1.2 Connecticut Adjuster License Series & Requirements

1.2 Connecticut Adjuster License Series & Requirements

In Connecticut, claims adjusting is governed by rigorous statutory standards to ensure that individuals evaluating liability, interpreting complex coverage terms, and authorizing financial disbursements possess verified professional competence. The legal foundation for adjuster credentialing is codified in Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.) § 38a-792.

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Statutory Definition of Casualty Adjuster (C.G.S. § 38a-792)

Under C.G.S. § 38a-792, a casualty adjuster is defined as any person, partnership, association, or corporation who, for pay, commission, or any other financial consideration, investigates, negotiates, or settles claims arising under casualty insurance contracts on behalf of either the insurer or the insured.

The statute draws a sharp distinction based on representation:

• Casualty Adjusters (Independent or Staff Adjusters): Represent the legal and financial interests of insurance companies or self-insured entities.
• Public Adjusters: Represent exclusively the insured policyholder in evaluating and negotiating first-party property claims. Public adjusters are licensed under a separate statutory section (C.G.S. § 38a-723) and are subject to distinct contractual and ethical restrictions.

Anyone performing casualty adjusting duties in Connecticut without a valid CID license commits a misdemeanor punishable by administrative fines and potential criminal referral under C.G.S. § 38a-792(d).

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Connecticut Adjuster License Series Breakdown

The Connecticut Insurance Department categorizes adjuster credentials into specific license series based on the lines of insurance the adjuster is authorized to handle. Selecting the correct license series is critical, as adjusting claims outside your licensed authority constitutes unlicensed activity.

1. Series 12-CT-09: All Lines Including Workers' Compensation Adjuster

This is Connecticut's most comprehensive adjuster license. Pearson VUE administers the 12-CT-09 All Lines Casualty Adjuster exam as 100 scoreable questions in 2 hours for a $70 exam fee (passing score 70% per the Candidate Handbook for all exams other than Bail Bonds). The Series 12-CT-09 authorizes the holder to investigate, negotiate, and settle all lines of casualty, property, auto, marine, liability, and statutory Workers' Compensation claims governed by C.G.S. Chapter 568. Because Connecticut Workers' Compensation law involves complex medical fee schedules and informal commissioner hearings, this series requires passing a comprehensive Pearson VUE examination that heavily tests Chapter 568 statutes.

2. Series 12-CT-10: All Lines Excluding Workers' Compensation Adjuster

The Series 12-CT-10 license permits adjusters to handle all first-party property and third-party casualty liability claims—including homeowners, commercial liability, auto, and general casualty lines—but strictly excludes Workers' Compensation claims. This license is ideal for general property and liability adjusters who do not handle occupational injury claims.

3. Series 12-CT-12: Auto Adjuster

The Series 12-CT-12 license authorizes adjusters to handle motor vehicle physical damage, vehicle liability, collision, comprehensive (OTC), and automobile bodily injury claims.

Crucial Connecticut Distinction: Adjusters must distinguish between an Auto Casualty Adjuster (Series 12-CT-12) and a Motor Vehicle Physical Damage Appraiser. Under C.G.S. § 38a-790, a Motor Vehicle Physical Damage Appraiser writes repair estimates and evaluates physical auto damage but does NOT negotiate liability, evaluate bodily injury claims, or execute legal releases. Adjusters negotiating auto liability or injury claims must hold Series 12-CT-12 (or 12-CT-09/12-CT-10).

4. Series 12-CT-11: Workers' Compensation Only Casualty Adjuster

The Series 12-CT-11 exam (Pearson VUE Candidate Handbook) is a focused Workers' Compensation Only casualty adjuster examination: 50 scoreable questions, 1 hour, $70 exam fee. It authorizes WC-only adjusting under Title 31, Chapter 568 and does not authorize general property/casualty or auto adjusting. Candidates who need both WC and Auto authority without full All Lines may hold WC Only and Auto Only together (CID lines-of-authority rules).

