Is it hard to become an independent insurance adjuster?

Whether it is hard depends on your state. Sixteen jurisdictions, including Illinois, Ohio, and Tennessee, do not license adjusters, and in some states adjusters employed by insurance companies can work under the company license. Where a license is required, the typical path is a prelicensing course (often around 40 hours), an exam, and a background check, which many people complete within a few weeks. California, Hawaii, and New York do not grant reciprocity, so those states require the full education and exam even for adjusters already licensed elsewhere.