If you want to be an independent or public insurance adjuster in Ontario, you must apply for a licence with the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA). If you are an adjuster employed by a licensed insurance company, you do not need your own adjuster licence.
About the licence
Types of adjusters
Insurance adjusters investigate insurance claims and determine the amount of loss or damages covered. There are three types of adjusters:
- Insurance company adjusters work in the claims departments of insurance companies and represent insurers.
- Public adjusters represent policyholders.
- Independent adjusters represent insurers or policyholders.
Public adjusters and independent adjusters need to be licensed by FSRA. Insurance company adjusters do not need a licence.
Sponsorship required with an adjusting firm
As an adjuster, you must be sponsored by an adjusting firm at all times.
- Your adjusting firm is responsible for confirming you meet all licensing requirements, and for managing the application process for your licence.
- As the adjuster, you are responsible for maintaining your licence, such as renewing it before the annual expiry date of June 30.
Fee for a new application
The fee to apply for a new adjuster licence is $75. This fee will cover your first year up to June 30. Then, you will need to renew it to keep your licence active.
Depending on the arrangement you have with your adjusting firm, they may pay the fee OR you may be responsible for paying this fee. Check with your adjusting firm for details.
Three phases of licensing
There is a three-step process for getting an adjuster licence in Ontario.
To graduate through each phase, you will need to complete the required courses offered by the Insurance Institute.
| Phase | Requirement | Restrictions |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Letter of Authority | You must successfully meet all the requirements for a new licence. | You cannot:
|
| 2. Probationary Licence | You must complete the first four Insurance Institute courses. | |
| 3. Full Adjuster Licence | You must:
| None |
Education program for new adjusters
To upgrade your licence, you will need to complete an education program, which includes the following:
| Probationary Licence |
|
| Full Adjuster Licence |
|
Probationary licence
1. Complete the following four courses:
- C11 - Principles and Practice of Insurance
- C12 - Insurance on Property
- C14 - Automobile Insurance – Part 1
- C110 - Essentials of Loss Adjusting
To review course descriptions, fees and registration details, go to Insurance Institute.
2. Request your Probationary Licence:
- when you have completed the first four courses, inform your adjusting firm
- your adjusting firm will need to send an email to FSRA ([email protected]) to request the upgrade
- FSRA will send the updated licence to your adjusting firm
- you can get a copy of the licence from your adjusting firm
Full adjuster licence:
1. Complete the following four courses AND the four courses outlined above:
- C13 - Insurance Against Liability – Part 1
- C32 - Bodily Injury Claims
- C111 - Advanced Loss Adjusting
- C112 - Practical Issues in Claims Management
To review course descriptions, fees and registration details, go to Insurance Institute.
2. Pass the Canadian Independent Adjusters’ Association (CIAA) exam
When you finish all eight Insurance Institute courses, you are eligible to complete an online exam through the CIAA. You will need to score 70% or higher to get a Full Adjuster Licence.
For more information about the exam, fees and registration details, go to CIAA.
3. Request your Full Adjuster Licence:
- the CIAA sends the exam mark directly to FSRA
- your adjusting firm still needs to request the official upgrade
- inform your adjusting firm that you have passed the exam with a grade of at least 70%
- your adjusting firm should email the upgrade request to [email protected]
- FSRA will send the updated licence to your adjusting firm
You can get a copy of the licence from your adjusting firm.
Exemptions:
- If you have a Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) designation in good standing, you can bypass the courses and write the CIAA exam. As proof, you will need to provide:
- A screenshot of the CIP membership page showing the active status and expiry date; or
- An official Insurance Institute letter dated in the last 12 months with the expiry date of the CIP designation
- If you have already completed any of the requirements from the education program, you can bypass the Letter of Authority and move to either the Probationary Licence or the Full Adjuster Licence.
Auto Equivalency exam required for applicants who want to adjust auto claims
Complete the Ontario Auto Equivalency exam offered by the Insurance Institute of Ontario (scroll down to the bottom of the page) if you wish to adjust auto claims in Ontario. If you don't complete the Auto Equivalency exam, your licence will be issued with the restriction that you can't handle auto claims in Ontario.
What are the requirements for a new licence?
Surrender your insurance agent licence
If you have a licence to sell insurance, you will need to surrender it before you can apply for an adjuster licence. Review Surrender my insurance licence for more details
If you have an insurance broker licence, go to Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario (RIBO) to cancel your licence.
Checklist for a new licence
Review this checklist to ensure you are ready to apply for a new licence.
Requirements:
- be sponsored by an adjusting firm
- be legally entitled to work in Canada
- be 18 years of age or older
- confirm you are not licensed as an insurance agent or broker
- be familiar with the laws of Ontario relating to adjusters
- be suitable for a licence
Once you have met all these requirements, you will need to begin the application process.
Criminal Record check process
Criminal record checks are part of FSRA’s rigorous licence qualification process to protect consumers by ensuring only suitable individuals sell or offer financial products and services in Ontario.
You must complete a background check before you submit your FSRA application, using Triton’s website to complete the check. Once completed, you will need to provide a copy of your Triton receipt in your application to FSRA.
Please note that a fee of $19.15 applies for Triton’s service, and the background check is valid for 90 days.
If you have any further questions about the new background check process, please contact us.
Frequently asked questions – Background check process
Ready to apply for a new licence?
- Select the appropriate application form using FSRA’s Online Services Portal
- Fill out the application form.
- You will need to verify your suitability to have a licence by confirming:
- you are a person of good character and reputation
- you meet all licensing requirements and are a suitable person to receive a licence as an adjuster
- you have provided information about bankruptcies, lawsuits, criminal records, decisions from other regulators or licensing bodies or other employment information
- you will comply with Ontario’s laws and the requirements of the adjuster’s licence
- You will need to verify your suitability to have a licence by confirming:
- Complete and upload a copy of your background check through Triton.
- Upload any relevant documentation.
- Enter your sponsoring adjusting firm's email address and submit the form.
- Once submitted, the sponsoring company will review and process the payment through the Online Services Portal using most major credit cards or select debit cards accepted by the portal.
What happens after the application is submitted:
FSRA will send you an email to confirm it has received your application.
| For most applications |
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| If the application requires additional review |
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