Xactimate Training: Best Courses, Certification and Free Resources

You need to learn Xactimate. Maybe you're a new adjuster, a contractor breaking into supplements, or someone who's been in restoration for years but never had to touch the software until now. The question isn't whether to learn it. The question is how to learn it without wasting time and money on the wrong approach.

Here's every training option available, what each actually delivers, and how to pick the right one.

The Training Landscape

Xactimate training falls into four categories:

1. Verisk's own courses (the company that makes Xactimate)
2. Third-party training providers (independent schools and instructors)
3. Free resources (YouTube, forums, documentation)
4. On-the-job training (learning from a colleague or employer)

Each has trade-offs. Let's break them down.

Verisk (Xactware) Training

Verisk offers their own training through Xactware, and they're the source of truth on how the software works. Their courses are available in multiple formats:

• Self-paced online modules you can complete on your own schedule
• Virtual instructor-led classes with live sessions over video
• In-person classroom training at various locations throughout the year

Pros: Training comes directly from the software maker. Instructors know every feature because they helped build it. Course content is always current with the latest version.

Cons: Verisk courses can be pricier than third-party options. Scheduling for in-person classes depends on where you live and when they're offered in your area. The teaching style is comprehensive but not always tailored to your specific trade (roofing vs. water mitigation vs. contents, for example).

Best for: People who want the most authoritative training and don't mind paying for it.

Third-Party Training Providers

There are dozens of independent training providers. Here are the most established ones and what they offer:

The Adjuster School

Online self-paced courses focused on Level 1 preparation. Good for new adjusters who need to get up to speed quickly. Pricing is reasonable compared to Verisk's own courses.

Xactimate Training School

Offers both virtual and 3-day classroom courses covering Levels 1, 2, and 3. One of the more comprehensive third-party options. Classroom sessions include hands-on practice with instructor feedback.

American Insurance College

Online and classroom courses covering Levels 1 and 2. They also offer broader adjuster education beyond just Xactimate, which can be useful if you're new to the industry entirely.

Watermark

3-day online intensive courses for Levels 1 and 2. The compressed format works well if you want to get trained quickly and can dedicate three full days.

AdjusterTV

Online exam prep courses for all three levels. More affordable than most options. Good as a supplement to hands-on practice, but the format is primarily video-based, so you'll need to create your own practice scenarios.

Choosing a Third-Party Provider

Here's what to look for:

Factor	What to check
Format	Classroom with live instructor is best for Sketch skills. Online works for conceptual knowledge.
Levels covered	Make sure they cover the level you need. Some only offer Level 1.
Practice scenarios	Do they include hands-on exercises where you build estimates? Videos alone aren't enough.
Instructor background	Is the instructor a working adjuster/estimator, or just a trainer? Industry experience matters.
Software access	Does the course include temporary Xactimate access? Some do, some require you to have your own subscription.
Certification prep	If you're training for the exam, does the course specifically prepare you for the Sketch and Scope Lab format?

Free Xactimate Training Resources

You can learn a lot about Xactimate without spending a dollar. Here's where to look:

YouTube

There are hundreds of Xactimate tutorial videos on YouTube covering everything from basic navigation to advanced Sketch techniques. Search for "Xactimate tutorial" or "Xactimate Sketch tutorial" and filter by upload date to get content for the current version.

What YouTube is good for: Understanding the interface, seeing how experienced users navigate the software, learning specific features you're stuck on.

What YouTube is bad for: Structured learning progression, hands-on practice with feedback, exam preparation.

Verisk's Documentation and Help Center

Xactware maintains documentation and help articles for every feature in the software. It's dry reading, but it's comprehensive and accurate. Useful when you need to understand a specific function or setting.

Industry Forums and Facebook Groups

There are several active Facebook groups and online forums where adjusters and contractors discuss Xactimate. These are great for asking specific questions and getting answers from people who use the software daily. Not a substitute for structured training, but a good ongoing resource.

