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State guide

How to become a public adjuster in Connecticut

Connecticut requires a public adjuster license. Fees are capped at 10% of the final settlement; the governing law is CGS §§ 38a-723 to 38a-726; Conn. Agencies Regs. § 38a-788-8.

No fee at all if the insurer offers full policy limits in writing within 30 days of a fire-policy structure loss.

The pathway

Getting licensed in Connecticut

The license is the Public Adjuster. It is its own license, so make sure any course or exam you book is the public adjuster one and not the company or independent adjuster version. Issued by the Connecticut Insurance Department (CID) under Conn. Gen. Stat. Chapter 701b (38a-723 to 38a-726) and 38a-769 / 38a-788. Company and independent adjusters hold a separate 'Casualty Adjuster' license (38a-792); the Public Adjuster license is property-only.

Official sources

Gathered from these sources on August 28, 2026. Fees and hours change with the legislative calendar, and this page may be out of date. The regulator’s own page is the only current authority.

  1. Complete a 40-hour Connecticut-approved public adjuster prelicensing course covering property insurance policies and forms; keep the completion certificate.

  2. Download the Pearson VUE Connecticut candidate handbook, reserve the Public Adjuster exam (code 12-CT-08, $65, 2 hours), and bring your prelicensing certificate to the test center.

  3. After passing, wait 1-2 business days for Pearson VUE to upload your result to the Insurance Department.

  4. Apply for the Public Adjuster license through NIPR (nipr.com) and pay the $300 initial fee; no fingerprints or bond are required.

  5. Before starting work, prepare the mandatory written employment contract with the state-required cancellation notice and fee limits (38a-724; R.C.S.A. 38a-788-6).

  6. Renew through NIPR by April 30 of every even-numbered year and pay $250; no continuing education is required.

Who can apply
At least 18 years old · Residents and non-residents · None. Applicant must show good moral character and financial responsibility (38a-769(e)). Residents apply for a resident license; nonresidents must hold an equivalent public adjuster license in another state, except that a person whose home state does not offer a public adjuster license may designate Connecticut as home state (38a-769(a)-(c)).
Prelicensing course
40 hours Approved course of not less than 40 hours covering property insurance policies and forms, completed before the exam (38a-788(b)); the Pearson VUE handbook lists 'Property (Public Adjuster)' at 40 hours. Certificate or waiver letter must be presented at the test center.
State exam
Pearson VUE · 120 minutes · $65 per attempt Handbook states the passing score is set by CID and score reports show only 'pass'. Exam may be waived for nonresidents licensed as public adjusters in another state, or for anyone licensed in CT under the same license type within the prior two years (38a-788(a)). Failed candidates may face a waiting period of up to six months (38a-769(e)).
Application
NIPR · $300 application fee Pearson VUE exam $65; renewal $250; reinstatement $300; NIPR transaction fee may apply. CID: initial $300 (includes the non-refundable, non-prorated $50 application fee on top of the $250 license fee in 38a-11(13)(B)). Wait 1-2 business days after passing the exam for results to upload before applying; CID verifies results electronically.
Background check
CID states this license type does not require fingerprints; the application asks character and fitness questions.
Surety bond
No bond required No bond requirement was found for public adjusters in Chapter 701b, 38a-769, 38a-788, R.C.S.A. 38a-788-1 to -8, or the CID licensing page; the former general bond section 38a-795 was repealed in 2002.
Renewal
Every 2 years · $250 All public adjuster licenses expire April 30 of every even-numbered year, regardless of issue date (38a-788(c); CID). No pro-rating. Renew through NIPR; renewal notices are emailed about 90 days before expiration. A resident license cancelled for two or more years requires re-passing the exam and a $300 reinstatement.
Continuing education
None required CID's public adjuster page states 'Connecticut does not require CE for any Public Adjuster.' A 2022 bill (HB 5387) would have directed the Commissioner to adopt CE regulations for public adjusters, but no such requirement appears in the current statutes or on CID's page.
Already licensed elsewhere?
Reciprocity available CID grants reciprocity to applicants holding an equivalent public adjuster license in another state; the exam is waived for such nonresidents (38a-788(a)). Nonresidents apply through NIPR.

Not stated in these sources

These points were not stated in the sources listed, so we have left them blank rather than guess. Ask the regulator directly:

  • ·Exam questions: Pearson VUE handbook gives the fee and 2-hour time limit but not the item count; the content outline PDF could not be reached.
  • ·Exam passing score: Handbook says the passing score is set by CID and reports are pass/fail only; no number published.
  • ·Bond amount: No bond requirement found in any primary source; reported as none.
  • ·Continuing education required: Based on CID's page statement; whether HB 5387 (2022) was enacted and regulations followed could not be confirmed from cga.ct.gov.

Connecticut in the reference tables

Each table answers one question for all 50 states and DC, with the citation. Open one and find the Connecticut row.

See how a claim runs in Connecticut, stage by stage Associations covering Connecticut

Connecticut law in the library

25 primary-source documents for Connecticut: statutes, regulations, bulletins and consumer guides, stored as published. Sign in to open them.

  • Chapter 701b - Public Adjusters, Conn. Gen. Stat. Sections 38a-723 to 38a-730 (verbatim) Connecticut General Assembly
  • Chapter 704, Part I - Unfair Practices, Sections 38a-815 to 38a-823 (verbatim) Connecticut General Assembly
  • Chapter 735a - Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act, Sections 42-110a to 42-110q (verbatim) Connecticut General Assembly
  • Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 38a-726 - Fees charged (2026 Supplement, as amended by P.A. 25-106) Connecticut General Assembly
  • Conn. Public Act No. 12-162 — An Act Concerning Various Changes to Property and Casualty Insurance Statutes Connecticut General Assembly
  • Public Act 13-148 - Mediation program for certain insurance policy claims (verbatim enrolled act) Connecticut General Assembly
  • R.C.S.A. Sections 38a-328-1 through 38a-328-20 - Connecticut FAIR Plan (verbatim) Connecticut Insurance Department
  • R.C.S.A. Sections 38a-788-1 through 38a-788-8 - Public Adjusters (verbatim) Connecticut Insurance Department