Education and designations

A claims-handling designation from The Institutes, the organisation behind the CPCU program. AIC 304, Successfully Evaluating Property Claims, is the property elective and is also one of the required courses for the SPPA.

Issued by

The Institutes

For

The Institutes states it is for "anyone looking to grow in the claims field": company adjusters, independent adjusters and public adjusters alike.

Requirements

Two core courses (AIC 300: Claims in an Evolving World and AIC 301: Expanding Your Claims Perspective), one elective chosen from AIC 302 auto, AIC 303 liability, AIC 304 property or AIC 305 workers compensation, plus Ethics 311: Ethical Decision Making in Risk & Insurance. Courses are online; virtual exams are 50 questions in 65 minutes, offered in four testing windows a year. The Institutes states completion takes about 6-9 months.

A management-focused extension of the Associate in Claims covering hiring, supervision, claims data and leadership. It builds on the AIC rather than replacing it.

Relevant to firm owners and supervising adjusters rather than to claim handling technique.

Issued by

The Institutes

For

Claims professionals moving into or already in supervisory and management roles.

Requirements

One additional course beyond the AIC: AIC 330: Leading a Successful Claims Team, delivered online with a virtual exam. The Institutes states candidates who earned the AIC have already satisfied the ethics requirement, and that AIC-M typically takes 1-3 months.

A standalone credential awarded on completion of the SPPA 300 "Navigating Claims as a Public Adjuster" course and exam. It is the first step of the same program that leads to the SPPA designation.

Naming differs by source: The Institutes calls CPPA the "Certificate in Professional Public Adjusting", while NAPIA and many secondary sources render it "Certified Professional Public Adjuster". Treat the two as the same credential. Third-party claims of a 5-year experience prerequisite are not published on the issuer's page.

Issued by

The Institutes (designation associated with the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters)

For

Claims professionals and public adjusters taking the SPPA 300 course.

Requirements

The Institutes states: "By completing the SPPA 300 exam, you will also earn the Certificate in Professional Public Adjusting (CPPA)." It is awarded on completion of the single SPPA 300 course and exam, and also counts toward the full SPPA designation.

A designation program administered by The Institutes covering property claim evaluation, general insurance principles and public adjusting practice. NAPIA presents the SPPA and CPPA as its public adjuster certification program and maintains a lookup to verify designees.

Widely repeated third-party summaries state the SPPA requires ten years of full-time adjusting experience plus a college degree, and five years for the CPPA. Those experience requirements do not appear on either The Institutes' or NAPIA's own pages, so they are not reproduced here. Ask the issuer what the current prerequisites are.

Issued by

The Institutes (designation associated with the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters)

For

Public adjusters and other claims professionals seeking public adjusting skills; The Institutes states the program is for "any claims professional interested in gaining new public adjusting skills".

Requirements

Three courses plus a required ethics course: AIC 304 Successfully Evaluating Property Claims, AINS 101 Increasing Your Insurance IQ, SPPA 300 Navigating Claims as a Public Adjuster, and Ethics 311 Ethical Decision Making in Risk and Insurance (offered free). Each course has a virtual exam. The Institutes states the program takes about 6-9 months.

A certification in mould and sewage remediation techniques, covering remediation services performed while protecting the health and safety of workers and occupants. It is the IICRC credential most often cited on mould claims.

IICRC's AMRT page does not publish prerequisites, course hours or exam details; those are set by the approved school. IICRC separately offers a Mold Remediation Specialist (MRS) credential that does state a requirement of at least one year of verifiable mould remediation experience.

Issued by

Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification

For

Restoration, property management and indoor environmental quality professionals performing mould and sewage remediation.

Requirements

Not published by the issuer in the pages we read. Ask them directly.

A certification in the effective and timely drying of water-damaged structures and contents in a restorative drying environment, taught with hands-on equipment. It builds directly on the WRT.

Issued by

Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification

For

Water damage restorers who already hold the WRT certification.

Requirements

IICRC states the certification "is for the water damage restorer who has achieved the Water Restoration Technician (WRT) certification". The course is offered in person only, because of its hands-on drying component.

