How to Become a Public Adjuster in Missouri (2026)
A complete guide to the Missouri public adjuster license under RSMo Chapter 325: the Pearson VUE exam, the corporate surety bond, the DCI application, and the rules that surprise new licensees, like annual renewal with no late path and the three-business-day client cancellation right. Missouri also licenses public adjuster solicitors separately, and this guide covers both paths.
Free download: the Public Adjuster Field Guide
The Chapter 325 rules new Missouri PAs and solicitors get wrong (the anniversary renewal trap, the three-business-day cancellation window, the repair-contract ban, and the bond accounting condition) in one printable PDF you can keep in your truck.
Get the free Field Guide →What does a Missouri public adjuster do?
Under RSMo 325.010, a public adjuster is any person, partnership, association, or corporation that engages in the adjustment or settlement of claims for losses or damages arising out of policies of fire or allied lines insurance, excluding attorneys, insurer agents and employees, and uncompensated brokers acting as adjusters. In plain English: when a homeowner or business owner has a fire, hail, wind, or similar property loss, the insurance company sends its own adjuster; a public adjuster is the licensed professional the policyholder can hire to document the loss and negotiate the settlement on their side of the table. RSMo 325.015 makes the license mandatory before you may act as a public adjuster or be compensated for adjusting such claims, and it expressly does not permit the practice of law as defined in RSMo 484.010.
Missouri is unusual in licensing a second class: the public adjuster solicitor. Under RSMo 325.010, a solicitor is any person, other than a clerical employee, employed by a public adjuster who solicits or aids in securing adjustment contracts, or who acts for or with the public adjuster in making settlements or adjustments. Each class has its own license, its own exam code, its own application form, and its own bond amount, and this guide flags the solicitor variant at every step.
Missouri public adjuster license: requirements at a glance
| Regulator | Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance (DCI); governed by RSMo Chapter 325 (sections 325.010 to 325.055) |
| License required | Yes, for both public adjusters and public adjuster solicitors (RSMo 325.015); unlicensed activity is a misdemeanor (RSMo 325.040) |
| Exam | Required for both classes (RSMo 325.030), administered by Pearson VUE: code 20 (public adjuster) or code 21 (solicitor); $25, 1 hour, scaled passing score of 70; one shared 50-item content outline (Pearson VUE documents 122600 and 122601) |
| Pre-licensing course | Not required for either class (Pearson VUE candidate handbook); focused exam prep strongly recommended |
| Fingerprints | Not required for either class (NIPR Missouri resident licensing requirements) |
| Bond | Corporate surety bond: $10,000 for a public adjuster, $1,000 for a solicitor or a PA employed by a licensed PA business (RSMo 325.020; DCI bond form 375-0033) |
| Application fee | $100 per individual (RSMo 325.025); forms 375-0111 (individual PA), 375-1122 (solicitor), 375-1119 (corporation), or online via NIPR |
| Renewal | Annual, $50, due on the license anniversary date; the license terminates on nonpayment and there is no late-renewal path (RSMo 325.025) |
| Continuing education | None required for either class (RSMo 325.025; NIPR renewal requirements) |
| Fee cap | None: Chapter 325 contains no cap on public adjuster compensation and no catastrophe fee rules |
| Contract cancellation | The property owner may cancel until midnight of the third business day after signing, by written notice (RSMo 325.050) |
| Records | No statutory retention period; the closest obligation is the bond's condition of satisfactory accounting of settlement funds (RSMo 325.020) |
The five steps
- 1
Study for the Missouri Public Adjuster exam
Missouri requires no pre-licensing course for the public adjuster or public adjuster solicitor license; the Pearson VUE candidate handbook (document 122600) lists no education requirement for either class. The exam is short (1 hour) but covers general insurance knowledge, public adjusting practice, and Missouri statutes and rules, per the Pearson VUE content outline (document 122601). Our $49.99 Missouri Public Adjuster exam prep course covers both the public adjuster and solicitor exams, because both are built from the same 50-item content outline. Start with the free practice exam to see where you stand.
- 2
Pass the exam at Pearson VUE (exam code 20, or 21 for solicitors)
RSMo 325.030 requires the director to examine applicants by written examination. Pearson VUE administers Missouri insurance exams: the Public Adjuster exam is code 20 and the Public Adjuster Solicitor exam is code 21. Each costs $25 per attempt, allows 1 hour, and requires a scaled passing score of 70 on a 0 to 100 scale (the scaled score is not the number or percentage of questions answered correctly). Both exams are built from one shared content outline totaling 50 items across four sections (Pearson VUE documents 122600 and 122601). Bring two forms of current signature ID, the primary one government-issued with photo and signature. If you fail, you must wait one day before rescheduling.
- 3
Obtain the corporate surety bond (RSMo 325.020)
RSMo 325.020 requires a corporate surety bond of $10,000 for a public adjuster, and a separate $1,000 bond for each employee engaged as a public adjuster or solicitor. As DCI applies it on the application forms, an individual public adjuster files a $10,000 bond, or a $1,000 bond if employed by a licensed public adjuster business, and a solicitor files a $1,000 bond with power of attorney. Use DCI bond form 375-0033. The bond is conditioned on a satisfactory accounting of any funds received in settlement of losses or claims for policyholders, and the surety may cancel on 30 days notice to the director.
