- The HI-ADJ exam has 80 scoreable questions plus 10 unscored pretest items in 105 minutes.
- Passing requires a scaled score of 70 - not 70% correct answers.
- Domains 1-3 tie for the heaviest weight at 16 scoreable questions each.
- Public adjusters need a $10,000 surety bond within seven days of application; independent adjusters do not.
What Is the HI-ADJ Certification?
The HI-ADJ Certification refers to the Hawaii Adjuster Examination administered on behalf of the Hawaii Insurance Division, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA). It is the licensing exam that independent and public adjuster applicants must pass before they can legally adjust claims in Hawaii. The exam is delivered through Pearson VUE, using test-center code InsHI-Adj14 for in-person testing and online code OPAdj14 for remote OnVUE proctoring.
Independent and public adjuster candidates sit for the same underlying exam content, but they obtain separate license types once they pass. If you're still unsure how this credential differs from similarly-named adjuster designations elsewhere, our overview of What Is HI-ADJ? and the companion piece on HI-ADJ Meaning walk through the terminology in plain language.
Who Hires HI-ADJ Licensed Adjusters
Independent adjusting firms, third-party administrators, and public adjusting practices operating in Hawaii need licensed staff to legally investigate, negotiate, and settle claims. Because Hawaii requires both resident and nonresident adjusters to pass the same state examination (unless they qualify for emergency nonresident registration tied to a declared catastrophe), employers actively look for candidates who already hold or are actively pursuing the license before assigning claim files.
If you're weighing whether this career path fits your goals, the practical breakdown in HI-ADJ Jobs and the analysis in Is the HI-ADJ Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 are useful starting points before you commit study hours and exam fees.
Exam Format and Question Style
The HI-ADJ exam is computer-based and closed-book. Candidates face 90 total presented questions: 80 are scoreable and 10 are unscored pretest items used to evaluate future exam questions. You won't know which items are pretest questions, so every question deserves full attention. The entire exam must be completed within 105 minutes.
Scoring is reported on a scale, and the passing mark is a scaled score of 70 - this is explicitly not the same as answering 70% of questions correctly. For a full breakdown of how the scaling works and what it means for your target performance, see HI-ADJ Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Key Takeaway
Because 10 of the 90 questions are unscored pretest items you cannot identify, pace yourself as if every question counts toward your scaled score of 70.
The Six HI-ADJ Content Domains
The content outline effective January 1, 2026 organizes the exam into six domains. Knowing the exact scoreable question allocation per domain lets you prioritize study time where it matters most.
| Domain | Topic | Scoreable Questions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Types of Policies, Bonds, and Related Terms | 16 |
| 2 | Insurance Terms and Related Concepts | 16 |
| 3 | Policy Provisions and Contracts | 16 |
| 4 | Hawaii Laws and Rules Pertinent to Adjuster | 12 |
| 5 | Hawaii Laws and Rules Pertinent to Property Insurance Only | 6-8 |
| 6 | Hawaii Laws and Rules Pertinent to Casualty Insurance Only | 12-14 |
Domain 1: Types of Policies, Bonds, and Related Terms
Candidates must distinguish between major policy types, understand bonding basics, and recognize the terminology adjusters use daily.
- Property, casualty, and liability policy structures
- Bond classifications and their purpose in claims contexts
Domain 2: Insurance Terms and Related Concepts
This domain tests foundational vocabulary and concepts that underpin every other domain on the exam.
- Indemnity, insurable interest, and subrogation
- Underwriting and risk classification fundamentals
Domain 3: Policy Provisions and Contracts
Adjusters must interpret standard contract language, exclusions, endorsements, and conditions correctly under time pressure.
- Common policy conditions and warranties
- Endorsement and exclusion interpretation
Domain 4: Hawaii Laws and Rules Pertinent to Adjuster
State-specific statutes and DCCA rules governing adjuster conduct, licensing obligations, and unfair claims practices sit here.
- Adjuster licensing statutes under Hawaii Revised Statutes
- Unfair claims settlement practice provisions
Domain 5: Hawaii Laws and Rules Pertinent to Property Insurance Only
A narrower domain (6-8 scoreable questions) focused specifically on property claim regulation in Hawaii.
- Property-specific statutory requirements
- Disclosure and claim-handling timelines for property lines
Domain 6: Hawaii Laws and Rules Pertinent to Casualty Insurance Only
The second-largest domain (12-14 scoreable questions), covering casualty-line statutes and regulatory nuances.
- Casualty claim statutory obligations
- Liability-line regulatory distinctions
For a deeper walkthrough of each domain with topic-level study priorities, read HI-ADJ Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 6 Content Areas.
