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GAA Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts

TL;DR
  • The GAA is Pearson VUE exam 12-GA-24: 100 scored items, 5 unscored pretest items, 2 hours, 70% to pass.
  • General Property Insurance Product Knowledge is worth 48% of the exam - more than the other four domains combined.
  • Jan-Mar 2026 data shows a 34% overall pass rate; first-time takers passed at 32%, repeaters at 36%.
  • Budget $67 for the exam plus $120 in Sircon license/processing fees after completing a 16-hour P&C course.

Exam Snapshot: The Numbers You Must Memorize

If you only have time to memorize one set of numbers before test day, memorize these. The Georgia Adjuster Exam is administered through Pearson VUE under exam code 12-GA-24, on behalf of the Georgia Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire. It's a computer-based exam with:

  • 100 scored questions plus 5 unscored pretest questions mixed in (you won't know which is which)
  • A 2-hour time limit for the full 105-question set
  • A 70% passing score - that's 70 of the 100 scored items
  • An exam fee of $67, paid directly to Pearson VUE at scheduling

These four facts are the backbone of every other decision you'll make about pacing, guessing strategy, and study time. For a deeper breakdown of how the passing threshold actually works in practice, see our GAA Passing Score guide, and for the full mechanics of what happens between registration and test day, check the GAA Requirements page.

Time Math: With 105 questions in 120 minutes, you have roughly 68 seconds per question. Reserve the first 90 seconds of your exam to skim instructions, not to solve a problem - pacing discipline matters more than raw content knowledge for many borderline candidates.

Domain-by-Domain Cheat Sheet

The GAA content outline is split into five domains, and they are not weighted evenly. Treat this like a budget: spend your study hours proportional to the exam weight, not proportional to how interesting a topic feels.

Domain 2: General Property Insurance Product Knowledge Pertinent to Adjusters (48%)

This is nearly half the exam by itself. It covers the substance of property policies adjusters actually work with - coverage forms, perils, exclusions, endorsements, and how property claims get valued and settled.

  • Know the difference between named-peril and open-peril (all-risk) forms cold
  • Understand actual cash value versus replacement cost valuation methods
  • Be able to identify common exclusions and how endorsements modify base coverage

Domain 1: Property and Casualty Insurance Terms and Related Concepts (23%)

This is the vocabulary and conceptual foundation the rest of the exam assumes you already have. Underwriting terminology, risk classification concepts, and basic casualty principles live here.

  • Master core terms: indemnity, insurable interest, subrogation, deductible types
  • Understand how casualty (liability) concepts differ structurally from property concepts

Domain 3: Property and Casualty Policy Contract Provision (15%)

Focuses on the legal structure of the contract itself - conditions, declarations, definitions sections, and standard provisions that govern how a policy is interpreted and enforced.

  • Know the anatomy of a policy: declarations, insuring agreement, conditions, exclusions
  • Be comfortable with cancellation, nonrenewal, and other standard provisions

Domain 4: Responsibilities and Duties of an Adjuster Report (9%)

Tests practical claim-handling duties - what an adjuster must document, report, and communicate throughout a claim's lifecycle.

  • Understand the adjuster's fact-finding and reporting obligations
  • Know what information belongs in a proper claim file and report

Domain 5: Georgia Laws, Rules, and Regulations Pertinent to All Adjusters (5%)

The smallest domain but non-negotiable - Georgia-specific statutory and regulatory requirements that apply to every licensed adjuster in the state.

  • Know licensing authority basics tied to the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire
  • Understand conduct and compliance obligations unique to Georgia

For a much more granular walkthrough of each domain - including sub-topics and how questions are typically phrased - read the full GAA Exam Domains Guide. And if you're still deciding how tough this exam really is relative to your background, our How Hard Is the GAA Exam breakdown walks through it domain by domain.

Key Takeaway

Because Domain 2 alone is 48% of the exam, a candidate who is weak on property product knowledge but strong everywhere else can still fail. Prioritize property coverage forms and valuation methods above all other topics.

Registration, Fees, and Paperwork Recap

The path to sitting the GAA involves more than just scheduling a test slot. Resident applicants generally need to complete a 16-hour property-and-casualty adjuster course within 12 months of applying, along with a citizenship affidavit and electronic fingerprints. On the financial side, plan for two separate cost buckets:

  • $67 - the Pearson VUE exam fee for exam 12-GA-24
  • $120 - license and processing fees paid through Sircon after passing

Neither figure includes the cost of a prep course or study materials, so build those into your overall budget. We break down every line item, including where the money actually goes, in the GAA Certification Cost breakdown. If you're unsure whether you meet the eligibility criteria before you pay anything, the GAA Requirements article walks through the affidavit, fingerprinting, and course timing requirements in detail.

