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State guide

How to become a public adjuster in District of Columbia

District of Columbia requires a public adjuster license. Fees are capped at 10% of the total insurance recovery; the surety bond is $20,000; the governing law is D.C. Code § 31-1631.01 et seq..

The pathway

Getting licensed in District of Columbia

The license is the Public Insurance 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. DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB), under D.C. Code ch. 16A (§ 31-1631.01 et seq.) and 26-A DCMR ch. 39.

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 Fees and hours change with the legislative calendar, and this page may be out of date.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. Schedule and pass the DC Public Adjuster exam with Pearson VUE ($75, 50 scored questions, 1 hour).

  2. Obtain a $20,000 surety bond in favor of the District using DISB's bond form.

  3. Within 1 year of passing, apply through NIPR, pay the $100 biennial fee, and submit the bond, a copy of the contract form you will use, and the list of employees authorized to negotiate settlements.

  4. Once licensed, use only the approved contract form and never charge more than 10% of the recovery (§ 31-1631.10(e)).

  5. Renew with DISB before April 30 of each odd-numbered year and pay the $100 renewal fee; no CE is required for this license.

Who can apply
Residents and non-residents · Applicant must have 'sufficient experience, training, and instruction concerning the adjusting of first party claims' as determined by the Commissioner (§ 31-1631.04(a)(3)); no hour or year threshold is published. Statute allows licensing without exam for holders of a like license from a reciprocal state (§ 31-1631.04(b)).
Prelicensing course
Not stated in these sources Pearson VUE handbook states a 40-hour course is 'not mandated' but that candidates 'have to show proof of a Pre-Licensing Course of study prior to sitting' for the DC exam; unclear whether this applies to the Public Adjuster exam.
State exam
Pearson VUE · 50 questions · 60 minutes · $75 per attempt 50 scored questions per the DC content outline (Sept. 2, 2025); 1 hour per the candidate handbook. Apply within 1 year of passing.
Application
NIPR · $100 application fee Exam $75 (Pearson VUE); $20,000 surety bond premium. $100 biennial 'Public Insurance Adjuster - Individual Entity' fee per DISB fee schedule. Applicant must file a $20,000 bond and a list of employees authorized to negotiate settlements (26-A DCMR 3900.5, 3900.8).
Background check
Not stated in these sources
Surety bond
$20,000 Surety bond in favor of the District, filed at application; license automatically terminates if the bond lapses (§ 31-1631.05; 26-A DCMR 3900.5). DISB publishes a fillable bond form.
Renewal
Every 2 years · $100 License runs from issuance until April 30 of the next odd-numbered year; renewal request and fee must be received by that date (§ 31-1631.04(c)). 30-day late renewal with late fee; after that the license lapses and reinstatement is required (26-A DCMR 3902.5-3902.6).
Continuing education
None required Neither D.C. Code ch. 16A nor 26-A DCMR ch. 39 imposes CE on public insurance adjusters; DISB's 24-hour CE page applies to insurance producers.
Already licensed elsewhere?
Reciprocity available Exam may be waived for an applicant holding a like license in good standing whose state certifies a passed exam and recognizes DC licenses reciprocally (§ 31-1631.04(b)).

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 passing score: Handbook passing-score table lists only 'Producer 70'; no Public Adjuster row
  • ·Eligibility minimum age: No age requirement found in ch. 16A or 26-A DCMR ch. 39
  • ·Eligibility background check: DISB public adjuster page could not be reached when we checked; fingerprint requirement not confirmed from a primary source
  • ·Prelicensing required: Handbook language is contradictory; the DISB page could not be reached
  • ·Application method: DISB page (could not be reached) is reported to direct applicants to NIPR; confirmed only via the Pearson VUE handbook's general instruction to apply at nipr.com

District of Columbia in the reference tables

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

See how a claim runs in District of Columbia, stage by stage Associations covering District of Columbia

District of Columbia law in the library

20 primary-source documents for District of Columbia: statutes, regulations, bulletins and consumer guides, stored as published. Sign in to open them.

  • Chapter 16A. Public Insurance Adjuster Licensure. Council of the District of Columbia
  • Chapter 50. Insurance Placement. Council of the District of Columbia
  • Interest on Judgments - D.C. Code §§ 15-108, 15-109 and 28-3302 Council of the District of Columbia
  • Title 26-A DCMR, Chapter 13 - Insurance Placement Facilities (District of Columbia Property Insurance Facility) Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking / Office of Documents and Administrative Issuances
  • Title 26-A DCMR, Chapter 3 - Prohibitions on Arbitrary Cancellation Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking / Office of Documents and Administrative Issuances
  • Title 26-A DCMR, Chapter 39 - Public Insurance Adjusters Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking / Office of Documents and Administrative Issuances
  • Title 26-A DCMR, Chapter 50 - Unfair Trade Practices Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking / Office of Documents and Administrative Issuances
  • § 12-301. Limitation of time for bringing actions. Council of the District of Columbia