by emailing agentlicensing@idoi.in.gov, and the Pearson VUE handbook says to include your name and the exam type in that email. The certificate carries an expiration date, and testing must be completed before it expires.
3
Pass the Pearson VUE exam: 60 questions, 60 minutes, $50
The Indiana Public Adjuster exam has 60 scored questions with a 60-minute time limit, and you need 70 percent to pass, per the Pearson VUE Indiana candidate handbook (#121500) and the IDOI examination procedure checklist. The exam fee is $50. Schedule at pearsonvue.com/in/insurance or by phone at (866) 895-0496. The fee is non-refundable unless you change or cancel at least 48 hours before your appointment, and if you fail you must wait 48 hours before retaking. IDOI's outline notes that additional unscored trial questions may be added, with extra time allowed for them.
4
Buy the $10,000 surety bond
IC 27-1-27-4(e) requires every applicant to file a surety bond of $10,000, payable to the State of Indiana and conditioned on faithful performance of your duties, and the bond must be renewed annually. IDOI asks for proof of the $10,000 surety bond for the state of Indiana not more than six months old when you apply. The bond is also part of your contracts: IC 27-1-27-16 requires your public adjuster contract to state that you are fully bonded under Indiana law.
5
Apply for your certificate of authority ($50)
Apply through Sircon or on the uniform NAIC paper application for independent or public adjusters. The resident license fee is $50 under IC 27-1-27-4(c), plus an electronic processing fee that IDOI does not publish on its requirements page. You must be at least 18 and an Indiana resident (IC 27-1-27-3). Certificates expire December 31 each year: IDOI says applications received before October 1 expire December 31 of the current year, and applications received on or after October 1 expire December 31 of the following year. Once issued, you are designated a Certified Public Adjuster (IC 27-1-27-2(b)).

Before you request your eligibility certificate, take our free practice exam to see whether you're ready. The certificate has an expiration date, so it pays to be close to test-ready before you ask for it.

What makes Indiana different

Indiana's public adjuster chapter dates to 1983, but P.L. 226-2023 added a scope section and a full contract regime (IC 27-1-27-1.5 and IC 27-1-27-12 through 27-1-27-20). Older study material often misses all of it. Five distinctives every candidate should know:

You advise and assist; you do not file. IC 27-1-27-1.5 says a public adjuster shall not file an insurance claim with an insurer or its agent, employee, or representative on behalf of an insured; shall not act on personal injury or automobile liability claims; shall not bind the insured in settlement; and shall not act as a roofing contractor, appraiser, or in any other role on the subject of a claim while advising the insured on it.
An exam eligibility gate before Pearson VUE. Unlike producer and independent adjuster candidates, who show a course completion certificate, public adjuster candidates need an IDOI Certificate of Test Eligibility, requested by email to agentlicensing@idoi.in.gov, and must test before it expires.
A $10,000 bond that renews every year. IC 27-1-27-4(e) requires the bond and its annual renewal, and IC 27-1-27-16 requires your contract to state that you are fully bonded under Indiana law.
Approved-form contracts and disclosures. IC 27-1-27-13 bars services beyond emergency services until a written contract on a commissioner-approved form is signed and a copy is delivered to the insurer (email is allowed). Before signing, IC 27-1-27-14 requires a disclosure document explaining company, independent, and public adjusters, and IC 27-1-27-12 requires written disclosure of any financial interest you have in another party to the claim, such as a contractor, salvage firm, or law firm. IC 27-1-27-15 bans terms like requiring checks payable solely to you or limiting your liability for negligence.
Two cancellation clocks, both in business days. The contract is voidable for 3 business days after the insurer receives a copy (IC 27-1-27-19), and separately rescindable for 3 business days after the insured submits the claim (IC 27-1-27-20). Notice may be by certified or registered mail, personal service, or email, and you must refund anything of value within 15 business days.

All of these, with citations, are in the free Indiana Public Adjuster Field Guide, formatted so you can find the rule mid-conversation with a client.

What it costs to become an Indiana public adjuster

Indiana has no pre-licensing course and no CE, so the main costs are the exam, the certificate fee, and the bond. Verify current amounts before paying:

Exam-prep course: $49.99 with Elite Training Academy (550+ practice questions across the seven Pearson VUE content areas)
Pearson VUE exam fee: $50 per attempt, non-refundable unless you change or cancel at least 48 hours ahead
Certificate of authority: $50 per year (IC 27-1-27-4(c)), plus an electronic processing fee
Surety bond: $10,000 of coverage, renewed annually; the premium is set by the surety company
Pre-licensing course: $0 (none required); CE: $0 (none required)

Because the certificate expires every December 31, the $50 fee and the bond renewal are recurring annual costs. The biggest avoidable cost is a failed exam: another $50 and at least a 48-hour wait, with your eligibility certificate's expiration date still running.

Ready to start studying?

Our Indiana Public Adjuster exam prep course is $49.99 with lifetime access, built around the seven areas of the Pearson VUE Indiana Public Adjuster outline, with 550+ practice questions. Not sure yet? Take the free practice exam first, or grab the free Field Guide PDF.

