Insurance adjusters and claims examiners
High opportunity occupation
Career Overview
Insurance adjusters and claims examiners:
- Investigate insurance claims and determine the amount of loss or damages covered by insurance policies
- Work in claims departments of insurance companies or as independent adjusters
- Examine claims investigated by insurance adjusters and authorize payments
- Work at head offices or branches of insurance companies
Job Titles
Duties
Insurance adjusters:
- Investigate circumstances surrounding insurance claims to determine truthfulness of claim
- Inspect automobile, home or other property damage
- Take statements and consult with claimants, accident witnesses, doctors and other relevant individuals and examine records or reports
- Determine amount of loss or damages covered by insurance policies
- Negotiate settlement of claims
- Prepare adjustment reports
Insurance claims examiners:
- Review, examine, calculate and authorize insurance claims investigated by insurance adjusters
- Examine adjusters' reports and similar insurance claims to determine extent of insurance coverage
- Ensure claims are accurate and settlements are made according to company practices and procedures
- Consult lawyers, doctors or other relevant individuals to discuss insurance claims
- Approve automobile, fire, life, disability, dental or other insurance claims
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
4,105% Employed Full Time
81%Work in this occupation is typically performed in a structured environment, such as an office.
Career Pathways
Completion of educational programs through the Insurance Institute of Canada or its provincial counterparts entitles insurance adjusters and claims examiners to professional recognition as an Associate of the Insurance Institute of Canada (A.I.I.C.) and with additional university courses, as a Fellow of the Insurance Institute of Canada (F.I.I.C.).
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
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For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
- Completion of secondary school is required
- A bachelor's degree, college diploma or some post-secondary education or several years of experience as a clerk in the claims department or other general insurance experience are required
- Several years of on-the-job training and completion of insurance industry courses and training programs are required
- Independent adjusters require a provincial licence issued by the Superintendent of Insurance in the province or territory of employment
Education programs in B.C.
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Understanding how new information could be used to solve current and future problems in making decisions.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
4,105Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 35 | 0.9% |
| Kootenay | 50 | 1.2% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 3,175 | 77.3% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 25 | 0.6% |
| Northeast | 10 | 0.2% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 385 | 9.4% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 425 | 10.4% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
1,770Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 10 | -0.4% |
| Kootenay | 50 | 1.1% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 1,360 | 1.6% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 10 | 3.2% |
| Northeast | Not available | Not available |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 170 | 1.3% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 170 | 1.0% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Finance, Insurance and Real Estate | 1,720 |
| Public Administration | 20 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 10 |
| Repair, Personal and Non-Profit Services | 10 |
| Retail Trade | 10 |
Resources
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Canadian Independent Adjusters' Association (CIAA)www.ciaa-adjusters.ca
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Insurance Institutewww.insuranceinstitute.ca/en/