- AK-IADJ is the Alaska Independent Adjuster Exam, Level 14, given via Pearson VUE at test centers or OnVUE.
- The exam has 80 scored questions in 90 minutes across three domains: general concepts, Alaska law, and policy types/coverages.
- Passing score is 70 on a scaled score, not 70% of questions correct.
- Exam fee is $89 per attempt; initial license is $75, and fingerprint processing runs $47.
What Is AK-IADJ, Exactly?
AK-IADJ refers specifically to the Alaska Independent Adjuster Exam - the licensing test administered on behalf of the Alaska Division of Insurance, part of the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development. If you've searched for this term and landed on content about a different "IADJ" credential elsewhere, that's not what this site covers. Here, AK-IADJ means one thing only: the exam a person must pass to become licensed as an independent insurance adjuster in the state of Alaska.
Independent adjusters investigate claims, evaluate damage, and negotiate settlements on behalf of insurers, self-insured entities, or other adjusting firms - as opposed to working exclusively as a captive employee of a single insurance company. Alaska requires this population to demonstrate competence through a state-approved exam before it will issue a license to practice.
Who Administers the Exam
Two organizations sit behind AK-IADJ. The Alaska Division of Insurance sets the licensing rules, the content outline, and the fee schedule. Pearson VUE handles the actual test delivery - scheduling, proctoring, and scoring. When you register, you'll select the "Alaska Adjuster" exam, Level 14, which carries the test-center code InsAK-Adj14 or the online code OPAdj14 if you're testing remotely through OnVUE.
The content outline governing what's tested went into effect March 3, 2025. Some older reference material, including the handbook dated September 2023, predates the current fee schedule and reciprocity rules, so if you're cross-referencing older PDFs, treat the 2026 fee schedule and reciprocity guidance as the authoritative version.
Exam Format and Delivery
AK-IADJ is a closed-book, computer-based exam. You can take it two ways:
- At a physical Pearson VUE test center - the traditional route.
- Remotely via OnVUE - proctored online from your own location, provided you meet the technical and environment requirements.
The exam consists of 80 scored questions and gives you 90 minutes to complete it. That works out to a little over a minute per question on average, which is workable if you know the material but leaves little room for second-guessing every item. For a deeper breakdown of how tight that timing actually feels in practice, see How Hard Is the AK-IADJ Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026.
Key Takeaway
Because OnVUE and test-center delivery use the same question pool and time limit, choose based on convenience and your comfort with remote proctoring - not because one format is "easier."
The Three Domains AK-IADJ Tests
The exam outline breaks the 80 scored questions into three content domains. Knowing the exact weighting matters because it tells you where to spend your limited study hours.
| Domain | Scored Questions | Share of Exam |
|---|---|---|
| General Insurance Terms and Concepts | 18 | ~22.5% |
| Alaska Laws, Rules, and Regulations Pertaining to Adjusters | 21 | ~26.3% |
| Types of Insurance Policies and Coverages | 41 | ~51.3% |
Domain 1: General Insurance Terms and Concepts
This domain covers the foundational vocabulary and mechanics underlying claims work - the kind of terminology that appears throughout the exam regardless of policy type.
- Insurance contract principles and terminology
- Underwriting and claims fundamentals
- Roles and duties of adjusters in the claims process
Domain 2: Alaska Laws, Rules, and Regulations Pertaining to Adjusters
This is Alaska-specific material - not generic industry law. It covers how the Division of Insurance regulates licensees, unfair claims practices, and adjuster conduct standards under state statute.
- Licensing requirements and standards of conduct
- Alaska unfair claims settlement practices
- Penalties, enforcement, and Division authority
Domain 3: Types of Insurance Policies and Coverages
The largest domain by far, accounting for roughly half the exam. It tests your ability to identify coverage triggers, exclusions, and claim handling nuances across property, casualty, and related policy forms.
- Property and casualty policy structures
- Coverage forms, endorsements, and exclusions
- Claim scenarios requiring coverage interpretation
For a full walkthrough of every subtopic inside each domain, see AK-IADJ Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 3 Content Areas. Because Domain 3 alone represents more than half the scored questions, it deserves the largest share of your prep time - a point worth internalizing before you build a study calendar.
