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Public Adjuster

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​​​Last Updated: October 8, 2025​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Jump to Section: Public Adjuster Registration​ | Resident Initial | Nonresident Initial | Bond Requirements | Resident Renewal and CE | Nonresident Renewal and CE | Reporting Requirements | List of Registered Public Adjusters | ​​Public Adjuster Contract Re​quirements​

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​​Public Adjuster Registration

Effective July 1, 2020, the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance will register individual public adjusters in Wisconsin per Wisconsin Act 129 ​​​. ​

A public adjuster is defined as an individual who engages in adjusting services in this state and in the case of an individual who is not a resident of this state, has registered with the commission under s. 629.02 ​​​(2), Wis. Stat. ​​, but does not include any of the fo​​llowing:

  • ​An attorney​ admitted to practice in this state while acting in his or her professional capacity as an attorney.

  • An individual who negotiates or settles claims arising under a life insurance policy, a policy of disability insurance, as defined i​n s. 645.675(1)(h), Wis. Stat. ​, or an annuity contract.

  • An individual employed solely for the purpose of obtaining facts surrounding a loss of furnishing technical assistance to the public adjuster, including a photographer, estimator, private investigator, engineer, or handwriting expert.

  • An individual who settles subrogation claims between insurers.

  • An individual who is licensed as an intermediary under s. 628.04, Wis. Stat . or s. 628.09, Wis. Stat . while acting in his or her professional capacity as an intermediary.

  • An individual who represents an insurer in negotiations for the settlement of a claim against the insurer arising out of the coverage provided by an insurance policy.

​Adjusting services means to act on behalf of an insured, exchange for compensation, with the preparation, completion, or filing of a first-party claim including by negotiating values, damages, or depreciation or by applying the loss circumstances to insurance policy provisions.

Wisconsin does not currently offer entity public adjuster registrations.
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For more information, please refer to s. 629, Wis. Stat. and the F​AQs.
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Resident Initial Application Requirements

Residents of Wisconsin may (but are not required to) apply for a public adjuster registration following the steps below:​
 
Registration Steps:

  1. Download and review the Wisconsin Candidate Information Bulletin​ for detailed information. 
  2. ​Contact PSI to schedule an exam reservation. The exam Fee is $​50. The easiest way to register is online at PSI WI exams ​​ or by phone at 800-733-9267.
  3. Review the examination content outline for public adjuster located in the Wisconsin Candidate Information Bulletin​. You may also take practice tests ​​ prior to taking your state exam.
  4. You must bring at least two forms of identification to the test center in order to take the exam. The exam score result(s) will be available after completing the exam(s). ​​You must wait 48 to 72 hours after passing the examination for exam scores to be recorded with NIPR before you will be allowed to submit the electronic application.​
  5. Apply for your registration via NIPR at nipr.com​ ​​. 
  6. Pay initial application fee is $50.
  7. ​​A new original performance bond (signed and sealed) and mailed directly to our office.
    Mail an original performance bond to:
    OCI Agent Licensing
    Attn: Public Adjuster Bond
    P.O. Box 7872
    ​Madison, WI 53707-7872​​
  8. Submit a written statement including the following to ociagentlicensing@wisconsin.gov:
    • ​Address of home office in state of residence.
    • A written statement attesting to your availability to the public through reasonable appointment or regular business hours.​​
Once your application has been submitted to OCI, you will have 90 days to submit any required information/requirements. Failure to supply the required documentation will cause your application to be CLOSED as EXPIRED. Fees are non-refundable.

If you applied for a license or registration type in error, you will need to submit a written request to our office requesting the withdrawal of the application. The application process and the withdrawal of the application represent an administrative expense for the agency and, therefore, the fees are non-refundable.

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Nonresident Initial Application Requirements

Nonresidents are required ​to be registered in Wisconsin prior to engaging in adjusting services in this state.​

Nonresident applicants must have passed a written examination in their home state to obtain registration in Wisconsin or if your home state does not license/register public adjusters, individuals must then complete the Wisconsin public adjuster exam through PSI (see above). The commissioner may request proof of a passing exam in order to verify examination requirement.
 
Registration Steps:

  1. Apply online at nipr.com ​​. 
  2. Pay registration fee of $50.
  3. Submit a new original performance bond (signed and sealed) and mailed directly to our office.
    Mail an original performance bond to:
    OCI Agent Licensing
    Attn: Public Adjuster Bond
    P.O. Box 7872
    Madison, WI 53707-7872​
  4.  ​Submit a written statement including the following to ociagentlicen​sing@wisconsin.gov:
    • Address of home office in state of residence.
    • A written statement attesting to your availability to the public through reasonable appointment or regular business hours.​​​
Once your application has been submitted to OCI, you will have 90 days to submit any required information/requirements. Failure to supply the required documentation will cause your application to be CLOSED as EXPIRED. Fees are non-refundable.

If you applied for a license or registration type in error, you will need to submit a written request to our office requesting the withdrawal of the application. The application process and the withdrawal of the application represent an administrative expense for the agency and, therefore, the fees are non-refundable.

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​Bond Requirements

Prior to the registration approval as a public adjuster and for the duration of the registration, the applicant shall secure evidence of financial responsibility in a format prescribed by the insurance commissioner through bond per s. 629.082, Wis. Stat. ​.

