- Exam Snapshot: The Numbers You Must Know
- Registration, Fees, and Licensing Mechanics
- The Six Domains at a Glance
- Question Format and What "Closed-Book" Really Means
- Delaware-Specific Law and Ethics Points
- Final-Week Review Schedule
- After You Pass: Renewal and CE Cheat Notes
- Who Hires DE-ADJ Adjusters
- FAQ
- The exam has 55 total questions (50 scored, 5 unscored pretest) in 75 minutes at a Pearson VUE test center.
- Exam fee is $90; resident license application and renewal are each $125.
- Six domains span products, provisions, valuation, claims duties, Delaware statutes, and ethics.
- No prelicensing course is required, but background checks and fingerprinting still are.
Exam Snapshot: The Numbers You Must Know
If you only remember one page before test day, make it this one. The Delaware Property Adjuster Examination (exam code InsDE-PropAdj14) is a closed-book, computer-based exam administered by Pearson VUE on behalf of the Delaware Department of Insurance. It is delivered exclusively at physical test centers - there is no remote-proctoring option for this track.
- Total questions: 55 (50 scored + 5 unscored pretest items, indistinguishable from each other)
- Time allowed: 75 minutes
- Delivery: Computer-based, closed-book, in-person at a Pearson VUE test center
- Minimum age: 18, plus licensing and background requirements
- Validity of a pass: 12 months from the exam date
For a deeper breakdown of what "hard" actually means for this specific exam - timing pressure, question style, and domain weighting - see How Hard Is the DE-ADJ Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026.
Registration, Fees, and Licensing Mechanics
Delaware keeps the fee structure simple, but candidates often confuse the exam fee with the license fee. They are separate charges paid to separate parties.
| Item | Amount | Paid To |
|---|---|---|
| Exam fee | $90 | Pearson VUE |
| Initial resident license application | $125 | Delaware DOI |
| Resident license renewal | $125 | Delaware DOI |
Resident applicants must also submit Delaware state and FBI criminal-history reports dated within 90 days of receipt by the Department. Fingerprinting is arranged through the State Bureau of Identification, not through Pearson VUE, so build that appointment into your timeline separately from exam scheduling. Delaware does not mandate a prelicensing education course for this exam, which is unusual compared to some other states - but it also means the exam itself is the main filter, so skipping preparation is riskier here, not safer.
A full walkthrough of every dollar amount and where it goes is in DE-ADJ Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown, and the complete eligibility checklist lives at DE-ADJ Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
The Six Domains at a Glance
The content outline effective January 15, 2025 organizes the exam into six domains. None of the official materials publish a percentage weighting per domain, so treat all six as fair game rather than guessing which one to skip.
Domain 1: General Property Insurance Product Knowledge Pertinent to Property Adjusters
Covers the core property forms and coverage types an adjuster encounters on the job.
- Know the structure of dwelling and commercial property products
Domain 2: Property Policy Provisions and Contract Law
Tests how policy language, conditions, and general contract principles interact.
- Focus on endorsements, exclusions, and conditions precedent to coverage
Domain 3: Property Insurance Terms and Related Concepts
Centers on valuation methodology and terminology used to settle losses.
- Be fluent in replacement cost, actual cash value, and depreciation concepts
Domain 4: Duties of the Property Adjuster
Practical, scenario-driven questions about investigating and handling claims.
- Understand the adjuster's obligations from first notice of loss through settlement
Domain 5: Delaware Statutes, Regulations, and Bulletins Pertinent to Property Insurance and the Licensing of Property Adjusters
State-specific law questions tied directly to Delaware Code Title 18, Chapter 17.
- Know licensing rules, renewal timing, and DOI bulletin authority
Domain 6: Insurance Ethics
Professional conduct standards specific to licensed adjusters in Delaware.
- Understand conflicts of interest and fair claims-handling obligations
For candidate-level detail on each of these six areas - sample topics, common traps, and how they connect to real claim files - go to DE-ADJ Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 6 Content Areas.
Question Format and What "Closed-Book" Really Means
Every one of the 55 questions on the DE-ADJ appears in a standard multiple-choice format delivered on a Pearson VUE testing workstation. "Closed-book" means exactly that - no reference materials, no personal notes, no policy manual at your station. You will not be handed a formula sheet, so terminology from Domain 3 (like replacement cost versus actual cash value) needs to be memorized cold, not looked up.
