20-321.01. Licensing of adjusters; qualifications; exemption

A. A person shall not act as or claim to be an adjuster unless the person is licensed under this article.

B. To obtain a license as an adjuster a person shall apply to the director for the license and use the forms prescribed and provided by the director.  The director shall issue the license to qualified persons on payment of the license fee prescribed in section 20-167.

C. To be licensed as an adjuster the applicant shall meet all of the following qualifications:

1. Be a person who is at least eighteen years of age.

2. Be a resident of this state or a resident of another state that allows residents of this state to act as adjusters in the other state.

3. Take and pass an examination that is given by or under the supervision of the director and that reasonably tests the applicant's knowledge of insurance and legal responsibilities as an adjuster and otherwise comply with section 20-321.02.  Notwithstanding subsection D of this section, the requirements under this paragraph and paragraph 2 of this subsection are waived if the applicant holds a current claims certificate issued by a national or state-based claims association with a certification program that is approved by the director and that consists of at least forty hours of preexamination course work, a proctored examination of sufficient length to adequately determine the competency of the applicant and at least twenty-four hours of continuing education required for certification renewals on a biennial basis.

D. An adjuster who is licensed or allowed to act as an adjuster in the state of the adjuster's domicile is not required to be licensed pursuant to this section or meet the qualifications prescribed in this section if the adjuster is sent to this state on behalf of an insurer for the purpose of investigating or making adjustment of a particular loss under an insurance policy or a series of losses resulting from a catastrophe common to all those losses.

E. To determine license eligibility, the director may require fingerprints of applicants and the submission of the fee and the fingerprints as required by section 20-285, subsection E, paragraph 2.

F. The director may contract with nongovernmental entities to perform any ministerial functions, including collection of fees and data related to licensing, that the director deems appropriate.

G. A resident of Canada may apply for a license that grants the applicant the authority only to adjust portable electronics insurance claims in this state if the person has obtained an adjuster license in another state that allows that person to adjust portable electronics insurance claims in that state.  A Canadian resident who qualifies for licensure as an adjuster under this subsection is not subject to section 25-320, subsection P.

H. An applicant who resides in a state that does not issue licenses to adjusters and who is otherwise allowed to adjust portable electronics insurance claims in the applicant's resident state may apply for a license that grants the applicant the authority only to adjust portable electronics insurance claims in this state.