Build a career as a IRDAI Surveyor
Become a licensed professional who inspects, quantifies and validates insurance claims across India.
Know the IRDAI Surveyor before you start
Online CBT (MCQ)
Exam Mode
7 categories + common paper
Survey Departments
Graduate / technical diploma
Min. Qualification
~12 months under licensed surveyor
Trainee Training
Roles & salary as you grow
The IRDAI Surveyor opens an entry role that promotes upward — here's the ladder and what each rung pays.
Stage 1
Trainee Surveyor (Student / Enrolled)
Stipend / nil to ~₹15,000–25,000 per month
Enrolled with IRDAI and holding IIISLA student membership, the trainee works under a licensed surveyor during the ~12-month practical training. Earnings are typically a modest stipend rather than a fixed salary; the focus is gaining field experience and quarterly training records.
Stage 2
Licensed Surveyor & Loss Assessor (independent practice)
Fee-based: ~₹5,000 min per survey to ₹6–15 lakh+ per year
A fully licensed, self-employed professional empanelled by insurers. Income is per-survey professional fees under the IIISLA fee schedule - a prescribed minimum (~₹5,000) for small claims, scaling with claim value. It is a practice, not a salaried post.
Stage 3
Fellow Member / Corporate (Firm) Surveyor
Firm revenue: ~₹15–50 lakh+ per year
Senior surveyors advance to Fellow membership of IIISLA or operate as a licensed corporate surveyor firm. These firms take on large, complex and multi-location claims and retainer arrangements with insurers.
Stage 4
In-house Claims / Surveyor Roles at Insurers & TPAs
~₹4–12 lakh per year (salaried)
Some qualified surveyors take salaried claims-management, loss-control or in-house survey coordination roles with insurers, brokers, reinsurers or third-party administrators, combining fixed salary with the standing of the IRDAI licence.
*Indicative ranges from public data; actual pay varies by employer, city and cycle.
Are you eligible?
Education
Minimum a Bachelor's degree in any discipline. Technical/professional qualifications strengthen eligibility for specific departments - e.g. a degree/diploma in Mechanical or Automobile Engineering (Motor/Engineering), Architecture/Civil (Engineering), Naval Architecture (Marine Hull), Law or Accountancy, or an insurance qualification (Associateship/Fellowship of the III). Candidates must first enrol with IRDAI as a Trainee Surveyor and take out Student Membership of IIISLA.
Age
Minimum 18 years.
Nationality
Indian citizen.
How the IRDAI Surveyor is structured
The pathway has two assessment stages. First, a Trainee Surveyor enrolled with IRDAI takes the III Pre-Licensing Examination - an online, computer-based MCQ test. Candidates must clear the compulsory common paper (S-01, Principles & Practice of Insurance and Survey) plus at least one of the seven departmental papers they are enrolled for, appearing for up to about 3 subjects per session. The passing standard is 60%, with no negative marking. The exam is held periodically (typically four sessions a year - March, June, September, December). After passing, the trainee completes roughly 12 months of practical training under a licensed surveyor (or an approved institutional programme), then clears a Final Practical Test before the full licence is granted.
Pre-Licensing Examination (III / IIISLA)
Final Practical Test (post-training)
What you'll study
menu_bookCommon / Compulsory (S-01)
menu_bookFire Insurance
menu_bookMotor Insurance
menu_bookMarine Cargo
menu_bookMarine Hull
menu_bookEngineering Insurance
menu_bookMiscellaneous Insurance
menu_bookLoss of Profit / Consequential Loss
How to crack the IRDAI Surveyor
Enrol as a Trainee Surveyor with IRDAI
Register on the IRDAI portal and apply for enrolment as a Trainee Surveyor in the department(s) you want to specialise in, with your qualification documents. You must be an Indian citizen, at least 18, and hold the required degree/diploma.
Take IIISLA student membership
Obtain Student Membership of the Indian Institute of Insurance Surveyors & Loss Assessors (IIISLA) - required before you can appear for the pre-licensing examination.
Pass the III pre-licensing examination
Appear for the online MCQ examination conducted by the Insurance Institute of India. Clear the compulsory common paper (S-01) plus the departmental paper(s) you are enrolled for, scoring at least 60%. You may appear for up to about 3 subjects per session and can sit multiple sessions.
Complete mandatory practical training
Undergo roughly 12 months of practical training under a licensed surveyor (or an approved institutional programme such as NIA Pune), maintaining records and submitting quarterly training reports to IRDAI. The whole enrolment-to-licence journey must be completed within 3 years of enrolment.
Clear the Final Practical Test & apply for the licence
After training, pass the Final Practical Test, then submit a fresh surveyor licence application to IRDAI along with your IIISLA membership certificate. On approval you receive your IRDAI Surveyor & Loss Assessor licence.
Maintain membership and renew the licence
Upgrade to Associate/Fellow membership of IIISLA as you gain experience, add further departments by passing additional papers, and renew your IRDAI licence every 3 years (individual renewal fee ~₹1,000; late fees apply).
The IRDAI Surveyor cycle
Periodically - typically 4 times a year (Mar / Jun / Sep / Dec)
Early-year cycle (e.g. Feb–Mar)
Mid-year cycle (e.g. Jul–Aug)
Scheduled after each training cycle
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See the full IRDAI Surveyor guide arrow_forwardIRDAI Surveyor — common questions
Who can become an insurance surveyor and loss assessor?
Any Indian citizen aged 18 or above with at least a graduate degree can start the path. Technical qualifications (engineering, architecture, law, accountancy or an insurance qualification) are especially valuable and often required for the more technical departments like Marine Hull or Engineering.
Is a specific degree mandatory?
A graduate degree in any discipline is the baseline. You do not need a specialised degree for every department, but relevant technical/professional qualifications improve your eligibility and competence for departments such as Motor, Engineering and Marine Hull.
How many departments do I have to pass?
You must clear the compulsory common paper (S-01, Principles & Practice of Insurance and Survey) plus at least one of the seven departmental papers (Fire, Motor, Marine Cargo, Marine Hull, Engineering, Miscellaneous, Loss of Profit) to be licensed. You can add more departments later by passing their papers.
How long is the trainee/training period?
After passing the exam you must complete roughly 12 months of practical training under a licensed surveyor (an approved institutional programme is an alternative route). The entire journey from enrolment to licence must be completed within 3 years of enrolment.
How do surveyors earn - is it a salary?
Licensed surveyors are independent professionals, not salaried employees. They earn professional fees per survey under the IIISLA fee schedule - a prescribed minimum (around ₹5,000) for small claims, scaling with claim value for larger losses. Some qualified surveyors instead take salaried in-house roles at insurers or TPAs.
What is the difference between a trainee surveyor and a licensed surveyor?
A Trainee Surveyor is enrolled with IRDAI and works under a licensed surveyor to gain experience and sit the exams, but cannot independently sign survey reports. A Licensed Surveyor & Loss Assessor holds the full IRDAI licence, can independently conduct and certify surveys, and is empanelled by insurers.