State guide
How to become a public adjuster in Montana
Montana requires a public adjuster license. There is no statutory fee cap; the surety bond is $5,000; the governing law is MCA §§ 33-17-301 to 33-17-303; ARM 6.6.1611.
The pathway
Getting licensed in Montana
The Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance issues the Public Adjuster (adjuster license class) license. Montana uses one adjuster license for company, independent and public adjusters; you declare which you are on the application. Montana licenses all adjusters under MCA 33-17-301; 'Public Adjuster' is one of the adjuster license classes (alongside Multi-line and Crop) with its own exam and a bond requirement that applies to public adjusters only (ARM 6.6.1611). The CSI page says applicants may not hold Adjuster and Public Adjuster licenses at the same time.
Official sources
- Montana CSI: Insurance Licensing page
- MCA 33-17-301 to 33-17-303, adjuster licensing
- MCA 33-2-708, license fees (adjuster $50 / renewal $100 / reinstatement $200)
- ARM 6.6.1601 to 6.6.1613, public adjuster rules (bond, exam)
- Pearson VUE Montana Insurance Licensing Candidate Handbook (June 2025)
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 Fees and hours change with the legislative calendar, and this page may be out of date.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.
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Pass the Montana Public Adjuster exam at Pearson VUE (50 questions, 60 minutes, $65) within a year of applying.
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Get fingerprinted and submit the Applicant Rights and Consent to Fingerprint form for the background check.
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Obtain a $5,000 surety bond and gather a copy of the contracts you will use with clients.
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Apply on NIPR for the Public Adjuster license class and pay the $50 fee; email or fax the bond and contracts to the CSI licensing unit.
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Complete 24 CE hours (3 ethics, 1 Montana legislative update) and renew in your birth month every two years for $100.
- Who can apply
- At least 18 years old · State residency required · None Resident of Montana, or of a state that permits Montana residents to act as adjusters there; may designate a home state if the home state does not license. Must maintain an office in Montana accessible to the public (MCA 33-17-301).
- Prelicensing course
- Not required No prelicensing education requirement for adjusters in the statute or handbook
- State exam
- Pearson VUE · 50 questions · 60 minutes · pass at 75 (scaled) · $65 per attempt 50 scored questions on product knowledge, statutes and rules; must be passed within one year before applying. Nonresidents previously licensed elsewhere are exempt (MCA 33-17-301(4)).
- Application
- NIPR · $50 application fee State exam $65. Fee set by MCA 33-2-708. Send the bond and a copy of your client contracts to producerlicensing@mt.gov or fax (406) 444-3497.
- Background check
- Fingerprint-based licensing background examination required for resident applicants (MCA 33-17-301(2)(e), 33-17-220); submit the Applicant Rights and Consent to Fingerprint form
- Surety bond
- $5,000 Surety bond in favor of the people of Montana; surety may cancel on 30 days' written notice (ARM 6.6.1611)
- Renewal
- Every 2 years · $100 Biennial renewal in the licensee's birth month; license lapses if not renewed by the renewal date. Lapsed license reinstatement fee $200 (MCA 33-2-708).
- Continuing education
- 24 hours · Every 2 years · 3 in ethics Includes 1 hour on Montana legislative changes; complete by the license renewal date
- Already licensed elsewhere?
- Reciprocity available Nonresidents from reciprocating states apply on NIPR; exam and prelicensing waived if previously licensed in another state (MCA 33-17-301(4))
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:
- ·Application fingerprint fee: Neither the CSI page nor the handbook publishes the fingerprint fee
Montana in the reference tables
Each table answers one question for all 50 states and DC, with the citation. Open one and find the Montana row.
- Additional Living Expenses (ALE) & Loss of Use Reference Guide
- Appraisal Demand Deadlines & Requirements
- Assignment of Benefits (AOB) Restrictions
- Bad Faith Framework
- Common Endorsements Reference Guide
- Cosmetic Damage Exclusion Rules
- Depreciation & ACV Calculation Rules
- Depreciation Schedules by Category
- Examination Under Oath (EUO) Requirements
- FAIR Plans & Wind Pools
- Fire Insurance Claims Reference Guide
- Hurricane & Named Storm Deductible Rules
- NFIP Flood Insurance Claims Requirements
- Notice of Claim Filing Deadlines
- Penalty Interest Rates & Remedies
- Pre-Suit Notice Requirements
- Proof of Loss Requirements
- Property Insurance Claims Timelines
- Public Adjuster Licensing & Fee Caps
- Statute of Limitations (SOL)
- Valued Policy Laws
- Wind vs. Water Causation & Anti-Concurrent Causation Rules
- Window Insurance Claims Reference Guide
Montana law in the library
34 primary-source documents for Montana: statutes, regulations, bulletins and consumer guides, stored as published. Sign in to open them.
- 27-2-202. Actions based on contract or other obligation, MCA Montana Legislature
- 27-5-114. Validity of arbitration agreement -- exceptions, MCA Montana Legislature
- 33-17-102. Definitions, MCA Montana Legislature
- 33-18-201. Unfair claim settlement practices prohibited, MCA Montana Legislature
- 33-18-232. Time for payment of claims, MCA Montana Legislature
- 33-18-233. Administrative penalty for failure to pay promptly, MCA Montana Legislature
- 33-18-242. Independent cause of action -- burden of proof, MCA Montana Legislature
- 33-18-243. Insured and third-party claimant's duties -- affirmative defense, MCA Montana Legislature