Official exam inventory (Pearson VUE handbook): Connecticut publishes only 12-CT-09, 12-CT-10, 12-CT-11, and 12-CT-12 as casualty adjuster exams. There is no Series 12-CT-11 or 12-CT-16 adjuster exam. Separately, 12-CT-16 is the Motor Vehicle Physical Damage Appraiser exam (not an adjuster series), and 12-CT-08 is the Public Adjuster exam.

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Comprehensive License Series Comparison Table

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Statutory Staff Producer Settlement Exemption (C.G.S. § 38a-792-3)

Connecticut law recognizes a narrow, practical exception to the mandatory casualty adjuster licensing requirement for minor property settlements handled by licensed producers.

Under Regs. Conn. State Agencies § 38a-792-3 (Settlement of small property damage losses by agents), any licensed producer (agent) of an insurer who has authority to settle property damage losses not exceeding $1,500 need not be licensed as an adjuster under C.G.S. § 38a-792, so long as the person is licensed as a producer. Practical exam application:

1. The total settlement amount does not exceed $1,500 per claim.
2. The claim involves first-party property damage only (not liability or bodily injury).
3. The producer holds a valid, active Connecticut P&C producer license.

If a property loss exceeds $1,500, or involves any third-party liability or bodily injury, the claim must be assigned to a fully licensed Connecticut casualty adjuster.

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Continuing Education (CE) Exemption for Casualty Adjusters

One of the most heavily tested unique provisions of Connecticut insurance law concerns continuing education.

CRITICAL LEGAL FACT: Under C.G.S. § 38a-465a(p) and CID statutory guidelines, Connecticut does NOT mandate Continuing Education (CE) credit hours for licensed Casualty Adjusters.

While Connecticut requires licensed P&C producers to complete 24 hours of CE biennially and requires Public Adjusters to meet CE obligations, independent and staff casualty adjusters are completely exempt from CE requirements. Once licensed, a casualty adjuster maintains the license by timely renewal and payment of the $80 renewal fee. Per CID updates effective October 1, 2024, individual casualty adjuster licenses renew on the licensee's birth month every other year; business entity adjuster licenses renew on June 30 of every odd-numbered year. (Older handbook tables listing only June 30 for all adjusters are superseded for individuals by the CID birth-month schedule.)

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Step-by-Step Licensing Application Workflow

To obtain an initial Connecticut Casualty Adjuster license, candidates must navigate the following statutory steps:

1. Prerequisite Eligibility: Candidate must be at least 18 years of age and demonstrate financial trustworthiness and good moral character.
2. Examination Passing: Register for and pass the appropriate Series Pearson VUE examination (e.g., Series 12-CT-09 or 12-CT-10) with a score of 70% or higher.
3. Character / Fitness Screening: Demonstrate good moral character and financial responsibility as required for licensure. Per the CID Casualty Adjuster license page, this license type does not require fingerprints.
4. NIPR Online Application: Complete the uniform electronic application on the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) portal.
5. Fee Payment: Remit the $50.00 non-refundable application fee and $130.00 initial license fee ($180 total).
6. CID License Issuance: Upon verification, the CID issues the electronic casualty adjuster license.

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Real-World Legal Scenario: Claims Assignment Compliance in Connecticut

Scenario: An independent adjusting agency based in Stamford, CT receives two claims from a carrier following a summer thunderstorm:

• Claim A: A homeowner reported roof shingle damage estimated at $1,200. The carrier's local licensed P&C agent attempts to settle the claim directly with the homeowner for $1,200.
• Claim B: A commercial bakery suffered a roof collapse and business interruption loss estimated at $85,000, along with a slip-and-fall bodily injury claim from a customer. The carrier assigns Claim B to an adjuster holding a Series 12-CT-10 license.

Legal Analysis:

• Claim A Settlement: LEGAL. Under C.G.S. § 38a-792-3, the licensed P&C producer is statutorily authorized to adjust and settle Claim A without an adjuster license because the property loss is under the $1,500 statutory limit.
• Claim B Assignment: LEGAL for property/casualty liability, but ILLEGAL if the injury claim involves Workers' Comp. Since Claim B involves commercial property and customer liability (not employee injury), the Series 12-CT-10 license is fully valid. If the employee of the bakery had also filed a Workers' Comp claim, that specific component would require an adjuster holding Series 12-CT-09.