How to Become a Public Adjuster in Montana (2026)
To become a public adjuster in Montana, you pass the Pearson VUE Public Adjuster exam (50 scored questions, 60 minutes, $65), get fingerprinted, file a $5,000 surety bond, keep an office in Montana, and apply for the license through NIPR for $50. Montana requires no pre-licensing course, but it does require 24 hours of continuing education every 2 years, and every public adjuster contract must be filed with the commissioner. This guide walks each step with the statute behind it.
Free download: the Public Adjuster Field Guide
Our free field guide is written around Texas law, but most of it travels to Montana claims: the first-contact checklist, the documentation standard, ACV and replacement cost valuation math, estimate and scope conventions, and fraud red flags, in one printable PDF you can keep in your truck.
Get the free Field Guide →A separate license for representing policyholders
Montana treats public adjusting as its own license. The public adjuster represents the insured, not the insurance company, and the Pearson VUE Montana handbook lists a dedicated Public Adjuster exam, separate from the Multi-line Adjuster and Crop Adjuster exams. The same handbook notes that public adjusters may adjust first-party physical damage claims only, so a Montana public adjuster works property losses for policyholders, not liability claims against them.
The licensing statute is short. MCA Title 33, chapter 17, part 3 has three sections: 33-17-301 (the license and its qualifications), 33-17-302 (public adjuster contracts), and 33-17-303 (standards of conduct). The regulator is the Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance (CSI), and applications and renewals run through NIPR.
Montana public adjuster license, requirements at a glance
| Regulator | Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance (CSI); MCA Title 33, chapter 17, part 3 (33-17-301 to 33-17-303) |
| License type | Public adjuster license; first-party physical damage claims only (Pearson VUE Montana handbook) |
| Exam | Pearson VUE Public Adjuster exam: 50 scored questions, 60 minutes, $65 fee, scaled passing score of 75; test center or OnVUE online |
| Pre-licensing course | Not required by the state; focused exam prep strongly recommended |
| Fingerprints | Required for all resident applicants (Pearson VUE handbook; MCA 33-17-220) |
| Bond | $5,000 surety bond, conditioned on accounting to the insured (A.R.M. 6.6.1611) |
| Office and records | Office in Montana accessible to the public; records kept there not less than 5 years (MCA 33-17-301) |
| Application | Online through NIPR; $50 application fee (MCA 33-2-708), plus NIPR transaction fee |
| Renewal | Every 2 years by the biennial renewal date; $100 renewal fee (MCA 33-17-301, 33-2-708) |
| Continuing education | 24 hours per 24 months, including 3 ethics and 1 on changes in Montana law (MCA 33-17-1203) |
| Contracts | Written contract required and filed with the commissioner; prohibited terms; 72-hour policy-limits rule (MCA 33-17-302) |
| Solicitation | No soliciting during the progress of a loss-producing occurrence (MCA 33-17-303) |
The six steps
- 1
Study for the Montana Public Adjuster exam
Montana requires no pre-licensing course for the public adjuster license. MCA 33-17-301 requires you to pass an adjuster licensing examination prescribed by the commissioner, and nothing more on the education side. The exam is short but broad. Pearson VUE's content outline (publication 122703, effective March 2, 2026) lists five areas: general property insurance product knowledge pertinent to public adjusters (standard fire policy, dwelling and homeowners forms, commercial property, inland marine, NFIP flood, crime, and surety bonding), property policy provisions and contract law, property insurance terms and related concepts, public adjusting practice (loss reports and loss valuation), and Montana statutes and rules. Pearson VUE does not publish per-area weights, so study every area. Our $49.99 Montana Public Adjuster exam prep course is built around that outline. Start with the free practice exam to see where you stand.
- 2
Pass the Pearson VUE exam: 50 scored questions, 60 minutes, $65
Pearson VUE administers the Montana insurance exams. The Public Adjuster exam allows 60 minutes (handbook 122700, June 2025), and the content outline states 50 scored questions. The exam fee is $65, paid when you make your reservation; walk-ins are not accepted and reservations must be made at least 24 hours ahead. You can test at a Pearson VUE center or online through OnVUE, but online testing is limited to two attempts per exam, after which you must test at a center. The passing score is a scaled score of 75 set by the state with Pearson VUE; it is not a percentage of questions answered correctly. Passing candidates receive a score report marked pass. If you fail, you must wait 24 hours before making a new reservation.