A certification program run by NAIIA in partnership with the Society of Registered Professional Adjusters, leading to the Certified Insurance Appraiser (CIA) or Certified Insurance Umpire (CIU) designation. Those certified are listed on the NAIIA website for state-specific referrals.

NAIIA is an association of independent adjusters (who work for insurers) rather than public adjusters, so membership eligibility should be checked before assuming a public adjuster can enrol.

Issued by

National Association of Independent Insurance Adjusters, with the Society of Registered Professional Adjusters

For

Independent and other insurance adjusters taking appraisal or umpire appointments.

Requirements

NAIIA states the program requires membership in either NAIIA or RPA, completion of training covering the appraisal process and the NAIIA approved forms, four hours of training on current state laws governing appraisal, and passing an end-of-course examination. NAIIA states the program cost is $200.

Three related credentials issued by the IAUA: CPIA (Certified Property Insurance Appraiser), CPIU (Certified Property Insurance Umpire) and CPAU for those holding both. Certified individuals are listed in the association's public directory.

IAUA states no examination fee, but membership is required and event attendance carries its own costs, which are not recorded here.

Issued by

Insurance Appraisal and Umpire Association

For

Claims professionals, including public adjusters, who take appraisal or umpire appointments.

Requirements

IAUA states applicants must be members in good standing and must attend its Appraiser and Umpire class and pass the certification examination, held in a controlled environment at IAUA events. It states the Appraiser certification must be earned first and held for six months before sitting for the Umpire exam, with possible exceptions for retired judges, and that there is no fee to take the examination. Certification is maintained by attending an IAUA event every three years, with no re-examination.

A certification covering scoping, mitigation, cleaning, deodorisation, subrogation, spoliation and documentation of residential and commercial fire and smoke losses. IICRC lists it as required to pursue its Master Fire and Smoke Restorer designation.

Issued by

Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification

For

Technicians restoring fire and smoke damaged structures and contents.

Requirements

IICRC states "There are no prerequisites for this certification." Available live-stream and in person, with an examination.

A certification in inspecting low-slope commercial roof systems such as built-up roofing, modified bitumen, single-ply membranes, sprayed polyurethane foam and vegetated roofs, using Haag's forensic assessment methodology.

Requirements, field-experience minimums, exam pass score and fees could not be read from Haag's own course pages, which returned HTTP 401 to automated fetches, so they are left null. Secondary sources describe a commercial-roof field experience minimum; that is not recorded here because it was not confirmed on the issuer's site.

Issued by

Haag Global, Inc.

For

Professionals inspecting low-slope and flat commercial roof systems.

Requirements

Not published by the issuer in the pages we read. Ask them directly.

A certification in inspecting steep-slope residential roof systems, covering composition, wood, tile, slate, metal and synthetics, using Haag's forensic assessment methodology, including how hail and wind interact with roofing.

Haag's course pages returned HTTP 401 to automated fetches, so requirements, exam pass score and fees could not be confirmed from the issuer and are left null. Haag's own Master Level article states that completing all three individual HCI programs (Residential, Commercial, Wind) and keeping them active qualifies an inspector for the HCI-Master Level exam with no additional coursework.

Issued by

Haag Global, Inc.

For

Inspectors, adjusters and contractors assessing steep-slope residential roofs, including hail and wind damage.

Requirements

Not published by the issuer in the pages we read. Ask them directly.

A certification covering how wind affects an entire structure, including foundation, exterior cladding, windows and doors, roof structure and roof covering, rather than roof surfaces in isolation.

Requirements and prerequisites could not be confirmed on Haag's own course pages, which returned HTTP 401 to automated fetches, so they are left null. Secondary sources describe a prerequisite of holding HCI-R and/or HCI-C or having completed a number of wind damage inspections as primary inspector; that is not recorded here as it was not confirmed on the issuer's site.

Issued by

Haag Global, Inc.

For

Inspectors and adjusters assessing wind damage to whole structures rather than roofs alone.

Requirements

Not published by the issuer in the pages we read. Ask them directly.