Paperwork Order Matters: Complete your 16-hour course and required documentation before scheduling your Pearson VUE exam. Applicants who schedule too early sometimes scramble to finish coursework against the 12-month clock.

Retake Rules and Pass-Rate Reality

According to Pearson's January-March 2026 reporting period, the GAA had a 34% overall pass rate (153 of 449 candidates). Split by attempt history, first-time takers passed at 32%, while repeat candidates passed at 36%. That gap is small but real - it suggests candidates who fail once and come back with a more targeted review do slightly better, likely because they now know exactly which domain sank them.

If you don't pass on your first or second try, you must wait 14 days before scheduling again. After that, later attempts require a 60-day wait. There is no limit on the total number of attempts, but the escalating wait time makes it expensive in time to treat the exam as a guessing game. For the full context behind these numbers, including how they compare across reporting periods, see the GAA Pass Rate analysis.

Key Takeaway

A 34% pass rate means most candidates who walk in underprepared do not pass. Treat your first attempt as the one that counts - the 14-day wait after a fail still costs real time against course and paperwork deadlines.

Final-Week Review Schedule

In the last seven days before your scheduled Pearson VUE appointment, structure your review around domain weight rather than trying to re-read everything evenly.

Days 7-5

Domain 2 Deep Review

  • Redo practice questions on coverage forms, perils, and valuation methods
  • Drill actual cash value vs. replacement cost scenarios until instant recall
Days 4-3

Domain 1 and Domain 3 Consolidation

  • Rebuild vocabulary flashcards for terms you missed in practice sets
  • Review policy contract structure: declarations, conditions, exclusions
Days 2-1

Domains 4 and 5, Plus Full Timed Run

  • Review adjuster reporting duties and Georgia-specific rules
  • Take one full 105-question timed practice run to calibrate pacing

This weighting mirrors the exam blueprint itself, not a generic study template - Domain 2 gets the most days because it's worth the most points. For a complete first-attempt strategy that starts weeks earlier than this final sprint, see the GAA Study Guide. Running full practice sets on the main practice test platform in these final days is the closest simulation you'll get to actual exam pacing and question style.

Licensing and Renewal Basics

Passing the exam isn't the end of the compliance clock. Once licensed, standard renewal requires 24 continuing education hours per biennium, including 3 hours of ethics. Mark this on a calendar the day you get licensed - CE deadlines are easy to forget once you're actively working claims.

This is also the point where many candidates start asking whether the credential pays off relative to the time and fees involved. We cover that question directly in Is the GAA Certification Worth It?, and if you're curious about what roles and employers typically look for a Georgia adjuster license, the GAA Jobs page and GAA Salary Guide are good next stops.

Don't Confuse the Acronym: "GAA" is used by several unrelated credentials in other fields. On this site, GAA always refers specifically to the Georgia Adjuster Exam administered via Pearson VUE - verify you're reading Georgia-specific material before applying any fact to your study plan.

Quick-Reference Comparison Table

ItemDetail
Exam code12-GA-24 (Pearson VUE)
Question count100 scored + 5 unscored pretest
Time limit2 hours
Passing score70%
Exam fee$67
License/processing fee$120 (via Sircon)
Pre-licensing course16 hours, completed within 12 months
Overall pass rate (Jan-Mar 2026)34% (153 of 449)
First-time vs. repeat pass rate32% vs. 36%
Retake wait time14 days (first two attempts), 60 days (later attempts)
Largest domainDomain 2 - Property Product Knowledge (48%)
Renewal CE requirement24 hours per biennium, including 3 ethics hours

Keep this table bookmarked as your last-minute check before scheduling. If any single figure here surprises you, go back and read the relevant deep-dive article rather than guessing - small misunderstandings about fees or timing on the GAA Exam Dates page or requirements page can cost you a wasted registration.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the Georgia Adjuster Exam?

The exam has 100 scored questions plus 5 unscored pretest questions, for 105 total, within a 2-hour time limit.

What score do I need to pass the GAA?

You need 70% correct on the 100 scored questions. The 5 pretest questions are unscored and don't count toward your result.

Which domain should I study most?

Domain 2, General Property Insurance Product Knowledge, at 48% of the exam. It's worth more than the other four domains combined, so prioritize coverage forms, perils, and valuation methods.

How much does the whole process cost?

Plan for $67 for the Pearson VUE exam itself plus $120 in license and processing fees paid through Sircon, not counting course materials or prep resources.

What happens if I fail the exam?

You wait 14 days before retaking after either of your first two attempts, and 60 days after any attempt beyond that. There is no cap on total attempts allowed.

Ready to pass your GAA exam?

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