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Which certification was what I was looking for, and I'm retired from a 30 year career with the power company and have a retirement income, so the only time I go to Applebee's is when I meet friends there for happy hour .   

Posted By wstj on 01 Feb 2010 08:46 PM
Since you live in Florida I would get the Citizens certification. Your not far from Mobile so Pilot holds a number of certifications during the first 5 months or so of the years like State Farm, American Family & Allstate. The also hold a NFIP Flood class. Their class is demanding but good. I have worked for them and they are a good outfit. Good luck! Maybe this year will be a busy one.

Thanks a million.  Any other advice for a newbie?

Posted By ChuckDeaton on 04 Feb 2010 12:38 PM
Join a gym, cardio vascular fitness is a must.

Thanks, for the advice -- any and all is apprecicated and taken to heart. I am in pretty good shape. Exercise three to four days a week and teach scuba diving plus do a lot of diving for fun -- but not right now -- waiting for the water to warm up a bit 

Thanks Ray. I know I'm not ready right now, but I'm hoping to be ready by the start of storm season. I'm still learning Xactimate and have never touched Integreclaims. When I spend  a few more days learning X-Mate, I was planning to estimate my own house using the Training Price List. We had damage in Georges and Ivan and I was going to simulate that. What would you charge to take a look at it and give me some pointers?

The Insurance part of Adjusting is what concerns me more than anything. I've got a pretty good understanding of residential building construction having served as a Residential Energy Consultant for the power company for ten years. I probably did close to 6000 energy audits on new and existing homes and when a contractor had a problem (back drafting fire place, moisture, uncomfortable) they called me. I was a companywide Manual J (residential HVAC Load Sizing) instructor and a Manual D (residential duct design) instructor and a state of Florida class one energy rater which meant that I certified blueprints for energy efficient mortgages and was responsible for making sure new homes met the Florida Energy Code.  I had to be knowledgeable about every component of a home from the foundation to the roof and how variables like different insulation or attic ventilation or an improper HVAC installation changed the way the house performed and had to master several different software programs to do it all, so nothing about adjusting scares me except the insurance part .

 I know beans about the insurance part. I was dumbfounded for what passed for a licensing course to become a Florida adjuster. To be a good adjuster, I know I need more knowledge about insurance, but outside of becoming a staff adjuster, I'm not sure where to get it. Any suggestions would be appreciated?   

Posted By Medulus on 10 Feb 2010 04:13 PM
My advice -- if you want to learn about insurance:

Go to the AICPCU.org website and start working on the AIC designation. Four courses ....possibly some of the toughest you have ever taken in your life. Don't take more than one course at a time. Each course gets you 24 continuing education credits toward the requirements of your Florida license. When you are done you will know more about insurance than many adjusters who have been working in the field for 20 years or more. When you are done, you get to put the letters AIC after your name, and people do notice.

Excellent! That was exactly what I was looking for. I'm headed there now to check it out.  Thank you so very much.
 

LOL Steve "some of the toughest you have ever taken in your life." Speaking from pure experience HUH! LOL

Trust me Steve I feel you ! I still don't know how you managed to tough it through the CPCU Program! Heck I bought the flashcard and deluxe learning program and still failed the AIC test before my Old A** passed, I started on the CPCU Program and I always considered myself a relatively intelligent person, until now I think it'll take me several years  to pass this program ....... Thats why I decided to get my SCLA First (A little easier)

WHY CANT THEY MAKE IT LIKE THE CURRENT TEXAS LICENSE, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, SIT IN A ROOM FOR A DAY OR SO AND PAY YOUR $250 BUCKS AND WHEN YOUR DONE YOU A JUSTER BY TRADE.

I GOT MY TEXAS LICENSE THE HARD WAY,  I GOT BUSTED RUNNING CLAIMS IN 1986 in TEXAS, and Was forced to Pay 50 Bucks to the state of Texas and they send me a license. I think it was the Texas railroad commission who was over licensing at the time had one every since.