- NY-IA (Series 17-70) is a closed-book, 100-question exam with a two-hour limit and 70% passing score.
- The exam is governed by the New York State Department of Financial Services and administered by PSI.
- Adjusting Losses is the largest domain at 11%, followed by Homeowners (2011) Policy at 10%.
- The exam fee is $40; you can test at a PSI center or via remote proctoring.
What Is NY-IA Certification?
NY-IA refers to the New York Independent General Adjuster Exam, known formally as Series 17-70. Passing this exam is the credentialing step that allows a candidate to apply for an independent adjuster license in New York State. Unlike a voluntary industry designation, NY-IA is a regulatory requirement: if you want to adjust property and casualty claims on behalf of insurers as an independent adjuster in New York, you must pass this specific exam first.
The exam is closed-book and multiple-choice, built around 16 distinct content domains that mirror the real work of claims adjusting - from regulatory rules to the mechanics of homeowners, auto, and commercial policies. If you're still getting oriented to the basics, our companion piece What Is NY-IA? covers the fundamentals, and NY-IA Meaning unpacks the terminology in plain language.
Who Governs and Administers the Exam
The New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) sets the licensing rules and content requirements for independent adjusters. PSI, a third-party testing vendor, administers the actual Series 17-70 exam and publishes the current candidate bulletin, most recently updated April 28, 2023. That bulletin is the authoritative source for scheduling, fees, and content outline details, and it's worth reviewing directly before you register.
This split - DFS as regulator, PSI as test administrator - matters practically. DFS handles your license application, fingerprinting, and renewal. PSI handles your exam registration, test-day logistics, and scoring. For a deeper walkthrough of the licensing side, see NY-IA Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Exam Format and Question Style
Series 17-70 is closed-book, meaning no reference materials, notes, or outside aids are permitted at the testing center or during a remote-proctored session. The exam consists of 100 scored multiple-choice questions, and you have a two-hour limit to complete it. A passing score is 70%.
One detail candidates often overlook: PSI may add five to 10 unscored experimental questions to the exam. These questions look identical to scored ones - there's no visual flag distinguishing them - so you should approach every question with equal focus rather than trying to guess which ones "don't count."
Key Takeaway
Because you can't identify experimental questions, budget your two hours as if all questions on the exam count toward your score. Treat pacing and accuracy consistently from question one to the last.
The multiple-choice format tests applied knowledge rather than rote memorization - expect scenario-based questions that ask you to identify coverage triggers, calculate loss settlements, or interpret policy language. For a detailed breakdown of how difficult this actually feels in practice, read How Hard Is the NY-IA Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026, and for the exact scoring mechanics see NY-IA Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
The 16 Content Domains
Series 17-70 content is organized into 16 domains, each weighted by percentage of the exam. Understanding these weights is the single most useful thing you can do before building a study plan - it tells you exactly where to invest your limited study hours.
| Domain | Weight |
|---|---|
| Adjusting Losses | 11% |
| Homeowners (2011) Policy | 10% |
| Auto Insurance | 9% |
| Commercial Package Policy (CPP) | 9% |
| Businessowners (2010) Policy | 8% |
| Other Coverages and Options | 8% |
| Insurance Regulation | 6% |
| Insurance Basics | 6% |
| Accident and Health Insurance Basics | 6% |
| Dwelling (2014) Policy | 6% |
| Workers' Compensation Insurance | 6% |
| Auto Insurance and Commercial subtotal notes | - |
| Understanding the Language of Medical Reports | 4% |
| Fidelity Coverages | 3% |
| Aviation Hull Coverages | 3% |
| Aircraft Liability Coverages | 3% |
| Surety Bonds | 2% |
Domain 3: Adjusting Losses (11%)
This is the single largest domain on the exam and covers the practical mechanics of settling claims: valuation methods, indemnity principles, coinsurance, and the claims-handling process itself.
- Actual cash value vs. replacement cost calculations
- Subrogation and salvage concepts
- Proof of loss and claim documentation standards
Domain 7: Homeowners (2011) Policy (10%)
The second-heaviest domain. Expect detailed questions on coverage forms, exclusions, and endorsements specific to the 2011 homeowners policy edition.
- Coverage A through D distinctions
- Named perils vs. open perils forms
- Common endorsements and exclusions
The remaining domains - Auto Insurance, Commercial Package Policy, Businessowners Policy, Workers' Compensation, and the smaller specialty domains like Aviation Hull Coverages, Aircraft Liability Coverages, Fidelity Coverages, and Surety Bonds - each require targeted review even though their point value is smaller. A missed question in a 2%-weighted domain still counts the same as one in an 11%-weighted domain on a per-question basis. For a full domain-by-domain breakdown with study priorities, see NY-IA Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 16 Content Areas.
Registration, Fees, and Testing Options
Registering for Series 17-70 is comparatively simple. The examination fee is $40, and you have two ways to sit for the test: in person at a PSI testing center, or remotely through PSI's remote proctoring option. This flexibility matters if you're studying while working full-time or living outside easy driving distance of a testing center.
Notably, no prelicensing course is required for independent adjuster candidates in New York. That's a meaningful difference from many other states and from other adjuster license types - you can self-study using textbooks, practice exams, or a structured guide and go straight to scheduling your test. After passing, applicants must submit fingerprints and file their license application within two years of the exam date, so don't let too much time lapse between passing and applying.
For the complete cost picture - exam fee, license fee, and any incidental costs - see NY-IA Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown. If you're trying to plan around specific testing windows or deadlines, NY-IA Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling walks through scheduling logistics in more depth.
Licensing After You Pass
Passing Series 17-70 is a prerequisite, not the finish line. Once you pass, you apply to DFS for your independent adjuster license. Licenses are issued for a term of up to two years and expire December 31 of even-numbered years, regardless of when during the cycle you were issued the license. The license fee is $100 for a term longer than one year, or $50 for a term of one year or less, depending on where you fall in the licensing cycle.
One more practical point: independent adjuster licenses in New York are exempt from continuing education requirements. That's different from many other insurance licenses, which typically require ongoing CE credits to maintain active status. Once licensed, you won't need to track CE hours to keep your independent adjuster license current - though you will still need to renew on the biennial schedule.
Key Takeaway
Mark your calendar for the two-year application window after passing the exam, and remember your license itself expires December 31 of even-numbered years - plan your renewal timeline accordingly.
Who Hires Independent Adjusters With This Credential
Independent adjusters licensed through this pathway typically work for independent adjusting firms that get dispatched by insurance carriers, particularly during periods of high claim volume such as after storms or other catastrophic events. Because independent adjusters aren't tied to a single insurer's payroll, firms can deploy them flexibly across carriers and regions as claim demand shifts.
Common areas of work for NY-IA license holders include property claims (dwelling and homeowners losses), auto claims, and commercial claims tied to businessowners or commercial package policies - all domains directly represented on the exam. If you're evaluating whether this career path fits your goals, NY-IA Jobs looks at the kinds of roles this license opens up, and Is the NY-IA Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 weighs the investment against the opportunity. For a numbers-based look at compensation, see NY-IA Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis.
A Practical Prep Approach
Given that Adjusting Losses (11%) and Homeowners (2011) Policy (10%) together account for over a fifth of the exam, a sensible study sequence starts with those two domains before moving into the mid-weighted domains - Auto Insurance (9%), Commercial Package Policy (9%), Businessowners Policy (8%), and Other Coverages and Options (8%).
Foundation Domains
- Insurance Basics and Insurance Regulation
- Adjusting Losses fundamentals (valuation, indemnity, claim process)
High-Weight Property and Auto
- Homeowners (2011) Policy coverage forms and exclusions
- Dwelling (2014) Policy differences
- Auto Insurance coverage parts
Commercial and Specialty Lines
- Commercial Package Policy and Businessowners Policy structure
- Workers' Compensation basics
- Accident and Health Insurance Basics
Smaller Domains and Full Review
- Surety Bonds, Fidelity Coverages, Aviation Hull and Aircraft Liability Coverages
- Understanding the Language of Medical Reports
- Timed practice exams under two-hour conditions
Whatever pace you choose, practicing under the same two-hour, 100-question, closed-book conditions as the real exam is essential - it's the only way to build comfort with the pacing constraint before test day. Our practice test platform is built around these exact domain weights so your study time maps directly onto how the real exam is structured. For a more detailed week-by-week study plan, see NY-IA Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt, and if you want a compact reference for last-minute review, check the NY-IA Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts.
If you want a broader look at how pass outcomes tend to break down, NY-IA Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows discusses what's publicly known about candidate outcomes. And if you're still deciding whether to pursue this credential at all versus a related designation, NY-IA Certification and What Is NY-IA Certification? both offer useful framing, alongside What Does NY-IA Stand For?, What Is A NY-IA?, and What Does NY-IA Mean? for terminology clarity. Structured prep resources are also covered in NY-IA Training, and you can start practicing directly on our practice exam platform whenever you're ready to test your recall against realistic questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
NY-IA (Series 17-70) is the exam itself. Passing it is the qualifying step required before the New York State Department of Financial Services will issue your independent adjuster license.
No. Independent adjuster candidates in New York are not required to complete a prelicensing course before sitting for Series 17-70. You can self-study and register directly with PSI.
The exam has 100 scored multiple-choice questions with a two-hour time limit. PSI may also include five to 10 unscored experimental questions that look identical to scored ones.
You need a 70% passing score on the scored portion of the exam to pass Series 17-70.
No. Independent adjuster licenses in New York are exempt from continuing education requirements, though you still need to renew the license on its scheduled biennial cycle.