Start the exam prep course →

Frequently asked questions

Does Indiana require a license to be a public adjuster?

Yes. IC 27-1-27-2(a) provides that no individual or corporation may act as a public adjuster in Indiana, or receive compensation for services in the adjustment of a claim, without a certificate of authority issued by the commissioner of insurance. Indiana calls the credential a certificate of authority rather than a license, and a holder is designated a Certified Public Adjuster. It is separate from the independent adjuster license under IC 27-1-28. Under IC 27-1-27-11(c), a contract with an insured for a loss in Indiana is void unless the public adjuster held a certificate when the contract was made.

Does Indiana require pre-licensing education for public adjusters?

No. IDOI's resident adjuster licensing requirements page lists the written Public Adjuster examination with the note no pre-licensing education required, and the Pearson VUE handbook lists the Public Adjuster prerequisite as None, IDOI Certificate of Test Eligibility Required. The 40-hour pre-licensing program you may see mentioned applies to Indiana independent adjusters, not public adjusters. Our course is exam preparation, not state-approved education, because Indiana does not require any for this credential.

How many questions is the Indiana public adjuster exam?

60 scored questions in 60 minutes, with a passing score of 70 percent, per the Pearson VUE Indiana candidate handbook and the IDOI examination procedure checklist. The exam fee is $50. The seven content areas and their published question counts are Insurance Regulations 7, Insurance Basics 10, Adjusting Losses 15, Dwelling Policies 2, Homeowners Policies 11, Commercial Package Policies 6, and Building Construction 9.

How much is the Indiana public adjuster bond?

$10,000. IC 27-1-27-4(e) requires a surety bond in the sum of $10,000, payable to the State of Indiana, and requires that it be renewed annually. IDOI wants proof of the bond that is not more than six months old when you apply. The premium you pay a surety company is set by the surety, not the state.

Do Indiana public adjusters need continuing education?

No. IDOI's continuing education requirements page lists Public Adjuster under License Types With No CE Requirements. The 24-hour, two-year CE cycle you may see for Indiana applies to producers and independent adjusters, not public adjusters. Renewal for a public adjuster is the annual application, the fee, and a renewed bond.

Is there a fee cap for Indiana public adjusters?

Indiana sets no percentage cap on public adjuster fees. Instead, IC 27-1-27-16 requires the contract to state your full compensation, including exact percentages if you charge a percentage, and IC 27-1-27-15 bars terms that let you collect a percentage fee before the insurer pays or take your entire fee from the first installment. One situational limit applies: under IC 27-1-27-18, if the insurer pays or commits in writing to pay the policy limit within five business days after the loss is reported, you may not take a percentage commission and are limited to reasonable compensation for time and expenses before that payment or commitment.

Can an Indiana public adjuster file the claim for the homeowner?

No. IC 27-1-27-1.5, added in 2023, says a public adjuster shall not file an insurance claim with an insurer or its agent, employee, or representative on behalf of an insured, shall not act in any manner on personal injury or automobile liability claims, shall not bind the insured in the settlement of claims, and shall not act as a roofing contractor, appraiser, or in any other role on the subject of a claim while advising or assisting the insured on that claim. Indiana public adjusters advise and assist; the insured files.

Can a homeowner cancel an Indiana public adjuster contract?

Yes, under two separate rights, both measured in business days. IC 27-1-27-19 makes the contract voidable by the insured for not more than three business days after the insurer is provided a copy of the contract. IC 27-1-27-20 lets the insured rescind within three business days after the insured submits the claim to the insurer. In both cases the public adjuster must return anything of value within 15 business days after receiving notice.

Sources

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

IC 27-1-27 (Public Adjusters chapter, all sections)
IC 27-1-27-1.5 (prohibited public adjuster actions)
IC 27-1-27-4 ($50 annual fee, December 31 expiration, $10,000 bond)
IC 27-1-27-6 (written examination; exceptions)
IC 27-1-27-18 (policy limit paid within 5 business days)
IC 27-1-27-19 and IC 27-1-27-20 (voidable and rescission windows)
IDOI resident adjuster licensing requirements (no pre-licensing education, $10,000 bond proof, $50 fee, December 31 term)
IDOI examination procedure checklist (60 questions, 60 minutes, $50, 70 percent, Certificate of Test Eligibility)
IDOI CE requirements by license type (Public Adjuster: no CE requirement)
Pearson VUE Indiana candidate handbook #121500 (exam length, fee, 48-hour retake wait) and the Indiana content outlines #121501 (rev. November 26, 2025; area question counts)

Related guides

Last verified 2026-09-22 against the Indiana Code (IC 27-1-27), IDOI licensing and CE pages, and the Pearson VUE Indiana candidate handbook and content outlines. Our course is exam preparation for the Indiana Public Adjuster examination; Indiana does not require pre-licensing education for public adjusters, and our course is not state-approved education. Fees and vendor procedures change; verify current requirements at in.gov/idoi and pearsonvue.com/in/insurance before relying on any specific number. This guide is not legal advice.