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How to Become a Public Adjuster in Pennsylvania (2026)

To become a public adjuster in Pennsylvania, you pass the PSI Public Adjuster exam (Series 16-19), get fingerprinted, apply online with the $200 fee, and file a $20,000 surety bond before you take your first client. No pre-licensing course is required. Public adjusters are licensed under their own statute, the Public Adjuster Law (63 P.S. 1601 to 1608, as amended by Act 21 of 2012), which also sets the contract, rescission, and scope rules you will work under. This guide walks every step, with citations.

Quick summaryPass PSI Series 16-19 (60 questions, 80 minutes, 70 percent to pass) · IdentoGO fingerprints · apply on Sircon or NIPR for $200 · file a $20,000 bond · no pre-licensing course · renew every 2 years with 24 CE hours · clients can rescind within 3 calendar days.

Free download: the Public Adjuster Field Guide

The fieldwork side of public adjusting: a first-contact checklist, documentation standards, ACV and RCV valuation with a worked roof claim, estimating and scope, and fraud red flags, in one printable PDF you can keep in your truck. (Its statute pages cover Texas; the claim-handling method applies in Pennsylvania too.)

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A standalone license with its own statute

Pennsylvania does not license public adjusters under the insurance producer act. They have their own law, the Public Adjuster Law (63 P.S. 1601 to 1608), with licensing procedure and contract rules filled in by 31 Pa. Code Chapter 115. Under 63 P.S. 1601, a public adjuster is anyone who, for compensation, advertises, solicits business, or holds out to the public as an adjuster of insurance claims and advises or assists the insured in adjusting them.

The scope is narrow on purpose. Public adjusters handle only claims by an insured against the insured's own carrier (63 P.S. 1605(b)), never personal injury or automobile property damage claims (1605(c)), and cannot sign the insured up for repair or restoration work before the claim is paid or decided (1605(d)). Chapter 115 also recognizes a separate public adjuster solicitor credential for employees of a licensed public adjuster; a solicitor applicant needs a letter of intent to employ from the licensed public adjuster (31 Pa. Code 115.18(b)).

Pennsylvania public adjuster license, requirements at a glance

Regulator	Pennsylvania Insurance Department; Public Adjuster Law, 63 P.S. 1601 to 1608, and 31 Pa. Code Chapter 115
Eligibility	At least 18; residents keep a bona fide business office or legal residence in Pennsylvania (31 Pa. Code 115.13)
Exam	PSI Series 16-19, "Pennsylvania Public Insurance Adjuster Examination": 60 items, 80 minutes, 70 percent to pass; no retake limit; score valid one year (31 Pa. Code 115.16(3))
Pre-licensing course	Not required (63 P.S. 1602.1; 31 Pa. Code 115.11); exam prep strongly recommended
Fingerprints	Residents, at IdentoGO with service code 1KGBGJ (63 P.S. 1602.1(a)(2)); nonresidents are not fingerprinted
Application	Online through Sircon or NIPR; $200 nonrefundable fee (63 P.S. 1602.1(c))
Bond	$20,000 minimum surety bond before transacting business (63 P.S. 1604(a)); same for residents and nonresidents
Renewal	License term up to two years (63 P.S. 1602.3(4)); $200 renewal, $400 lapsed renewal (63 P.S. 1602.4)
Continuing education	24 hours per two-year period; up to 24 excess hours carry forward (63 P.S. 1602.4)
Contract	Written, on a Department-approved form (63 P.S. 1605(a)); the Act 21 sample contract is the starting point
Rescission	3 calendar days after signature (63 P.S. 1605(a.2)(1)); refund within 15 business days (31 Pa. Code 115.3(d))
Fee cap	None; fee stated as a percentage or maximum dollar amount (31 Pa. Code 115.2(a)(4))

