Professional Liability Insurance for professional contractors
Broad professional liability coverage for specialty contractors providing consulting, inspection, commissioning, project management, or advisory services — covering professional errors beyond the construction trade work itself.
What it covers
- Consulting and advisory service errors
- Inspection and commissioning failures
- Project feasibility and cost analysis errors
- Specification and scope-of-work mistakes
- Professional recommendation errors
- Defense costs and settlements from professional claims
Who it's for
- Construction consultants and owner's representatives
- Commissioning and testing contractors
- Building envelope and special inspection contractors
- Any specialty contractor providing professional advisory or inspection services
Why CCA
- Tailored professional liability for specialty contractor services beyond standard E&O forms
- Programs that coordinate with your general contractor or trade liability
- E&S market access for hard-to-place professional contractor specialties
Common questions about professional liability insurance
Yes — errors and omissions (E&O) and professional liability are the same coverage referred to by different names. Both cover claims that professional services caused a client financial harm. The name 'professional liability' is often used for broader professional services; 'E&O' for design and specification errors specifically.
Yes. Inspection and testing contractors provide professional judgment about project conditions, compliance, and quality — and when that judgment leads to a missed defect or failed inspection, a professional liability claim follows. Standard GL doesn't cover it.
Construction managers-at-risk take on more liability because they hold subcontractor contracts. Pure project managers provide professional management services without construction liability. Both need professional liability, but the scope and limits differ — we structure coverage to match your actual delivery model.
GL covers bodily injury and property damage from physical activities. Professional liability covers financial harm from professional services. In practice, claims often involve both — a professional error that causes physical damage. We structure both policies to coordinate, not compete.
Yes — commissioning contractors provide professional services verifying that systems perform to design intent. Failures in commissioning judgment are professional liability claims. We place professional liability specifically addressing commissioning contractor exposure.
Cost is driven by services performed, annual revenue, contract types, and professional liability claims history. We quote your actual firm in about 15 minutes — never a ballpark from a generic business form.
Yes. Contractors Choice Agency is licensed in all 50 states and writes professional contractor programs nationwide — Arizona, Texas, California, the Northeast, Pacific Northwest, and everywhere contractors operate.
Typically 15 minutes on a call. Larger or more complex programs may take a day or two to place with the right markets, but we move fast and set expectations up front.
Often yes. We have admitted and E&S markets for professional contractors declined over prior claims, loss runs, or complex project types. Bring us your situation and we'll find a market.
Usually yes. A coordinated program closes gaps between policies and is typically cheaper than separate policies from separate carriers — and far easier to manage at claim time.
A.M. Best ratings reflect a carrier's financial strength and ability to pay claims. We place coverage with A-rated (and A+ where possible) carriers so the coverage is there when a professional liability claim, contract dispute, or construction defect suit hits.
Yes. Design-build firms carry both professional and trade liability; project managers carry significant professional services exposure; specialty contractors have unique E&O profiles. We tailor each program to the specific services your firm provides.
Claims are evaluated based on the alleged harm — cost overruns tied to professional errors, project delays, design defect remediation costs, and client financial losses. We work with carriers that handle contractor professional liability claims efficiently and fairly.
Services performed, annual revenue, contract types (fixed-price, cost-plus, design-build), largest single project, professional liability history, current coverage, and loss history. More detail means a more accurate quote.
If you're the responsible contractor and a subcontractor's error leads to a professional liability claim against you, your policy covers your exposure as the directing or coordinating party — including defense costs and resulting liability.
Yes. Project-based contractors can obtain project-specific professional liability policies for individual large contracts, while ongoing firms carry annual programs. We match the program structure to how your firm actually operates.
That's a professional liability (E&O) claim. Your policy covers your defense costs, legal fees, and any resulting judgment or settlement — up to your policy limits. Without E&O coverage, you'd pay out of pocket.
Yes. If you operate through multiple entities, joint ventures, or have separate design and construction arms, we build one coordinated program covering all entities with no gaps between them.
Yes. Contractors who provide consulting, inspection, commissioning, or advisory services carry professional liability exposure beyond their construction activities. We add professional liability tailored to those services.
Pair it with related coverage
Ready to protect your contracting firm?
Get a 15-minute quote from specialists who understand professional contractor liability — E&O, design-build, contract disputes, and professional services exposure.