Qualifications
While a four-year degree isn't necessarily required for an entry-level claims adjuster position, most insurance companies prefer to hire college graduates who majored in business or (for certain adjuster jobs) architecture, engineering, or accounting.
Additionally, claims adjusters tend to come to this job having already spent a year or five in the insurance industry. Newbie claims adjusters are expected to have worked a couple of years, for example, as claims representatives; more senior claims adjusters must have three to five years of adjustment experience under their belts before they're eligible to move up the corporate ladder. Claims management positions are only available to claims adjusters who've put in eight to ten years on the job.
Licensing requirements for claims adjusters vary from state to state (source). In Florida, for example, you have to acquire an adjusters license of your very own, even if you work under the aegis of an insurance company. In other states, simply working for an insurer is enough. If you are required to get a license, chances are you’ll also be required to take continuing education coursework. And here you thought you were done with school forever.
Claims adjustment may not be the most exciting career in the world, but it does require lots of skills and abilities on your part:
- Math. You don't have to be a Fields-Medal-winning math whiz to do this job, but you do need to be able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide without getting too confused.
- Analytical skills. You're going to be awash in information about lots of different claims, and you'll need to be able to sort through all that data, organize it, and come to logical, evidence-based decisions.
- Interpersonal skills. You need to be able to deal with people at their worst. You'll have to be patient and friendly, but firm.
- Communication skills. You might be awash in information, but at least you're trained to understand it all. One part of your job will be to succinctly convey this same information to confused and frustrated claimants.
You'll need to be able to work in an office, sorting through documents all day, and in the field. Wading through red tape and bureaucracy should be your idea of a grand old time, and you'll have to be good on a computer and with software like Microsoft Office. Finally, you must be organized, given that your life will revolve around appointments with claimants, sorting through lots and lots of claims in a timely manner, and working an irregular schedule.