California Earthquake

Picture of earthquake damage
Course information
Price

$249.00

Duration

1 day

Call 817-633-4800 for details


Beginning with the California Earthquake Authority (CEA) claims investigation procedures guidelines, participants learn the definition of an earthquake and how one is measured. They also review the four policy types defined by the CEA: Homeowners, Renters, Mobile Home and Condominium. 

Scoping and inspection techniques are covered for foundations, walls, roofs, chimneys, crawl spaces and mechanical systems. Cosmetic damages, new versus existing damage, code requirements, measurement and repairability are emphasized. Participants also learn the procedures of the California Earthquake Claims Mediation Program, FEMA and U.S. Small Business roles in serving earthquake victims. 

Following successful program completion, students are awarded a certificate reflecting their accomplishment. This certificate is valid for 3 years.

Continuing Education Units:

This course may be available for Continuing Education credits, please contact Vale for details.

Audience:

When an earthquake occurs, families depend on trained adjusters to evaluate property damage. Now, this training is not only beneficial, but required by law. New state regulations have been recently adopted which govern the training of insurance adjusters in evaluating damage caused by an earthquake. Candidates for accreditation include company and independent insurance adjusters, claims examiners and claim supervisors of admitted and non-admitted insurers.

PreReqs:

Participants, if licensed as a company or as an individual, are asked to sign a responsibility statement that they are certified per the Fair Claims Settlement Regulations.

Syllabus:

CA Fair Claims Settlement Practices 
Code of Regulations, Title 10 Subchapter 7.5 Section 2695.1-14 

Earthquakes
 
What are they and how are they measured 
Seismic events in California 
Lessons from the Northridge event 

Basic Earthquake Policies
 
Homeowners, Renters, Mobile Home,Commercial, Condominium Review and Analysis 

Engineers and Experts
 
CUREE Publication QED-02 
Working with Engineers 

Scoping the Loss
 
Tools for Inspections 
Foundations, walls, roofs, chimneys, mechanical, cosmetic damage, codes and upgrades
Repairability Analysis 
Subsequent Damage 
Safety Precautions 

Mediation Programs
 
Insurance Code Section 2696.1-10 
What, How, Who Procedures 

Earthquake Victims Programs
 
FEMA U.S. 
Small Business Administration 

Unaccredited Adjusters
 
Requirements

Residential Examiner

Picture of man looking at paper
Course information
Price

$2,295.00

Duration

1 week virtual course

Click on a date below to register:

March 18 – 22, 2024
June 17 – 21, 2024

Please check back if your course is not yet open for registration

Designed for:
The Residential Examiner course is a 1-week class focused on teaching file reviewers, desk adjusters, and examiners how to review completed estimates on damaged residential buildings which have been prepared by other adjusters or contractors.

Key Learning Objective:
Classroom discussion focuses on identifying common building materials, resolving scoping issues, and analyzing claim estimates for property claims. While students do not write estimates in this course, real claim estimates are used to help prepare desk adjusters to find common errors made by field adjusters and contractors relating to misidentifying building materials, mistakes in measuring, misapplication of estimating software, and other scoping errors. In addition, attendees will get an introduction to proper water mitigation techniques.

Syllabus:

Introduction
Scoping defined, estimate sequence, diagrams, photographs. 
Construction trades, calculating debris removal, and application of minimum charges.

Interior 
Drywall, textures, paint, paneling, moldings, cabinets, countertops.  
Types of materials and pricing factors.

Doors, Windows, Glass 
Types of materials and pricing factors. 

Flooring 
Wood, carpet, and vinyl. 
Guidelines for drying floors.

Exterior 
Roofing, exterior claddings, fences, insulation. 

Estimate Sequence
 
The importance of sorting estimates.

Water Mitigation 101 
Classes and categories of water damage, principles of drying, assessing mitigation invoices. 

Estimating Platforms 101
Key differences in major platforms.

Residential Estimating

Picture of man using measuring tape
Course information
Price

$3,295.00

Duration

2 weeks

Click on a date below to register:

April 8 – 19, 2024
May 13 – 24, 2024
June 10 – 21, 2024 (Week 2 offered with hybrid option)

Please check back if your course is not yet open for registration

This two week course is part 2 of the 3 week Property Adjusting course. The best value is to enroll in the full 3 week course.

Vale is now offering select courses with a hybrid option*.