Because 5 of the 55 questions are unscored pretest items mixed in without identification, don't waste mental energy trying to guess which questions "don't count." Treat every question as if it's scored, and budget your 75 minutes evenly - that's roughly 80 seconds per question if you move at a steady pace, leaving a buffer for a final review pass.
Key Takeaway
Since pretest questions are unmarked, answer every item as if it counts. There's no way to identify or skip the 5 unscored questions.
If you want the exact score threshold and how Pearson VUE reports results, read DE-ADJ Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass. For scheduling logistics - how far in advance to book, and how testing windows work - see DE-ADJ Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
Delaware-Specific Law and Ethics Points
Domains 5 and 6 trip up candidates who prepare using generic national adjuster content instead of Delaware's own statutes. The controlling law is Delaware Code, Title 18, Chapter 17, which governs adjuster licensing, conduct, and DOI enforcement authority. Memorize these mechanics specifically:
- Resident adjuster licenses renew by the last day of February in even-numbered years - an unusual biennial cycle that catches new licensees off guard.
- Renewal requires 12 continuing-education credits per biennium, with 3 of those credits specifically in ethics.
- Background documentation (state and FBI criminal-history reports) must be dated within 90 days of the DOI's receipt - old paperwork gets rejected even if you personally haven't changed.
The candidate handbook itself was last revised August 2025, built around the January 15, 2025 content outline - so if you're studying from older third-party notes, double-check they reflect that current outline.
Final-Week Review Schedule
You don't need an elaborate multi-month system to make good use of your last week before the exam - you need a schedule that maps directly onto the six domains and closes your specific knowledge gaps.
Products and Provisions
- Drill Domain 1 product structures and Domain 2 policy language side by side
Valuation and Claims Duties
- Rework Domain 3 valuation math and Domain 4 claim-handling scenarios
Delaware Law and Ethics
- Read Chapter 17 provisions tied to Domains 5 and 6, then take a full timed practice run
Light Review and Logistics
- Confirm test-center ID requirements, review weak-area flashcards only, rest
For a longer-range plan that starts weeks earlier and builds toward this final push, see DE-ADJ Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. You can also run full-length timed simulations on our practice test platform to mirror the real 75-minute, 55-question format before you sit for the actual exam.
After You Pass: Renewal and CE Cheat Notes
Passing is not the finish line - it's the start of a licensing clock. Your passing result is valid for 12 months, so don't let paperwork lag once you clear the exam. Once licensed, keep these numbers handy:
- Renewal cycle: last day of February, even-numbered years
- CE requirement: 12 credits per biennium (3 must be ethics)
- Renewal fee: $125
Set a calendar reminder well before the February deadline in an even year - renewal notices from the DOI are informational, but the responsibility to renew on time is yours.
Who Hires DE-ADJ Adjusters
The Property Adjuster track is distinct from Delaware's Casualty Adjuster, Public Adjuster, and Motor Vehicle Physical Damage Appraiser licenses - each is its own examination and its own hiring pool. Employers looking specifically for property-licensed adjusters include carrier claims departments handling homeowners and commercial property losses, independent adjusting firms that staff up after storm events, and third-party administrators managing property claim volume for insurers that don't want in-house adjusting staff.
Because Delaware doesn't require prelicensing coursework, some firms treat the license itself as the baseline credential and provide additional internal training on top of it. If you're evaluating whether this license translates into real opportunities, compare notes in DE-ADJ Jobs and the broader analysis in Is the DE-ADJ Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026. Earnings expectations by role and experience level are covered separately in DE-ADJ Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis.
FAQ
There are 55 total questions - 50 scored plus 5 unscored pretest questions - and you're given 75 minutes to complete them at a Pearson VUE test center.
The Pearson VUE exam fee is $90. Separately, the Delaware DOI charges $125 for the initial resident license application and $125 again at each renewal.
No. Delaware does not require a prelicensing education course for the Property Adjuster examination, though you still must meet age, background-check, and fingerprinting requirements.
A passing examination result remains valid for 12 months, so complete your license application within that window.
Resident adjuster licenses renew by the last day of February in even-numbered years, requiring 12 continuing-education credits per biennium, including 3 ethics credits.