Professional liability · E&O
Professional Liability Insurance for Architects, Engineers & Design Professionals
Written and reviewed by Michael LaBarbera, licensed insurance agent
Professional liability insurance — also called errors and omissions (E&O) — pays to defend your firm and settle claims that a design error, omission, or negligent act in your professional services caused a client or third party a financial loss. Architects, engineers, surveyors, and other design professionals need it whenever they sign contracts, stamp drawings, or advise on projects, and we quote it across multiple carriers from one application.
Sheet A-001 · Coverage set
Your practice
What does your firm design?
Architects
Design errors, code issues, and contract-driven limits for licensed architecture firms.
Who we insure
Core design professions
- A-01ArchitectsDesign errors, code issues, and contract-driven limits for licensed architecture firms.
- A-02EngineersCivil, structural, MEP, and geotechnical firms with stamped-drawing exposure.
- A-03Land SurveyorsBoundary, ALTA, and construction staking errors that lead to costly disputes.
- A-04Interior DesignersSpecification, layout, and procurement claims for commercial and residential design.
- A-05Landscape ArchitectsGrading, drainage, and site-design claims for landscape architecture firms.
Design-adjacent professions
- B-01Professional Engineers (individual PE)Individual PEs who seal drawings for other firms or as independent consultants.
- B-02Drafting, CAD & BIMDrafting and modeling services where a dimension error can travel into construction.
- B-033D Rendering & VisualizationVisualization studios whose renderings shape client and buyer decisions.
- B-04Kitchen & Bath DesignersLayout, specification, and clearance errors in kitchen and bath projects.
- B-05Lighting DesignersFixture specification, photometrics, and energy-compliance exposure.
- B-06Real Estate AppraisersValuation disputes from lenders, buyers, and borrowers.
Construction-side consultants
- C-01Construction Managers & Owner's RepsCM-agency and owner's-rep advice, scheduling, and oversight claims.
- C-02Project ManagersIndependent project managers whose coordination decisions carry liability.
- C-03Design-Build ContractorsContractors who carry design responsibility under a single design-build contract.
How we work
An independent agency built for design firms
Provident Financial Group is an independent insurance agency that quotes professional liability for design professionals across multiple carriers from one application, shows you which carriers declined, and issues live certificates of insurance you can share anytime.
01
Multiple carriers, one application
Complete one application and we take it to every carrier that fits your firm's profile.
02
We show you who declined — and why
You see which carriers passed on your firm and the reason they gave, so nothing happens behind a curtain.
03
Same-day certificates of insurance
Need a COI for a proposal or contract? We issue certificates the same business day.
04
Live Certificates on demand
Clients, owners, and general contractors can retrieve your current certificate anytime without waiting on us.
Before you start
What we need to quote
Have these handy and most firms finish the application in one sitting.
0 of 6 ready
- 01
Gross annual billings for the last fiscal year and a projection for this one.
- 02
How many licensed architects, PEs, surveyors, or designers work at the firm.
- 03
Rough percentage of residential, commercial, condo, public, industrial, and healthcare work.
- 04
Your current carrier, limits, expiration date, and retroactive date if you're insured now.
- 05
Any claims or potential claims in the last five years, with a short description.
- 06
The per-claim and aggregate limits your client contracts call for.
Markets
Carriers quoted through our agency
Carriers quoted through our agency for design professionals include:
- The Hartford (firms under $2M revenue via its small-business A&E product; larger firms via Hartford Global Specialty)
- Hiscox
- Great American (design professionals program)
- GUARD
- Markel
- Travelers
- Hanover
- Coterie and NEXT (office package)
- Colonial Surety (bid and performance bonds)
Carrier names identify markets quoted through our agency. Availability depends on underwriting, state, policy wording and endorsements; this is not an offer of coverage.The Hartford's small-firm A&E product is not available in Vermont; Vermont firms are placed with another carrier.
Request a quote
Get quotes from multiple carriers with one application
Start with your contact details — it takes about four minutes. A licensed agent reviews your firm and emails your options, usually within one business day.
Frequently asked questions
What does professional liability cover for a design firm?
It covers claims alleging that your professional services — drawings, specifications, calculations, surveys, or advice — fell below the standard of care and caused a client or third party a financial loss. It pays for your legal defense and for settlements or judgments up to your policy limits, subject to the policy's terms and exclusions.
What is the difference between claims-made and occurrence coverage?
A claims-made policy covers claims made and reported while the policy is active (for work after the retroactive date), while an occurrence policy covers incidents that happen during the policy period no matter when the claim is filed.
What is a retroactive date?
The retroactive date is the earliest date of work your claims-made policy will cover. Work performed before it is excluded, which is why you keep the same retro date when you renew or move to a new carrier.
Do I need professional liability if I'm a sole practitioner?
Yes, in most cases. A sole practitioner faces the same design-error claims as a larger firm, many clients and contracts require evidence of coverage, and without it your personal assets may be exposed to a claim.
Can you issue certificates of insurance the same day?
Yes. Once your policy is bound, we issue certificates of insurance the same business day, and our Live Certificates let clients, owners, and general contractors retrieve your current certificate on demand.
What do you need from me to quote?
Your firm's revenue, number of licensed professionals, project mix, current policy and retroactive date (if any), five-year claims history, and any limits your contracts require. You can start online in a few minutes and an agent will follow up for anything else.