| Independent catastrophic claims adjusting or "cat" | | | | adjusters fluctuates greatly and depends on the |
| adjusting is an exciting, lucrative, and relatively unknown | | | | frequency and severity of catastrophic weather |
| occupational niche in the insurance industry. When | | | | events. In 2005 and 2006, in the wake of Hurricanes |
| disaster strikes, cat adjusters or "storm troopers" | | | | Katrina, Rita, and Wilma, finding work as a cat adjuster |
| answer the call to assist insurance policyholders in | | | | was almost as simple as raising your hand. 2007, |
| recovering from their losses. The work is challenging, | | | | however, saw surprisingly clement weather and did |
| personally fulfilling and can be surprisingly profitable. | | | | not produce many claims. Adjusting companies |
| Follow these 4 steps to become a licensed, trained, | | | | consequently could afford to be far pickier in their hiring |
| ready-to-deploy cat adjuster: | | | | process. 3 to 5 experience requirements became |
| #1: Obtain Your Adjuster License | | | | common and job prospects were bleak for new cat |
| It is highly recommended that you obtain an adjuster | | | | adjusters. At the time of this article, the 2008 storm |
| license as a first step in this career. Obtaining a license | | | | season has been extremely tough on the Midwest |
| demonstrates to hiring companies that you are a | | | | with flooding, hail, and tornado. And with the anticipation |
| legitimate applicant, that you know the basics of claims | | | | of a potentially huge hurricane year, adjusting |
| practice and policy, and that you are legally certified to | | | | companies are scrambling to fill their deployment |
| handle claims in the state you are licensed in. As a | | | | rosters and are relaxing experience requirements in |
| general rule, it is best to first obtain a license in the | | | | order to do so. Because demand is weather driven, |
| state of your residence. Many states, however, do not | | | | timing is crucial in finding work as an independent |
| require a license to operate as an adjuster. Kansas, | | | | adjuster. |
| Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia are but a few | | | | Who do I Work For? |
| examples. In this case it is suggested that you obtain | | | | It isn't always correctly understood who cat adjusters |
| either a Texas or Florida adjuster license. Both licenses | | | | work for. Lets clear this up. Technically, and for tax |
| are very well respected and highly reciprocal - | | | | purposes, an independent adjuster is an independent |
| meaning you can obtain other states licenses with | | | | contractor that works for oneself. Work is typically |
| them without having to take that state's exam or | | | | obtained, however, through adjusting firms that in turn |
| required coursework. Texas and Florida adjuster | | | | contract with insurance companies to handle claims. |
| pre-licensing courses, which satisfy all requirements for | | | | For example, after Hurricane Katrina, insurance |
| obtaining their respective state licenses, are available in | | | | companies didn't have nearly enough adjusters on |
| either a classroom or online setting. Course tuition will | | | | staff to handle the massive influx of claims. Acme |
| average $299 for online and $499 for classroom. | | | | insurance company, as a theoretical, would then give |
| After the course has been completed and you have | | | | out 10,000 claims to be handled by Pinnacle adjusting |
| submitted your application to the regulating authority, | | | | firm. Pinnacle adjusting firm in turn hires individual |
| you can expect to be a licensed adjuster in just a few | | | | independent adjusters in sufficient numbers to handle |
| weeks. | | | | the 10,000 claims. Those adjusters who work |
| #2: Obtain Critical Adjuster Training | | | | efficiently and with little oversight (babysitting) get the |
| For those making career transitions from the residential | | | | most claims from Pinnacle. So, if you are looking for a |
| or commercial contracting industries, supplemental | | | | job as a cat adjuster, you should be looking towards |
| training may prove unnecessary. But for those who | | | | getting on with adjusting firm. |
| have little previous experience with construction, loss | | | | Where do I Look for a Job? |
| analysis, estimating software, and standard methods | | | | There are several useful adjusting firm directories and |
| of repair, it is tremendously helpful to undertake some | | | | social networks that keep you apprised of adjuster job |
| practical training. Probably the most important training a | | | | listings. Adjusting firms maintain deployment rosters of |
| newly licensed adjuster should consider is Xactimate | | | | qualified adjusters who are eligible for being put to |
| training. Used by roughly 75% of independent adjusters, | | | | work in the event of a catastrophe. A new |
| Xactimate is the most popular estimating program | | | | independent adjuster should aspire to join as many |
| today. Others, like MSB IntegriClaim, have their place, | | | | rosters as possible. The ultimate goal is to have a |
| and may be preferred by particular insurance carriers. | | | | steady stream of invitations to work which can be |
| Still, Xactimate is accepted by more carriers than any | | | | accepted or declined at your discretion. Remember, |
| other and is the best place to begin learning software | | | | you are your own boss! |
| estimatics. Courses, ranging from 1 to 5 days ($400 to | | | | #4: Maintain Your Good Standing |
| $1,200) may be taken and courses taught by actual | | | | Staying on top of Continuing Education (CE) |
| claims adjusters ought to be preferred. | | | | requirements keeps you in compliance with your |
| #3: Find a Job | | | | adjuster license and also gives you a legitimate |
| Becoming an adjuster doesn't make sense unless | | | | opportunity to advance your knowledge base and skills |
| there is work to do. While ultimately there is no silver | | | | as an adjuster. CE opportunities abound in both online |
| bullet (outside the handy personal contact) for finding | | | | and classroom form. Failure to maintain CE compliance |
| work, understanding the employment landscape will go | | | | can result in very steep penalties and forfeiture of |
| a long way towards helping you land a job. | | | | your license. Considering the ease by which most |
| Understanding Demand | | | | states' CE is kept this should be easily avoided. |
| The bottom line is that the demand for independent | | | | |