The Residential Estimating course is delivered virtually most months but once per quarter we offer a hybrid option. The hybrid format allows for the initial portion of the course to be delivered virtually with the final week providing an option for students to continue virtually or join us at our Arlington, TX facility to experience our claims house, framing displays, mock-ups and classroom materials. Students choosing the classroom-based delivery will travel to our Arlington, TX facility to get hands-on training along with extra time with the instructor.

*Hybrid option – Student chooses in the final week of the program to continue with the virtual format or travel to or Arlington, TX facility to experience live, hands-on training. Lunch will be provided each day for students.

Designed for: Designed for the field adjuster, desk examiner, public adjuster and restoration contractor handling all levels of dwelling damage estimating.

Key Learning Objective: This two-week class teaches students how to scope and prepare thorough and accurate estimates on residential dwelling damage using their choice of leading automated estimating systems. All phases of residential construction are introduced including framing, windows and doors, interior and exterior finishes, roofing and mechanical systems. Class discussion includes material identification, nomenclature, measurement, damages, repair versus replacement, and unit cost analyses. Hands-on scoping and estimating exercises are incorporated into the instruction.

The emphasis is on learning to prepare complete, detailed and accurate estimates on damaged dwellings. After successfully completing this course, the student will have the skills and knowledge to prepare a complete and accurate electronic estimate for minor to moderate interior and exterior residential dwelling damage.

Prerequisites:

Attendees must be capable of operating Windows-based programs. Sponsors will need to indicate estimating program selection at the time of Registration.

Syllabus:

Introduction 
Definitions, Estimating, Scoping 
Diagramming, Trades, Tools 

Rough Carpentry
 
Floors, Walls, Roofs 

Interior
 
Plaster, Drywall, Ceilings, Paneling 

Millwork
 
Trim, Cabinets, Countertops, Stairs

Doors, Windows, Glass
 
Types and Materials 

Flooring
 
Wood, Tile, Vinyl, Carpet 

Decorating
 
Paint, Wallpaper 
Restoration, Deodorizing 

Exterior
 
Siding, Trim, Soffits 
Gutters, Fences 

Roofing
 
Roof Styles, Materials 
Measurements 

Masonry
 
Concrete, Block, Brick 
Chimneys, Stucco 

HVAC
 
Types, Insulation, Ductwork 

Plumbing
 
Rough and Finish 
Water Heaters 
Supply, Containment, Drain 

Electrical
 
Service, Fixtures 

Damages
 
Estimating exercises that cover damages resulting from fire, water, wind, hail, hurricanes, collision and ensuing losses. 

This course uses the latest versions of:
 

PowerClaim
Simsol
Symbility
Xactimate

Property Adjusting

Picture of kitchen with fire damage
Course information
Price

$4,295.00

Duration

3 weeks

Click on a date below to register:

April 1 – 19, 2024
May 6 – 24, 2024
June 3 – 21, 2024 (Week 3 offered with hybrid option)

Please check back if your course is not yet open for registration

Vale is now offering select courses with a hybrid option*.

We offer the property adjusting course with a live/hybrid option once per quarter. The format allows for the initial portion to be virtual with the final week to be classroom-based. The live classroom sessions will be hybrid. We will broadcast all live sessions to participants following our current virtual delivery protocols. This reflects interest in travel cost savings, learner scheduling challenges and the efficiency of having some production time retained by the virtual attendees.

The Property Adjusting course is delivered virtually most months but once per quarter we offer a hybrid option. The hybrid format allows for the initial portion of the course to be delivered virtually with the final week providing an option for students to continue virtually or join us at our Arlington, TX facility to experience our claims house, framing displays, mock-ups and classroom materials. Students choosing the classroom-based delivery will travel to our Arlington, TX facility to get hands-on training along with extra time with the instructor.

*Hybrid option – Student chooses in the final week of the program to continue with the virtual format or travel to or Arlington, TX facility to experience live, hands-on training. Lunch will be provided each day for students.

Course description

An intensive three-week course on property insurance coverage, property claims adjusting, and scoping and estimating residential dwelling damage.  It is designed for entry-level and experienced students who must be able to understand and apply policy language from standard Homeowners and Dwelling policies as they relate to investigating and handling property claims. 

The course includes the application of construction estimating concepts to residential building damages.  Students prepare estimates on the latest versions of the industry’s leading electronic estimating systems.

