How to Become a Public Adjuster in Louisiana (2026)
To become a public adjuster in Louisiana, you post a $50,000 bond or letter of credit, get pre-approval from the Louisiana Department of Insurance, pass the in-person PSI Series 301 exam, get fingerprinted, and apply through NIPR for a $75 license. No pre-licensing course is required. Before you sign your first client, know the rule that sets Louisiana apart: public adjusters may not charge a percentage of the claim (La. R.S. 22:1703). This guide walks every step, with citations.
Free download: the Louisiana Public Adjuster Field Guide
The reasonable-fee rule, the 72-hour policy-limit rule, the 3-business-day rescission window, the solicitation ban, and the 2024 catastrophe claim deadlines, with citations, in one printable PDF you can keep in your truck.
Get the free Field Guide →What a Louisiana public adjuster license covers
Louisiana licenses public adjusters under La. R.S. 22:1691 through 22:1706. Under R.S. 22:1692, public adjusting means investigating, appraising, or evaluating and reporting to an insured on a first-party claim for property the insured owns, or advertising, soliciting, or holding yourself out as a public adjuster of first-party property claims. It expressly does not include claims for damage to or arising out of the operation of a motor vehicle, and it does not include the practice of law.
R.S. 22:1693 makes the license mandatory: you may not act as, or hold yourself out as, a public adjuster without one, and doing so is a crime. Attorneys admitted and in good standing in Louisiana are exempt, as are people hired only to gather facts or give technical help, such as photographers, estimators, and engineers.
Louisiana public adjuster requirements at a glance
| Regulator | Louisiana Department of Insurance (LDI); governed by La. R.S. 22:1691 to 22:1706 |
| Pre-licensing course | Not required; focused exam prep strongly recommended |
| To sit the exam | LDI pre-approval plus the $50,000 bond or letter of credit (PSI bulletin) |
| Exam | PSI Series 301, "Louisiana Examination for Public Adjuster": 100 questions, 120 minutes, 70 percent to pass, $19; in-person PSI centers only since July 8, 2024 |
| Fingerprints | Required, with a state and FBI criminal history check (R.S. 22:1694); live-scan through IdentoGO |
| Application | Online through NIPR; $75 license fee (R.S. 22:821(B)(24)) |
| Bond | $50,000 surety bond or irrevocable letter of credit (R.S. 22:1701) |
| Renewal | Every 2 years; $75 renewal fee (R.S. 22:821(B)(24)) |
| Continuing education | 24 hours per 2-year period, including 3 ethics; 2 hours of legislative updates required from July 2027 renewals (LDI) |
| Fees you can charge | A reasonable fee only; percentage or contingency fee contracts are null and void (R.S. 22:1703) |
| Rescission | 3 business days after signing; refund within 15 business days (R.S. 22:1704(H) and (I)) |
| Records | At least 5 years after the transaction ends (R.S. 22:1705) |
The five steps
- 1
Study for the PSI Series 301 exam
Louisiana requires no pre-licensing course for public adjusters: La. R.S. 22:1695 requires that you pass the public adjuster examination, and nothing in the licensing part mandates coursework. The exam is the Louisiana Examination for Public Adjuster, PSI Series 301. Its largest area is the Adjustment Process at 23 percent, followed by 12 percent each for Contracts, Property and Casualty Insurance Basics, Dwelling Policy, Homeowners Policy, and Commercial Property Policies, and 10 percent Louisiana Insurance Regulation. Our $49.99 Louisiana Public Adjuster exam prep course follows the Series 301 outline with 550+ practice questions. Start with the free practice exam to benchmark yourself.
- 2
Secure the $50,000 bond or letter of credit
La. R.S. 22:1701 requires proof of financial responsibility before the license is issued and for as long as you hold it: a surety bond from an insurer authorized to write surety in Louisiana, or an irrevocable letter of credit from a qualified financial institution, in a minimum amount of $50,000. The PSI bulletin also lists the $50,000 bond or letter of credit as a condition for sitting the Public Adjuster exam, so arrange it before you test. Your authority to act terminates automatically if the bond or letter of credit terminates or becomes impaired (R.S. 22:1701(D)).
- 3
Get Louisiana Department of Insurance pre-approval
Series 301 is not a walk-up exam. The PSI Louisiana candidate bulletin states that no person shall be permitted to sit for the Public Adjuster examination without pre-approval from the Department, and directs candidates to the Louisiana Department of Insurance (LDI) website at ldi.la.gov for details. Get that approval before you try to schedule.
