Idaho issues Public Adjuster licenses to individuals and agencies, residents, and non-residents. Aside from attorneys and the broker of record, Public Adjusters are the only type of claims Adjuster that can legally represent the rights of an insured during an insurance claim process.
Idaho Legal Code
Idaho Statutes: Chapter 58:
§41-5802 (Definitions)
§41-5803 (License Required)
§41-5805 (Application for License)
§41-5806 (Qualifications for Public Adjuster’s License)
§41-5812 (Requirement of Bond or Irrevocable Letter of Credit)
§41-5813 (Requirement for Continuing Education)
§41-5814 (Fees/Sharing of Commission)
§41-5815 (Contract between Public Adjuster and Insured)
§41-5816 (Requirement of Escrow/Trust Account)
§41-5817 (Record Retention)
§41-5818 (Standards of Conduct)
§41-5819 (Reporting of Actions)
Title 30:
§30-21-801 through §30-21-810 (Use of a DBA/Assumed Business Name)
Rules:
18.06.04 Continuing Education
Definitions
Public Adjuster: any person who, for compensation or any other thing of value on behalf of the insured:
Acts or aids, solely in relation to first party claims arising under insurance contracts that insure the real or personal property of the insured, on behalf of an insured in negotiating for, or effecting the settlement of, a claim for loss or damage covered by an insurance contract;
Advertises for employment as a Public Adjuster of insurance claims or solicits business or represents himself or herself to the public as a Public Adjuster of first party insurance claims for losses or damages arising out of policies of insurance that insure real or personal property; or
Directly or indirectly solicits business, investigates, or adjusts losses, or advises an insured about first party claims for losses or damages arising out of policies of insurance that insure real or personal property for another person engaged in the business of adjusting losses or damages covered by an insurance policy, for the insured.
Bond
All Public Adjusters, resident and non-residents must obtain and maintain either a Surety Bond) or Irrevocable Letter of Credit in the amount of $20,000.
Bond must be an original, on the Idaho Department of Insurance approved form and be received prior to issuance of license.
How to Apply
Click here to download detailed instructions.
Step 1: Pass the Public Adjuster Exam. For information on testing click here.
Step 2: Have your fingerprints taken for a background check. For more information on fingerprints click here.
Step 3: Obtain a bond in the amount of $20,000. The bond needs to be on the DOI’s bond form.
Step 4: Send the original bond to:
Step 5: Apply online via NIPR. There is a Non-Refundable Fee of $80.
Step 6: Send the following to agent@doi.idaho.gov or upload them to the Documents Warehouse
- Copy of Pass Slip(s)s from Exam(s)
- A copy of the fingerprint receipt from Pearson Vue
- CHRI Request and Release form
Step 7: Mail the original bond to:
Idaho Department of Insurance
700 W. State Street, Floor 3
PO Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0043
Click here to download detailed instructions.
Step 1: Hold a Public Adjuster License in your home state
Step 2: Obtain a bond in the amount of $20,000. The bond needs to be on the DOI’s bond form
Step 3: Send the original bond to:
Step 4: Apply online via NIPR. There is a Non-Refundable Fee of $80
Step 5: Mail the original bond to:
Idaho Department of Insurance
700 W. State Street, Floor 3
PO Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0043
Continuing Education (CE)
Resident producers must complete 24 hours of Continuing Education, with a minimum of 3 hours in ethics. These hours are due at the time of renewal. The DOI STRONGLY recommends residents have their CE completed 30 days or more prior to your expiration date. A renewal cannot be applied for until all required CE has been complete and posted.
The licensee may complete and submit the continuing education requirements late, however the license will not be active after the expiration of the license.
A Continuing Education Course Catalog is available for a listing of providers and approved Idaho Continuing Education courses.
There are additional penalties for completing CE late.
The completion date of any course will determine which non-refundable penalty will apply.
- $100.00 if CE is completed within 30 days of the expiration of the license.