Strong emphasis is placed on learning how to read and apply the language in the ISO Homeowners (HO3) policy. Throughout the course, coverage application and structural estimating are integrated using workshops and claim scenarios to challenge the students to apply what they learn.

The student will learn to prepare damage estimates on their choice of electronic estimating systems, practice reporting and produce statements of loss just as they would in the real world of property claims adjusting. Arson, fraud, documentation techniques, reporting formats and good faith handling are also emphasized.

Upon successful completion the student will have the skills to analyze and apply property coverages, be able to investigate the cause of loss, prepare an electronic estimate, prepare a report package and negotiate and settle property losses.

Audience:

Entry-level adjusters and claim service representatives who will be assigned property losses involving Homeowner, Dwelling, and Condominium policies. Individuals with limited experience who will become catastrophe adjusters handling weather-related property losses resulting from hail, wind and/or water damage.

PreReqs:

Attendees must be capable of operating Windows-based programs. Sponsors will need to indicate estimating program selection at the time of Registration.

Syllabus:

Insurance Basics 
Insurance Principles 
Policy Structure 
Provisions Common to Property Policies 

Contracts
 
Elements of a Legal Contract 
Distinct Characteristics of an Insurance Agreement
Rules for Interpreting policies 

Property Coverages
 
Dwelling and Other Structures
Personal Property
Loss of Use 
Additional Coverages 
Selected Endorsements 

Causes of Loss
 
Open Peril vs.. Named Perils 
Analysis of Specific Perils 
Court Cases 

Adjusting Losses
 
Duties After a Loss 
Determining Value and Loss 
Apportionment of Losses 
Resolving Coverage Issues
Negotiation and Settlement 
Subrogation/Dispute Resolution 

Investigation 
Theft/Fraud Indicators 
Photos & Diagrams 

Projects
 
Workshops on Coverage 
Loss Scenarios 
Testing and Evaluation 

Reporting
 
Documentation of Events 
Captioned Reports 
Statement of Loss Format 

Good Faith Claims Handling
 
Avoiding Bad Faith 

Structural Estimating Introduction
 
Material Identification, Scoping, Estimating
Diagramming, Trades, Tools 

Rough Carpentry
 
Floors, Walls, Roofs 

Interior
 
Plaster, Drywall, Ceilings, Paneling 

Millwork
 
Trim, Cabinets, Countertops, Stairs

Doors, Windows, Glass
 
Types and Materials 

Flooring
 
Wood, Tile, Vinyl, Carpet 

Decorating
 
Paint, Wallpaper 
Restoration, Deodorizing 

Exterior
 
Siding, Trim, Soffits 
Gutters, Fences 

Roofing
 
Roof Styles, Materials 
Measurements 

Masonry
 
Concrete, Block, Brick 
Chimneys, Stucco 

HVAC
 
Types, Insulation, Ductwork 

Plumbing
 
Rough and Finish 
Water Heaters 
Supply, Containment, Drain 

Electrical
 
Service, Fixtures 

Damages
 
Estimating exercises that cover damages resulting from fire, water, wind, hail, hurricanes, collision and ensuing losses. 

Students who enroll in this course may use the latest versions of: 

PowerClaim
Simsol
Symbility
Xactimate

Trucking and Commercial Vehicle Claims

Picture of semi truck on road
Course information
Price

$1,395.00

Duration

2 days

Click on a date to register:

May 20 – 22, 2024

Please check back if your course is not yet open for registration

This Virtual Class is designed for adjusters with some experience and knowledge of basic claims adjusting. The course focuses on issues relevant to commercial auto claims, trucking liability, and cargo losses.

Students participate in workshops and case studies to build skills, increase confidence and encourage analytic decision making for commercial risks. With respect to commercial auto, the workshop concentrates on investigating and determining legal liability, tort negligence, damages, and the disposition of claims involving commercial vehicles. Included will be a discussion of issues peculiar to commercial risks, such as vicarious liability, deviation, and inland marine cargo. Commercial vehicles create an assumption of the organization as a target risk requiring expertise in investigating and resolving claims. 

Course is designed for:

  • Insurance Professionals in claims, underwriting, production, etc.
  • Adjusters and claims handlers for insurance carriers and independent companies
  • Third party administrators
  • Self-insured companies
  • Others who are responsible for investigating, evaluating and negotiating casualty claims

Course Details:

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should have the skills necessary to evaluate a file for negotiating, determine the range, evaluate circumstances and other important factors that affect the range, and demonstrate the ability to properly negotiate a claim to conclusion.