A bond executed and issued by an insurer authorized to issue surety bonds in this state, which bond:

  • Shall be in the minimum amount of $20,000​;
  • Shall be favor of this state and shall specifically authorize recovery by the commissioner on behalf of any person in this state who sustained damages as the results of erroneous acts, failure to act, conviction of fraud, or conviction of unfair practices in his or her capacity as a public adjuster; and
  • Shall not be terminated unless at least 30 days prior written notice will have been filed with the commissioner and given to the registrant.

An OCI Bond Template​​​ has been created and can be used to satisfy the bond requirement.

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​​Resident Renewal of Registration and Continuing Education Requirements

Public adjusters renew every two years from the date of issuance on the last day of that month. Resident public adjuster must complete on a biennial basis, a minimum of 15 credits of continuing education (CE), including three credits of ethics per s. 629.11, Wis. Sta​t. ​​ ​.

Public adjusters are encouraged to complete CE courses online to avoid delay in renewing their registration. The following link contains information regarding online CE options: sbs.naic.org/solar-external-lookup ​​.

Please note: If you hold both a public adjuster registration and intermediary (producer) individual license, CE completed will count towards both CE requirements. For example, a completed course for your producer license will also count towards your public adjuster CE requirements. 

Public adjuster registrations are available to renew 90 days prior to the registration expiration date. CE must be completed and submitted to OCI by the education providers prior to submitting your renewal application. 

Renewal Steps:

  1. ​Submit a renewal application online at nipr.com ​​. 
  2. Pay renewal fee of $50.
  3. ​If any changes in bond coverage, a new original bond (signed and sealed) must be sent directly to OCI.​​

​Once your renewal application has been submitted to OCI, you will have up to your expiration date to submit any required information/requirements. Failure to supply the required documentation will cause your renewal application to be CLOSED as EXPIRED. Fees are non-refundable.

Public adjuster registrations are not eligible for reinstatement. If the renewal is not paid by the expiration date, the registration will be canceled and you must re-take the examination, ​re-apply, pay applicable fees, and submit required documentation. 

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Nonresident Renewal of Registration and Continuing Education Requirements

Nonresident public adjuster renew every two years from the date of issuance on the last day of that month. Nonresident public adjusters who comply with CE requirements in their home state that are substantially similar to the requirements in Wisconsin will satisfy CE requirement in this state per s. 629.11 (2), Wis. Stat.​ ​​.

If your resident state does NOT have CE requirements, you must complete Wisconsin CE requirements in order to renew your registration. You will be required to complete 15 credits of CE, including 3 credits of ethics per s. 629.11, Wis. Stat.​ ​.

The following link contains information regarding online CE options:sbs.naic.org/solar-external-lookup ​​

Public adjuster registrations are available to renew 90 days prior ​to the registration expiration date. CE must be completed and submitted to OCI by the education provider prior to submitting your renewal application. 

Renewal Steps:

  1. Submit a renewal application online at​ nipr.com​ ​​​. 
  2. Pay renewal fee of $50.
  3. If any changes in bond coverage, a new original bond (signed and sealed) must be sent directly to OCI.​

​Once your renewal application has been submitted to OCI, you will have up to your expiration date to submit any required information/requirements. Failure to supply the required documentation will cause your renewal application to be CLOSED as EXPIRED. Fees are non-refundable.

Public adjuster registrations are not eligible for reinstatement. If the renew​al is not paid by the expiration date, the registration will be canceled and you must reapply, pay applicable fees, and submit required documentation.

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Reporting Requirements​​

All public adjusters working in Wisconsin must report the following within 30 days per s.629.12 Wis​. Stat​. ​​

  • Any administrative action related to the business of insurance that is taken against the public adjuster by a governmental agency or regulatory body. The report shall be made no later than 30 days after the final disposition of the matter and shall include a copy of the order, consent to order, or similar document.

  • Any criminal prosecution taken against the public adjuster in any jurisdiction. The report shall be made no later than 30 days after the date of the initial pretrial hearing and shall include a copy of the complaint, the order from the hearing, and any other information required by the commissioner.

  • OCI recommends all adjusters report any address changes, name changes, or any other changes that were initially submitted on original registration application to be reported within 30 days.

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Li​st of Registered Public Adjus​​ters

OCI is required by s. 629.02 (1), Wis. Stat. to maintain a list of public adjusters registered with our office available to the public. ​

Nonresident public adjusters are required to obtain the registration and will be listed. Wisconsin resident public adjusters will not appear on the list unless they chose to apply for registration with OCI. If you are a resident public adjuster and you would like your name to appear on this list, follow the instructions to obtain a registration.

Look up look up registered public adjusters in Wisconsin here ​ ​. You must enter the Jurisdiction (Wisconsin), the Search Type (Licensee), and Entity Type (Individual or Business Entity). Enter one of more fields asking for name or license number. Select Advanced Criteria, choose License Type (Public Adjuster) and License Status (A​ctive).

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​Public Adjuster Contract Requirements​

​Public adjusters are required to file their contracts with OCI prior to performing any adjusting service for an insured per s. 629.04 (1), Wis. Stat . Please refer to the Policy Forms and Rates Filings portion of our website for a guide on submitting the contract filing to our office. Select the Public Adjuster Form Filing Checklist for details on specific filing requirements. Contracts should be emailed to ocipublicadjusters@wisconsin.gov.​
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