- $200.00 if CE is completed between 31 and 60 days of the expiration of the license.
- $300.00 if CE is completed between 61 and 89 days of the expiration of the license.
- $80.00 if the CE has is completed between 90 and 365 days of the expiration of the license. The producer must retest in addition to completing the CE requirement. There is no penalty if CE has not been completed within 365 days.
Exemptions for Continuing Education:
- Business Entities
- Non-resident licensees
CE does not populate to your record, or to our online renewal system instantaneously. Please see the below for the usual timeline.
- From the day you complete your CE course the CE provider has 30 days to upload the credits per Idaho statute. If you would like them to upload the credits ASAP you will need to contact the CE provider.
- Once the credit is entered into our system it is sent in a batch report over night to the PDB.
- After the report is submitted it can take the PDB 1-5 business days to reflect the completion. Once it is reflected in the PDB you can apply for renewal on NIPR.
If you completed your CE over 30 days ago, or it has been more than five days since it was uploaded by the provider, and you are within the renewal window, but are still unable to renew on the online system please reach out to the Department of Insurance.
Renewal
The DOI STRONGLY recommends residents have their CE completed 30 days or more prior to your expiration date. You cannot apply for a renewal until CE is complete and posted. We also recommend applying for renewal at least a week in advance in case of system issues.
The Department considers the renewal of the license to be the responsibility of the licensee.
Public Adjuster licenses need to be renewed every two years. A renewal may be applied for up to 90 days prior to the expiration of your license.
Late renewals, previously referred to as reinstatements, are available up to one year past the expiration of the license via NIPR.
If more than one year has passed since the expiration of a license it can no longer be re-instated. After one year a new license will need to be applied for, including fingerprinting and testing.
Resident License Renewal
Step 1. Have your CE complete and posted to the PDB.
Step 2: Apply for a renewal via NIPR. There is a non-refundable renewal fee of $60 (plus vendor processing fee) if renewing electronically prior to expiration date.
Non-Resident License Renewal
Step 1: Hold resident license or DHS license in another state.
Step 2: Apply for a renewal via NIPR. There is a non-refundable renewal fee of $60 (plus vendor processing fee) if renewing electronically prior to expiration date.
Resident Late Renewal
Step 1. Have your CE complete and posted to the PDB.
Step 2: Mail a bond in the amount of $20,000 or proof of active bond to:
Idaho Department of Insurance
700 W State Street, 3rd Floor
PO Box 83720
Boise ID 83720-0043
Step 3: Apply for a renewal via NIPR. The reinstatement fee varies depending on the CE completion date.
- If all CE was completed prior to expiration, or no CE was required the non-refundable fee is $120.
- If CE was completed within 30 days after the expiration of the license the non-refundable fee is $220.00
- If CE was completed within 60 days after the expiration of the license the non-refundable fee is $320.00
- If CE was completed within 90 days after the expiration of the license the non-refundable fee is $420.00
Non-Resident Late Renewal
Step 1: Hold resident license or DHS license in another state.
Step 2: Mail a bond in the amount of $20,000 or proof of active bond to:
Idaho Department of Insurance
700 W State Street, 3rd Floor
PO Box 83720
Boise ID 83720-0043
Step 3: Apply for a renewal via NIPR.
Reporting of Actions
Adjusters and agencies have a duty to report any criminal or administrative actions to the Idaho Department of Insurance within 30 days per §41-1021.
Producers are encouraged to use the NIPR Reporting of Actions Warehouse at www.nipr.com as a convenient means to post documents and explanations related to reportable actions.
While the Department encourage the use of the NIPR Reporting of Actions Warehouse for documents, actions still need to be reported to the Department directly, either by e-mail or the applicable background question on new license applications and/or renewals.
