To become a Florida 6-20 All-Lines Adjuster you confirm you are eligible (18+, Florida resident, U.S. citizen or work-authorized), then either pass the Florida 6-20 state exam at Pearson VUE (100 questions, closed book, 2-hour limit, 70% to pass, about $44) or qualify for an exemption like the 40-hour ACA course. You apply through the Florida DFS with fingerprinting, get appointed by an insurer or firm to start adjusting, and renew with 24 hours of CE every two years.
What the 6-20 license lets you do
The Florida 6-20 All-Lines Adjuster license is the resident credential that lets you adjust property, casualty, auto, and most other lines — everything except life and health. It is a single license that opens three kinds of work:
- Company / staff adjuster — you work directly for an insurer, handling its policyholders' claims.
- Independent adjuster — you work for a firm that insurers hire to handle claims on their behalf, often surging during catastrophe season.
- Public adjuster — with the proper appointment, you represent the policyholder rather than the insurer.
Florida's hurricane-claims economy drives steady demand, including catastrophe (CAT) work that can scale up fast after a storm. That is why the 6-20 is one of the most useful entry points into the claims industry.
The 5 steps to become licensed and working
The path from zero to working adjuster is a clear sequence. Take them in order:
- Confirm your eligibility. You must be at least 18, a Florida resident, and a U.S. citizen or a legal alien with federal work authorization. You also cannot already hold a resident adjuster license in another state. See the full license requirements before you start.
- Choose your route: pass the state exam or qualify for an exemption (covered in detail below).
- Submit your license application to the Florida DFS through the MyFloridaCFO / MyProfile portal, including electronic fingerprinting for the background check.
- Get appointed. Holding the license is not the same as being able to work for a specific company — an insurer or firm files an appointment for you before you can adjust on its behalf.
- Maintain the license with 24 hours of continuing education every two years.
The big choice: state exam or exemption
Step 2 is the fork in the road. Most newcomers take the state exam, delivered by Pearson VUE for the DFS. It is 100 questions, closed book, with a 2-hour limit, you need 70% to pass, and the fee is roughly $44. The full format, scheduling, and testing-center details live in the 6-20 exam overview.
You can skip the exam entirely if you qualify for a state-exam exemption — each route proves you already know the material the test would cover:
- Complete an approved 40-hour Accredited Claims Adjuster (ACA) designation course at a Florida postsecondary institution.
- Hold a Florida 2-20 General Lines agent license or an all-lines public adjuster license.
- Hold a qualifying insurance degree.
- Hold a recognized designation such as the AIC (Associate in Claims).
If you do not already hold a qualifying license or designation, the state exam is usually the fastest and cheapest route — the ~$44 fee plus focused study beats waiting on a 40-hour course. Read how to pass the exam, then build recall with a practice test before you book your seat.
Applying, appointment, and keeping the license
However you qualify, the application itself runs through the Florida DFS in the MyFloridaCFO / MyProfile portal. You create an account, complete the 6-20 application, pay the fee, and submit electronic fingerprints for the background check. Once your fingerprints clear and your qualifying route (exam or exemption) is on file, DFS issues the license.
From there, an appointment is what actually puts you to work: an insurer or independent firm files it so you can adjust claims on their behalf. After that, you keep the license current with 24 hours of CE every two years. And if you live outside Florida, this is not your license at all — non-residents apply for the 70-20 Nonresident All-Lines Adjuster license, which carries the same authority through a separate path.
Ready to pass the 6-20 exam?
The exam is the one step you can study your way past — and most people do. Full access is $49 for 3 months or $89 lifetime.