- 4
Pass the exam in person: 100 questions, 120 minutes, $19
Per the PSI Series 301 content outline, the exam has 100 scored questions, a 120-minute time limit, and a minimum passing score of 70 percent correct. The exam fee is $19 per the PSI bulletin, and fees are not refundable or transferable. PSI may add 5 to 10 unscored experimental questions that count against your time. Remote testing ended July 8, 2024, so you must test at a PSI center; register at test-takers.psiexams.com/ladi. To avoid forfeiting your fee, cancel or reschedule at least 2 days before your appointment.
- 5
Get fingerprinted and apply through NIPR ($75)
La. R.S. 22:1694 requires fingerprints and a state and FBI criminal history record check. Louisiana uses IdentoGO for live-scan fingerprinting, and LDI's fingerprinting page explains how to book an appointment. Then file the uniform application through NIPR at nipr.com. The public adjuster license fee is $75 for first-time resident and nonresident applicants under La. R.S. 22:821(B)(24). Under R.S. 22:1695 you must be at least 18, have passed the exam, and have no conviction for a crime involving fraud, coercion, dishonesty, or untrustworthiness.
Before you book your PSI seat, take our free practice exam to see whether you're ready. With a bond in place and Department pre-approval already obtained, a failed attempt costs you time as well as the fee.
What makes Louisiana different
Louisiana departs from the typical public adjuster model in several ways, and its claims law changed in 2024. Five distinctives every candidate should know:
- No percentage fees. La. R.S. 22:1703(A) allows a reasonable fee and makes any contract with a fee contingent on, or calculated as a percentage of, the claim null and void. If you are used to contingency contracts from another state, do not carry them into Louisiana.
- The 72-hour policy-limit rule. Under R.S. 22:1704(C), if the insurer pays or commits in writing to pay the policy limit within 72 hours after the loss is reported, you are limited to reasonable compensation for your time and expenses up to that point.
- Strict contract and conduct rules. R.S. 22:1704 requires a written contract titled "Public Adjuster Contract" with your LDI license number, an attestation that you meet the R.S. 22:1701 financial responsibility requirement, and your full compensation, plus a separate pre-signing disclosure explaining company, independent, and public adjusters. R.S. 22:1706 requires loyalty to the insured, bars soliciting during the progress of a loss-producing occurrence, and bars acting as a contractor, roofer, or repair provider on a claim you processed.
- A bond before you even test. The PSI bulletin lists the $50,000 bond or letter of credit, and Department pre-approval, as conditions for sitting Series 301. Most states only require the bond at application.
- The 2024 claims law overhaul. Act 3 of 2024, effective July 1, 2024, repealed the old bad-faith statute, R.S. 22:1973. For catastrophic losses, R.S. 22:1892.2 now gives insurers 60 days to pay residential claims and 90 days for other immovable property after satisfactory written proof of loss, and requires the insured to give 60 days' written notice before suing under that section. Study material written before July 2024 is out of date on these points.
All of these, with citations, are in the free Louisiana Public Adjuster Field Guide, formatted so you can find the rule mid-conversation with a client.
What it costs to become a Louisiana public adjuster
The state and exam fees in Louisiana are low; the bond is the big commitment. Verify current amounts before paying:
- Exam-prep course: $49.99 with Elite Training Academy (550+ practice questions built around the PSI Series 301 outline)
- PSI exam fee: $19 per attempt, not refundable or transferable
- License application: $75 (R.S. 22:821(B)(24)), and $75 again at each 2-year renewal
- Fingerprinting: paid to the IdentoGO vendor at its current rate
- Bond or letter of credit: $50,000 of coverage; the premium or bank fee is set by your surety or financial institution
- Continuing education: 24 hours every 2 years, priced by the CE provider you choose
The exam fee is small, but each failed attempt delays a license you are already paying to bond. Walk into the testing center ready the first time.
Ready to start studying?
Our Louisiana Public Adjuster exam prep course is $49.99 with lifetime access, built around the PSI Series 301 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
Can a Louisiana public adjuster charge a percentage of the claim?
No. La. R.S. 22:1703(A) says a public adjuster may charge the insured a reasonable fee, but may not solicit for or enter into any contract that provides for a fee contingent upon, or calculated as a percentage of, the amount of any claim paid by the insurer. Any such contract is against public policy and null and void. That makes Louisiana an outlier: there is no percentage cap because percentage fees are not allowed at all. Your compensation must be a reasonable fee stated in the written contract, such as a flat or hourly fee.
How much is the Louisiana public adjuster bond?