- 3
Get fingerprinted
The Pearson VUE Montana handbook states that all resident license applicants must be fingerprinted, and MCA 33-17-220 provides for the background examination. Fingerprinting instructions are posted by the Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance (CSI) at csimt.gov. Complete this early so the background check does not hold up your application.
- 4
File the $5,000 bond and set up a Montana office
Public adjusters must file a $5,000 surety bond under A.R.M. 6.6.1611. The bond is conditioned on the adjuster accounting to the insured for money or any other settlement received, stays in force with the license, and can be cancelled by the surety only on 30 days written notice to the commissioner. MCA 33-17-301 also requires a licensed adjuster to maintain in Montana an office accessible to the public and to keep the usual and customary records of licensed transactions there for not less than 5 years. Line up the office address before you apply.
- 5
Apply through NIPR ($50 application fee)
After you pass, apply for the license online through NIPR. The state adjuster application fee is $50 (MCA 33-2-708; Pearson VUE handbook fee table); NIPR adds its own transaction fee. Applicants must be at least 18 (MCA 33-17-301). Nonresidents who hold a license in good standing in a reciprocal home state may qualify without the Montana exam; if you believe you are exempt from testing, the handbook directs you to confirm with CSI producer licensing first.
- 6
Learn the contract and conduct rules before your first client
Montana regulates the public adjuster contract closely. Under MCA 33-17-302 you may not act as a public adjuster without a written contract with the insured, and written contracts must be filed with the commissioner. The contract may not let your percentage fee be collected on money due from the insurer but not yet paid, require the insurer to pay in your name alone, impose collection costs or late fees, or bar the insured from pursuing civil remedies. If the insurer pays or commits in writing to pay policy limits within 72 hours after the loss is reported, you may not take a percentage commission. MCA 33-17-303 requires you to serve with objectivity and loyalty to the interest of the insured alone and bars soliciting an insured during the progress of a loss-producing occurrence.
Before you book Pearson VUE, take our free practice exam to see whether you're ready. Each attempt costs $65, and online testing is capped at two attempts per exam.
What makes Montana different
Montana's public adjuster law is compact, but a few rules surprise candidates who are used to other states:
- Contracts are filed with the commissioner. MCA 33-17-302 requires a written contract with the insured before you act, and the written contracts must be filed with the commissioner. Many states only regulate what the contract says; Montana also wants to see it.
- The 72-hour policy-limits rule. If the insurer pays or commits in writing to pay policy limits within 72 hours after the loss is reported, you may not take a percentage commission (MCA 33-17-302). Montana sets no percentage fee cap beyond this rule.
- An office in Montana and 5 years of records. MCA 33-17-301 requires an office in the state accessible to the public, with the usual and customary records kept there for not less than 5 years.
- First-party physical damage only. Per the Pearson VUE Montana handbook, public adjusters are allowed to adjust first-party physical damage claims only. Liability and bodily injury claims are outside the license.
- Loyalty and solicitation rules. MCA 33-17-303 requires objectivity and loyalty to the interest of the insured alone, and bars soliciting an insured while the loss-producing occurrence is still in progress.
For the day-to-day claim work these rules sit on top of (documentation, valuation, scope), grab the free Public Adjuster Field Guide.
What it costs to become a Montana public adjuster
The fixed state and vendor fees are modest. Verify current amounts before paying:
- Exam-prep course: $49.99 with Elite Training Academy
- Pearson VUE exam fee: $65 per attempt, paid at reservation, nonrefundable except under the change and cancel policy
- License application: $50 (MCA 33-2-708), plus NIPR's transaction fee
- Fingerprinting: a separate background check fee; check the current amount with CSI
- $5,000 surety bond: you pay an annual premium set by the surety, not the face amount
- Renewal: $100 every 2 years, plus the cost of 24 CE hours
The biggest avoidable cost is a failed exam: another $65, another reservation, and more time before you can take clients.
Ready to start studying?
Our Montana Public Adjuster exam prep course is $49.99 with lifetime access, built around the Pearson VUE Montana Public Adjuster content outline. 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 Montana license public adjusters separately?