For full course outline download the course brochure.

Course brochure: Trucking and Commercial Vehicle Claims

Instructor:

Taught by Vale Training’s Elise M. Farnham, CPCU, ARM, AIM, CPIW.  Elise is an insurance and risk management professional with extensive experience. She is an internationally acclaimed speaker and trainer having designed educational topics ranging from underwriting, to risk management, to claims administration, both casualty and property. Her career advancement from multi-line adjuster to senior management positions gives her real-world experience in assisting today’s insurance professionals in meeting the challenges they face. She has developed training and professional development programs for the industry’s largest organizations and provides expert commentary which is published quarterly. Her articles have appeared in industry publications in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. As an energetic instructor, her programs are interactive, especially when examining ethical issues relative to the industry. With a life-long career in insurance, Elise is a dynamic speaker and educator.

Key Expertise: Liability, Property, E&O and Bad Faith, Professional Liability, Personal lines auto, Personal lines property, Commercial lines auto, Commercial lines property, Risk Management, Negotiations, Fraud, Flood.

 

Commercial Liability & Negotiations

Picture of two men talking
Course information
Price

$2,295.00

Duration

5 days

Click on a date below to register:


This 5-day course will review relative to the Commercial Liability policy and negotiations. The first three days will review coverage issues relative to the Commercial Liability policy including investigative requirements for confirming coverage, determining liability, and evaluating damages. The final two days of the program will focus on negotiations including the skills necessary to evaluate a file for negotiating, determine the range, evaluate circumstances and other important factors that affect the range, and demonstrate the ability to properly negotiate a claim to conclusion. Students have the option to sign up for the entire 5 day course or either of the individual components.

Level: Intermediate to advanced. For those who want to expand their knowledge of coverage afforded by the CGL. Since the course includes evaluation of court decisions, it is recommended that the attendee be knowledgeable about basic claim processes, terminology, and coverage review.

This course is designed for:

  • Insurance Professionals in claims, underwriting, production, etc.
  • Adjusters and claims handlers for insurance carriers and independent companies
  • Third party administrators
  • Self-insured companies
  • Others who are responsible for claim review or coverage and contract analysis

Following completion of this course, attendees will be able to:

  • Summarize the Commercial Liability Policy and intentions of coverage
  • Describe how the CGL differentiates coverage application under each Coverage part – A., B., and C.
  • Analyze how coverage can be altered or limited by the Exclusions, Conditions, and Limits/Valuations/Deductibles
  • Differentiate coverage triggers under the Claims-Made and Occurrence forms
  • Analyze court decisions regarding coverage language and contractual obligations

Course instructor: Elise M. Farnham, CPCU, ARM, AIM, CPIW
Elise is an insurance and risk management professional with extensive experience. She is an internationally acclaimed speaker and trainer having designed educational topics ranging from underwriting, to risk management, to claims administration, both casualty and property. Her career advancement from multi-line adjuster to senior management positions gives her real-world experience in assisting today’s insurance professionals in meeting the challenges they face. She has developed training and professional development programs for the industry’s largest organizations and provides expert commentary which is published quarterly. Her articles have appeared in industry publications in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. As an energetic instructor, her programs are interactive, especially when examining ethical issues relative to the industry. With a life-long career in insurance, Elise is a dynamic speaker and educator.

 

Casualty Adjusting

Picture of people in hardhats looking at shipping crate
Course information
Price

$2,295.00

Duration

1 week

Click on a date below to register for a virtual course:

June 17 – 21, 2024

Please check back if your course is not yet open for registration

The one-week Casualty Adjusting course teaches the principles of Law and Legal Liability as they apply to automobile and general liability risks. The course focuses on the methods of investigating and determining legal liability, evaluation of damages, reserving, and settlement practices.

Students participate in workshops and case studies to build skills, increase confidence and encourage analytic decision making for self-insured risks. The workshops concentrate on investigating and determining legal duties, burden of proof, comparative fault, damages and the disposition of claims involving automobile and truck accidents, injuries sustained on owned premises by others, property damage to others and other common liability occurrences.

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should have the skills necessary to evaluate a file for negotiating, determine the range, evaluate circumstances and other important factors that affect the range, and demonstrate the ability to properly negotiate a claim to conclusion.

