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Not sure how they are doing it now, but the last time I took one of the tests it was at a Sylvan Learning Center (with branches in most medium to large cities and quite a few small towns).  There was a cost, but much much less than travelling to Texas.  They will probably provide this information at the IDL broadcast.  Or you could call Eberl's to discuss options.

Michael you got your foot in the door with Ebrels. Many people who want to get into catastrophe adjusting never get this far. Take the IDL and get all the books and study each page very carefully and you should be able to pass two test one the first or second try.The old A & B test is probably being sold on the black market. State Farm probably has changed the test and and will not let it get away.Almost memorize the books before you take the tests. I had to take the BASIC test three times before I passed.

IF YOU INTEND to stick with catastrophe work for the rest of your working life this is the best certification you can get..............

Mr. Bradbury,

How did you find a classes for State Farm Certificaton?  I am looking to get my certification, but have been unsuccessful in doing so.  Can you guide me in the right direction?

I have worked  Fire losses and auto claims for SF as a branch assist adjuster. I have the utmost respect for all their  procedures, forms and rules. They have worked millions of claims and do not need any advise from anyone.

Now I have a question I wish a SF staff adjuster would answer and remain anonymous. Does SF buy into all the cleaning codes by the fire and water contractors that are in xmate and purported to be gospel. If so I will stop blasting if the largest says "thats the way they do it".It would help if USAA, Travelers, Hartford, Farmers, Nationwide and a few others chirped up also. I am sure Roy can give only staff adjusters a way to stay anonymous.

Ray:

I don't think there is an edict from any carrier whether they like or don't like water suckers and their games.  It comes down to each individual adjuster and supervisor from my experience.  Many a staffer takes the path of least resistance and allows anything to go through until their hand is called.   Many an independent takes the position that the higher the water sucker bill, the higher the adjuster bill.  And finally there are those of us who try to hold the line with them and usually get little support and even if support is received, it finally gets high enough up the hierarchy  that someone in the ivory tower says pay this and make it go away.  I don't need to be bothered with this. The water suckers are fully aware of this scenario and it does not bother their conscience at all.

Thanks for the post Jim. Its a fact the HO policy has tripled since 1990 and it was all because of one lawsuit judgement that was NEVER paid 100% after all the appeals. My fire, EC and acc. plumbing cost less than $550.00 per year. A CPL cost $90.00 for 3 years and my theft policy cost 112.00 per year. Its with a very small Texas Mutual and I go to the meetings ever year, and they will never write mold coverage, or hire an adjuster who uses the word Mold in a report.

But my fellow Texas have the highest HO premiums in the USA from this fraud that was pulled on Texans from 1990 to 1994 and you can bet they will never get back to less than $1,000.00 per year for a $150,000. Cover on the building. When the policy states no mold remediation or testing will be considered as part of the loss. The rates may come down........

Just something to think about.. if an insurance company only needs 5% underwriting profit to be profitable in a certain state, do they have any real incentive to keep the premiums low by the claim payments. No not a fact, 5% is what it is and higher is better. BUT they should do away with the Deductible Clause with this attitude OR at least let the insured do the work @ xmate rates without O & P. Good to hear from the non kool aid adjusters.

Ray:

Preaching to the choir is an easy sermon.  As you well know, the bean counters that now control our industry have not a clue as to the insurance industry they lord over.  They might just as well be running a widget factory as all decisions are based upon the botom line and bottom line only.   Or maybe using the Warren Buffet philosophy that loss ratio doesn't matter, just using the insured's premium for investment is the key.   As you so aptly point out, if losses are over 100%, the state insurance commisssion will give you a rate increase and you made money on your investment portfolio anyway.   But dear God, don't pay the claims dept a livable wage as that is an expense and not considered by the insurance commissioner for a rate increase.  And we all know the claims dept is just a dead expense, as any trained monkey can pay claims.  You mention fire and ec policies.  So very few are now written I had almost forgotten about them.  All underwriting is geared towards RC and "full coverage" nowdays.  I can rememebr back in the 70's (in the days of the CDP before the HO) when major carriers still wrote fire and ec and the 165 line NY fire policy was incorporated into all policies.  And the value of a dwelling had to reach a limit ($50,000 back then).   Unfortunately, we have to assimilate some or we wil not make it.

Jimmy Stewart, you spoke volumes there with that post.  You don't speak up much here, but when you do...it's the truth.  

And, as Ronald Reagan said "well...there you go again....".  I was responding to your prior post, and it just so happened you were posting at the same time I was.   My response to your latest is "ditto".