How to Become a Florida 6-20 All-Lines Adjuster (Fast) with the ACA Designation
A Florida 6-20 All-Lines Adjuster license can be your entry ticket into a stable, well-paying career that grows with every storm season and every claim you handle. With the right designation course, you can skip the state exam, start working sooner, and position yourself for six-figure potential as your experience and credentials increase.
Why Florida Needs So Many Claims Adjusters
Florida’s mix of hurricanes, severe storms, and dense population means insurance claims never really stop. Insurers, independent firms, and public adjusting companies all rely on licensed adjusters to investigate damage, estimate losses, and negotiate fair settlements for policyholders and carriers.
Because of this constant demand, adjuster roles span multiple lines—homeowners, auto, liability, commercial property, and catastrophe claims—giving you flexibility to specialize or stay broad. A 6-20 All-Lines Adjuster license qualifies you to work across these areas as either a staff employee or an independent contractor.
What a 6-20 All-Lines Adjuster Does
A Florida 6-20 Resident All-Lines Adjuster is licensed to handle claims for property, casualty, auto, liability, and workers’ compensation on behalf of insurers or adjusting firms. Day to day, that means inspecting damages, reviewing policies, gathering documentation, and negotiating settlements within policy limits.
Some adjusters work in offices or virtually as desk adjusters, while others travel in the field, especially after hurricanes or large storms. During major events, catastrophe (CAT) adjusters with a 6-20 license can see big spikes in demand—and income—because carriers need rapid, large-scale claim support.
How Much Florida Claims Adjusters Earn
According to Indeed, claims adjusters in Florida report an average base salary in the mid–$60,000 range, with broader data for insurance claims adjustersalso showing averages around the mid–$60,000s per year. Entry-level adjusters typically start lower but can increase earnings quickly as they gain experience and handle more complex claims.
With more years in the field, adjusters can move into higher-paid roles such as senior adjuster, field CAT adjuster, or public adjuster, where total compensation can reach well into six figures depending on claim volume and fee structures. Additional designations, strong performance metrics, and specialization in high-severity lines often correlate with faster salary growth.
Florida’s Licensing Rules (What the State Requires)
The Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS) sets the rules for the 6-20 Resident All-Lines Adjuster license.
- Applicants must be at least 18,
- reside in Florida,
- be a U.S. citizen or legal resident with work authorization,
- and not hold a resident adjuster license in another state.
Normally, an applicant would also need to meet specific prerequisites, such as passing the state exam or holding certain prior licenses. However, earning an Accredited Claims Adjuster (ACA) designation from an approved Florida postsecondary institution satisfies the education requirement and provides a written exam waiver that DFS accepts instead of a state exam score.
How the ACA Designation Skips the State Exam
The 40-hour 6-20 All-Lines Accredited Claims Adjuster (ACA) designation course from OnLine Training (OLT) is designed to function like a pre-licensing program—but with one major advantage. When you successfully complete this Florida-approved ACA course, you receive a designation letter that qualifies you for a state exam exemption for the 6-20 license, as recognized in DFS licensing guidelines.
Because the OLT course is delivered in partnership with a Florida college and listed as an approved ACA program, your completion certificate and designation letter can be used as the prerequisite proof required in your DFS application. That means no separate state exam scheduling, no test-center logistics, and usually a faster path from training to an active license.
Inside OLT’s 40-Hour Online ACA Course
OLT’s 40 hr 6-20 All-Lines Accredited Claims Adjuster Designation Online Course is 100% online, including the final exam, so you can train from home, work, or anywhere with internet access. The course is text-based rather than video-heavy, allowing you to read, take notes, and move at your own pace across desktops, laptops, or mobile devices.
Students receive three months of access by default, with options to extend if life gets in the way. Many focused learners complete the 40-hour course in about a week, especially if they treat it like a full-time job. Instructor support is available by email or phone, and an instant certificate of completion is issued as soon as you pass the final exam.
Step-by-Step Path: From New Student to Working Adjuster
A typical path into the profession with this course looks like this.
