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Jim,

You cannot handle NFIP claims without being certified. It is against federal law to do so. You will get in big trouble if you accept NFIP claims without being certified to do so. The class for which you are signed up does not certify you to handle these claims. They are, however, also a requirement in order to handle NFIP claims. I am certified in all areas (Mobile Home, Residential, Condo, Large and Small Commercial claims) by NFIP. It is still required that I attend the presentation each year. After you have attended the presentation, you will need to apply to the NFIP for certification. A minimum of five years claim handling experience is required.* This certification will allow you to work NFIP (flood) claims. Some of the top catadjusting companies in the country work only these claims. Simsol and Colonial Claims come to mind immediately. SCS used to be another, but I have not heard anything about them in quite some time. NFIP claims can be very profitable. They can also be very demanding. You will learn about some of the requirements and pitfalls at the presentation. You will also be eligible for considerable continuing education credit toward the requirements for your state license.

You may also find that certain claims on a wind and flood event are assigned or reassigned only to those who are certified for flood -- under the "one adjuster" program.

Even if, like me, you work very few flood claims, this is a good certification to have. It makes you more marketable and provides a backup plan in case (for some reason) you no longer are willing or able to climb roofs. Few flood claims require roof climbing. If you knew what the income of the top flood adjusters was during Hurricane Katrina, you wouldn't even question the value of this certification.  My income was satisfactory during that event, but doesn't even compare to what some of the adjusters handling NFIP claims made.

*Adjusters with less than five years experience can be conditionally certified. This will be explained better than I can explain it at the NFIP presentation.

Wow ,just read in the latest copy of Watermark about NE U.S. is very vulnerable to uninsured flood losses on dwellings. Really shocking. The following is the number of housholds with coverage. Conn. 2.5 %, Deleware 7.1%, Maine 1.5 %, Mass. 1.9%, NH. 1.4%, NJ 6.8%, NY 1.7%, PA.1.3%, RI3.3%, Vt. 1.3%.. Maryland 3.1%

Whats more shocking is 28% of the  insured dwellings have been flooded before, and the lendors require.

Floods make a lot of headlines but produce very little work for adjusters, as the uninsured losses are  making the headlines and the one's reported. Thank goodness the CP can have flood coverage added.

DH,

All I was referring to is the FACT that in my many, many years of doing this work, i have heard of many firms and individuals that have used "Scopes" to do the inspections, take the photos and even prepare some of the estimates, only to have the "NFIP Certified" adjuster sign off on the file.

I'm not condoning the actions of any of them. I'm sure that many experienced adjusters have engaged others to preform certain phases of the "adjusting" workplace. Consider, if you will, phone contact, appointment setting/changing/cancelling, file setup, photo mounting (Old days) and photo descriptions.

Then we have the guys and gals that like to climb and measure and draw pictures.  Well you get it , I'm sure.

Some things are permissible, constructive, helpful and profitable. The same amount of things are also fraught with potential errors for which the "adjuster" is held accountable. So, to say it simply, "Let your conscience , be your guide"

" All inspections done by a NFIP certified adjuster"   a good rule, but if you take 2 helpers with you it goes MUCH faster and if you get a good puter person it really frees up more time for inspections and discussions with the insureds therefore better-faster service to the policy holder and whats wrong with closing files faster.

I attended a NFIP class that was part of a state farm certification. The class wasn't put on by NFIP it was done by a State Farm employee. After taking this class I handled mainly wind claims for state farm but did do a handful of NFIP flood claims also. All of this was for Katrina in Louisiana. I didn't receive any paper certification for this class and was wondering if the certification was only valid for state farm and how exactly I was even allowed the certification since I did not have the required 5 years experience.