A Georgia public adjuster license is the state credential that lets you negotiate property and casualty insurance claims on behalf of the policyholder — not the insurance company — for a fee. You apply for it through the Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire (OCI) by submitting your application online at the Sircon licensing portal, along with a 40-hour course completion, a passing exam score, a $5,000 surety bond, fingerprints, and a notarized Citizenship Affidavit.
Getting one detail wrong — a missing bond, an un-notarized affidavit, or a name that does not match your exam record — can stall your file for weeks or trigger an outright denial. The OCI lists an average turnaround time of just 14 business days, but that clock only starts once every required document is uploaded and correct, so a single error can double or triple your wait.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 📋 How to complete each part of the Sircon public adjuster application, line by line.
- 💵 The exact fees, the $5,000 bond rule, and the deadlines that govern your file.
- 🧾 Which documents to gather before you start so your application is not rejected.
- 👥 Three full walkthroughs with real scenarios, including a resident, a non-resident, and a designated-home-state filer.
- ⚠️ The most common mistakes that delay or deny Georgia public adjuster applications and how to dodge them.
What the Georgia Public Adjuster License Is and Who Must File It
A public adjuster works for the insured and is paid by the insured, which is the opposite of a company or independent adjuster who works for the insurer. In Georgia, the OCI defines a public adjuster as a person whose licensure is “limited to property and casualty.” That means you can help homeowners and businesses prepare, file, and negotiate property damage claims, such as fire, wind, water, and storm losses, but you cannot touch life or health claims.
You must hold this license before you advertise, solicit, or negotiate any covered claim for a Georgia policyholder. The authority for this requirement sits in Georgia’s insurance code at O.C.G.A. Title 33, Chapter 23, which governs all insurance agents and adjusters. The plain-English version is simple: if you take money to argue a property claim for the insured, the state wants you licensed, bonded, and accountable.
The agency that receives and approves your application is the OCI, headquartered at 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, West Tower, Suite 702, Atlanta, GA 30334. The consequence of skipping the license is serious. Working as an unlicensed public adjuster can lead to fines, cease-and-desist orders, and criminal exposure, because you are handling other people’s insurance money without state oversight.
One rule trips up many new filers: a misconception that a public adjuster license is the same as a regular “adjuster” license. It is not. The standard adjuster license needs only a 16-hour course, while the public adjuster license requires a full 40-hour course, a separate exam, and a $5,000 bond. Choosing the wrong license type at the start forces you to restart the process and pay again.
There are three filer profiles this guide covers: Georgia residents applying for the first time, non-residents who already hold a property and casualty adjuster license in their home state, and people from states with no adjuster license at all who must use the Designated Home State (DHS) path. Each profile fills out the same Sircon application but attaches different proof.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gather everything below before you open the Sircon application. Georgia will not approve a file that is missing attachments, and emailed or mailed documents will not be attached to your online application. If a piece is missing, your file sits in a pending state until you upload it, and an application left incomplete for 60 days must be restarted with new fees.
Here is your pre-filing checklist:
- Your full legal name, exactly as it appears on your ID. The state cross-checks this against your exam record and your affidavit, and any mismatch will hold your file.
- Social Security number. It is used to match your exam score and your background check, so an error here means your passing score may never attach to your application.
- Valid mailing address and Georgia business address. Residents need a Georgia address; without it, the system cannot confirm your residency status.
- Daytime phone number and email. The OCI emails your license and any deficiency notices through Sircon, so a wrong email means you miss critical updates.
- 40-hour course completion. The school uploads this electronically; if it is missing, your exam will not unlock and your application cannot be approved.
- Passing Public Adjuster Exam score. Pearson VUE uploads this electronically, so paper score reports are not accepted as proof.
- A notarized Citizenship Affidavit plus a copy of the front of an acceptable ID. Without this, your file cannot be processed at all.
- A $5,000 surety bond in favor of the Commissioner. This must be provided with the application; a public adjuster file cannot be approved without it.
