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State guide

How to become a public adjuster in New Mexico

New Mexico requires a public adjuster license. There is no statutory fee cap; in a declared emergency 10% in a declared catastrophic disaster; the surety bond is $10,000; the governing law is 13.4.8 NMAC.

The pathway

Getting licensed in New Mexico

The New Mexico Office of Superintendent of Insurance issues the Public Adjuster license. 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 Office of Superintendent of Insurance (OSI) under NMSA 1978 § 59A-13 and 13.4.8 NMAC, which separately license public, independent and staff adjusters; only public adjusters must post a bond.

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 Fees and hours change with the legislative calendar, and this page may be out of date.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. Register with PSI and pass the New Mexico Public Adjuster exam (Series 18-39) with at least 70% ($75).

  2. Complete the national fingerprint background check after passing the exam.

  3. Obtain a $10,000 surety bond on the New Mexico bond form.

  4. Apply on NIPR, pay the $30 license fee, sign the fiduciary financial-records disclosure, and upload the bond to the NIPR Attachment Warehouse.

  5. Complete 24 hours of CE (3 ethics) and renew every two years by the end of your birth month.

Who can apply
At least 18 years old · Residents and non-residents Bona fide New Mexico resident, or resident of a state that permits New Mexico residents to act as adjusters there (13.4.8.9(B)(2) NMAC); nonresident licensing on a reciprocal basis.
Prelicensing course
Not required No prelicensing course requirement appears in 13.4.8 NMAC, the OSI instructions or the PSI bulletin.
State exam
PSI · pass at 70% · $75 per attempt PSI replaced Prometric on August 27, 2024. Four attempts allowed per line, then a six-month wait (NMSA 59A-11-6(E)). Exam fee valid one year. Waived for applicants licensed in a reciprocal state that requires an exam (13.4.8.12(B) NMAC).
Application
NIPR · $30 application fee State exam $75. Bond on the NM Bond Form must be uploaded to the NIPR Attachment Warehouse or emailed to Agents.licensing@osi.nm.gov during or immediately after applying.
Background check
National fingerprint background check required for all resident applicants after passing the exam (OSI licensing instructions; 13.4.8 NMAC). Public adjuster applicants must also sign an authorization for disclosure of fiduciary financial records.
Surety bond
$10,000 Surety bond in favor of the superintendent of not less than $10,000 (NMSA § 59A-13-5; OSI instructions). A cash bond in like amount may be filed instead.
Renewal
Every 2 years Biennial renewal fee due on or before the last day of the second occurrence of the licensee's birth month after issuance (13.4.8.13(A) NMAC); late renewal allowed within one year of expiration. Fees are set by NMSA § 59A-6-1; OSI notes fees are subject to change each biennium.
Continuing education
24 hours · Every 2 years · 3 in ethics OSI: 24 credit hours (21 general, 3 ethics) before renewing a resident adjuster license; must be completed in the 24 months preceding renewal (13.4.8.13 NMAC, 13.4.7 NMAC).
Already licensed elsewhere?
Reciprocity available Nonresident license without exam for applicants holding an active resident license in a state that requires an exam and reciprocates (13.4.8.9, 13.4.8.12(B) NMAC).

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: PSI bulletin lists the Public Adjuster exam (18-39) but the extracted text did not show its question count or time limit.
  • ·Application fingerprint fee: OSI instructions do not state the vendor fee; third-party sites cite $59.
  • ·Renewal fee: NMSA § 59A-6-1 fee schedule could not be reached when we checked; NIPR lists a $30 reinstatement fee.

New Mexico in the reference tables

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

See how a claim runs in New Mexico, stage by stage Associations covering New Mexico

New Mexico law in the library

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

  • Contract Between Public Adjuster and Insured - NMSA 1978 Section 59A-13-15 New Mexico Legislature
  • NMSA 1978, § 59A-13-3 — License required New Mexico Legislature (compiled by the New Mexico Compilation Commission)
  • NMSA 1978, § 59A-13-5 — Bond (current text, as amended 2023) New Mexico Legislature (compiled by the New Mexico Compilation Commission)
  • NMSA 1978, § 59A-16-20 — Unfair claims practices defined and prohibited (codified text, both 2025 amendments) New Mexico Legislature (compiled by the New Mexico Compilation Commission)
  • NMSA 1978, § 59A-16-20.1 — Homeowner protection after natural disaster New Mexico Legislature (compiled by the New Mexico Compilation Commission)
  • NMSA 1978, § 59A-16-30 — Private right of action New Mexico Legislature (compiled by the New Mexico Compilation Commission)
  • NMSA 1978, § 59A-18-17 — Standard provisions, in general (residential replacement cost without depreciation) New Mexico Legislature (compiled by the New Mexico Compilation Commission)
  • NMSA 1978, §§ 37-1-3 and 37-1-4 — Limitation of actions applicable to property insurance claims New Mexico Legislature (compiled by the New Mexico Compilation Commission)