- The exam has 80 scoreable questions plus 10 unscored pretest items, 90 total, in 105 minutes.
- Passing requires a scaled score of 70, not 70% raw correct answers.
- Domains 1, 2, and 3 each carry 16 questions - the largest single-domain weight on the exam.
- Exam fee is $75 per attempt; resident licensing runs $165 plus fingerprinting and bond costs for public adjusters.
What Is the HI-ADJ Exam?
The Hawaii Adjuster Exam (HI-ADJ) is the licensing test administered on behalf of the Hawaii Insurance Division, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), and delivered through Pearson VUE. Both independent and public adjuster candidates sit for the same Adjuster examination, but they end up with two separate license types once they pass. If you're scheduling through Pearson VUE, the test-center code is InsHI-Adj14 and the online proctoring code is OPAdj14 - write these down before you register, because using the wrong code can delay your scheduling.
This page is intentionally condensed. If you want the full walkthrough of eligibility rules, study sequencing, and domain-by-domain breakdowns, pair this cheat sheet with the HI-ADJ Study Guide 2026 and the complete guide to all six content areas. This article exists to be the one-page reference you glance at the night before your test.
Registration, Fees, and Exam Format
Before you memorize a single policy provision, get the logistics straight. Mixing these numbers up with another state's adjuster exam is the single most common self-inflicted error candidates make.
- Exam fee: $75 per attempt, charged each time you sit, whether at a test center or via OnVUE online proctoring.
- Question count: 90 presented questions total - 80 scoreable plus 10 unscored pretest questions mixed in without identification.
- Time limit: 105 minutes, closed-book, computer-based.
- Content outline: Effective January 1, 2026, matching the candidate handbook dated January 2026.
- Delivery options: Traditional test center or OnVUE remote proctoring - choose whichever fits your schedule and comfort with home-testing conditions.
Because the pretest questions are unscored but indistinguishable from scored ones, treat every question on screen with equal seriousness. Don't try to "guess" which 10 are unscored - that instinct wastes time and adds risk. For a deeper look at how difficult candidates actually find this format, see How Hard Is the HI-ADJ Exam?
Key Takeaway
Budget for $75 per attempt and plan your schedule assuming you'll use the full 105 minutes - pacing yourself at roughly one minute per question leaves a buffer for review.
The Six Domains at a Glance
HI-ADJ content is organized into six domains with a fixed number of scoreable questions each. Knowing this allocation tells you exactly where to spend your study hours.
| Domain | Topic | Scoreable Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Domain 1 | Types of Policies, Bonds, and Related Terms | 16 |
| Domain 2 | Insurance Terms and Related Concepts | 16 |
| Domain 3 | Policy Provisions and Contracts | 16 |
| Domain 4 | Hawaii Laws and Rules Pertinent to Adjuster | 12 |
| Domain 5 | Hawaii Laws and Rules Pertinent to Property Insurance Only | 6-8 |
| Domain 6 | Hawaii Laws and Rules Pertinent to Casualty Insurance Only | 12-14 |
Domains 1, 2, and 3 tie for the largest weight at 16 questions apiece - meaning nearly half of the scored exam sits in foundational insurance concepts rather than Hawaii-specific statute. That's a strategic gift: master general policy language and contract mechanics first, then layer on the Hawaii law domains.
Domain 1: Types of Policies, Bonds, and Related Terms
Candidates must distinguish policy types, understand bonding basics, and know standard adjuster-relevant terminology used across property and casualty lines.
- Know the difference between first-party and third-party claims context
- Understand how bonds function differently from insurance policies
Domain 2: Insurance Terms and Related Concepts
This domain tests command of core vocabulary - the words adjusters use daily when evaluating and communicating about claims.
- Master definitions tested in context, not isolation
- Expect scenario-style wording rather than pure definition matching
Domains 5 and 6: Property vs. Casualty Law
These two domains split Hawaii-specific statute by line of business. Domain 5 covers property-only rules (6-8 questions); Domain 6 covers casualty-only rules (12-14 questions) - a noticeably heavier load, so don't under-study casualty statute assuming it mirrors property in weight.
For a full breakdown of subtopics inside each domain, the dedicated HI-ADJ Exam Domains 2026 guide goes deeper than this cheat sheet allows.
Passing Score Essentials
HI-ADJ uses a scaled score of 70 to pass - not 70% of questions answered correctly. Scaled scoring adjusts for question difficulty across different exam forms, so a raw percentage estimate can be misleading. Don't try to reverse-engineer "how many questions can I miss" using simple percentage math; the scaling formula isn't published in those terms.
For the full explanation of how scaled scoring works and what score reports show, see HI-ADJ Passing Score 2026.
Licensing Requirements Checklist
Passing the exam is one step. Licensing has its own separate requirements and costs that trip up first-time applicants.
- Age: Must be at least 18 years old.
- Domicile: Must be domiciled in Hawaii, or in a state that permits Hawaii residents to act as adjusters (reciprocity condition).