Yes. Montana issues a public adjuster license under MCA Title 33, chapter 17, part 3. Montana law defines a public adjuster as an adjuster retained by and representing the interests of the insured, and the Pearson VUE handbook lists a separate Public Adjuster exam alongside the Multi-line Adjuster and Crop Adjuster exams. A Montana public adjuster may adjust first-party physical damage claims only, per the Pearson VUE Montana handbook.
How many questions are on the Montana public adjuster exam?
The Pearson VUE content outline (publication 122703, effective March 2, 2026) states 50 scored questions, and the Pearson VUE handbook allows 60 minutes. The exam fee is $65, paid at reservation. The passing score is a scaled score of 75, which is not the same as 75 percent of questions correct. Pearson VUE publishes the five content areas but no per-area question counts.
How much is the Montana public adjuster bond?
$5,000, under A.R.M. 6.6.1611. The bond must be executed by an authorized surety, is conditioned on the adjuster accounting to the insured for money or any other settlement received, remains in force as long as the license, and can be cancelled by the surety on 30 days written notice to the commissioner. You pay a surety an annual premium, not the $5,000 face amount. The requirement applies to public adjusters only.
Does Montana require continuing education for public adjusters?
Yes. MCA 33-17-1203 requires license holders, including public adjusters, to complete at least 24 credit hours of approved continuing education in each 24-month period, including at least 3 hours of ethics and at least 1 hour on changes in Montana insurance statutes and administrative rules.
Is there a fee cap for public adjusters in Montana?
Montana has no percentage cap on public adjuster fees. The main fee rule is the 72-hour rule in MCA 33-17-302: if the insurer pays or commits in writing to pay policy limits within 72 hours after the loss is reported, the public adjuster may not receive a percentage commission. The contract must also avoid the prohibited terms listed in 33-17-302, such as collecting a percentage fee on money due but not yet paid by the insurer.
Do Montana public adjuster contracts have to be filed?
Yes. MCA 33-17-302 states that a person licensed as a public adjuster may not act as a public adjuster without a written contract with the insured, and that written contracts must be filed with the commissioner. This is one of Montana's more distinctive rules, so build it into your workflow from the first client.
Do I need an office in Montana?
MCA 33-17-301 requires a licensed adjuster to maintain in Montana an office accessible to the public and to keep the usual and customary records of licensed transactions there for not less than 5 years. The Pearson VUE handbook repeats the office requirement in its adjuster qualifications.
How often do I renew a Montana public adjuster license?
Every 2 years. MCA 33-17-301 requires the licensee to renew by the biennial renewal date, the renewal fee is $100 (MCA 33-2-708; Pearson VUE handbook), and renewal depends on completing the 24 hours of CE required by MCA 33-17-1203. The Pearson VUE handbook notes that adjuster licenses renew on a schedule designated by the commissioner, so watch for your date.
Sources
Every factual claim in this guide traces to a primary source. The load-bearing ones:
- MCA 33-17-301 (license, qualifications, Montana office, 5-year records, biennial renewal)
- MCA 33-17-302 (written contracts filed with the commissioner, prohibited terms, 72-hour rule)
- MCA 33-17-303 (standards of conduct, solicitation)
- MCA 33-17-1203 (24 CE hours per 24 months, 3 ethics, 1 Montana law)
- MCA 33-2-708 (adjuster license fees: $50 application, $100 biennial renewal) and A.R.M. 6.6.1611 ($5,000 public adjuster bond)
- Pearson VUE Montana Insurance Candidate Handbook (June 2025: 60 minutes, $65 fee, scaled passing score of 75, fingerprints, bond, fee table) and the Montana content outlines (effective March 2, 2026: 50 scored questions, five areas)
- Montana CSI licensing (fingerprinting and application instructions)
Related guides
- Free practice exam
- Public Adjuster Field Guide (free PDF)
- How to get a Montana insurance license
- How to become a public adjuster in Texas
Last verified 2026-09-22 against the Montana Code Annotated, the Pearson VUE Montana Insurance Candidate Handbook (June 2025), and the Pearson VUE Montana content outlines (effective March 2, 2026). Our course is exam preparation for the Montana Public Adjuster examination; Montana does not require a state-approved pre-licensing course for this license, and our course is not state-approved education. Fees and vendor procedures change; verify current requirements at csimt.gov and pearsonvue.com/us/en/mt/insurance.html before relying on any specific number. This guide is not legal advice.