- A way to pay the fees electronically. You will pay a $120 license fee in Sircon, a $63 exam fee, the course fee, the bond premium, and fingerprint fees.
Tip: scan your notarized affidavit and ID copy into a single clear PDF before you log in. The Sircon upload step moves fast, and a blurry or cropped ID scan is a top reason files get kicked back for correction.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
Georgia does not use a single paper “form” for the public adjuster license. Instead, the entire application lives online inside the Sircon licensing portal, and all applications must be submitted there. The OCI confirms that all applications must be submitted online, so there is no mail-in option for the initial license.
To start, go to Sircon, choose “Apply for a License,” which opens the License Applications page, then select “New Insurance License” and follow the step-by-step prompts. Non-residents may also use the NIPR portal as an alternative, but residents should plan to use Sircon, since Georgia discontinued new resident applications through NIPR.
You will also need two supporting items hosted on the OCI site. The first is the Citizenship Affidavit, which you print, sign before a notary, and upload. The second is the public adjuster bond form, which the OCI provides under its bond forms section for public adjusters. Always pull both from the official OCI pages so you have the current versions; older third-party copies may carry outdated language that the state will reject.
A common misconception is that you can finish the application in one sitting without the documents ready. You cannot. Sircon lets you start, but the file will not process until the affidavit, ID copy, and bond are uploaded, and an incomplete file expires after 60 days and forces a full restart.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the Georgia Public Adjuster Application Line by Line
The Sircon “New Insurance License” workflow walks you through a series of screens. Each major screen is broken out below in the order it appears. Use your exact legal name and box-by-box answers as shown.
Screen 1: License Type and Class Selection
What it asks in plain English. This screen asks which kind of license you want. You pick the state (Georgia), the license class (“Adjuster”), and the specific qualification (“Public Adjuster”).
How to answer it. Select Georgia as the state, choose Adjuster as the license type, and then check the Public Adjuster line of authority. Do not select the plain “Adjuster” or “Crop/Hail” options.
Example entry. Marcus Bell selects Georgia → Adjuster → Public Adjuster because he wants to represent homeowners after storm damage in Savannah.
Nuance or edge case. If you also plan to work as a company or independent adjuster, that is a separate qualification with only a 16-hour course requirement, and you would add it as its own line of authority rather than swapping it for the public adjuster class.
Common mistake and consequence. Selecting the generic “Adjuster” class instead of “Public Adjuster” gives you the wrong license, and you will have to reapply and pay the $120 fee again.
Misconception. Many filers think one adjuster license covers all adjusting work. It does not; the public adjuster authority is distinct and requires its own 40-hour course, exam, and bond.
Screen 2: Personal Identifying Information
What it asks in plain English. This screen collects your full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number.
How to answer it. Enter your name exactly as printed on your government ID, type your date of birth in MM/DD/YYYY format, and key your Social Security number with no dashes if the field rejects them.
Example entry. Marcus Bell enters his name as MARCUS T BELL, his date of birth as 07/22/1989, and his SSN as shown on his Social Security card.
Nuance or edge case. If you recently changed your name through marriage or court order, use the name that matches your current government ID and your exam registration, not your old name, or the records will not line up.
Common mistake and consequence. Typing a nickname or dropping a middle name causes a mismatch with your Pearson VUE exam record, and your passing score will not attach to your application, stalling approval.
Misconception. Filers often believe small spelling differences “won’t matter.” They do; the state matches names letter for letter against the SSA and exam systems.
Screen 3: Residency and Contact Information
What it asks in plain English. This screen asks where you live, your mailing address, your Georgia business address, your phone number, and your email.
How to answer it. Enter a complete street address with the city, state, and ZIP. Residents must show a Georgia address; non-residents enter their home-state address and their Georgia business address if they have one.
Example entry. Marcus Bell enters his home as 118 Oak Bluff Rd, Savannah, GA 31405 and uses the same address as his business contact.