A certification for umpires in property loss appraisals, awarded on completion of P.L.A.N.'s course and application process. P.L.A.N. states it may revoke certification where ethical standards or membership requirements are not maintained.

P.L.A.N. runs a parallel Property Loss Appraiser certification with similar ethics, background check and membership requirements; its own page describes a five-day course for the full program. Course fees were not published on the pages reviewed.

Issued by

Property Loss Appraisal Network

For

Claims professionals who serve as umpires in property loss appraisals.

Requirements

P.L.A.N. states candidates complete a three-day umpire certification course covering umpire duties, authority and conduct; sign and adhere to the P.L.A.N. Certified Property Loss Umpire Code of Ethics; submit an application including a criminal background check for their state; and maintain active P.L.A.N. membership in good standing. Completion carries 24 CE credit hours, a certificate of completion and listing in the P.L.A.N. Umpire Registry.

A certification introduced in 2012 for individuals acting as appraisers in property insurance appraisals, taught as a workshop at WIND's conferences. Certified appraisers are listed in a public WIND directory.

WIND also publishes advanced tiers: Professional Appraiser (stated as 5 years insurance experience with at least half the work insurance-related, plus 50 documented appraisal claims) and Fellow Appraiser (10 years and 100 claims), each with an additional fee and attendance at three WIND annual conferences. The appraisal clause itself is a policy provision, and no state requires a certification to serve as an appraiser unless the state's own licensing rules say so.

Issued by

Windstorm Insurance Network

For

Property insurance claims professionals who serve as appraisers under a policy's appraisal clause, including public adjusters.

Requirements

Attend the four-hour WIND Certified Appraiser workshop, maintain current WIND membership, complete a background check through FDLE, GoodHire or ClearChecks, agree to the WIND Ethical Rules for Appraisers, and pay the application fee. WIND states the fee is $250 for a three-year certification period, renewed by completing a recertification workshop. WIND states no prior appraisal experience is required for the base certification.

A certification introduced in 2003 for individuals who act as umpires in property insurance appraisals. Certification runs three years from the class completion date and certified umpires are listed in a public WIND directory.

WIND states a combined Appraiser and Umpire application fee of $500. Some courts and parties look for umpire experience and impartiality rather than any particular certification; this credential is not a legal qualification.

Issued by

Windstorm Insurance Network

For

Experienced claims professionals who serve as umpires when two appraisers cannot agree.

Requirements

Complete the four-hour WIND Certified Umpire or Umpire Recertification class at an annual or regional Windstorm Insurance Conference; WIND states requirements of 10 years in the insurance claims industry and participation in at least 10 appraisals resulting in executed awards, serving as umpire in at least 5 of them; agreement to the WIND Umpire Ethical Rules and terms; current WIND membership; and a background check through FDLE, GoodHire or ClearChecks. WIND states the application fee is $400 for the three-year certification period.

A technician certification covering water damage effects, water loss categories and drying science, including sewer backflow and contamination situations. It is the entry point for the IICRC water pathway and a prerequisite for ASD.

Course hours are set by the individual approved school rather than published on the IICRC credential page.

Issued by

Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification

For

Restoration technicians handling water losses.

Requirements

IICRC states "There are no prerequisites for this certification." The course is available live-stream and in person and concludes with an examination.

The education arm of Haag, a forensic engineering and consulting firm whose services include forensic engineering, building consulting, fire investigation and materials testing. It runs the Haag Certified Inspector (HCI) programs and publishes damage assessment field guides and training materials.

Haag's education platform at haageducation.com is a script-driven storefront that returned HTTP 401 to automated fetches, so program details could not be read directly from the course pages. Program structure below is recorded only where Haag itself describes it in published articles.

Issued by

Haag Global, Inc.

For

Roofing contractors, adjusters, engineers and other damage assessment professionals.

Requirements

Not published by the issuer in the pages we read. Ask them directly.

A standards-developing and certification body for the inspection, cleaning and restoration industries. It writes ANSI-accredited consensus standards (the S-series) and separately certifies individual technicians in disciplines such as water, fire and mould restoration.