- Competency basis: Applicants need sufficient claims-handling experience, special education, or training to perform adjuster duties competently.
- Fingerprinting: Resident applicants must complete Fieldprint fingerprinting before applying through NIPR.
- Initial license fee: $165 per license (independent or public), excluding exam, fingerprinting, and transaction charges.
- Public adjuster bond: A $10,000 surety bond must be submitted within seven days of application. This is not required for independent adjusters. Remember: the bond's face value is not the premium you actually pay.
Key Takeaway
Independent and public adjusters take the identical exam, but the licenses diverge afterward - only public adjusters carry the $10,000 bond obligation.
Nonresident applicants have their own pathway distinct from ordinary resident licensing, and there's a separate emergency nonresident registration route tied to a qualifying emergency declaration - this is not the standard licensing process and shouldn't be confused with routine nonresident applications. Full eligibility detail, including the nonresident pathway, lives in HI-ADJ Requirements 2026, and a complete cost breakdown covering every fee above is in HI-ADJ Certification Cost 2026.
Retake Rules and Scheduling Windows
Failing an attempt doesn't mean starting over from scratch, but it does mean waiting according to specific rules that depend on delivery method:
- OnVUE online, first retake: Two-week wait after a failed attempt.
- OnVUE online, subsequent retakes: Four-week wait after each additional failure.
- Test center to test center: Only a 24-hour wait required.
This asymmetry matters when you're planning around a specific exam date or license deadline. If you fail online and need to retest fast, switching to a physical test center for the retake may be the quicker path since it only carries a 24-hour hold. Scheduling logistics, blackout considerations, and how these windows interact with license application timing are covered in HI-ADJ Exam Dates 2026.
Renewal Snapshot
Once licensed, renewal is straightforward but time-sensitive:
- Renew through NIPR by your assigned birth-month-end expiration date.
- Renewal fee: $90.
- The renewal window opens 90 days before expiration - don't wait until the last week.
- Independent and public adjuster licenses carry no continuing-education requirement.
- The separate limited workers compensation adjuster license is different: it requires its own exam, and even renewal requires reexamination.
Final-Week Review Plan by Domain
If you only have a handful of study sessions left before test day, allocate them by question weight rather than personal preference. Here's a compressed plan built around the domain allocations above.
Domains 1-2 Foundations
- Drill policy types, bonds, and core insurance terminology - 32 combined scoreable questions between these two domains
- Use flashcards for terms tested in context, not just isolated definitions
Domain 3 Contracts
- Focus on policy provisions and contract structure - another 16-question domain
- Practice scenario questions that test application, not memorization
Domain 4 Adjuster Law
- Review Hawaii statutes specific to adjuster conduct and licensing (12 questions)
- Cross-reference against the licensing checklist above
Domains 5-6 Line-Specific Law
- Split time proportionally: give casualty (12-14 questions) more attention than property (6-8 questions)
- Finish with a full-length timed practice run using the ../ practice test platform
This structure avoids the generic "study everything equally" trap. Because Domains 5 and 6 have published ranges rather than fixed counts, treat casualty law as the heavier of the two and don't shortchange it just because property feels more familiar.
Who Hires HI-ADJ License Holders
Holding an active Hawaii adjuster license opens doors with insurance carriers handling property and casualty claims across the islands, independent adjusting firms that get dispatched for catastrophe and storm response, and public adjusting practices that represent policyholders directly in claim negotiations. Because the license splits into independent and public categories from the same exam, your choice of employer often determines which license path - and which bond obligation - applies to you. For a broader look at career paths and how the license is used in practice, see HI-ADJ Salary Guide 2026 and Is the HI-ADJ Certification Worth It?
If you're still deciding whether this license fits your career goals, it helps to review outcome data rather than guesswork - see HI-ADJ Pass Rate 2026 for what's actually documented about candidate performance.
Whichever path you're on, running full-length timed simulations on the HI-ADJ practice test platform before test day is the fastest way to confirm your pacing across all 90 presented questions in the 105-minute window.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Both applicant types sit for the identical Adjuster examination through Pearson VUE. The distinction happens afterward, when you apply for separate independent or public adjuster licenses, each with its own fee and, for public adjusters, a $10,000 surety bond requirement.
Only 80 of the 90 presented questions count toward your score. The remaining 10 are unscored pretest items mixed in without any visible marking, so treat every question as if it counts.
Online (OnVUE) failures require a two-week wait for the first retake and four weeks for any subsequent retake. If speed matters, a test-center retake only requires a 24-hour wait, so switching delivery methods can shorten your timeline.
No. Standard independent and public adjuster licenses have no continuing-education requirement. The only exception is the separate limited workers compensation adjuster license, which requires its own exam at renewal.
The renewal window opens 90 days before your birth-month-end expiration date. Renewing through NIPR early avoids any lapse, and the renewal fee is $90.