Passing Score: What "70" Really Means
Alaska sets the passing mark at 70 on a scaled score - this is not the same as answering 70% of the 80 questions correctly. Scaled scoring adjusts for question difficulty across different exam forms, so the raw number of correct answers needed to reach 70 can vary slightly from one test form to another. Don't try to reverse-engineer "how many questions I can miss" using simple percentage math; instead, focus on mastering the domains broadly. A detailed explanation of how scaled scoring works and what it means for your prep lives at AK-IADJ Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Fees and Licensing Costs
Budgeting for AK-IADJ involves more than just the exam fee. Under the fee schedule that took effect January 27, 2026, the costs break down as follows:
- Exam fee: $89 per attempt
- Initial independent-adjuster license: $75
- Biennial renewal: $75
- Fingerprint processing: $47
These are separate line items - passing the exam doesn't include the licensing fee, and the licensing fee doesn't include fingerprinting if it's required for your application. For the full cost picture, including how these fees add up over a two-year renewal cycle, see AK-IADJ Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
Who Actually Needs This License
Not everyone touching a claim in Alaska needs an independent-adjuster license. It's worth being precise here, because misunderstanding this point wastes both time and money:
- Staff adjusters who work directly for their admitted-insurer employer are exempt from independent-adjuster licensure - they operate under the insurer's own authority.
- Independent adjusters - those adjusting claims for multiple insurers, self-insured entities, or on contract - are the population AK-IADJ is built for.
- Alaska does not issue a separate public-adjuster insurance license, so if you're researching public adjusting specifically, that's a different licensing path entirely and not something AK-IADJ covers.
Employers who hire licensed independent adjusters in Alaska typically include independent adjusting firms, third-party administrators, and insurers that need catastrophe or overflow claims support. If you're evaluating whether this career path fits your goals, AK-IADJ Jobs and Is the AK-IADJ Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 both dig into that question in more depth.
Registration, Retakes, and Reciprocity
To apply, candidates go through NIPR (the National Insurance Producer Registry), and any required original fingerprint card must be mailed directly to the Division in Juneau - it isn't submitted digitally. Applicants must be at least 18 and meet Alaska's application, competence, and applicable fingerprint/background-check requirements.
The experience requirement can be satisfied one of two ways:
- Six months of qualifying active adjusting work within the preceding two calendar years, or
- Qualifying Alaska independent-adjuster licensure in good standing within the preceding four calendar years.
If you test via OnVUE and don't pass, you get up to four attempts per examination, with mandatory waiting periods of 7, 14, and 30 days after the first three failures. If you need a fourth attempt, it must be taken at a physical test center rather than online. A full breakdown of eligibility paths, including edge cases, is covered in AK-IADJ Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Once licensed, renewal happens biennially at the end of your birth month. Nonexempt licensees must complete 24 continuing education hours, including 3 hours of ethics, with up to 8 eligible hours carried forward from the prior period, plus applicable initial-period and reciprocal exemptions.
Scheduling Study Time Around the Domains
Given that Domain 3 (Types of Insurance Policies and Coverages) makes up roughly half the scored questions, an efficient prep schedule weights time accordingly rather than splitting hours evenly across all three domains.
General Terms and Concepts
- Build vocabulary fluency around contract and claims terminology
- Review adjuster roles and duties as tested in Domain 1
Policy Types and Coverages
- Work through property and casualty coverage forms in depth
- Drill exclusion and endorsement scenarios, since this domain carries 41 of the 80 scored questions
Alaska Laws, Rules, and Regulations
- Focus on Division of Insurance authority, unfair claims practices, and licensee conduct standards
- Run full-length timed practice sets to build 90-minute pacing
This four-week structure is a starting point, not a rigid formula - a candidate coming from a claims background may compress Domain 1 and spend the extra time on Alaska-specific statute. For a more granular week-by-week plan tied to exact subtopics, see AK-IADJ Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. You can also run through timed, domain-weighted questions on our Alaska adjuster practice test platform to see how your pacing and accuracy hold up before exam day.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It's a state license requiring biennial renewal at the end of your birth month, along with 24 continuing education hours (including 3 in ethics) unless you qualify for an exemption.
The exam has 80 scored questions and a 90-minute time limit, delivered via computer at a Pearson VUE test center or remotely through OnVUE.
Not necessarily. Staff adjusters employed by their admitted-insurer employer are exempt from independent-adjuster licensure in Alaska. AK-IADJ is aimed at those adjusting independently or for multiple entities.
The passing score is 70 on a scaled scoring system, not 70% of the 80 questions answered correctly. Scaled scoring accounts for variation in question difficulty across exam forms.
Starting January 1, 2026, qualifying nonresident applicants may use reciprocity to waive both the exam and experience requirements, with designated-home-state licensing also available.
For the latest testing windows and scheduling logistics, check AK-IADJ Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling, and once you're ready to gauge your readiness, our practice test platform mirrors the domain weighting described above so you can practice under realistic conditions.