Colleague Walk-Throughs

This is honestly the most underrated free training option. Sitting next to someone who builds estimates in Xactimate every day and watching them work for an hour teaches you more than most online courses. You see their shortcuts, their workflow, their common line items. Ask questions in real time.

What to Focus On First

Regardless of which training path you choose, prioritize these skills in this order:

1. Sketch (Week 1-2)

Sketch is where new users spend 80% of their frustration time. If you can draw accurate floor plans, everything else gets easier. Practice by measuring rooms in your own house and replicating them in Sketch. Get comfortable with walls, corners, openings, and room labels.

Key skills: drawing walls, snapping corners, setting dimensions, adding doors and windows, creating multi-room layouts.

2. Line Items and Scoping (Week 2-3)

Learn the most common line items for your trade. If you're a roofer, learn the line items for shingle removal and replacement, underlayment, drip edge, flashing, and ridge vent. Don't try to memorize every code in the database. Focus on the 20-30 you'll use on 90% of your jobs.

Understand the difference between R&R (remove and replace), R&R with additional labor, and "remove only" line items. Know when to use each one.

3. Pricing Database (Week 3-4)

Understand how Xactimate's pricing works. Prices are regional and update monthly. Learn how to verify that your database is current, how to look up specific materials, and how pricing for labor vs. materials is broken out in each line item.

4. Macros and Templates (Week 4+)

Once you're comfortable with the basics, learn macros. These are saved groups of line items that you use frequently. If every roof job includes the same 15 line items for tear-off, a macro lets you add all 15 in one click instead of searching for each one individually. This is where your estimating speed jumps dramatically.

Training for Certification vs. Training for the Job

These are two different goals, and the training you need is different for each.

Training for the job means learning to build accurate estimates efficiently for the claims you'll actually handle. Focus on the line items, Sketch scenarios, and workflows specific to your trade. A roofer doesn't need to know contents line items, and a water mitigation tech doesn't need to know roofing codes.

Training for certification means preparing for a standardized exam that tests broad Xactimate knowledge. The certification exam scenarios may include damage types you don't normally encounter. You need to be comfortable with the full range of the software, not just your specialty.

If you're going for certification, choose a training course that specifically prepares you for the exam format. The Sketch and Scope Lab is the section where most people fail, and targeted practice for that format matters more than general Xactimate knowledge.

The "Do I Even Need Training?" Decision

Some people don't need formal training. Here's how to tell:

You probably need formal training if:

• You've never opened Xactimate before
• You learn better with structure and instructor feedback
• You're preparing for the certification exam
• Your employer is paying for it (always take free training)

You can probably self-teach if:

• You've used other estimating software before
• You have a colleague willing to mentor you
• You're disciplined about daily practice
• You're only using a subset of Xactimate's features

You might not need Xactimate training at all if:

• Your primary need is getting PDF estimates into Xactimate and into production. CapOut handles conversion in seconds, plus gives you profit breakdowns, material and labor orders, and automated claim responses. Free to start with 300 tokens.
• Someone else on your team handles all the estimating and you just review the final numbers

Recommended Training Path by Role

Your role	Recommended training path
New independent adjuster	Classroom course (Level 1) + certification exam + 2-4 weeks daily practice
Restoration contractor	Online or classroom course (Level 1) + on-the-job mentoring
Supplement specialist	Classroom course (Level 1 + 2) + certification + daily practice on real claims
Roofing contractor (occasional estimating)	Online course or YouTube + practice on your own jobs
Contractor who receives PDF estimates	Use CapOut with your Xactimate subscription. Skip re-keying, get profit breakdowns by trade, build material/labor orders, and use the AI Claim Assistant for disputes. Focus on reviewing scope and running production.
Public adjuster	Classroom course (Level 1 + 2) + certification + ongoing practice

Pick the path that matches your role, invest the time in Sketch practice, and focus on the line items you'll actually use. Everything else is secondary.

Related Guides

• Xactimate Certification: Levels, Cost & How to Get Certified
• Xactimate Pricing: Complete Breakdown (2026)
• Xactimate Line Item Cheat Sheet: Most Common Codes