Registration, Fees, and Scheduling
Each attempt at the HI-ADJ exam costs $75, payable to Pearson VUE. You can test at a physical test center using code InsHI-Adj14, or remotely via OnVUE using code OPAdj14. Both delivery methods present the identical 90-question, 105-minute exam under closed-book conditions.
Beyond the exam fee, resident applicants must complete Fieldprint fingerprinting before submitting their application through NIPR. Initial resident licensing for an independent or public adjuster license runs $165 per license, and that figure excludes examination, fingerprinting, and transaction charges. Public adjuster applicants have an additional requirement: a $10,000 surety bond submitted within seven days of application. That bond's face value is not the premium you pay - it's the coverage amount the bond guarantees. Independent adjusters are not required to post this bond.
For a complete cost breakdown covering every fee category, see HI-ADJ Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown, and for scheduling logistics and testing windows, check HI-ADJ Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
Eligibility and Licensing Requirements
To sit for the HI-ADJ exam and obtain licensure, applicants must be at least 18 years old and domiciled in Hawaii or in a state that reciprocally permits Hawaii residents to act as adjusters. Applicants also need sufficient claims-handling experience, specialized education, or training to demonstrate they can competently perform adjuster duties.
Both ordinary resident and nonresident applicants must pass the Hawaii examination to obtain a standard license. There is a separate emergency nonresident registration route, but it only applies when tied to a qualifying emergency declaration - it is not a substitute for the standard exam pathway. If you're relocating from out of state or planning to work claims remotely, our guide on HI-ADJ Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify covers the nonresident nuances, and the practice-focused article on HI-ADJ Training outlines how candidates typically build the required claims knowledge before applying.
Key Takeaway
Nonresident applicants aren't exempt from the exam - the emergency nonresident registration route only opens during a declared catastrophe, not as a general alternative.
Retake Rules and Renewal
If you fail the exam via OnVUE, the first retake requires a two-week waiting period; any subsequent OnVUE retake after another failure requires a four-week wait. Test-center-to-test-center retakes have a much shorter 24-hour waiting period, which matters if you're deciding between remote and in-person testing for your second attempt.
Once licensed, independent and public adjusters renew through NIPR by their assigned birth-month-end expiration date, with a $90 renewal fee. The renewal window opens 90 days before expiration, giving you a reasonable buffer to complete the process. Notably, independent and public adjuster licenses carry no continuing-education requirement - that obligation only applies to the separate limited workers compensation adjuster license, which requires its own examination, including reexamination at renewal.
Retake logistics and pacing strategy are covered in more depth in How Hard Is the HI-ADJ Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026, while trend data on outcomes is discussed in HI-ADJ Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows.
Building a Domain-Aligned Study Timeline
Rather than studying generically, map your preparation directly to the six-domain weighting. Since Domains 1, 2, and 3 tie for the largest share at 16 scoreable questions each, they deserve the earliest and heaviest attention. Domain 6 (12-14 questions) and Domain 4 (12 questions) come next, with Domain 5's narrower 6-8 question range reviewed last but not skipped.
Foundational Domains
- Work through Domain 1 (policy types and bonds) and Domain 2 (insurance terminology)
- Build a glossary of terms you keep confusing
Contract Interpretation
- Focus on Domain 3, practicing policy provision and exclusion questions
- Time yourself to simulate the 105-minute limit
Hawaii-Specific Law
- Study Domain 4 (adjuster statutes) and Domain 6 (casualty law)
- Cross-reference Hawaii Revised Statutes sections on licensing and unfair practices
Property Law and Full Review
- Finish Domain 5 property-specific rules
- Take full-length timed practice runs covering all six domains
For a condensed, all-in-one reference to keep beside your practice sessions, our HI-ADJ Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts summarizes the domain weights, fees, and key statutory references in one place. And if you want a full week-by-week prep plan built around this exact outline, see HI-ADJ Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt.
You can also run full-length, timed practice sessions modeled on the real 90-question format directly on our practice test platform, which is built specifically around the current Hawaii content outline rather than generic adjuster material.
Frequently Asked Questions
It's the Hawaii Adjuster Examination required by the Hawaii Insurance Division (DCCA) for independent and public adjuster licensure, delivered via Pearson VUE at test centers or through OnVUE.
There are 90 total presented questions - 80 scoreable plus 10 unscored pretest items - and you have 105 minutes to complete the closed-book, computer-based exam.
You need a scaled score of 70. This is a scaled measure, not a raw percentage of correct answers, so it doesn't directly equate to "70% correct."
Yes. Public adjusters must submit a $10,000 surety bond within seven days of application. Independent adjusters are not required to post this bond.
No. Independent and public adjuster licenses have no continuing-education requirement. Only the separate limited workers compensation adjuster license requires its own exam, including reexamination for renewal.