How to Become a Public Adjuster in Washington (2026)
To become a public adjuster in Washington, you meet the state's experience, education, or trainee requirement, pass the PSI Washington Adjuster exam, apply through NIPR for $50, get fingerprinted, and file a $5,000 surety bond. Washington has no separate public adjuster exam and no required pre-licensing course, and its public adjuster law is thin: no fee cap, no mandated contract form, and no rescission window. This guide walks every step under chapter 48.17 RCW, with citations.
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 Washington too.)
Get the free Field Guide →One exam, three adjuster licenses
RCW 48.17.010(1)(b) defines a public adjuster as an adjuster employed by and representing solely the financial interests of the insured named in the policy, and RCW 48.17.390 licenses independent, public, and crop adjusters separately. So the public adjuster license is its own credential, issued by the Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC).
The exam is shared. PSI's Washington bulletin publishes one adjuster exam besides Crop Adjuster, called Adjuster, and the OIC's licensing page for crop, independent, and public adjusters sends everyone to the same PSI scheduling link. What separates a public adjuster from an independent adjuster is the license type you apply for and the $5,000 bond you file, not the test you take.
Washington public adjuster license, requirements at a glance
| Regulator | Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC); chapter 48.17 RCW |
| Eligibility | 18 or older; Washington resident or resident of a reciprocal state; trustworthy (RCW 48.17.380(3)) |
| Qualification | 12 months salaried adjusting, an AIC, AEI property or CPCU designation, or a 960-hour supervised trainee program (RCW 48.17.380(3)(d); OIC) |
| Exam | PSI Washington Adjuster exam: 100 questions, 135 minutes, $38, 70 percent to pass; no retake limit; no separate public adjuster exam |
| Pre-licensing course | Not required; focused exam prep recommended |
| Fingerprints | Residents only, WSP and FBI check after you apply (RCW 48.17.380(1)) |
| Application | Online through NIPR; $50 license fee (RCW 48.14.010(1)(i)); file within 180 days of passing |
| Bond | $5,000 surety bond, filed before issuance and kept in force (RCW 48.17.430) |
| Renewal | Every two years; $50 (RCW 48.14.010(1)(i)) |
| Continuing education | 24 hours per renewal period, including 3 ethics, for resident adjusters (OIC) |
| Fee cap and contract | None in statute: no fee cap, no required contract form, no rescission window, no solicitation timing rule |
The five steps
- 1
Meet the experience, education, or trainee requirement
RCW 48.17.380(3)(d) requires adjuster applicants to have experience or special education or training in handling loss claims sufficient to make them competent. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) applies this before you take the exam, and you meet it one of three ways: twelve consecutive months as a full-time salaried adjuster for an admitted insurer or managing general agent, verified in writing; a qualifying designation such as the Associate in Claims (AIC), the AEI property program, or the CPCU; or an adjuster-trainee program supervised by a resident licensed adjuster that runs six to nine months and at least 960 hours. This is a qualification requirement, not a state course.
- 2
Study for the Washington Adjuster exam
PSI publishes no separate Washington public adjuster exam. Its Washington candidate bulletin lists one adjuster exam besides Crop Adjuster, named simply Adjuster, and that is the exam public adjuster candidates sit. The outline covers federal law, Washington laws and regulations (RCW Title 48 and WAC Title 284), general insurance concepts, property and casualty basics, dwelling and homeowners policies, commercial property, personal and commercial auto, commercial general liability, and the adjustment process. Our $49.99 Washington Adjuster exam prep course is built on that outline. Start with the free practice exam to benchmark yourself.
- 3
Pass the PSI exam: 100 questions, 135 minutes, $38
Per the PSI Washington bulletin (revised August 3, 2026), the Adjuster exam has 100 questions, a 135-minute time limit, and a $38 fee, and you must get 70 percent correct to pass. PSI may add a small number of unscored experimental questions. There is no limit on retakes, but fees are not refundable or transferable. PSI offers test centers in Washington and remote testing. Once you pass, you have 180 days to submit all application requirements, or you must retake the exam.
