How to Become a Licensed Public Adjuster in Florida

Are you interested in becoming a public adjuster in Florida? If so, you'll need to understand the licensing requirements and steps involved in the process. Public adjusters are independent professionals who help policyholders with their insurance claims. They must be licensed by the Florida Department of Financial Services and comply with a strict code of ethics. In this article, we'll provide an overview of the Florida public appraiser licensing process and the materials you'll need to submit.

In 2019, Governor Ron DeSantis enacted new requirements for public appraisers as part of a broader law that addresses consumer protection in the P&C and health insurance markets. People who want to work as public appraisers in Florida must complete the following steps to obtain a legal license before processing insurance claims:

• Complete the application form and submit it to the Licensing Office.
• Provide proof of identity.
• Submit a surety bond.
• Provide proof of financial responsibility.
• Submit a contract between the public appraiser and the policyholder.

The application form must include the following information:

• The full name, permanent business address, and license number of the public appraiser or apprentice public appraiser.
• A certification that compensation for public adjustment services will not exceed the limits established by law.

Once your payment has been processed, you'll receive the official bond documentation from the public appraiser in your email inbox instantly. The contract must indicate the percentage of compensation for the services of the public appraiser; the type of claim, including an emergency claim, a non-emergency claim, or a supplementary claim; the signatures of the public appraiser and all named insured persons; and the date of signing. If the signatures of all the named insured persons are not available, the public appraiser must submit an affidavit signed by the available named insured persons that they have the authority to enter into the contract and resolve all claim issues on behalf of the named insured persons. The Insurance Agent and Agency Services Division of the Licensing Office enforces and administers two different types of public appraiser licenses.

Applicants will submit their Florida public appraiser license applications through the Department of Financial Services' Licensing Office online portal. In order to obtain a Florida public appraiser license, you must be at least 18 years old and be a citizen of the United States or legal alien who holds a work authorization from the United States Immigration and Naturalization Services. Watch this video for a summary of the steps involved in the Florida public appraiser licensing process:[embed video]Unlike public appraisers, independent adjusters represent insurance companies and do not work on behalf of individual policyholders. Follow this Florida Public Appraiser License Guide to understand the registration requirements of the Florida Department of Financial Services.