Ohio does not have an adjuster license requirement and does not offer its own adjuster license. However, in most work situations, you will still be required to have a license. Most importantly, public experts must be expert observers, capable of analyzing damage and drawing financial conclusions from the details of a case. However, since insurance adjusters often deal with natural disasters, having a license in several states will help you become a successful claims adjuster.
Public appraisers could benefit from acquiring these certifications on a voluntary basis, especially if they frequently work with claims involving those companies. However, for those who invest this effort, public adjustment is an incredibly rewarding career that offers an active lifestyle on a daily basis, great work flexibility, interesting daily challenges and the opportunity to learn new things in every case you face. If a person has a high school diploma and some relevant work experience, and all they need to do is obtain an appraiser's license, it will only take a few weeks for them to become a claims appraiser. Many public appraisers also travel to places where recent disasters occurred to make themselves available to policyholders after the event.
As you can see, becoming a public appraiser is not a simple task, but requires a lot of work, skill and determination. The content of each state's exam varies, but every prospective public appraiser needs a solid basic understanding of some key insurance basics. Another way to gradually start public adjustment is to start as a claims adjuster, working for an insurance agency. Whether an adjuster is independent or works for an adjustment company, networking is a key ingredient for developing a successful and satisfying career.
However, some states have reciprocity agreements that allow public appraisers to obtain licenses in other states without having to pass multiple exams. Generally, that license will be reciprocated with that of many other states, allowing you to apply for a non-resident appraiser's license without having to sit for that state's appraiser license exam. Like a claims adjuster, public experts visit damage sites and investigate what happened, why it happened, who is responsible, and how much the damages cost. The minimum education required to become a public insurance adjuster is a high school diploma or equivalent (GED).
Some public appraisers choose to obtain additional certifications that can make their work easier and strengthen their reliability in the eyes of potential clients. You can also consider what your focus will be as a public appraiser and what your specialty will be in a topic related to that specialty.