- 4
Apply through NIPR, then complete fingerprints
The OIC directs adjuster applicants to apply online through NIPR. The public adjuster license application fee is $50 (RCW 48.14.010(1)(i)). Residents must then be fingerprinted for a Washington State Patrol and FBI background check (RCW 48.17.380(1)); the OIC notes you cannot schedule fingerprinting until it has received your application, and nonresidents whose home state is elsewhere are not fingerprinted. You must be at least 18 and either a Washington resident or a resident of a state that lets Washington residents act as adjusters there (RCW 48.17.380(3)).
- 5
File the $5,000 public adjuster bond
Before your public adjuster license is issued, RCW 48.17.430 requires you to file a $5,000 surety bond in favor of the people of the state of Washington, executed by an authorized corporate surety, and keep it in force while licensed. The OIC says the bond must be in the licensee's name and the amount does not change with additional affiliates. The surety may cancel only on 30 days' written notice filed with the commissioner.
Before you book with PSI, take our free practice exam to see whether you're ready. The Adjuster exam covers auto and liability lines too, so study beyond property claims.
What makes Washington different
Washington regulates who may be a public adjuster but says very little about how public adjusters contract with clients. Five distinctives every candidate should know:
- A qualification gate before the exam. Many states let anyone sit the adjuster exam. Washington requires experience, a recognized designation, or a supervised 960-hour trainee program first (RCW 48.17.380(3)(d)). Plan for it before you pay for the exam.
- A low bond. The public adjuster bond is $5,000 (RCW 48.17.430), conditioned on accounting to insureds for money and settlements you receive. It is filed before the license issues and cannot lapse while you are licensed.
- No public adjuster contract statute. Chapter 48.17 RCW has no fee cap, no mandated contract form, no cancellation window, and no rule on when you may solicit. Do not carry another state's contract rules into Washington; your agreements are governed by general contract law and the insurance code's general conduct rules, including the ban on rebating and inducements (RCW 48.30.140, 48.30.150).
- The Insurance Fair Conduct Act. RCW 48.30.015 lets a first-party claimant who is unreasonably denied recover actual damages, attorneys' fees, and up to three times actual damages, after 20 days' written notice to both the insurer and the OIC. Violations of the WAC 284-30 claims rules it lists can also support enhanced damages.
- General adjuster duties still apply. You must be licensed to receive any fee or commission (RCW 48.17.490), keep records (RCW 48.17.470), and answer OIC inquiries promptly (RCW 48.17.475). The OIC can suspend, revoke, or fine under RCW 48.17.530 and 48.17.560.
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 Washington public adjuster
Washington's state fees are low. Verify current amounts before paying:
- Exam-prep course: $49.99 with Elite Training Academy, built on the PSI Washington Adjuster outline
- PSI exam fee: $38 per attempt, not refundable or transferable
- License application: $50 (RCW 48.14.010(1)(i)), plus any NIPR transaction fee
- Fingerprinting (residents): the actual WSP and FBI fees, paid by the applicant (RCW 48.17.380(1))
- Surety bond: a premium on a $5,000 bond (RCW 48.17.430); premiums vary by surety
- Renewal: $50 every two years, plus 24 CE hours
The bigger investment is the qualification requirement. If you do not already have claims experience or a designation, budget the time for a trainee program before you schedule the exam.
Ready to start studying?
Our Washington Adjuster exam prep course is $49.99 with lifetime access, built around the PSI Washington Adjuster outline that public adjuster candidates are tested on. Not sure yet? Take the free practice exam first, or grab the free Field Guide PDF.
Start the exam prep course →Frequently asked questions
Is there a separate Washington public adjuster exam?
No. PSI's Washington candidate bulletin lists only two adjuster exams, Adjuster and Crop Adjuster, and does not publish a public adjuster exam. Public adjuster candidates take the Washington Adjuster exam: 100 questions, 135 minutes, $38, and 70 percent to pass. The license you receive is still a separate public adjuster license, because RCW 48.17.390 licenses independent, public, and crop adjusters separately.