The five steps

1
Study for the Pennsylvania Public Adjuster exam (PSI Series 16-19)
Pennsylvania requires no pre-licensing course for public adjusters. 63 P.S. 1602.1(a)(3) asks only for documentation that you passed or are exempt from the public adjuster licensing examination, and 31 Pa. Code 115.11 requires applicants to pass an examination. The Series 16-19 outline weights Property and Casualty Insurance Basics at 19 percent, Insurance Regulation and the Adjustment Process at 15 percent each, General Insurance Concepts at 14 percent, and Homeowners at 10 percent, with commercial property, businessowners, and inland marine also tested. Our $49.99 Pennsylvania Public Adjuster exam prep course follows that outline. Start with the free practice exam to see where you stand.
2
Pass the PSI exam: 60 questions, 80 minutes, 70 percent
PSI administers the Pennsylvania Public Insurance Adjuster Examination, Series 16-19: 60 items in 80 minutes per the PSI content outline, and the PSI candidate booklet requires a minimum score of 70 percent. PSI may also include 5 to 10 unscored experimental questions. The booklet places no limit on the number of times you may retake a failed exam. Under 31 Pa. Code 115.16(3), a passing score is valid for one year, so apply promptly after you pass. PSI's general booklet does not list the Series 16-19 fee; PSI shows it when you register.
3
Get fingerprinted at IdentoGO
63 P.S. 1602.1(a)(2) requires your fingerprints so the Department can obtain your national criminal history record from the FBI. Resident applicants register with IdentoGO (uenroll.identogo.com) using the Insurance Department service code 1KGBGJ and pay the fingerprint fee at the enrollment center. Per the PSI booklet, nonresident public adjuster applicants are not fingerprinted.
4
Apply through Sircon or NIPR ($200) and file the $20,000 bond
File the application online through Sircon (sircon.com/pennsylvania) or NIPR. 63 P.S. 1602.1(c) sets a nonrefundable $200 fee for a resident or nonresident public adjuster license. You must be at least 18, and a resident must maintain a bona fide business office or legal residence in Pennsylvania (31 Pa. Code 115.13). Before transacting any business, you must deliver to the Insurance Commissioner a surety bond in the minimum penal sum of $20,000 (63 P.S. 1604(a)); the Department's licensing form asks for the bond and proof the premium is paid.
5
Set up a Department-approved contract before your first client
63 P.S. 1605(a) requires a written contract on a form approved by the Department, and the Department publishes an Act 21 sample contract. The contract must disclose that the insured may rescind within three calendar days after signature (63 P.S. 1605(a.2)(1)), explain that your fee comes out of the claim payment rather than being added to it, and state that you are not the insurer's representative. On a rescission, you refund payments within 15 business days (31 Pa. Code 115.3(d)). Your fee must be stated as a percentage of payments or a maximum dollar amount, and you may not take the entire fee from the first insurer check (31 Pa. Code 115.2).

Before you book with PSI, take our free practice exam to see whether you're ready. With only 60 scored questions, each one is worth close to two percentage points.

What makes Pennsylvania different

Pennsylvania regulates the contract closely but leaves pricing and solicitation timing mostly alone. Five distinctives every candidate should know:

Three calendar days, not four. The statute (63 P.S. 1605(a.2)(1), Act 21 of 2012) gives the insured three calendar days after signature to rescind. The older Chapter 115 notice form refers to the fourth calendar day; where the 2012 statute and the 2004 regulation conflict, the statute governs.
Department-approved contract forms. Every engagement needs a written contract on a Department-approved form (63 P.S. 1605(a)). The Department publishes an Act 21 sample contract; changes to it go to the Department for approval before use. Within 5 business days of signing, you must notify the insurer of the representation (31 Pa. Code 115.9).
No fee cap, but strict fee mechanics. There is no maximum percentage. Your fee is taken as a percentage of each insurer check, not all at once from the first one, and the contract must explain that the fee comes out of the claim payment rather than on top of it (63 P.S. 1605(a.2)(2); 31 Pa. Code 115.2(b)).
No solicitation time window. Unlike some states, Pennsylvania does not restrict the hours or days after a loss when you may solicit. The rule to know is 31 Pa. Code 115.4: no public adjuster (and no insurer) may induce an insured to cancel an existing contract with another public adjuster.
Unfair practices hook. Under 31 Pa. Code 115.7(4), a pattern of Chapter 115 violations, or a single flagrant one, is actionable under the Unfair Insurance Practices Act (40 P.S. 1171.1 to 1171.15). On the insurer side, 31 Pa. Code Chapter 146 sets claim-handling standards, and 42 Pa.C.S. 8371 is the statutory bad faith remedy.

For the claim-handling side of the job (documentation, valuation, and estimating), grab the free Public Adjuster Field Guide.

What it costs to become a Pennsylvania public adjuster

The bond premium and the application fee are the largest fixed costs. Verify current amounts before paying:

Exam-prep course: $49.99 with Elite Training Academy, built on the PSI Series 16-19 outline
PSI exam fee: not listed in PSI's general Pennsylvania booklet; PSI shows it when you register
License application: $200, nonrefundable (63 P.S. 1602.1(c)), plus any online service fee
Fingerprinting: paid to IdentoGO at the enrollment center
Surety bond: an annual premium on a $20,000 bond (63 P.S. 1604); premiums vary by surety and credit
Renewal: $200 every two years (63 P.S. 1602.4), plus 24 CE hours

Pennsylvania places no limit on exam retakes, but each attempt costs another PSI fee and more time before you can work claims.

Ready to start studying?

Our Pennsylvania Public Adjuster exam prep course is $49.99 with lifetime access, built around the PSI Series 16-19 outline. Not sure yet? Take the free practice exam first, or grab the free Field Guide PDF.

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Frequently asked questions

How much is the Pennsylvania public adjuster bond?