- 4
Apply to the Missouri DCI ($100 fee)
Apply by paper form or online through NIPR. The paper forms are DCI form 375-0111 for an individual public adjuster, 375-1122 for a public adjuster solicitor, and 375-1119 for a public adjuster corporation. The application fee is $100 per individual (RSMo 325.025). Under RSMo 325.020 the application must state your name, address, place of business, five years of occupation and employer history, and prior licensing history, signed and verified under oath. Solicitor applicants must also name their licensed public adjuster employer and its license number. Missouri does not require fingerprints for either license class, per NIPR and the Pearson VUE handbook. RSMo 325.030 bars licensing anyone convicted of a felony or a crime involving fraudulent or dishonest practices.
- 5
Learn the Chapter 325 rules before your first claim
Under RSMo 325.050, the owner of damaged property may cancel any agreement with a licensed public adjuster or solicitor until midnight of the third business day after the day the agreement was signed, by written notice. Under RSMo 325.055, you may not solicit or enter a repair or replacement contract on property whose claim you are engaged to adjust. Your license renews annually on its anniversary date for $50, and it terminates automatically if the fee is not paid by that date (RSMo 325.025); there is no late-renewal path, so calendar the date the day your license issues. Missouri requires no continuing education for either class.
Before you book Pearson VUE, take our free practice exam to see whether you're ready; a retake means another $25 and a one-day wait.
Rules that surprise new Missouri public adjusters
RSMo Chapter 325 is a short, 1973-era chapter (just sections 325.010 through 325.055), and its gaps are as distinctive as its rules. Five things set Missouri apart:
- Annual renewal with automatic termination and no late path (RSMo 325.025). The license renews every year on its issuance anniversary for $50, and the statute says it terminates if the fee is not paid by that date. Missouri offers no late-renewal or reinstatement procedure: a lapsed licensee must reapply as a brand-new applicant, with a new $100 application. NIPR accepts the renewal up to 90 days early. This is a genuinely unusual trap; calendar the anniversary the day your license issues.
- The statute covers fire and allied lines claims (RSMo 325.010). Missouri's definition of a public adjuster is tied to claims under policies of fire or allied lines of insurance, not to all property and casualty coverage. Chapter 325 dates to 1973, and Missouri never adopted the NAIC Public Adjuster Licensing Model Act, which is why the chapter has no fee cap, no mandatory contract contents, no catastrophe rules, and no CE.
- The repair/replace ban (RSMo 325.055). A licensed public adjuster or solicitor may not solicit or enter into an agreement for the repair or replacement of damaged property on which they have been engaged to adjust or settle the claim. Adjust the claim or take the repair contract; never both on the same property.
- The old public adjuster regulations are rescinded. The entire regulation chapter 20 CSR 700-2, including the former public adjuster contract rule 20 CSR 700-2.300, was rescinded effective September 30, 2019 (Missouri Secretary of State CSR). Older guides that cite 20 CSR 700-2 are out of date; the current law is Chapter 325 itself.
- No continuing education for either class. Chapter 325 contains no CE provision, and NIPR confirms CE is not required for the public adjuster or the public adjuster solicitor license. Renewal is payment of the $50 fee, nothing more (RSMo 325.025).
All of these, with citations, are in the free Public Adjuster Field Guide, formatted so you can find the rule mid-conversation with a client.
What it costs to become a Missouri public adjuster
Missouri is one of the cheaper states to enter. The statutory and vendor fees, verified 2026-08-09:
- Exam-prep course: $49.99 with Elite Training Academy (550+ practice questions; covers both the PA and solicitor exams, which share one content outline)
- Pearson VUE exam fee: $25 per attempt for exam code 20 or 21 (candidate handbook, document 122600)
- DCI license application fee: $100 per individual (RSMo 325.025), by paper form or through NIPR
- Corporate surety bond premium: annual premium on a $10,000 bond for a public adjuster, or a $1,000 bond for a solicitor or employed PA (RSMo 325.020, bond form 375-0033); quotes vary by surety
- Annual renewal: $50 on the license anniversary (RSMo 325.025)
- Fingerprinting and pre-licensing education: $0, because Missouri requires neither
RSMo 325.045 lets the director raise fees over time to keep the program self-sustaining, so verify current amounts with DCI before paying. The biggest avoidable cost is failing the exam or missing the anniversary renewal, and both are cheap to prevent.
Ready to start studying?
Our Missouri Public Adjuster exam prep course is $49.99 with 550+ practice questions, built around the Pearson VUE content outline shared by the public adjuster exam (code 20) and the solicitor exam (code 21), so one course covers either license path. Not sure yet? Take the free practice exam first, or grab the free Field Guide PDF.
Start the exam prep course →Frequently asked questions
How much does a Missouri public adjuster license cost?