Nuance or edge case. If you use a P.O. Box for mail, you still must provide a physical street address, because the OCI needs a verifiable location for licensing and any service of legal notice.
Common mistake and consequence. Entering a typo in your email means you never receive the Sircon deficiency notice or your emailed license, and your file sits unanswered until it expires.
Misconception. Some applicants think a Georgia address is optional for residents. It is not; resident status requires a Georgia residence or a Georgia business address.
Screen 4: Background and Eligibility Questions
What it asks in plain English. This screen asks a series of yes-or-no questions about your criminal history, prior license actions, and financial matters such as unpaid child support or tax obligations.
How to answer it. Answer every question truthfully. If you answer “yes” to any item, upload the supporting documents the screen requests, such as court records or a written explanation.
Example entry. Marcus Bell answers No to each question because he has no record, then moves on; Janet Cole, who had a misdemeanor ten years ago, answers Yes and uploads the certified disposition.
Nuance or edge case. A “yes” answer does not automatically deny you. The OCI reviews the details, but hiding a past event is far worse than disclosing it with paperwork.
Common mistake and consequence. Answering “no” to a background question that should be “yes” is treated as a material misrepresentation, and the OCI can deny your license and bar you from reapplying.
Misconception. People assume an old, expunged, or out-of-state matter need not be reported. When in doubt, disclose, because the background check surfaces records you may have forgotten.
Screen 5: Pre-Licensing Course and Exam Confirmation
What it asks in plain English. This screen confirms that you finished the 40-hour course and passed the public adjuster exam.
How to answer it. You usually do nothing manual here, because the course completion is uploaded electronically by your school and the exam score is uploaded by Pearson VUE. Confirm the system shows both as received.
Example entry. Marcus Bell sees his 40-hour Property & Casualty course and his Public Adjuster Exam — Pass both reflected before he continues.
Nuance or edge case. You must pass the exam within 12 months of finishing the course, or your course credit expires and you must retake it.
Common mistake and consequence. Applying before the school or Pearson VUE has uploaded your records means the system shows the requirements unmet, and your application will not be approved until the uploads post.
Misconception. Filers think a paper course certificate or a printed score report can be uploaded as proof. It cannot; paper completions and paper scores are not accepted.
Screen 6: Surety Bond Information ($5,000)
What it asks in plain English. This screen asks for proof of your $5,000 public adjuster surety bond and where to upload it.
How to answer it. Buy a $5,000 public adjuster bond made out in favor of the Commissioner, then upload the signed bond form. The bond must be continuous in nature.
Example entry. Marcus Bell uploads a bond naming the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire as obligee for the $5,000 amount, dated and signed by his surety.
Nuance or edge case. The bond is contingent on proper accounting of money, proper reporting to your principal, and payment of any fees or fines, and a bond release only happens five years after the license ends.
Common mistake and consequence. Uploading a bond that names the wrong obligee or omits the continuous-coverage language gets it rejected, and failure to maintain the bond cancels your license.
Misconception. Many think the bond protects them. It does not; it protects the public and the state, and your surety can seek repayment from you for any claim paid.
Screen 7: Citizenship Affidavit and ID Upload
What it asks in plain English. This screen requires you to upload your notarized Citizenship Affidavit and a copy of the front of an acceptable ID.
How to answer it. Print the affidavit, sign it in front of a notary, scan it with a clear copy of the front of your secure and verifiable ID, and upload both. This is required for all Georgia licenses.
Example entry. Marcus Bell uploads his notarized affidavit plus a scan of the front of his Georgia driver’s license.
Nuance or edge case. If you are adding a public adjuster qualification to an already active Georgia license, you do not need to redo the affidavit.
Common mistake and consequence. Uploading an affidavit that is not notarized, or one with a missing signature, stops your file cold, because the application cannot be processed until this form is uploaded correctly.
Misconception. First-timers think a digital signature suffices. It does not; the affidavit must be a physically signed and notarized copy.
