How to Become a Claims Adjuster

Want to know more about the role of a claims adjuster? Then you’ve come to the right place. In this article we’ll be breaking down what claims adjusters do, how they manage their various responsibilities, and how you could become one.

What is a Claims Adjuster?

Claims adjusters – also referred to as insurance loss adjusters – are responsible for managing insurance claims. This can cover anything from car and house insurance to life insurance, business insurance, or any other niche you can think of. The job is all about determining whether or not the insurance company should pay out and, if so, how much the payout should be.

In practice, the role of a claims adjuster combines a broad set of skills. On the one hand you’ll need to be an excellent communicator and negotiator, able to reason your argument and bring others to your point of view. At the same time, you’ll need to be very comfortable with both mathematical and legal reasoning. In this job, there’s no space for anything other than a water-tight argument.

Often, you’ll be required to actually visit the site of an incident and survey the damage yourself. You’ll also have to interview people and collect evidence. On top of all that, it’s your responsibility to be on the look out for any attempt at insurance fraud. All told it’s a job that’s best suited to those who are observant and analytical.

Do You Need a License to Practise?

Unlike in the US, the UK has no formal licensing system for claims adjustment. That said, you will still need heavy qualifications to be considered for the job.

The companies you’ll work for – largely insurance companies – are heavily regulated in the UK by bodies like the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) and the CILA (Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters). These companies are naturally very strict about who they hire in order to ensure that they are in line with regulations.

So what qualifications do you need?

If you want to go the degree route, there are a few subjects that will get you through the door. Business studies and finance are heavily recommended as is law. On the other hand, you can also approach the job from an engineering or construction direction.

If you want to skip university and jump straight into work, then you’ll need to find a Level 3 or 4 apprenticeship.

Is Being a Claims Adjuster Difficult?

This question depends a lot on you and your personal strengths. Claims adjustment relies heavily on technical, mathematical, and legal knowledge and for many these subjects alone are a bar to entry. At the same time, some people struggle with the job itself, finding it emotionally stressful.

Keep in mind that, as a loss adjuster, you’re often being called out to see people on some of the worst days of their life. People whose houses have burned down or who may have recently lost a loved one. It should come as no surprise that these people aren’t exactly sympathetic to answering questions about their insurance. You have to be able to approach each situation with empathy and patience.

On top of that, there’s no getting around the fact that your job will often involve people that they aren’t getting the money they’re expecting. People generally don’t react well to finding out that their policy wasn’t as broad as they thought it was and claims adjusters are usually the ones who experience the full force of that anger. All told, it’s a job that demands a thick skin.

Despite all of the above, many who enter the field love it nonetheless. It’s a very active job that involves jumping between very different types of tasks. Some days you’ll be at a desk and some days you’ll be out gathering information first hand.

It’s also worth mentioning that you don’t have to work on behalf of an insurance firm. Instead, you can become a loss assessor, which is essentially the same role but working on behalf of the policy holder and not the insurance company. Many find this more rewarding as they spend far more time helping people in need than they do delivering bad news.