For Florida residents interested in obtaining or learning more about the Florida appraiser’s license, it can be helpful to analyze and simplify the multitude of categories and types of licenses that are available. This will help ensure the most efficient way to get precisely what you want by the most direct means available.

At the broadest level, there are three general categories of Florida adjuster licenses: Series 6, Series 5, and Series 3.

Series 6 – Business Adjuster Licenses

Series 6 refers to the types of licenses held by the Company’s adjusters. What is a company adjuster? The Florida Department of Financial Services defines a Company adjuster as “any person employed on the adjusting staff of an insurer or a wholly owned subsidiary of the insurer.” In other words, an employee of an insurance company, a “personal” adjuster, as the position is sometimes called. And to qualify for this type of license, you will obviously need to be an employee of a company. The following 6 types of series are available, which will be discussed in detail below: 6-20, 6-44, 6-21, 6-24.

Series 5 – Independent Adjuster Licenses

Series 5 refers to the types of licenses that independent adjusters hold. Independent adjusters are adjusters who are “self-employed or associated with or employed by an independent adjusting firm or other independent adjuster.” Note that an independent adjuster can be an employee, but as long as you are an employee of an adjuster company rather than an insurance company directly, you will still be considered independent. Most adjusters interested in handling such particularly lucrative claims resulting from catastrophic events (e.g. Hurricane Wilma) would seek one of the series 5 licenses. 6, it is not necessary to be employed or hired to work at the time of applying for the license. Like Series 6, the following types are available: 5-20, 5-44, 5-21, 5-24 (detailed explanation of each below).

Series 3 – Public Appraiser License

Series 3 refers to the types of licenses held by public appraisers. Public adjusters are categorically different from Company or Independent adjusters in that they represent the insured rather than the insurer. FLDFS defines a public adjuster as follows:

… any person who for money, commission or anything of value, prepares, completes or presents an insurance claim form for an insured or claimant third party or who for money, commission or anything else of value, acts or helps any way on behalf of an insured or a third party claimant to negotiate or effect the settlement of a claim or claims for loss or damage covered by an insurance contract or that advertises employment as an adjuster of such claims, and also includes any person who, for money, commission or anything else of value, request, investigate or adjust such claims on behalf of said public adjuster.

Public adjuster licenses and license enforcement are handled differently than Company and independent licenses and, in particular, require you to be bonded prior to licensing. At the time of writing, you must complete a one-year apprenticeship (license type T31-20) and then pass the state exam for a full series 3 license.

As series 3 licenses are of a different breed, from now on we will deal exclusively with series 5 and 6 adjuster licenses. Let’s look at the types:

All lines: 6-20, 5-20

The 6-20 and 5-20 licenses are licenses for all lines. All-Lines is exactly what it sounds like: each and every insurance line. The 5-20 Independent and 6-20 Companies All-Lines licenses qualify you to handle the full range of Auto, Property & Casualty, and Workers’ Compensation claims.

Property and Casualty: 6-44, 5-44

The -44s refer to the property and casualty adjuster license types. Property & Casualty would include residential and commercial property and liability claims, but would exclude Auto, Health, and Workers Comp.

Automatic: 6-21, 5-21

The -21s refer to automobiles and specifically to physical damage and mechanical breakdown in motor vehicles. If you plan to focus exclusively on handling vehicle damage claims due to accidents and weather events (eg hail), then this is your license.

Workers Compensation: 6-24, 5-24

The -24s refer to adjusting workers’ compensation claims. Workers’ compensation adjusters determine the benefits to be awarded to employees injured in the workplace.

What Florida License Should You Get and How?

First, determine the series. If you have just joined an insurance company as a salaried employee, just follow suit for which series 6 license to apply for. However, if you are looking to break into the freelance side and are or are not employed or hired to work as such, look for something in series 5. There is no reason not to apply for your 5-20 adjuster license as it is so easy. to get like 5-44, 5-21 or 5-24. It gives you the most flexibility to find your claims niche without limitation.

If you first obtain a series 5 license and then obtain full-time employment status with an insurance company, you will be able to change your license status to series 6 through a relatively simple process that requires no further exams or courses.

Bottom line: Regardless of which Series 5 or 6 licenses you choose to pursue, there are several Florida-approved designations (online or in the classroom) that allow you to get licensed right away without further tests or courses. Such designations will generally represent the fastest and safest means of obtaining the right Florida appraiser’s license for you.