Surety Bond Encyclopedia

Public Adjuster ($20,000) Bond - Statewide in Pennsylvania

Brief Summary

Pennsylvania will not let a public adjuster transact business until a bond of at least $20,000 is in place, and every annual renewal asks for proof the premium is paid. Keeping the bond current is what keeps your license and your contracts live.

Pennsylvania requires each licensed public adjuster to deliver a bond to the Insurance Commissioner in a minimum penal sum of $20,000, under section 4(a) of the act of December 20, 1983 (P.L. 260, No. 72), 63 P.S. 1601 et seq. The Insurance Department says the bond must be obtained before transacting business. Individual applicants and partnership or corporation applicants each submit a bond and a paid premium receipt under 31 Pa. Code Chapter 115, and licenses renew every year.

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How to Apply for a Public Adjuster ($20,000) Bond:

Pass the Pennsylvania public adjuster exam through PSI.
Obtain a bond of at least $20,000 naming the Insurance Commissioner before transacting business.
Get a surety receipt showing the premium is paid in full.
Apply through Sircon or NIPR, pay the $200 initial application fee, and complete IdentoGO fingerprinting.
Use the Department's sample contract or have a modified contract approved before use.
Renew every year with the renewal form, fees and proof the bond premium is paid.

Detailed Information About the Pennsylvania Public Adjuster ($20,000) Bond:

$20,000 is the floor

Section 4(a) of the 1983 public adjuster act requires each person receiving a public adjuster's license to execute and deliver to the Insurance Commissioner a bond in the minimum penal sum of $20,000. The Insurance Department's resident licensing instructions repeat it: a surety bond of no less than $20,000 must be obtained before transacting business as a public adjuster. The bond secures the adjuster's compliance with the act and protects policyholders against funds or property being embezzled or wrongfully withheld.

Firms post a bond too

Under 31 Pa. Code 115.18, an individual's initial application goes in with the application fee, the bond required by statute, a receipt from the surety showing the premium is paid in full, and a copy of the contract the adjuster will use in Pennsylvania. Section 115.20 requires the same bond and paid premium receipt from a partnership or corporation, signed by each active partner or officer, along with its formation documents. Employees of the firm apply for their own licenses separately.

Annual renewal

Licenses renew every year on the anniversary of the initial license, under 31 Pa. Code 115.21. A renewal is accepted only with a completed form, the required fees, and an attestation or receipt from the surety that the bond premium has been paid in full. Missing the expiration date counts as voluntary termination of the license.

Licensing steps

Resident applicants pass the public adjuster exam through PSI, apply through Sircon or NIPR with a $200 initial application fee, and complete fingerprinting through IdentoGO. Contracts must be the Department's sample contract or a modified version approved before use. Public adjuster solicitor applicants also need a letter of intent from a licensed public adjuster who will employ them.

A bill to watch

House Bill 1972 would amend section 4(a) to raise the minimum bond from $20,000 to $40,000 and require proof of the bond to be provided to the Insurance Commissioner. It passed the Pennsylvania House on February 4, 2026 and went to the Senate. Until it becomes law, the $20,000 minimum applies. Confirm the current amount with the Insurance Department before the bond is issued.

Eligibility and Requirements for a Pennsylvania Public Adjuster ($20,000) Bond:

Bond in a minimum penal sum of $20,000, delivered to the Insurance Commissioner.
A separate bond and premium receipt for a partnership or corporation applicant.
A copy of the contract to be used in Pennsylvania filed with the application.
Application sworn before a notary and filed within three months of signing.
Written answers under oath to the Department's interrogatories before the license is granted.

Pennsylvania Public Adjuster ($20,000) Bond FAQs:

Is $20,000 the exact bond amount or just the minimum?

It is the minimum. Section 4(a) of the 1983 act calls for a bond in the minimum penal sum of $20,000, and the Insurance Department says no less than $20,000.

My adjusting firm is a corporation. Does it need its own bond?

Yes. 31 Pa. Code 115.20 requires a partnership or corporation application to include the required bond and a receipt showing the premium is paid. Each individual adjuster working for the firm also applies for a personal license.

How often does the bond have to be renewed?

Pennsylvania public adjuster licenses renew every year on the anniversary of the initial license. Each renewal needs an attestation or a surety receipt showing the bond premium is paid in full.

Is the bond amount going up?

Possibly. House Bill 1972 would raise the minimum to $40,000. It passed the House on February 4, 2026 and moved to the Senate. Check with the Insurance Department for the amount in force when you buy or renew.

How is the premium set?

The surety looks at the applicant's personal credit, claims and complaint history, and for a firm, its financial condition. A bond written above the $20,000 minimum costs more.