Screen 8: Fee Payment
What it asks in plain English. This screen totals your fees and asks for electronic payment.
How to answer it. Pay the $120 license fee shown in Sircon by credit or debit card. Note that some third-party guides list this as a $100 application fee plus a $20 processing fee, which adds up to the same $120.
Example entry. Marcus Bell pays the $120 fee with his debit card and saves the on-screen receipt.
Nuance or edge case. This fee is separate from your $63 exam fee, your roughly $199 course fee, your bond premium, and your fingerprint fee, which you pay at other steps.
Common mistake and consequence. Abandoning the file before paying means the application stays incomplete, and an incomplete file expires after 60 days, forcing you to restart and pay again.
Misconception. Filers assume the fee is refundable if denied. It is not; the application fee covers processing whether or not you are approved.
Screen 9: Review, Certify, and Submit
What it asks in plain English. The final screen shows everything you entered and asks you to certify it is true and submit.
How to answer it. Read every field, confirm your attachments are present, check the certification box, and click submit. You are signing under penalty of law that all answers are accurate.
Example entry. Marcus Bell reviews his name, address, bond, and affidavit, checks the box, and submits, then prints the confirmation page.
Nuance or edge case. After approval, a public adjuster has 30 days to submit a contract for OCI legal review before working with consumers.
Common mistake and consequence. Submitting before all uploads finish leaves a deficient file, and you will get a Sircon email asking for the missing item, which adds days to your timeline.
Misconception. Applicants think submission equals approval. It does not; the OCI still reviews the file, with an average 14 business day turnaround once everything is correct.
Fingerprinting Registration (Completed Separately)
What it asks in plain English. This step registers you for an electronic fingerprint background check.
How to answer it. After you apply, register through IdentoGo and use the OCI service code 2TGJ6B, then pay the fingerprint fee and attend your appointment.
Example entry. Marcus Bell schedules his appointment using code 2TGJ6B the day after he submits his Sircon application.
Nuance or edge case. A fingerprint appointment will not be approved until after you have applied for the license, so the order of steps matters.
Common mistake and consequence. Booking fingerprints before applying voids the registration, and your background results will not link to your file.
Misconception. People think fingerprints can be done anytime. They must follow the application and use the correct OCI service code, or the results go nowhere.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Below are three common filers walked through the full Georgia public adjuster application. Each shows what they enter or attach at the key steps.
Scenario 1: Marcus Bell, First-Time Georgia Resident
Marcus lives in Savannah and wants to help homeowners after hurricanes. He is a brand-new applicant with no prior license.
| Application Section | What Marcus Enters or Attaches |
|---|---|
| License type and class | Georgia → Adjuster → Public Adjuster |
| Full legal name | MARCUS T BELL |
| Date of birth | 07/22/1989 |
| Residency/address | 118 Oak Bluff Rd, Savannah, GA 31405 |
| Course and exam | 40-hour course + Public Adjuster Exam, both uploaded |
| Surety bond | $5,000 bond in favor of the Commissioner |
| Citizenship Affidavit | Notarized affidavit + copy of Georgia driver’s license |
| Fee | $120 paid by debit card |
| Fingerprints | Registered with IdentoGo code 2TGJ6B |
Scenario 2: Aisha Rahman, Non-Resident from Florida
Aisha already holds an active Florida property and casualty adjuster license and wants to add Georgia for storm season work.
| Application Section | What Aisha Enters or Attaches |
|---|---|
| Portal used | NIPR or Sircon (non-residents may use either) |
| License type | Georgia → Non-Resident Adjuster — P&C |
| Home state proof | Confirmation of active Florida P&C adjuster license |
| Full legal name | AISHA N RAHMAN |
| Citizenship Affidavit | Notarized affidavit + copy of front of ID |
| Course/exam | Waived — relies on valid Florida P&C adjuster license |
| Fee | $120 paid online |
| Fingerprints | Completed if required for the qualification |
| Result | Georgia confirms her home-state license before approval |
Scenario 3: David Okafor, Designated Home State (DHS) Filer
David lives in a state that does not license adjusters, so he uses the Designated Home State route to get licensed in Georgia.
