(a) No person may act or hold himself, herself, or itself out as a company adjuster, an independent adjuster, or a public adjuster in this state unless the person is licensed in accordance with this article or is exempt from licensure under this article.

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Terms Used In West Virginia Code 33-12B-2

  • in writing: includes any representation of words, letters, or figures, whether by printing, engraving, writing, or otherwise. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10
  • State: when applied to a part of the United States and not restricted by the context, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories, and the words "United States" also include the said district and territories. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10

(b) The license shall contain the licensee’s name, address, personal identification number, the date of issuance, expiration date, and any other information the commissioner deems necessary.

(c) A person licensed as a public adjuster shall not misrepresent to a claimant that he, she, or it is an adjuster representing an insurer in any capacity, including acting as an employee of the insurer or acting as an independent adjuster unless so appointed by an insurer in writing to act on the insurer’s behalf for that specific claim or purpose. A licensed public adjuster is prohibited from charging that specific claimant a fee when appointed by the insurer and the appointment is accepted by the public adjuster.

(d) The commissioner shall license an individual as a company adjuster, independent adjuster, or public adjuster. An individual may be licensed concurrently under separate licenses but shall not act as an adjuster representing the interests of the insured and the insurer with respect to the same claim.