Resources
Links
Check Your Continuing Education Transcripts
Printable Forms
Application Form, Business Entity Adjuster
Continuing Education, Resident Flyer
How to Apply for a Non-Resident Public Adjuster License
How to Apply for a Resident Public Adjuster License
Termination Form, for a Registration or Appointment
Update Address Form, State to State
FAQ
Where can I get a copy of my license?
You can obtain a free PDF of your license by clicking here.
Do I need a bond to get a Public Adjuster license?
Yes, click here for more information.
Do I need to send my original bond to your office?
Yes, click here for more information.
How do I apply for a Public Adjuster License?
Click here for how to apply.
How long does it take for an application to be processed?
There are many factors that go into the processing time of an application. The department can typically process a non-resident individual license application within 1-2 business days of receiving all documentation.
Many factors can increase the processing time, including but not limited to:
- Fingerprints. Processing time does not include the time waiting for fingerprints. Your application is not considered complete until the fingerprints are processed and returned to the DOI. For more information on fingerprinting click here.
- Background Issues. If you have criminal offense that needs reviewed your application will be on hold while it is reviewed. You can speed up this process by ensuring that all needed documents are submitted with your application or are already uploaded to the NIPR Document warehouse. For more information on Criminal Offenses and licensing click here.
- Applying by paper instead of online. While there are licenses that must apply via paper most can be applied for online. Applying by paper process can add upwards of 4-7 days, not including shipping time to the turnaround time.
- Inaccurate information. Make sure that everything is correct in your application, including addresses, before submitting.
- Missing Items. Ensure that you have everything on your Application Checklist completed and ready to submit together with the application. Ensuring that all documents are submitted together will help speed the process.
How long is my license good for?
Your license will expire after two years if you do not apply for and are granted a renewal. Licenses expire on the last day of your birth month. For example, if you are born in August and you have not applied for a renewal your license will be suspended on August 31st.
When can I apply to renew my license?
You can apply for renewal up to 90 days before the expiration date. Your CE must be complete before applying for renewal.
There is no grace period for license Renewal. If you do not apply for a renewal by your expiration date your license will be suspended.
How do I renew my license?
Click here for information on renewing your license.
Are Public Adjusters required to complete Continuing Education(CE)?
Yes, they must complete 24 hours of Continuing Education within each 2-year renewal period, with a minimum of 3 hours in the Ethics course category.
How long do I have to get my CE done?
You can do your CE at any time; however we do recommend that you have it complete at least 30 days BEFORE your license renewal is due. There is no grace period for CE compliance. If CE is not completed by the renewal date a late CE penalty will need to be paid before the license can be re-instated.
Can I submit a late renewal for my license?
Yes. Click here for information on renewing your license late.
How long do I have to submit a late renewal?
You have 1 year from the license’ expiration date to submit a late renewal. After that period of time, you will need to apply for a new license,, click here for more information.
How do I change the name on my license?
In order to change the name on your license you will need to submit the Name Change Form along with proof of legal name change, to the Department. Examples of accepted forms are Marriage Certificates, Divorce decree (showing a court ordered name change), Driver’s License, Passport or Legal Order. DO NOT SEND YOUR SOCIAL SEUCIRTY CARD.
How do I change my contact information (address, phone number, email address)?
Click here to change your contact information. Once updated, allow 24 hours for the updated information to appear on our website.
How long does it take for the website to reflect changes made by the Department of Insurance?
Any changes to your record are usually reflected within 24-48 hours of the change.
How do I switch my license from Non-resident to Resident?
Click here for a step-by-step guide to changing your non-resident license to resident.
How do DBA’s work in relation to my license?
Please visit the Doing Business As (DBA) page for details about DBA’s
How do I surrender/cancel my license?
There is no negative consequence or penalty in Idaho for allowing your license to lapse for failure to renew. However, if you want to voluntarily surrender your license, you may submit the appropriate Voluntary Surrender Request form. The form can be found on the Departments Forms/Links page.
Have more questions?
Contact the Licensing Team