| Application Section | What David Enters or Attaches |
|---|---|
| License path | Non-Resident DHS (Designated Home State) |
| Course requirement | Completes the Georgia 40-hour pre-licensing course |
| Exam | Passes the Georgia Public Adjuster Exam |
| Full legal name | DAVID C OKAFOR |
| Citizenship Affidavit | Notarized affidavit + copy of front of ID |
| Surety bond | $5,000 bond in favor of the Commissioner |
| Fingerprints | Completes electronic fingerprinting for background report |
| Fee | $120 paid online |
| Result | Georgia treated as his designated home state |
How to File the Completed Application
Georgia requires online filing only, but there is more than one portal depending on your residency. Below is how each channel works and what to keep as proof.
Sircon (residents and non-residents). Go to the Sircon portal, choose “Apply for a License,” then “New Insurance License,” and follow the prompts. The license fee is $120, paid by credit or debit card, and the expected processing time is about 14 business days once your file is complete. Save and print the confirmation page and your payment receipt as proof of filing.
NIPR (non-residents). Non-residents may file through the NIPR portal instead. The same $120 fee applies, payment is electronic, and you should keep the NIPR confirmation number. Residents cannot use NIPR for a new license, because Georgia moved new resident applications off NIPR.
Document upload. Whichever portal you use, your notarized affidavit, ID copy, and bond must be uploaded inside the application; emailed or mailed copies will not attach. Keep your own digital copies of everything you upload.
Fingerprints. Register separately at IdentoGo using OCI service code 2TGJ6B after you apply, pay the fingerprint fee at registration, and keep your appointment confirmation. There is no in-person, fax, or paper option for the initial license itself.
What Happens After You File
Once you submit a complete file, the OCI reviews it, and the average turnaround is 14 business days. If something is missing, the OCI contacts you by email through Sircon and asks you to upload the missing document directly into your application, since emailed fixes will not attach.
If your application is approved, the OCI emails your license through Sircon’s automated system. Then a public-adjuster-specific rule kicks in: effective July 1, 2021, every public adjuster must have a client contract pre-approved by the Commissioner before working with consumers. You will receive an email with submittal instructions, and the contract cannot be approved until your license is active.
If your application is denied, you receive a Notice of Denial stating the grounds, and you may file a written appeal within 20 days of the notice. Missing that 20-day window generally ends your ability to challenge the decision, so act fast.
Going forward, your license must be renewed every two years, and you must keep your $5,000 bond active the entire time. If the bond lapses, the state cancels your license, which means you must stop adjusting claims immediately.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Application
- Choosing the plain “Adjuster” class instead of “Public Adjuster.” You get the wrong license and must reapply and pay again.
- Using a nickname instead of your legal name. Your exam score will not match your file, stalling approval.
- Mistyping your Social Security number. Your background check and exam score cannot link to your application.
- Skipping the $5,000 bond upload. A public adjuster file cannot be approved without the bond.
- Naming the wrong obligee on the bond. The bond must favor the Commissioner, or it is rejected.
- Uploading an un-notarized Citizenship Affidavit. The file cannot be processed until a notarized version is uploaded.
- Submitting a blurry or cropped ID copy. The OCI cannot verify your identity and returns the file for correction.
- Applying before your course and exam are uploaded. The system shows requirements unmet and holds your file.
- Booking fingerprints before applying. The appointment will not be approved and the results will not link.
- Answering a background question falsely. This is a material misrepresentation and can lead to denial.
- Letting your application sit incomplete past 60 days. It expires and you must restart and pay new fees.
- Forgetting the 30-day contract submission after approval. You cannot legally work with consumers until your contract is approved.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do’s
- Do enter your name exactly as it appears on your government ID, because the state matches it letter for letter.
