What Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance Requirements Apply in Washington?

Washington structural pest inspectors must maintain financial responsibility, and E&O is one route with a $25,000 minimum; a bond or assigned account can be used instead. The E&O option covers errors in inspections conducted during the policy term, and the statute permits an insurer to limit liability on that policy to two years after inspection.

What Is Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance?

Professional liability can help pay defense costs and covered losses when a client says your advice or service caused financial harm. If customers rely on your work, list every service you provide and check the claims-made reporting and prior-work terms. Read the national Professional errors and omissions (E&O) guide.

Washington Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance Requirements

Requirement	Details
Structural pest inspector E&O option	At least $25,000 while licensed; other financial-responsibility options are permitted ^1,²

What to Watch for With Professional Liability (E&O) in Washington

Inspection Date and Later Claim Timing Matter
A Washington E&O policy must address errors and omissions in an inspection conducted during its term, and it may limit that policy’s liability to two years from the inspection date. Ask how your claims-made reporting terms and any extended reporting period work against that statutory option. ²
The State Sets Insurer and Deductible Conditions
A financial-responsibility policy must be issued by an insurer authorized in Washington; the statute allows a deductible up to $5,000, and the inspector may need to furnish security for that amount if a prior claim has left it unsatisfied. Check the deductible and any required security before choosing the insurance route. ²
Company and Report Duties Affect the Insured Setup
A business needs a company license to conduct complete wood-destroying-organism inspections, and transfer, exchange, or refinance reports must carry a unique inspection control number. Confirm the named business and the inspectors doing the work are represented correctly in the financial-responsibility filing and proposed policy. ^3,^4,¹
The Financial-Responsibility Exceptions Are Narrow
Washington exempts qualifying licensed commercial applicators and their licensed commercial-operator employees when they perform the specified wood-destroying-organism inspections; public employees have a separate official-duty exception. Check the exact license and inspection role before assuming an exemption applies to your business. ¹

Providers With Washington License Records

These providers publish a national listing for Professional errors and omissions (E&O); the license records below name the licensed entities and roles. Some records rely on company-reported information rather than independent regulator verification. A national listing does not confirm the product is available in Washington. Check the regulator’s license lookup and confirm state availability for your business when requesting a quote.

At-Bay
Insurance producer, Surplus-lines broker · checked 2026-09-28
At-Bay Insurance Services LLC
At-Bay’s license page lists P&C producer and surplus-lines broker license numbers for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. These are company disclosures and do not establish product availability in each jurisdiction. ¹⁰
At-Bay offers primary miscellaneous professional liability insurance.
Coalition
Insurance producer, Surplus-lines broker · checked 2026-09-28
Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc.
Coalition’s license page lists producer and surplus-lines licenses for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc. in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The page separately lists insurers; this record covers the brokerage entity only. ¹¹
Coalition offers miscellaneous professional liability as an addition to eligible Active Cyber policies.
Corgi
Insurance producer · checked 2026-09-28
Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.
Corgi’s company producer-license table lists 50 jurisdictions: 49 states and the District of Columbia, including DC license 3003091619. New Mexico does not appear in the table and is not included here; the omission does not establish that Corgi is unlicensed there. The company-reported table has no stated as-of date and does not establish product availability. ¹²
Corgi lists miscellaneous errors and omissions coverage for service-based businesses.
ERGO NEXT Insurance
Insurance producer · checked 2026-09-28
Next First Insurance Agency, Inc.
ERGO NEXT’s current license table lists Next First Insurance Agency, Inc. in 50 jurisdictions, including Washington, DC; New York is excluded because its table rows name Next Insurance Services and AP Intego, not Next First. The table is company-reported; it does not establish product availability or provide state-regulator verification for each entry. ¹⁴
ERGO NEXT lists professional liability insurance, also called errors and omissions insurance.
Hiscox
Insurer · checked 2026-09-28
Hiscox Insurance Company Inc.
Hiscox’s U.S. company information states that Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. is licensed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. This is company-reported insurer authority for this entity and does not establish which company issues every Hiscox-branded product. ¹³
Hiscox offers professional errors and omissions insurance for small businesses.
TechInsurance
Insurance producer · checked 2026-09-28
Specialty Program Group LLC
TechInsurance’s current licensing page names Specialty Program Group LLC / SPG Insurance Solutions and lists state license numbers, but labels Rhode Island “Individual licenses” rather than identifying a license for the named agency. RI is omitted because this disclosure does not establish agency authority there; this is a search limitation, not an assertion that the company is unlicensed. The remaining state entries are company-reported and are not an insurance product availability map. ¹⁶
TechInsurance arranges professional errors and omissions insurance for small businesses.
Vouch
Insurance producer, Surplus-lines broker · checked 2026-09-28
Vouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLC
Vouch’s licenses page, effective January 16, 2025, lists producer licenses in all 50 states and DC. Its separate surplus-lines table includes Idaho number 870820, while a footnote says Georgia and Idaho do not issue agency-level surplus-lines licenses. Because those statements conflict for Idaho, this record keeps Idaho producer-only and does not treat the table number as established agency surplus-lines authority. The page is company-reported and does not establish product availability. ¹⁷
Vouch lists errors and omissions among the core coverages in its professional-services programs.

Who Regulates Insurance in Washington?

Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner

The Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner administers Washington insurance laws, oversees insurers and insurance producers within its authority, and provides regulatory and consumer resources. You can use the department's complaint process to raise an insurance issue and its licensing resources to check insurance professionals. ^5,^6,⁷

Website: Regulator website
License lookup: Search licensed producers
Complaints: File a complaint

Surplus-Lines Tax and Stamping Office in Washington

Reported tax rate. 2% of premium ^8,⁹

The NAIC's state chart lists a 2% of premium charge for surplus-lines coverage for Washington (the chart's state entries were reviewed in October 2025). Your broker may collect the applicable amount with the premium. Surplus-lines insurers are not licensed in the state and generally are outside state guaranty-association protection; ask your broker to explain the insurer's financial protections and any diligent-search requirement that applies to your placement.

Questions to Ask Before You Buy Professional Liability (E&O) in Washington

Does our $25,000 E&O policy apply only to inspections conducted during that policy term, and how does it handle a claim reported later?
What deductible security would the department require if a previous claim leaves our deductible unpaid?
Does the quote identify both our licensed inspection company and each inspector performing complete wood-destroying-organism inspections?
Who assigns the unique control number to transfer, exchange, or refinance reports, and is that responsibility clear in our service process?
Does our role qualify for either statutory exemption, or must the company maintain and file financial responsibility for this inspection work?

Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance in Washington: FAQ

How much E&O does a Washington structural pest inspector need?

At least $25,000 if the inspector chooses the E&O route; Washington also permits specified bonds, a bond plus E&O, or an assigned account. ^1,²

Can a Washington structural pest inspector policy limit liability to two years after an inspection?

Yes. The statute says a policy in effect on the inspection date may limit the insurer’s liability to two years from that inspection. ²

Do Washington wood-destroying-organism reports need a control number?

Yes, when issued in connection with a transfer, exchange, or refinance; the person issuing the report is responsible for recording the unique inspection control number. ⁴

Sources for Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance in Washington

1
RCW 15.58.460: Structural pest inspector—Evidence of financial responsibility required—Exemptions. Washington State Legislature; RCW 15.58.460(1)–(3); exemptions and accepted routes. Accessed 2026-09-28.
2
RCW 15.58.465: Structural pest inspector—Forms of evidence of financial responsibility—Amount—Terms. Washington State Legislature; RCW 15.58.465(1)(a), (3)–(4); $25,000 E&O, policy term, two-year option, insurer and deductible. Accessed 2026-09-28.
3
RCW 15.58.445: Wood destroying organism inspections—License required. Washington State Legislature; RCW 15.58.445; company-license application and 30-day updates. Accessed 2026-09-28.
4
RCW 15.58.450: Wood destroying organism inspection report—Unique inspection control number required. Washington State Legislature; RCW 15.58.450; reports prepared with transfer, exchange, or refinance. Accessed 2026-09-28.
5
Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner. Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner; Official regulator website; insurance oversight and consumer/professional resources. Accessed 2026-09-28.
6
Insurance Department Directory. National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner entry; official contact and website listing. Accessed 2026-09-28.
7
Licensing Center. National Insurance Producer Registry; State producer licensing and lookup resources. Accessed 2026-09-28.
8
Surplus Lines Insurance Premium Taxes. National Association of Insurance Commissioners; WA row; state surplus-lines premium-tax rate reviewed October 2025. Accessed 2026-09-28.
9
Guaranty Associations & Funds. National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Coverage of claims from insolvencies of insurers licensed in a state; surplus-lines insurers are nonadmitted. Accessed 2026-09-28.
10
Licenses. At-Bay; Current producer introduction and state table; At-Bay Insurance Services LLC; P&C and surplus-lines identifiers. Accessed 2026-09-21.
11
Licenses and Carriers. Coalition; Licenses and Carriers, re-read 22 September 2026: Insurance Licenses table for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc., national producer number 18419475, with producer and surplus-lines numbers for all 50 states and DC including California 0L76155, Georgia 196479, Texas 2199630 and 2205589, Pennsylvania 815731 and 817452, Colorado 539028 and Wisconsin 3000108852. Insurance Carriers table naming, with NAIC numbers, Allianz Underwriters Insurance Company 36420, Arch Specialty Insurance Company 21199, Ascot Specialty Insurance Company 45055, Ascot Insurance Company 23752, Aspen Specialty Insurance Company 10717, Chaucer Insurance Company DAC, Coalition Insurance Company 29530, Fireman's Fund Indemnity Corporation 11380, Fortegra Specialty Insurance Company 16823, Lloyd's of London, MSIG Specialty Insurance USA Inc. 34886, MS Transverse Specialty Insurance Company 41807, Steadfast Insurance Company 26387, Vantage Risk Specialty Insurance Company 16275 and Zurich American Insurance Company 16535. Accessed 2026-09-22.
12
Insurance Producer Licenses. Corgi Insurance; Current complete Insurance Producer Licenses table for Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.; 50 rows covering 49 states and DC (DC 3003091619); no New Mexico row; no NPN or as-of date shown. Accessed 2026-09-28.
13
About Hiscox US Insurance. Hiscox; Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. NAIC 10200 as Chicago, IL domiciled insurer admitted or licensed in all 50 states and D.C.; