- MI-ADJ refers to the Michigan Independent Adjuster with Workers' Compensation Authority Exam, Series 16-72, regulated by DIFS.
- The exam has 100 scored questions, a two-hour limit, and PSI may add up to 10 unscored questions.
- Passing requires 70 correct scored answers, or 70 percent, and the exam fee is $41 per attempt.
- Insurance Basics and Adjusting Losses are the two largest domains, each worth 20 percent of the exam.
What Is MI-ADJ, Exactly?
MI-ADJ, in the context of this site, refers to one specific credential: the Michigan Independent Adjuster with Workers' Compensation Authority Exam, officially designated Series 16-72 by the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS). This is not a generic industry designation or a national certification program - it is a state licensing examination that grants authority to adjust independent claims, including workers' compensation losses, within Michigan.
If you've searched for terms like Michigan independent adjuster exam or Michigan adjuster exam 16-72, this is the credential those searches are pointing to. Understanding this distinction matters because "MI-ADJ" is sometimes used loosely elsewhere for unrelated credentials with different governing bodies, fees, and content. On this site, MI-ADJ always means Series 16-72 as administered in Michigan.
Who Administers It: DIFS and PSI
Two organizations run the show. DIFS is the governing body that sets licensing rules, eligibility standards, and renewal requirements for Michigan-based adjusters. PSI Services LLC is the third-party testing vendor that builds and delivers the actual Series 16-72 exam using the current outline and bulletin, which was last updated June 10, 2025.
Because PSI controls the test delivery, candidates schedule and sit for the exam through PSI's testing network rather than directly with the state. As of June 30, 2025, Michigan discontinued remote examination options for this line, meaning every candidate now tests in person at a PSI test center - there is no at-home or online-proctored path for Series 16-72 anymore.
What the Exam Actually Tests
Series 16-72 is built around ten content domains, each weighted differently on the blueprint. Two domains dominate the exam and deserve the majority of your prep time: Insurance Basics and Adjusting Losses, each accounting for 20 percent of scored questions. Together, those two domains represent 40 percent of the exam - more than any other combination.
Domain 2: Insurance Basics (20%)
Covers foundational insurance principles, contract law concepts, and terminology that underpin every other domain on the exam.
- Insurable interest, indemnity, and subrogation concepts
- Policy structure and contract elements
Domain 10: Adjusting Losses (20%)
Focuses on the practical mechanics of claims handling - the day-to-day work an independent adjuster actually performs.
- Claim investigation, documentation, and settlement steps
- Loss valuation and coverage determination
The remaining eight domains fill out the blueprint at smaller weights: Automobile Insurance (15%), Homeowners Policy (12%), Workers' Compensation Insurance (10%), Insurance Regulation (5%), Dwelling Policy (5%), Commercial Package Policy (5%), Businessowners Policy (5%), and Other Coverages and Options (3%). Workers' Compensation Insurance is only 10 percent by question count, but given that "Workers' Compensation Authority" is part of this license's name, candidates should not underweight it just because the percentage looks modest.
For a domain-by-domain breakdown with the specific concepts tested inside each content area, see the MI-ADJ Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 10 Content Areas.
Key Takeaway
Spend the bulk of your study time on Insurance Basics and Adjusting Losses first, then layer in Automobile and Homeowners, before finishing with the smaller-weight domains.
Format, Fees, and Timing
Series 16-72 is a computer-based, closed-book, multiple-choice exam. The published blueprint lists 100 scored questions with a two-hour time limit. PSI may insert between 1 and 10 additional unscored experimental questions within that same two-hour window, so the total number of items you see on screen may exceed 100 - but only the 100 blueprint questions count toward your score.
To pass, you need 70 correct scored answers, which is the same as saying you need a 70 percent score. There's no partial credit for domain performance - only your overall scored total matters.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Exam fee (per attempt) | $41 |
| Resident application fee | $15 (excludes transaction charges) |
| Scored questions | 100 |
| Unscored experimental questions | 1-10 (embedded, not disclosed which ones) |
| Time limit | 2 hours |
| Passing score | 70 correct / 70% |
| Testing mode | In person only (remote ended June 30, 2025) |
For the complete cost breakdown, including how the exam fee and application fee combine and what happens if you need a retake, see MI-ADJ Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown. If you want the passing threshold explained in more detail, read MI-ADJ Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Who Can Apply
Eligibility for Series 16-72 is more about character and legal standing than formal education. Applicants must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Demonstrate good business reputation and moral character
- Show knowledge of insurance and applicable state law
- Apply in good faith, with truthful application information
Notably, mandatory prelicensing education is not required for this adjuster examination, which is a meaningful difference from some other insurance license lines. That means candidates are largely responsible for self-directed preparation rather than a state-mandated course. There is also a practical deadline to be aware of: an application expires after six months if you haven't passed the exam yet, so timing your study plan against your application date matters. For the full eligibility checklist, see MI-ADJ Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
After You Pass: License, Renewal, Validity
Passing Series 16-72 doesn't put your license on autopilot forever. Passing exam results remain valid for 12 months, so you need to complete your licensing application within that window. Once licensed, adjusters renew annually through DIFS directly - not through NIPR - by March 31, with the renewal portal opening February 1 and a renewal fee of $5.
One detail that surprises a lot of candidates: adjuster-only licenses in Michigan carry no continuing-education requirement. That's a notable contrast to many producer licenses, and it means your primary ongoing obligation is the annual $5 renewal rather than tracking CE credit hours.
For a month-by-month view of testing windows and renewal deadlines, check MI-ADJ Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
Who Hires MI-ADJ License Holders
Because Series 16-72 grants independent adjuster authority with workers' compensation coverage included, license holders are positioned to work claims for independent adjusting firms, third-party administrators, and carriers that need adjusters who can handle both general property/casualty claims and workers' compensation claims under one license. This dual scope - property/casualty plus workers' comp authority - is part of what makes this specific license line distinct from a property-only or casualty-only adjuster license.
The domain weighting reflects that reality: Automobile Insurance (15%) and Homeowners Policy (12%) show that most day-to-day claim volume for an independent adjuster still comes from personal lines, while the 10 percent Workers' Compensation Insurance domain ensures license holders understand the specific claims-handling rules that apply when a workplace injury is involved. If you're evaluating whether pursuing this license is worth the time investment, Is the MI-ADJ Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 walks through the considerations, and MI-ADJ Jobs covers the kinds of roles this license opens up.
Preparing for Series 16-72 Without Wasting Time
Because there's no mandatory prelicensing course, your prep plan is self-built. A reasonable approach is to sequence your study time to match the blueprint's weighting rather than studying domains in the order they appear in the outline.
Insurance Basics + Insurance Regulation
- Build the terminology and contract-law foundation everything else depends on
- Layer in the smaller-weight Regulation domain since it shares concepts with Basics
Adjusting Losses + Workers' Compensation Insurance
- Study claims-handling mechanics alongside comp-specific rules since they overlap in practice
- Work practice questions that combine both domains
Automobile + Homeowners + Dwelling
- Cover the personal-lines policies that make up the bulk of remaining question weight
- Compare policy forms side by side to avoid confusing similar coverage triggers
CPP, Businessowners, Other Coverages, and full review
- Finish the smaller commercial-lines domains
- Run full-length timed practice sessions under the two-hour limit
Spacing your review sessions and revisiting missed questions a few days later - rather than cramming everything once - tends to help retention on a closed-book, multiple-choice format like this one. For a more detailed prep sequence built specifically around Series 16-72's blueprint, see the MI-ADJ Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. If you're trying to gauge how much effort this specific exam demands compared to what you expected, How Hard Is the MI-ADJ Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 and MI-ADJ Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows both give useful context grounded in official Series 16-72 statistics.
Running timed, domain-weighted practice questions on our Michigan adjuster practice test platform is one of the most direct ways to see how your knowledge holds up against the actual 100-question, two-hour format before you commit to a test date. A quick review pass through the MI-ADJ Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts the night before your exam can also help consolidate the highest-weight domains.
Frequently Asked Questions
Series 16-72 is a single computer-based exam session - 100 scored multiple-choice questions within a two-hour limit, plus up to 10 unscored experimental questions PSI may embed. There are no separate modules to schedule.
No. Mandatory prelicensing education is not required for this adjuster examination, so candidates are responsible for self-directed preparation rather than a state-mandated class.
No. Remote examinations for this line ended June 30, 2025. All Series 16-72 testing is now conducted in person at PSI test centers.
Passing results remain valid for 12 months for licensing purposes. Separately, your application expires after six months if you have not yet passed the exam.
No. Adjuster-only licenses have no continuing-education requirement in Michigan. You do still need to renew annually through DIFS by March 31 for a $5 fee, with the renewal portal opening February 1.