A Step-by-Step Beginner's Guide

Being an adjuster is a demanding job but if you play your cards right, it can be an extremely rewarding field of work as well. In today’s article, we will focus on starting a career in claims adjusting in the state of Puerto Rico.

Out of all the 50 states that comprise the USA, 16 states do not offer a home state license to adjusters. However, the absence of licensing does not diminish the importance of the same. As an up-and-coming adjuster, one must always remember the importance of obtaining a license for claims adjusting in different states across the country. This remains true for Puerto Rico as well. Let’s have a look at the process:

Requirements (Resident):

As a resident of Puerto Rico, applying for the first time for an independent adjuster license, you need to make sure you fulfill the requirements associated with the application. The application fee for a resident applicant amounts to 420 USD. This excludes the transaction fees that will be levied when you apply via NIPR.

The requirements in the application state that the applicants need to be at least 18 years old and should pass the pre-licensing exam. The validity of this exam remains for 1 year. One can enroll in a pre-licensing adjuster training course with reputed institutions such as ExamFX. As a resident applicant. one has to submit documents verifying that they do not have an active resident license for any other state. Moreover, the applicant must also submit proof of having no RIRS or 1033 actions against them as well as proof of residence in Puerto Rico.

Once one submits the application with all the requirements, one is expected to receive their license for print. For more information, visit the official NIPR website.

Requirements (Non-Resident with Home State):

For a non-resident applicant with a valid adjuster license from his home state, the process is a bit different. Since Puerto Rico does not allow designated home license, a non-resident applicant with a home state license needs to submit proof that he/she holds an equivalent license in their resident state. They must also submit proof of residence that is not in Puerto Rico. The applicant must be at least 18 years of age and must also submit proof of having no RIRS or 1033 actions against them. The application fee for a non-resident applicant with a home state license amounts to 420 USD.

An important part of applying for an independent adjuster license in Puerto Rico is to check your state’s reciprocity with it. For example, if you have a Florida 6–20 All-Lines Adjuster License, you are eligible for a reciprocal license for Puerto Rico. You can check your state’s reciprocity with Puerto Rico with the help of this reciprocity map.

Requirements (Non-Resident with no Home State):

A non-resident applicant with no home state license must also meet certain requirements to obtain a license. Since they have no home state license, they need to apply through NIPR Non-Resident Licensing No Home State application.

The minimum age for applying is 18 years. Additionally, an applicant needs to submit proof of having no active resident or non-resident adjuster state license in any other state. They must also submit proof of address which is not in Puerto Rico. The fees for a non-resident applicant with no home state amounts to 250 USD. Once you submit the application successfully with all the requirements, you can get a hard copy of your license by printing it from NIPR’s license print page.

IA Firms Operating in Puerto Rico:

Once you are a licensed independent adjuster in Puerto Rico, you can begin your career by looking at opportunities at various IA firms that operate in the state. Littleton Claims, Aspen Claims Service, Crawford, and Popular are some of the firms where you can find roles that suit your profile.

Salary and Growth:

The average salary for a claims adjuster in Puerto Rico falls between $38,749 to $49,044 a year according to recruitment and company review sites like Glassdoor and the Economic Research Institute. However, as an independent, the amount one makes totally depends on their ability to handle and close claims. In the beginning, starting out with 2 claims a day would benefit as it would help in immersing yourself with all the procedures involved. With experience, one can increase the number of claims they can handle and increase their income significantly.

We hope that with this guide you will find the right direction towards the beginning of an awesome career as an independent claims adjuster in Puerto Rico.