$20,000. Under 63 P.S. 1604(a), each licensee must, before transacting any business, execute and deliver to the Insurance Commissioner a bond in the minimum penal sum of $20,000 with sureties the Commissioner approves. The bond is conditioned on faithful compliance with the Public Adjuster Law and protects insureds against embezzlement or misappropriation of their money or property. You pay a surety an annual premium, not the face amount. Some older sources cite a $40,000 figure; the statutory minimum is $20,000.

How many questions is the Pennsylvania public adjuster exam?

The PSI Pennsylvania Public Insurance Adjuster Examination (Series 16-19) has 60 items with an 80-minute time limit, per the PSI content outline, and you need a minimum score of 70 percent to pass. PSI may add 5 to 10 unscored experimental questions. The content areas are Insurance Regulation (15 percent), General Insurance Concepts (14 percent), Property and Casualty Insurance Basics (19 percent), Dwelling (6 percent), Homeowners (10 percent), Commercial Property (8 percent), Commercial Inland Marine (3 percent), Businessowners (6 percent), Other Types of Insurance Policies (4 percent), and the Adjustment Process (15 percent).

Does Pennsylvania require a course to become a public adjuster?

No. Public adjusters are licensed under their own statute, the Public Adjuster Law (63 P.S. 1601 to 1608), and 63 P.S. 1602.1 and 31 Pa. Code 115.11 require passing an examination but no pre-licensing course. That makes Pennsylvania an exam-only state for this license. Our $49.99 course is exam preparation built on the PSI Series 16-19 outline; it is not state-approved education and does not need to be.

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

Three calendar days after signature. 63 P.S. 1605(a.1) lets any person who signs a public adjuster contract rescind it, and 1605(a.2)(1) requires the contract to disclose the right to rescind within three calendar days after signature. The older regulation, 31 Pa. Code 115.2, still contains a notice form referring to the fourth calendar day, but the 2012 statute controls. After a cancellation, the public adjuster must refund payments and return any negotiable instruments within 15 business days (31 Pa. Code 115.3(d)).

Is there a cap on public adjuster fees in Pennsylvania?

No. Neither the Public Adjuster Law nor 31 Pa. Code Chapter 115 sets a maximum percentage, and there is no separate catastrophe fee rule. The rules govern the form of the fee: the contract must state it as a percentage of payments on the claim or as a maximum dollar amount (31 Pa. Code 115.2(a)(4)); you may not collect your fee before the insurer pays, take the entire fee from the first check, require checks payable only to you, or charge the insured late fees or collection costs (31 Pa. Code 115.2(b)).

What claims can a Pennsylvania public adjuster handle?

Only first-party claims: 63 P.S. 1605(b) limits public adjusters to claims by an insured against the insured's own insurance carrier. Under 1605(c), a public adjuster may not act in any manner on personal injury or automobile property damage claims. And under 1605(d), a public adjuster may not contract with the insured, directly or through a related business, to repair, replace, restore, renovate, or demolish the damaged property before a verdict or award is entered or payment is received from the insurer, whichever comes first.

Does Pennsylvania require continuing education for public adjusters?

Yes. 63 P.S. 1602.4 requires a licensee who is not a business entity to complete 24 credit hours of approved continuing education for each two-year license period, and you may carry forward up to 24 excess hours to the next period. Renewal requires the completed renewal form, the renewal fee, and verification that your CE is complete.

How often do I renew a Pennsylvania public adjuster license?

Every two years. A public adjuster license is issued for a period not to exceed two years (63 P.S. 1602.3(4)). Under 63 P.S. 1602.4, the renewal fee is $200, or $400 to renew a lapsed license, and renewal requires proof of your 24 CE hours. The Department's rules also require an attestation or receipt showing your bond premium is paid (31 Pa. Code 115.21).

Sources

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

63 P.S. 1601 (public adjuster definition)
63 P.S. 1602.1 (application, fingerprints, exam, $200 fee)
63 P.S. 1602.4 (renewal, 24 CE hours, $200 and $400 renewal fees)
63 P.S. 1604 ($20,000 bond)
63 P.S. 1605 (contract, 3 calendar day rescission, disclosures, scope limits)
31 Pa. Code Chapter 115 (contract contents, fee terms, refunds, eligibility, exam score validity)
Insurance Department, Act 21 of 2012 page (sample contract and approval process)
PSI Series 16-19 content outline (60 items, 80 minutes, content weights) and the PSI Pennsylvania candidate booklet (effective 1/22/2026: 70 percent to pass, no retake limit, fingerprint rules)

Related guides

Last verified 2026-09-22 against 63 P.S. 1601 to 1608, 31 Pa. Code Chapter 115, the Pennsylvania Insurance Department, and the PSI Pennsylvania candidate booklet and Series 16-19 outline. Our course is exam preparation for the Pennsylvania Public Adjuster examination (PSI Series 16-19); Pennsylvania 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 pa.gov/agencies/insurance and test-takers.psiexams.com/pain before relying on any specific number. This guide is not legal advice.