- The HI-ADJ exam covers 6 domains across 80 scored questions (90 presented, 105 minutes).
- Domains 1-3 tie for the largest share at 16 scoreable questions each.
- Domain 5 is the smallest at 6-8 questions; Domain 6 carries 12-14 questions.
- Passing requires a scaled score of 70, not 70% raw correct answers.
HI-ADJ Exam Overview: Format and Scoring
The Hawaii Adjuster Exam (HI-ADJ) is administered by Pearson VUE on behalf of the Hawaii Insurance Division, part of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA). Candidates schedule using test-center code InsHI-Adj14 or the online code OPAdj14, and both independent and public adjuster applicants sit the identical examination content, even though they end up holding separate licenses afterward.
Structurally, the exam presents 90 total questions in 105 minutes, but only 80 of those are scoreable. The remaining 10 are unscored pretest items mixed in without identification, so every question deserves full attention. The test is closed-book and computer-based, and it can be delivered either at a physical test center or through Pearson's OnVUE remote proctoring platform. The exam fee is $75 per attempt, and passing requires a scaled score of 70 - a converted number, not a literal 70% raw correct. For a deeper breakdown of exactly what that scaled score means and how it's calculated, see our HI-ADJ Passing Score guide.
The 6 HI-ADJ Content Domains Explained
The Hawaii Adjuster Exam content outline is organized into six domains. Three cover general insurance knowledge applicable across jurisdictions, and three focus specifically on Hawaii statutes and administrative rules. Understanding what each domain actually tests - not just its name - is the foundation of an efficient study plan. Our HI-ADJ Study Guide walks through resource selection in more depth; this section focuses on domain content itself.
Domain 1: Types of Policies, Bonds, and Related Terms
This domain establishes the vocabulary of the insurance marketplace: the different policy types adjusters encounter and the bonds relevant to claims and licensure.
- Distinguishing property, casualty, and combination policy forms
- Bond types and their function versus insurance coverage
- Foundational terminology that recurs throughout later domains
Domain 2: Insurance Terms and Related Concepts
This domain drills into the conceptual language of insurance - the definitions and mechanics that underpin claim evaluation regardless of policy type.
- Core concepts like indemnity, insurable interest, and risk transfer
- How terms translate into real claim-handling decisions
- Precise definitions that exam questions test literally
Domain 3: Policy Provisions and Contracts
Here the focus shifts to how policies are actually constructed as legal contracts, including standard provisions and clauses adjusters must apply.
- Common contract provisions and their practical effect on coverage
- How exclusions, conditions, and endorsements interact
- Reading policy language the way an exam question frames it
Domain 4: Hawaii Laws and Rules Pertinent to Adjuster
This domain shifts entirely to Hawaii-specific statutes and DCCA administrative rules that apply broadly to adjuster conduct and licensure.
- General licensing law under Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 431
- Adjuster conduct standards and DCCA oversight
- Rules that apply regardless of property or casualty specialty
Domain 5: Hawaii Laws and Rules Pertinent to Property Insurance Only
The smallest domain by question count, but still a distinct, focused area covering Hawaii rules unique to property claims.
- Property-specific statutory provisions
- State rules that diverge from general adjuster conduct standards
- Narrow but testable Hawaii property claim regulations
Domain 6: Hawaii Laws and Rules Pertinent to Casualty Insurance Only
This domain mirrors Domain 5's structure but applies to casualty lines, carrying a somewhat larger share of the exam.
- Casualty-specific Hawaii statutory requirements
- Distinctions between property-only and casualty-only rule sets
- Application of state law to casualty claim scenarios
Question Style and Format on the HI-ADJ Exam
Every question on the HI-ADJ exam is presented in a closed-book, computer-based format - there's no reference material available during the test, so recall and applied understanding both matter. Because 10 of the 90 presented questions are unscored pretest items with no visible label, candidates should treat every question with equal seriousness rather than trying to guess which ones "count."
Questions in the general insurance domains (1-3) tend to test definitions and applied scenarios: given a policy situation, which provision or term applies? Questions in the Hawaii-specific domains (4-6) lean more heavily on statutory recall - what does Hawaii law require in a specific claims-handling circumstance, and how does that differ from general industry practice? This split is one reason candidates often describe the exam's difficulty as uneven across domains; our difficulty guide discusses this pattern in more detail.
Key Takeaway
Because pretest questions are unmarked, pace yourself for all 90 presented items within the 105-minute window rather than assuming any question is "free."
Domain Weighting: Where to Focus Your Time
The official question allocations make the exam's priorities clear. Domains 1, 2, and 3 are tied at the top, each contributing 16 scoreable questions - together they account for the majority of the general insurance knowledge tested. Domain 4 follows with 12 questions, Domain 6 carries 12-14, and Domain 5 is the lightest at just 6-8 questions.
| 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 |
This weighting has a practical implication: the three general insurance domains combined represent roughly half of the scored exam, so a candidate who under-studies foundational policy and contract terminology in favor of memorizing Hawaii statutes alone is likely leaving points on the table. Conversely, don't neglect Domains 4-6 simply because each individual domain is smaller than 16 - combined, Hawaii-specific law still makes up a substantial share of the test. If you want a condensed, at-a-glance review of these weightings alongside other must-know facts, our HI-ADJ Cheat Sheet is built for exactly that kind of last-week review.