- Do finish the 40-hour course before scheduling the exam, since the exam credit ties to a completed course.
- Do buy your $5,000 bond early, because you must upload it with the application.
- Do scan your affidavit and ID into one clear PDF, so the upload step goes smoothly.
- Do register fingerprints only after you apply, using code 2TGJ6B, or the results will not link.
- Do save every confirmation page and receipt as proof of filing.
Don’ts
- Don’t select the wrong license class, because fixing it means reapplying and paying again.
- Don’t upload a paper course certificate or score report, since only electronic uploads count.
- Don’t submit an un-notarized affidavit, because it stops your file cold.
- Don’t email documents as a fix, since they will not attach to your application.
- Don’t let your bond lapse, because that cancels your license.
- Don’t ignore a deficiency email, or your file may expire after 60 days.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Many applicants handle the Sircon application themselves, while others use a course provider or a service to help assemble the documents. Here is how the two compare.
Pros of filing on your own
- It costs less, because you avoid third-party service fees on top of state fees.
- You control your own timeline and can submit the moment your documents are ready.
- You learn the system, which helps when you renew every two years.
- You keep your personal data in fewer hands.
- The Sircon workflow is guided, so most applicants can follow it without help.
Cons of filing on your own
- A small error, like a name mismatch, can delay you for weeks.
- You must track the bond, affidavit, fingerprints, and exam upload yourself.
- Missing the 60-day completion window means restarting and paying again.
- You may not catch a bond-language problem until the OCI rejects it.
- The 30-day post-approval contract rule is easy to overlook without guidance.
FAQs
Do I need a separate license to work as a public adjuster instead of a regular adjuster in Georgia?
Yes. The public adjuster license is its own qualification requiring a 40-hour course, a separate exam, and a $5,000 bond, unlike the standard adjuster license.
Do I have to file a surety bond to get my public adjuster license?
Yes. A $5,000 bond in favor of the Commissioner must be provided with your application, and your file cannot be approved without it.
Do I write my legal name or my nickname in the name field?
No. Never use a nickname; enter your full legal name exactly as it appears on your government ID, or your exam score will not match your file.
Do I need to notarize the Citizenship Affidavit before uploading it?
Yes. The affidavit must be physically signed before a notary, and your application cannot be processed until the notarized copy is uploaded.
Do I list a Georgia address if I am a resident applicant?
Yes. Residents must provide a Georgia residence or business address, because resident status depends on a verifiable Georgia location.
Do I select “Public Adjuster” or “Adjuster” in the license-type box?
No, do not pick “Adjuster”; choose the “Public Adjuster” qualification, or you will receive the wrong license and must reapply and pay again.
Do non-residents have to take the Georgia exam?
No. Non-residents holding an active home-state property and casualty adjuster license generally have the course and exam waived, but DHS filers must take both.
Do I pay one fee or several to get licensed?
No, it is not a single fee; you pay a $120 license fee plus a $63 exam fee, course fee, bond premium, and fingerprint fee at separate steps.
Do I register for fingerprints before or after I apply?
No, never before; fingerprint registration is only approved after you apply, using OCI service code 2TGJ6B.
Do I upload a paper copy of my course completion?
No. Course completions and exam scores are uploaded electronically by the school and Pearson VUE, and paper proof is not accepted.
Do I have to do anything after my license is approved?
Yes. You have 30 days to submit your client contract for OCI legal review, and you cannot work with consumers until it is approved.
Do I lose my license if my bond lapses?
Yes. Failure to maintain the required $5,000 bond results in cancellation of your public adjuster license.
Do I have to renew my license, and how often?
Yes. Georgia adjuster licenses must be renewed every two years, with a $100 renewal fee and a $5 processing fee.
Do I have any options if my application is denied?
Yes. You may file a written petition to appeal within 20 days of the Notice of Denial, but missing that window typically ends your appeal rights.
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