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Don't know about other vendors, but Pilot emphasizes that they preferentially send adjusters with an existing state license.  They don't want the paperwork or delay of getting a temporary license.  Here's part of what they say:

"Pilot initially targets first responders with permanent adjuster licenses in affected areas and also clean up personnel who have the ability to remain after a declared catastrophe has expired."

If you rely on getting a temp license when needed you won't get called unless it's a big event.

The vendors would also like you to have a degree from MIT, but it cost a lot to maintain a license in each state and CE ever one or two years. If its big enough the temp license will work fine. If all you have to do is apply to the states with a one time fee, go for it, but in years with no work.many people I talk with say 09 was the slowest year since 03. When Pilot hands the first team 35 each and they are replaced by staff, thats as big a shock as the MA. senate win. A first in my lifetime.

I've got my Texas resident license and 10 non-resident licenses that cost me just under $700 a year.  Add that to the 18 states that don't require a license and I can go immediately to work in 29 states.  No question 2009 was a bad year, but I worked in TX,  KY and GA.  I don't think I would have been called if I wasn't licensed in those states.  Well worth the $700.  

Since continuing education is required in Texas, it meets the CE requirements of the other states.  So, there's no need to do it in the other states. 

What it comes down to is this:  The people I work for told me I've got a better chance of being deployed if I'm licensed in more states than just the one I live in.  So, I got the licenses and I've been getting called.  (BTW, they don't care about my degree from MTU.)

David

Well this proves the point ask some one who knows the correct answer. I don,t think a person who has never worked a claim needs all the license or a need to open a local office. Work about 1000 to 2000 and then cross this bridge.My main point was when Pilot gets a few thousand losses like 35 times 100 that are closed in one week and the heavy hitters hang around for another week and do not get any more because they were replaced by staff adjusters, THAT is a big bang , not good in the catastrophe world. Does any one think the fee bills will come down if this keeps up?

I have a resident license in Georgia held that license for over 25 years   every state that requires licensing and there are way fewer now than there used to be  you can easily get a non-resident license in any state if you have a valid, maintained  resident state license. I have non-residents in Al, SC, NC, FL, TX, MS, LA,MI, WI, MN, VA, MD  and all I have paid is my normal annual fee to Georgia. Every state that requires a license requires CE credits. I have been licensed some time in GA so my annual requirements are less but still required every year. I do not fall into the trap of getting CE requirements in every Non-Resident state.  I have always wondered why there was not a national adjusters license, well simple, money  states have learned they can make real money requiring licensing  15 yrs ago half the states did not even require licensing  not so today  but if you maintain that Resident license you should have no issue getting Non-Resident licensing in any other state.

When carriers demand ever adjuster submit examples of the last 100 catastrophe files closed, before deployment the coveted Texas Adjusters license will never amount to squat. When the vendors require your last storm manager give you an affirmation in writing of the last storm files you closed, to submit to subsequent vendors, the liars, whatever will always take needed work away from the qualified cat.adjusters.

Willis ,

 How do you not pay for the other states every year? Or did I misunderstand your post? Do you just send in copy of "CE certificate to these other states From your resident state of Georgia?

I have my resident Montana License plus I have TX , Oklahoma , Wash. Oregon , Florida ,Georgia .

has Michigan been good to you? I use to work wind & hail up there. Nice area except for Detroit.

This has sure  changed a lot since i first started back in Hurricane Andreww and worked for 8 years w/ Pilot and 2 years w/ GAB.

  Ray, Is this happening now ? Or do you see this coming in the future? This Deployment thing has changed so Much Since I was adjusting. Pilot invariably sent me and my wife from one event to the next the only breaks we had were traveling from one to the next one.

  There has been so little work as of late that even the good ol' boys are setting at home. I guess I should have stuck w/ it but  I came to miss to much of my Grand Kids and my sons groing up I had to take an 8 year break.

Even w/ my past experience it has been tough just getting deployed again. This is for the Newbies to read by the way.

 Back when I quit adjusting I was in the top 10% of Pilot and always had as much work as I could handle. I guess those were in much busier times . Pilot always took good care of me I hope they will now!.

If you can still do the work Pilot should take you back. I know some very young people who got 30-35 losses on the last two storms and were replaced by Allstate staff adjuster after one week. I know lots of old timers and they confirm its very very slow and they are sitting at home for months.just WOW.

I still do some regular liability/property work for cheap, but not as much as I want.