Two distinct things share the IICRC name and are often conflated: the S-series are published documents describing accepted procedure, while WRT, ASD, FSRT and AMRT are credentials held by individual people. A contractor holding a certification is not the same as work complying with a standard.

Issued by

Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification

For

Inspection, cleaning and restoration technicians and firms; also used as a reference point by adjusters reviewing mitigation and restoration work.

Requirements

Not published by the issuer in the pages we read. Ask them directly.

A nonprofit association established in 2009 that states its mission as establishing and maintaining professional standards and services in insurance appraisal work. It runs certification classes and examinations at events in several cities and publishes a directory of certified appraisers and umpires.

Issued by

Insurance Appraisal and Umpire Association

For

Individuals who serve as appraisers or umpires in property insurance appraisals.

Requirements

Not published by the issuer in the pages we read. Ask them directly.

An organisation that states it provides education and training to the insurance claims and restoration industries through membership and fellowship. It runs certification courses for property loss appraisers and umpires and maintains registries of those certified.

Issued by

Property Loss Appraisal Network

For

Insurance claims and restoration professionals taking appraisal and umpire appointments.

Requirements

Not published by the issuer in the pages we read. Ask them directly.

A paid professional development platform and online community for property insurance professionals, founded by public adjuster and former NAPIA board member Sarah Parker. It states that it offers on-demand courses, regional regulatory update feeds, private networking spaces and a hub restricted to licensed public adjusters.

It describes itself as "a professional development platform and community, not a membership association or trade organization", so it is listed here rather than among the associations. Its published rates are $299 a year for general membership and $599 a year for the professional tier, with group pricing on request. It does not award a designation or certification.

Issued by

The Claim Cohort

For

Property insurance professionals, including public adjusters, staff and independent adjusters, attorneys and restoration contractors.

Requirements

Not published by the issuer in the pages we read. Ask them directly.

A professional membership association and annual conference founded in 1999, which describes its purpose as providing professional development, training, certifications and networking that bring together defense and policyholder representatives. It runs the WIND Certified Appraiser and WIND Certified Umpire programs and offers continuing education.

Certification classes are taught at WIND's annual conference and at regional workshops, so timing is tied to the conference calendar.

Issued by

Windstorm Insurance Network

For

Property and windstorm insurance claims professionals from both policyholder and insurer sides, including public adjusters, company and independent adjusters, attorneys, engineers and contractors.

Requirements

Not published by the issuer in the pages we read. Ask them directly.

An ANSI-approved consensus standard, currently the fifth edition (2021), describing "the procedures to be followed and the precautions to be taken when performing water damage restoration in residential, commercial, and institutional buildings". It covers microbiology, building science, drying technology, safety, structural and HVAC restoration and contents.

This is a document, not a credential; a person cannot be "S500 certified". The corresponding technician certifications are WRT and ASD.

Issued by

Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification

For

Water damage restorers, and adjusters and consultants evaluating water mitigation work.

Requirements

Not published by the issuer in the pages we read. Ask them directly.

An ANSI-approved consensus standard, currently the fourth edition (2024), describing "the procedures to be followed and the precautions to be taken when performing mold remediation in residential, commercial, and institutional buildings". It addresses assessment, containment, safety, structural and HVAC remediation, contents and post-remediation verification.

A document rather than a credential; the related technician certification is AMRT.

Issued by

Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification

For

Mould remediation contractors, indoor environmental professionals, and adjusters and consultants reviewing remediation scopes.

Requirements

Not published by the issuer in the pages we read. Ask them directly.

An ANSI-approved consensus standard, first edition (2025), covering the principles, processes and procedures for assessing the presence, intensity and boundaries of fire residues and odours, restoration cleaning and odour management of buildings and contents, contractor qualifications and restoration work plans. It applies to fire events in buildings and excludes wildfires.

The newest of the three S-series standards most relevant to property claims; a document, not a credential. The related technician certification is FSRT.

Issued by

Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification

For

Fire and smoke restoration contractors and those evaluating fire restoration scopes.

Requirements

Not published by the issuer in the pages we read. Ask them directly.