PLEASE READ
Please read all of this. Most of the information below does not consist of FAQ’s. This is information you need whether or not you decide to attend our course.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1.    Is a Texas adjuster license good in other states?
2.    Where is your classroom located?
3.    Will the VA or G.I. Bill assist with the tuition?
4.    Is there a market for adjusters?
5.    Will I need More Training After Your Class?
6.    What's the difference between an adjuster, inspector and appraiser?
7.    What are the requirements to be an adjuster?
8.    How many different types of adjusters are there?
9.    How much do adjusters make?
10.  Does Training Unlimited provide financial assistance?
11.  Do adjusters have to have a 4 year degree?
12.  How can I identify insurance companies in Texas?
13.  How much does the course cost?
14.  Is Training Unlimited certified by the Department of Insurance?
15.  Can women be adjusters?
16.  Does someone need experience to be an adjuster?
17.  Does Training Unlimited provide job placement?
18.  After getting the adjuster license, how do I find a job?
19.  What do I need to bring to class?
20.  Is there another test following the Training Unlimited class?
21.  What should I study prior to coming to class?
22.  I have heard that "disaster adjusting" is easy money. Is that true?
23.  Criminal Record
24.  Off Site Classes
25.  CPCU and AIC
26.  Do I need an all-lines license?



Is a Texas adjuster license good in other states?   back to top>>
No and Yes. The Texas license will reciprocate with over 30 other states. That means that reciprocating states will, for a fee, issue their license to you if you hold a Texas license. This makes it easy to get other state’s license, but you must get the license.


Where is your classroom located?   back to top>>
We will teach classes upon request anywhere in the free world. Our regularly scheduled adjuster classes are at:

Arlington, Texas:
University of Texas @ Arlington

Houston, Texas:
Various venues (will be shown on our schedule)
Austin, Texas:
Various venues (will be shown on our schedule)
Fort Worth, Texas:
Cabela’s Outfitters and at UT Arlington’s downtown Fort Worth location. This building is known as “Santa Fe Station”, 1401 Jones Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102. This class is an offering of the UTA continuing education program and you must register through UTA for CE Course IN 1005. The class times, hours and criteria are the same as all our other classes, 40 hours, and we administer the final exam on the last day. This is new for us and for the management at UTA and we don’t have everything perfected – but we will. You may obtain information at www.uta.edu/ - click on “continuing education”. You may also phone Cassandra Smith 817.232.3713 or e-mail her at Casssm@uta.edu casssm@uta.edu

Will the VA or G.I. Bill assist with the tuition?   back to top>>
Apparently not. We have attempted repeatedly to get answers from the VA but with no success thus far.



Is there a market for adjusters?   back to top>>
The market for adjusters is no different than any other profession, with a notable exception. In this industry, the market becomes much better following a major catastrophe such as Hurricane Katrina or the Northridge earthquake. Under normal conditions, the good people will get the jobs. That does not mean people with a 4 page resume or degree. When hiring, one must consider all the other factors which are important but not taught in college.



Will I need More Training After Your Class?   back to top>>
Put yourself in an employer's place. Would you prefer an employee who strives to be better than the rest, or an employee who just got a license and nothing more? That's one way to look at it, but there are other considerations, too. Some employers prefer a licensed, untrained and untainted person who can enter the workplace with no pre-established bad habits. Each company has its own way of doing things. On the other hand, some companies just don't have the time or available staff to train anyone, hence those companies may prefer training and or experience.

Will those of you with no prior training or experience walk right into a high paying job following our class? As a general rule, no. However, without the appropriate license, there will be no chance of any adjuster position in Texas.

We normally council those with no experience to talk to other employed adjusters and make up their own mind about what's needed. Also, you may want to contact the following for counsel on additional training:

George Epps, Dallas, (972) 394-1013
Jimmy Fair, (254) 592-3310 (also has a claims team)

Vale National, Arlington, TX (817) 633-4800 www.valenational.com

There are some required training programs if you want to go to work for certain companies which handle State Farm or Allstate claims. For information about these classes, requirements and availability before/after your adjuster class, e-mail:

Worley Catastrophe (888) 887-8070; info@worleyco.com
Pilot Catastrophe at HR@pilotcat.com
E.A. Renfroe at employment@earenfroe.com


What's the difference between an adjuster, inspector and appraiser?   back to top>>
Following a covered loss, an adjuster, also called "claims representative", delivers the benefits of an insurance policy that an insurance agent sells. Inspector and appraiser are not insurance licenses. Someone who estimates damage to an automobile, but who does not settle claims or discuss coverage, is often referred to as an auto appraiser, but that's not a licensed profession. It does however include a lot of training and often involves professional certifications. There are also home inspectors and appraisers. Those may be licenses issued by the Texas Real Estate Commission or some governmental authority.


What are the requirements to be an adjuster?   back to top>>
There are requirements to get licensed, and there are requirements to get hired. Getting a license requires the applicant to be at least 18 years old, trustworthy, must have no pending felonies or past criminal record involving moral turpitude, and pass a test of your competence. Getting hired does not always require a 4 year degree. There are more companies which don't require a degree than those that do. However it's safe to say that every company is going to have to be convinced that you are trustworthy, dependable, you have a measure of common sense, you have a spirit of fairness, you work well with people and you are willing to work as hard as the situation calls for. Some companies prefer a trainee with no experience and some require experience because there is no time to train.