- Enroll in OLT’s 40-hour 6-20 ACA designation course and receive immediate online access after checkout.
- Work through the reading modules, knowledge checks, and final exam until you successfully complete the course and earn the ACA designation.
- Submit your 6-20 Resident All-Lines Adjuster application to Florida DFS,
- OLT will submit your course completion so that you don't have to attach the ACA designation letter as your prerequisite evidence, and your state exam requirement is waived.
- Once your Adjuster Application is approved and you are appointed by an insurer or adjusting firm, begin working as a staff, independent, or CAT adjuster handling a variety of claims across Florida.
From there, you can grow into supervisory roles, specialize in catastrophe work, or pursue the 3-20 Public Adjuster license if you want to represent policyholders directly.
Using the 6-20 License to Become a Public Adjuster
For many students, the 6-20 license is not the final destination but an important first step toward becoming a 3-20 Public Adjuster. Florida DFS guidelines for Public Adjuster Apprentice appointments require applicants to hold a 6-20 resident or 7-20 nonresident all-lines adjuster license as a starting point.
Once licensed, you can be appointed as a 31-20 Public Adjuster Apprentice under a supervising public adjuster, gain the required experience period, and then sit for the 3-20 Public Adjuster exam, which does not have exemptions. This path can ultimately lead to higher earning potential and greater independence for those who prefer working on behalf of policyholders rather than insurers.
Job Market Insights from Indeed
Job postings and salary data from Indeed show steady demand for insurance claims adjusters across Florida, with opportunities ranging from entry-level trainee roles to experienced multi-line adjuster and litigation-focused positions. Hiring companies include national insurers, regional carriers, third-party administrators, and specialty adjusting firms that support catastrophe and complex commercial claims.
Indeed’s salary snapshots and other online salary guides suggest that Florida adjuster pay is competitive with national averages, with room to grow through experience, performance, and specialization. For motivated new licensees, the combination of a streamlined exam-waiver path and an active job market makes the 6-20 license an attractive way to change careers or move up from entry-level insurance roles.
Is This Career Path Right for You?
Insurance adjusting is a good fit if you are comfortable with details, documentation, and real-world problem-solving, especially when people are stressed after a loss. You will spend time reading policies, interpreting coverage, and balancing empathy for policyholders with the responsibility to follow contract terms and company guidelines.
If you like flexible work environments, the potential for field travel, and income that can scale with experience and event-driven demand, a 6-20 All-Lines Adjuster license is worth serious consideration. Starting with a structured ACA course that removes the exam barrier can be the most efficient way to find out if this is the right long-term fit.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I have to take the Florida 6-20 state exam if I complete the ACA course?
No. When you successfully complete an approved 40-hour Accredited Claims Adjuster (ACA) designation course from a Florida postsecondary institution, the Florida 6-20 state licensing exam requirement is waived for eligible applicants, and the designation letter is used as the prerequisite for your license application." - What are the basic eligibility requirements for the 6-20 Resident All-Lines Adjuster license?
You must be at least 18 years old, a resident of Florida, a U.S. citizen or legal resident with work authorization, and you cannot hold a resident adjuster license in another state. You must also meet one of the state’s listed prerequisites, such as earning an Accredited Claims Adjuster (ACA) designation." - How much do claims adjusters earn in Florida?
Recent Indeed data shows that insurance claims adjusters in Florida report average base salaries in the mid-$60,000 range per year, with higher earnings possible for experienced, catastrophe, and public adjusters depending on role, employer, and claim volume." - How long does it take to complete the 40-hour ACA designation course?
Most students are given three months of online access to complete the 40-hour course, but many finish in about a week of focused study. Extensions are typically available for those who need additional time." - Can the 6-20 license help me become a public adjuster?
Yes. Holding a 6-20 Resident All-Lines Adjuster license is one of the prerequisites for a 31-20 Public Adjuster Apprentice appointment, which then allows you to gain experience and later sit for the 3-20 Public Adjuster exam."