This course is designed for:

  • Insurance Professionals in claims, underwriting, production, etc.
  • Adjusters and claims handlers for insurance carriers and independent companies.
  • Third party administrators
  • Self-insured companies
  • Others who are responsible for investigating, evaluating and negotiating casualty claims

Course Outline: 

 

Auto Examiner

Picture of a broken car
Course information
Price

$2,295.00

Duration

1 week

Click on a date below to register for an upcoming virtual course:

April 8 – 12, 2024
May 6 – 10, 2024
June 3 – 7, 2024

Please check back if your course is not yet open for registration

Presentation combines classroom lecture, visual aids, and hands-on exercises. This program is performance-based; students perform practice estimates on each section of the vehicle (front, side, and rear impacts on outer body components). Each practice estimate is reviewed by the instructor at the vehicle, culminating in a graded test estimate.

Pre-written estimates are reviewed for content and accuracy.

Graduates of this program will be able to perform damage estimates on outer body panels of cars, light trucks, vans and SUV’s, and recognize signs of structural misalignment and damage to the most commonly damaged mechanical systems. Those charged with reviewing pre-written estimates from a remote location will gain tremendous effectiveness through hands on identification of vehicle parts and systems, and experiencing the estimating process. This includes engine and suspension system, component repair, structural realignment, vehicle identification, and basic estimating information.

Students learn how to calculate sheet metal and aluminum repair time.

 

Tractor Trailer/Heavy Equipment Estimatics

Course information
Price

$2,295.00

Duration

5 days

Click on a date below to register for an upcoming virtual course:

March 25 – 29, 2024

This five-day course teaches students what they need to know to write estimates on Tractor Trailers and Heavy Equipment.

Students will spend the first two days learning about tractor trailers, with an emphasis on tractors, nomenclature, estimating guides, cab and body construction and wear items. The third and fourth days focus solely on heavy equipment including bull dozers, backhoes, cranes and graders. The final day wraps everything up.

Students should understand how to write estimates or have taken Vale’s Auto Estimatics course. Students should also have computers with estimating software included.

 

 

PDR Tech Certification

Picture of laptop screen and various tools
Course information
Price

Duration

Call for details



Vale is proud to partner with the following testing organizations.

Please reach out to them about testing dates.

In the USA:
Phone: 417-840-8525
hmverified.com
email: hmverified@hmdentworks.com

In Canada:
Tino Cipolla
Phone: 519-777-5887
www.dented.ca/valetesting

 

Frequently Asked Questions:

Where can I find additional PDR training?

Please contact National Alliance for Paintless Dent Repair Technicians (NAPDRT) at www.napdrt.org or PDR Nation at www.pdrnation.com .

Do I need to bring lights?

Tools and lighting will not be supplied. Technician should bring the necessary tools, lighting (with power converter if needed), buffer, sanding blocks, etc. In short, the technician should prepare as if going to a storm site. AC power sources are supplied.

How many levels can I test for per test date?

You may only test for one level per test date.

What types of panels will we be tested on?

Participants will be tested on late-model domestic hoods, deck lids and doors mounted to fixed stands. Aluminum panels may be of imported manufacture.

What if I fail to pass a level?

Should any part of the testing in the Craftsman or Master Craftsman category not be completed to a satisfactory level, the candidate may apply the passed segments of that testing to one lower proficiency level rating, provided all the criteria of that second (lower) level are satisfied. Example: Candidate passes first two criteria of the Craftsman level but fails the third criteria will qualify for Journeyman status with no more testing. Failing one test segment, a candidate testing for Master Craftsman level may apply successful test segments to Craftsman level, and complete the test to satisfy Craftsman level criteria. You may drop down one time only. Should any part of the second (lower) tier of testing result in a no-pass, a certificate will not be awarded.

When are PDR Test dates scheduled?

Dates are scheduled on an as needed basis – please call 1-817-633-4800 to arrange for a test date.

What levels of testing are there?

Journeyman, Craftsman, Master Craftsman

What type of certification will be presented if successfully completed?

Successful participants will be awarded a certificate and wallet sized I. D. card reflecting the level of demonstrated proficiency. Your name and certification number will be listed on the Vale website with your permission.

When can I test for the next level?

Candidates wishing to return for testing to upgrade their status to a higher level may do so on the next available test program date at Vale Training Solutions in Arlington, Texas.

Is there a class limit?

5 per session

What tools do I need to bring?

You should prepare as if going to a storm site. AC power sources are supplied.

Will there be buffing?

Yes

Is there continuing education credits?

Continuing Education Units:  N/A