Who Hires HI-ADJ Licensees
The Hawaii Adjuster license is required for two related but distinct roles: independent adjusters and public adjusters. Both sit the same Pearson VUE examination and pay the same $75 exam fee, but they end up with separate licenses tied to different employment relationships. Independent adjusters typically work on behalf of insurance carriers or independent adjusting firms handling catastrophe response, property damage assessment, and casualty claims across the islands. Public adjusters, by contrast, represent policyholders directly in disputing or negotiating claims - a role that comes with an added requirement: public adjusters must submit a $10,000 surety bond within seven days of application, a step independent adjusters don't face.
Because Hawaii permits both resident and nonresident licensing, some candidates pursue the credential while living out of state, provided their home state permits Hawaii residents to act as adjusters there. Nonresident applicants still need to pass the same Hawaii examination unless they qualify for the separate emergency nonresident registration route tied to a specific emergency declaration. For a full breakdown of eligibility mechanics, see our HI-ADJ Requirements guide, and for nonresident-specific considerations, review our exam scheduling guide.
Understanding this employment landscape matters for how you study: if you're aiming for public adjuster work, pay close attention to Domain 3's contract provisions and Domain 4's licensing conduct rules, since you'll be interpreting policy language on behalf of clients rather than carriers. If you're weighing whether the credential is worth pursuing given your career goals, our ROI analysis and salary guide both dig into that question further, and our HI-ADJ Jobs overview covers where licensees typically find placement.
A Domain-Based Study Timeline
Rather than studying domains in the order they're listed, it's more efficient to sequence your review around question weight and content difficulty. Spaced repetition works well here specifically because Domains 1-3 share overlapping vocabulary - reviewing them close together reinforces retention before you shift into the more fact-dense Hawaii statute domains.
Domains 1 & 2 - Policy Types, Bonds, and Insurance Terms
- Build a terminology reference sheet as you go
- Take practice questions immediately after each concept, not at the end of the week
Domain 3 - Policy Provisions and Contracts
- Practice reading full policy excerpts, not just isolated definitions
- Connect Week 1 terminology to real contract clauses
Domain 4 - Hawaii Adjuster Law
- Review Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 431 sections relevant to adjuster conduct
- Focus on licensing and general regulatory rules, since this domain applies to every claim type
Domains 5 & 6 - Property-Only and Casualty-Only Hawaii Rules
- Study these two domains side by side to spot contrasts, since they mirror each other's structure
- Run a full-length practice exam under the 105-minute time limit before your scheduled test date
For a more detailed weekly resource plan and recommended study materials, our complete HI-ADJ Study Guide expands on this framework. And if you're still deciding whether to schedule at a physical test center or through OnVUE remote proctoring, note that a failed OnVUE attempt requires a two-week wait before your first retake, and four weeks before any subsequent OnVUE retake - while test-center-to-test-center retakes only require a 24-hour wait. That timing difference alone is worth factoring into your exam date planning.
Key Takeaway
If you're not fully confident heading into test day, a test-center retake schedule (24-hour wait) is far more forgiving than an OnVUE retake schedule (2-4 week wait) if you need a second attempt.
Before your test date, run at least one full timed simulation covering all six domains in proportion to their actual weighting - heavier on Domains 1-3, lighter on Domain 5. Practicing under realistic conditions on the main practice test platform is one of the most direct ways to confirm your pacing across all 90 presented questions within 105 minutes, and a full-length practice test can reveal domain-specific weak spots before they cost you on exam day. If you're unclear on any acronym or terminology question that comes up during review, our What Is HI-ADJ? and HI-ADJ Meaning explainers are useful quick references.
Frequently Asked Questions
Domains 1, 2, and 3 are tied for the largest allocation, each contributing 16 scoreable questions. Together these three general insurance domains make up roughly half the scored exam.
Domain 5, Hawaii Laws and Rules Pertinent to Property Insurance Only, carries the fewest scoreable questions at 6-8. It still deserves review, but it warrants less time than the 16-question domains.
No. Both independent and public adjuster applicants take the identical Hawaii Adjuster examination covering all six domains; they simply receive separate licenses afterward, and public adjusters face an additional $10,000 surety bond requirement.
Of the 90 questions presented in the 105-minute exam, 80 are scoreable and 10 are unscored pretest questions. Because pretest items aren't identified, every question should be treated as if it counts.
They test different skills rather than being uniformly harder - Domains 1-3 lean on applied terminology and contract interpretation, while Domains 4-6 require precise recall of Hawaii statutes and DCCA rules specific to property or casualty claims.