How much is the Washington public adjuster bond?
$5,000. RCW 48.17.430 requires a surety bond of five thousand dollars in favor of the people of the state of Washington, filed before the license is issued and maintained while you are licensed. The bond is conditioned on your accounting to any insured whose claim you handle for money or settlements you receive. You pay a surety a premium, not the face amount. Washington's bond amount is low compared with many states.
Do I need experience to become a public adjuster in Washington?
You need experience, special education, or training. RCW 48.17.380(3)(d) requires it, and the OIC accepts any one of three routes before you sit the exam: twelve consecutive months as a full-time salaried adjuster for an admitted insurer or managing general agent; a designation such as the AIC, the AEI property program, or the CPCU; or a supervised adjuster-trainee program of six to nine months and at least 960 hours. There is no state-mandated pre-licensing course.
Is there a cap on public adjuster fees in Washington?
No. Chapter 48.17 RCW contains no percentage cap on public adjuster fees, no catastrophe fee rule, no required contract form, no statutory rescission window, and no solicitation timing rule. Fees and contract terms are set by agreement under general contract law, subject to the insurance code's general rules, such as the requirement to be licensed to receive a fee (RCW 48.17.490) and the bans on rebating and illegal inducements (RCW 48.30.140 and 48.30.150).
Does Washington require continuing education for public adjusters?
Yes, for resident adjusters. The OIC requires 24 hours of CE, including 3 hours of ethics, in each two-year license renewal period for resident independent, public, and crop adjusters, including nonresidents who designate Washington as their home state. The requirement took effect July 1, 2022. Nonresident adjusters with another home state do not complete Washington CE.
What is the Insurance Fair Conduct Act?
The Insurance Fair Conduct Act (IFCA), RCW 48.30.015, lets a first-party claimant who is unreasonably denied coverage or payment of benefits sue for actual damages, costs, and reasonable attorneys' fees, and the court may increase the award up to three times actual damages. Before filing, the claimant must give 20 days' written notice to both the insurer and the Insurance Commissioner. It is the most important claims statute for a Washington public adjuster to understand.
How often do I renew a Washington public adjuster license?
Every two years. RCW 48.14.010(1)(i) sets the public adjuster license renewal fee at $50 every two years, and resident adjusters must complete 24 CE hours (3 in ethics) during each renewal period. Keep your $5,000 bond in force the entire time you are licensed (RCW 48.17.430).
Sources
Every factual claim in this guide traces to a primary source. The load-bearing ones:
- RCW 48.17.010 (public adjuster definition) and RCW 48.17.390 (separate adjuster licenses)
- RCW 48.17.380 (qualifications, fingerprints, bond prerequisite)
- RCW 48.17.430 ($5,000 public adjuster bond)
- RCW 48.14.010 ($50 application and $50 biennial renewal)
- RCW 48.30.015 (Insurance Fair Conduct Act)
- OIC adjuster licensing page (NIPR application, fingerprints, bond) and the OIC adjuster pre-licensing experience page (the three qualification routes)
- OIC adjuster CE requirements (24 hours including 3 ethics, effective July 1, 2022)
- PSI Washington candidate bulletin (revised 8/3/2026: Adjuster exam 100 questions, 135 minutes, $38, 70 percent, no retake limit, 180-day application window)
Related guides
- Free practice exam
- Public Adjuster Field Guide (free PDF)
- How to become a public adjuster in Oregon
- How to get a Washington insurance license
Last verified 2026-09-22 against chapters 48.14, 48.17 and 48.30 RCW, OIC licensing and CE pages, and the PSI Washington candidate bulletin (revised 8/3/2026). Our course is exam preparation for the PSI Washington Adjuster examination, the exam public adjuster candidates sit; Washington does not require a pre-licensing course for adjusters, and our course is not state-approved education. Fees and vendor procedures change; verify current requirements at insurance.wa.gov and test-takers.psiexams.com/waoic before relying on any specific number. This guide is not legal advice.