How many different types of adjusters are there?   back to top>>
There are two Texas adjuster licenses, but there are dozens of types of adjusters. The two licenses are workers compensation which allows you to handle only matters arising out of workers compensation insurance, and there's the other license which we refer to as a multiline license, which entitles you to handle all other casualty type claims. In earlier times, adjusters handled every claim that they were assigned, so there was only one type of adjuster. Now, people specialize. Nevertheless, all claims will fall under one of the two types of licenses. Therefore, there are workers comp adjusters, property adjusters, aviation, auto liability, auto property damage, medical malpractice, professional liability, boiler and machinery, bond and ocean marine adjusters.

Let's look at another perspective. Adjusters who hold our Property Casualty Adjuster License and work only catastrophic losses (declared as such by the appropriate authority) would be referred to as catastrophe adjusters. The license is no different than any other property casualty license in Texas. Adjusters who work year round routine assignments like auto accidents, slip-and-fall, house fires, medical professional liability and water leaks, etc, are licensed the same way and likely work on the staff of one particular insurance company or one independent claim company.


How much do adjusters make?    back to top>>
On the conservative side, adjusters will make anywhere from $22,000 to $250,000. Like any other profession, it depends upon the adjuster, experience, skills, education, capabilities, common sense, attitude, willingness to work long and difficult hours, the company one works for, and to a large extent, how one is evaluated and trusted by superiors.


Does Training Unlimited provide financial assistance?    back to top>>
No. There's never been a significant demand for financial assistance. We are proud of the fact that we have had a number of students sent to us by the Texas Rehabilitation Commission or DARS.


Do adjusters have to have a 4 year degree?    back to top>>
Not necessarily. It depends wholly on the company one is attempting to work for, and there are other factors that are equally important yet not attainable through college classes.


How can I identify insurance companies in Texas?   back to top>>
Click on this web site: www.tdi.state.tx.us/general/forms.html#companies. The internet is a valuable source of information.


How much does the course cost?    back to top>>
Our regularly scheduled classes are $425 and that's all you will ever pay us. It will probably cost you $50 dollars for the TDI to issue your license and it will cost a few dollars for a fingerprint card.


Is Training Unlimited certified by the Department of Insurance?    back to top>>
Yes, as Provider #2667. Training UNLIMITED is also found on TDI's web site. A legal training program requires at least 30 hours of classroom instruction and 10 hours of any other approved method.


Can women be adjusters?   back to top>>
Of course. This question has come up several times. Don't know why.


Does someone need experience to be an adjuster?   back to top>>
Naturally, experience may be required in some cases and it may help in others. Not all employers are going to require experience. There are employers who don't want to have to un-train old habits.


Does Training Unlimited provide job placement?   back to top>>
No. We're not willing to make some kind of commitment that we may not be able to honor. We will give you a lot of valuable information which will aid you in a job search.


After getting the adjuster license, how do I find a job?   back to top>>
See above.


What do I need to bring to class?   back to top>>
Bring something to write with and an inexpensive calculator. It is a good idea to bring clothing appropriate for a 20 degree temperature swing.


Is there another test following the Training Unlimited class?   back to top>>
No. Once you pass our test, there are no other tests for you to take. If one wants to take the Texas adjuster exam “cold” he or she may do so at state's the designated testing contractor's facility.


What should I study prior to coming to class?   back to top>>
We don't recommend that adjuster candidates attempt to study anything before class. We'll give you all you can handle in class. It is a very good idea to research and register for (1) a flood certification class offered by FEMA and/or (2) a class on Xactimate software and/or (3) a class on IntegraClaim software and/or (4) a class in practical adjusting. These are examples of training that will put you ahead of others in the competition for jobs.


I have heard that "disaster adjusting" is easy money. Is that true?   back to top>>
Nothing could be further from the truth and anyone who has perpetuated that notion has never done it. To an observer cat adjusting may appear easy because the adjuster(s) being observed have disciplined themselves and they have their work down to a plan that they follow. They have their daily living expenses down to a science. They don't get emotional over situations they encounter daily. A cat adjuster can make a lot of money, but there's nothing easy about it.


Criminal Record   back to top>>
If you have a misdemeanor or felony on your record, whether or not it occurred as a minor, you will have to provide specific information to the department of insurance. This does not automatically disqualify you for an adjuster license. You must follow the exact instructions on the TDI application. It is a good idea for you to phone the TDI and ask before incurring any expense. 512.322.3503 Your prospective employer is another matter and we can't speak for them.


Split classes   back to top>>
We have no problem with a student splitting up a class to accommodate the student's schedule as long as the student completes the appropriate number of hours in class and takes and passes the final exam.


Off Site Classes   back to top>>
We will bring our training program to your location as long as it is compatible with our regularly scheduled classes and cost feasible. We've been to every corner of the country and we've been asked to go to Ireland and to Ontario.


CPCU and AIC   back to top>>
If you hold either if these professional designations you do not need this class to obtain your Texas Property Casualty Adjuster license. Contact us or the Texas Department of Insurance (512) 322-3503 for information.

Do I need an all-lines license?   back to top>>
The only field of adjusting added by the “all-lines” license is workers compensation. If you don’t intend to handle workers compensation claims, perhaps you don’t need the all lines license. After all, how much can you really learn in 3 days?