Florida 6-20 All-Lines Adjuster License: The Designated Home State Guide (2026)
By Errol Dobbins · 9-year licensed independent adjuster · Updated June 2026The Florida 6-20 all-lines adjuster license lets you handle most property and casualty claims in Florida. Non-residents pick it as their Designated Home State license because it is widely recognized for reciprocity. Requirements and fees change, so confirm everything with the Florida Department of Financial Services before you apply.
I have held a license and worked claims as an independent and CAT adjuster for nine years. In that time, the Florida 6-20 has done more for my career mobility than any other credential I carry. This guide explains what it is, why so many out-of-state adjusters choose it, and the general path to getting it. I am writing it the way I would explain it to a friend who asked me where to start, not the way a course-seller would pitch it to you.
What the Florida 6-20 all-lines adjuster license is
The 6-20 is Florida's all-lines adjuster license. "All-lines" means it covers the broad range of property and casualty claims an adjuster typically handles: homeowner property damage, commercial property, auto physical damage, liability, and the catastrophe claims that follow hurricanes. It is the license most independent and staff adjusters in Florida carry because it does not box you into a single line of business.
It is an adjuster license, not a public adjuster license. Those are different credentials with different rules in Florida. The 6-20 is the one you want if you intend to work for carriers and independent adjusting firms rather than represent policyholders against them. If you are unsure which side of the table you want to sit on, decide that first, because it changes the license you apply for.
Why it is the most common Designated Home State license
Here is the part most new adjusters do not understand until someone explains it. Many states do not license adjusters at all. If you live in one of those states, you have no "home state" license to anchor your career or to reciprocate from. That is where a Designated Home State, or DHS, license comes in. You designate a licensing state as your home base even though you do not live there.
Florida is the one most adjusters designate. Three reasons drive that choice:
- Recognition. The Florida all-lines adjuster license is widely recognized by other states for reciprocity, which is the whole point of a home-state credential. The exact list of states and the terms change, so treat reciprocity as something to verify, never assume.
- An exam-exempt route. Florida has historically allowed certain designation-based pathways that let qualified applicants skip the state exam. That lowers the barrier compared to states that require sitting for an exam no matter what. Confirm whether this route still exists and which designations qualify before you rely on it.
- Hurricane volume. Florida generates enormous catastrophe claim volume. Carriers and firms staffing those storms want adjusters licensed in Florida, so the credential maps directly to where the work surges.
In plain terms: if your own state will not give you an adjuster license, Florida gives you a respected one that travels well. That is why it shows up on so many adjuster resumes that have nothing to do with living in Florida.
Resident vs non-resident path
If you live in Florida, you apply as a resident. If you live elsewhere, you apply as a non-resident, and within that, you are typically using Florida as your Designated Home State because your actual state does not license adjusters.
The core knowledge and exam expectations are generally the same regardless of residency. What differs are the application type you select, certain documentation, and the fee schedule. Residents and non-residents do not always pay the same amounts, and those amounts change, so check the current figures with DFS rather than trusting a number you read on a forum. The mechanics of where you live also affect any reciprocal licenses you later pursue, since some states key reciprocity to your designated home state.
The general steps to get it
Treat the following as the general shape of the process, not a checklist frozen in time. Florida updates requirements, and the order or specifics can shift. Verify each step against the current DFS guidance before you act on it.
- Meet the basic eligibility. You generally need to be at least 18 and meet Florida's residency-related application requirements for your chosen path.
- Satisfy the education or designation requirement. Most applicants either complete a state-approved pre-licensing course or qualify through the designation-based, exam-exempt route. Which one applies to you depends on the credentials you already hold.
- Pass the exam (unless exempt). If you are not using an exam-exempt designation, you sit for the Florida all-lines adjuster exam. Confirm the current format, provider, and passing standard before you schedule.
- Submit the application. File your application with the Florida Department of Financial Services and select the correct resident or non-resident/DHS type.
- Complete fingerprints and the background check. Florida requires fingerprinting and a background check as part of licensing. Build in time for this step; it is not instant.
- Pay the applicable fees. Fees vary by application type and change over time. Any dollar figure you see quoted online, including from me, should be treated as an estimate to confirm directly with DFS.
If the broader independent adjusting path is still fuzzy for you, start with my independent adjuster license guide, then come back here once you have decided Florida is your home-state anchor.
How it powers reciprocity into other states
This is where the 6-20 earns its reputation. Once you hold the Florida all-lines license as your home or designated home state, many other states will let you obtain a non-resident adjuster license through reciprocity, often without making you sit for their exam. That is how working adjusters end up licensed in a dozen or more states without taking a dozen exams.
Two honest cautions. First, reciprocity is state-specific and conditional. Each state sets its own terms, some charge their own fees, and the arrangements get revised. I am not going to promise you that Florida reciprocates into any particular state on any particular terms, because that is exactly the kind of detail that changes and gets people in trouble when they assume. Verify each target state individually. Second, reciprocity is not automatic paperwork-free magic; you still apply, pay, and meet that state's conditions.
If your goal is storm work across multiple states, pair this with my guide on how to become a CAT adjuster. And if you are weighing Florida against the other big DHS option, compare it to the Texas all-lines adjuster license before you commit, since adjusters often debate the two.
What the license does not do
The 6-20 is permission to work. It is not work. I want to be blunt about this because the course ads tend to blur the line. Getting licensed does not get you deployed, does not put you on a carrier's roster, and does not guarantee a single claim or a single dollar.
After the license, the real work starts: getting on independent firm rosters, completing carrier-specific certifications, building your reputation, and being ready to mobilize when a storm hits. The license opens the door. Whether you walk through it depends on what you do next.
When you are ready to turn the license into actual deployments, work through my deployment-ready checklist so you are not scrambling the week a hurricane makes landfall.
Frequently asked
Do I have to live in Florida to get a 6-20 license?+
No. Non-residents commonly hold the Florida all-lines license by using Florida as their Designated Home State, which is the standard move when your own state does not license adjusters. You apply as a non-resident rather than a resident. Confirm the current non-resident requirements with the Florida Department of Financial Services before applying.
What does the 6-20 all-lines license actually cover?+
It is Florida's all-lines adjuster license, covering the broad range of property and casualty claims, including homeowner and commercial property, auto physical damage, liability, and catastrophe claims. It is an adjuster license for working with carriers and firms, not a public adjuster license for representing policyholders. Those are separate credentials.
Can I get the Florida 6-20 license without taking an exam?+
Florida has historically offered designation-based pathways that allow qualified applicants to skip the state exam, as an alternative to completing a pre-licensing course and sitting for the exam. Whether this route is available and which designations qualify can change, so verify the current exam-exemption rules directly with the Florida Department of Financial Services.
How much does the Florida 6-20 license cost?+
Costs vary by application type and by what you choose, such as a pre-licensing course, exam, fingerprinting, and the state application fee. Resident and non-resident fees are not always the same, and all of these figures change over time. Treat any amount you see quoted as an estimate and confirm the current fees with the Florida Department of Financial Services.
Does a Florida 6-20 license let me work in other states?+
Often, yes, through reciprocity. Many states grant a non-resident adjuster license to someone who holds Florida as their home or designated home state, sometimes without their own exam. The terms are state-specific and change, and each state sets its own fees and conditions, so verify reciprocity with each target state rather than assuming it applies.
Does getting licensed guarantee I will get deployed and paid?+
No. The license is permission to adjust claims, not a job and not a guarantee of work, deployment, or income. After licensing you still need to get on independent firm rosters, complete carrier certifications, and be ready to mobilize for storms. The credential opens the door; the work that follows is up to you.