$50,000. La. R.S. 22:1701 requires a surety bond from an insurer authorized to write surety in Louisiana, or an irrevocable letter of credit from a qualified financial institution, in a minimum amount of $50,000, before the license is issued and for the life of the license. The bond runs in favor of the state and allows the Commissioner of Insurance to recover on behalf of any person in Louisiana damaged by the adjuster's erroneous acts, failure to act, or conviction of fraud or unfair practices. It cannot be terminated without at least 30 days' prior written notice to the Commissioner and the licensee.
How many questions is the Louisiana public adjuster exam?
The PSI Series 301 Louisiana Examination for Public Adjuster has 100 scored questions with a 120-minute time limit, and you need 70 percent correct to pass, per the PSI content outline. The fee is $19. PSI may add 5 to 10 unscored experimental questions that count against exam time, and the exam is offered only in person at PSI testing centers since remote testing ended on July 8, 2024.
Does Louisiana require a pre-licensing course for public adjusters?
No coursework is required. The PSI bulletin says there are no prelicensing requirements for any Louisiana exam except Public Adjuster and Bail Bond, but for Public Adjuster the requirement it describes is pre-approval from the Department to sit for the exam, plus the $50,000 bond or letter of credit. It is not a course. Our course is exam preparation for Series 301, not state-approved pre-licensing education.
Do Louisiana public adjusters need continuing education?
Yes. The LDI continuing education requirements page lists 24 hours, including 3 hours of ethics, per 2-year license period for adjusters, claims and public. Starting with July 2027 renewals, 2 of those 24 hours must cover legislative updates in insurance law. LDI applies CE to residents and adjusters who designate Louisiana as their home state. The license itself renews every two years for $75 under La. R.S. 22:821(B)(24).
Can a homeowner cancel a Louisiana public adjuster contract?
Yes. Under La. R.S. 22:1704(H), the insured may rescind the contract within three business days after the date it was signed, in writing, mailed or delivered to the public adjuster at the address in the contract. Under R.S. 22:1704(I), anything of value the insured gave under the contract must be returned within 15 business days after the public adjuster receives the cancellation notice.
When can a Louisiana public adjuster solicit a client?
La. R.S. 22:1706(B) bars soliciting, or attempting to solicit, an insured during the progress of a loss-producing occurrence, as defined in the insured's insurance contract. In practice, you may not solicit while the storm, fire, or other loss event is still in progress. R.S. 22:1706(H)(11) also bars a public adjuster from acting as a contractor or subcontractor, or providing construction, roofing, or repair services, on a claim the adjuster has processed.
What happens if I adjust claims in Louisiana without a license?
It is a crime. Under La. R.S. 22:1693, a person who acts as a public adjuster without a license commits the crime of unauthorized practice of public adjusting, punishable by imprisonment at hard labor for up to two years, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. A business entity that violates the entity licensing requirement can be fined up to $5,000 per violation. Attorneys admitted and in good standing in Louisiana are exempt from the license requirement.
Sources
Every factual claim in this guide traces to a primary source. The load-bearing ones:
- La. R.S. 22:1693 (license required; unauthorized public adjusting is a crime)
- La. R.S. 22:1694 (application; fingerprints and criminal history check)
- La. R.S. 22:1695 (resident license qualifications)
- La. R.S. 22:1701 ($50,000 bond or letter of credit)
- La. R.S. 22:1703 (reasonable fee; percentage fees null and void)
- La. R.S. 22:1704 (contract terms, 72-hour rule, 3-business-day rescission)
- La. R.S. 22:1705 (5-year records) and La. R.S. 22:1706 (standards of conduct; solicitation)
- La. R.S. 22:821 (subparagraph (B)(24): $75 license and renewal fees)
- La. R.S. 22:1892.2 (catastrophe claim deadlines and cure notice) and La. R.S. 22:1973 (repealed by Acts 2024, No. 3)
- LDI continuing education requirements (24 hours incl. 3 ethics; legislative updates from July 2027)
- PSI Louisiana Department of Insurance candidate information bulletin (updated 1/1/2025: Series 301, $19 fee, pre-approval and bond to sit, in-person testing only) and the PSI Series 301 content outline (100 questions, 120 minutes, 70 percent)
Related guides
- Free practice exam
- Louisiana Public Adjuster Field Guide (free PDF)
- How to get a Louisiana insurance license
- How to become a public adjuster in Texas
Last verified 2026-09-22 against the Louisiana Revised Statutes (Title 22), the LDI continuing education page, and the PSI Louisiana candidate information bulletin and Series 301 content outline. Our course is exam preparation for the Louisiana Public Adjuster examination (PSI Series 301); Louisiana does not require a pre-licensing course for this license, and our course is not state-approved education. Fees and vendor procedures change; verify current requirements at ldi.la.gov and test-takers.psiexams.com/ladi before relying on any specific number. This guide is not legal advice.