Plan on roughly $200 to $350 in your first year, plus your bond premium. The fixed costs are: $25 for the Pearson VUE exam (code 20, or code 21 for solicitors), $100 for the license application (RSMo 325.025), and the annual premium on the corporate surety bond ($10,000 bond for a public adjuster, $1,000 for a solicitor or an employed public adjuster, RSMo 325.020; premiums are a small fraction of the bond amount and vary by surety). Renewal is $50 every year on your license anniversary. Missouri requires no pre-licensing course and no fingerprints, so there are no education or background-check fees. Our exam prep is $49.99.
Does Missouri require a course to become a public adjuster?
No. Missouri requires no pre-licensing education for the public adjuster or public adjuster solicitor license; the Pearson VUE Missouri candidate handbook (document 122600) lists no education requirement for either class. What RSMo 325.030 requires is passing a written examination. That makes Missouri an exam-only state: focused exam prep is how most candidates get ready, and our $49.99 course is built around the Pearson VUE content outline that both exams share.
What is a Missouri public adjuster solicitor?
A public adjuster solicitor is a separately licensed person, other than a clerical employee, who is employed by a public adjuster and who solicits or aids in securing adjustment contracts for that public adjuster, or who acts for or with the public adjuster in making settlements or adjustments of claims (RSMo 325.010). Solicitors are not exam-exempt: they take their own Pearson VUE exam, code 21, which costs $25, runs 1 hour, and is built from the same content outline as the public adjuster exam (code 20). A solicitor files a $1,000 corporate surety bond and applies on DCI form 375-1122, which requires the name, address, and license number of the licensed public adjuster employer.
How much is the Missouri public adjuster bond?
RSMo 325.020 requires a corporate surety bond of $10,000 for a public adjuster, plus a separate $1,000 bond for each employee engaged as a public adjuster or solicitor. As DCI applies it, an individual public adjuster files a $10,000 bond, or a $1,000 bond if employed by a licensed public adjuster business, and a solicitor files a $1,000 bond (DCI forms 375-0111 and 375-1122; bond form 375-0033). You pay a surety an annual premium, not the face amount. The bond is conditioned on satisfactory accounting of funds received in settlement of policyholder claims.
Does Missouri require CE for public adjusters?
No. RSMo Chapter 325 contains no continuing education provision, renewal under RSMo 325.025 requires only timely payment of the $50 annual fee, and NIPR confirms CE is not required for either the public adjuster or the public adjuster solicitor license. Missouri never adopted the NAIC Public Adjuster Licensing Model Act, which is why it lacks the CE requirement many other states impose.
How often do I renew a Missouri public adjuster license?
Annually, on the anniversary of the date your license was issued, for $50 (RSMo 325.025). This is the single most dangerous deadline in Missouri public adjusting: the statute says the license terminates if the renewal fee is not paid by the anniversary date, and there is no late-renewal or reinstatement path. A lapsed licensee must reapply as a brand-new applicant. NIPR accepts the renewal up to 90 days before the anniversary; file early.
How long does a homeowner have to cancel a public adjuster contract in Missouri?
Until midnight of the third business day after the day the agreement was signed (RSMo 325.050). The owner cancels by written notice to the licensee at the address stated in the agreement; a mailed notice is effective when deposited in a U.S. mailbox, properly addressed with postage prepaid. On a timely cancellation the owner owes nothing except reasonable expenses incurred in preserving the damaged premises during the three-day period. Note that the statute prescribes how the owner cancels; it does not require the contract itself to print a cancellation notice.
Can a Missouri public adjuster also do the repairs?
No. RSMo 325.055 prohibits a licensed public adjuster or public adjuster solicitor from soliciting or entering into an agreement for the repair or replacement of damaged property on which that adjuster or solicitor has been engaged to adjust or settle the claim. In practice: if you run a roofing or restoration business, you cannot adjust your own customers' claims, and if you adjust a claim you cannot take the repair contract. Violating Chapter 325 is a misdemeanor (RSMo 325.040).
Related guides
Sources
- RSMo Chapter 325 (Missouri Revisor of Statutes), including 325.010, 325.015, 325.020, 325.025, 325.030, 325.050, and 325.055
- Missouri DCI: forms index, form 375-0111 (PA application), form 375-1122 (solicitor application), form 375-0033 (surety bond), and the DCI licensing hub
- Pearson VUE: Missouri candidate handbook (document 122600, 03/2026), content outlines (document 122601, 2026-02-01), and the Missouri insurance exams page
- NIPR: Missouri resident licensing requirements and Missouri resident renewal requirements
- Missouri Secretary of State: 20 CSR 700-2 (all public adjuster rules rescinded effective September 30, 2019) and 20 CSR 100-1 (claims practice time frames)
Last verified 2026-08-09 against RSMo Chapter 325 (revisor.mo.gov), the Missouri DCI application and bond forms, and the Pearson VUE Missouri candidate handbook. Our course is exam preparation for the Missouri Public Adjuster and Public Adjuster Solicitor examinations; Missouri requires no state-approved pre-licensing education for either license, and our course is not state-approved education. Fees can change under RSMo 325.045, so verify current amounts with DCI at insurance.mo.gov before relying on any specific number. This guide is not legal advice.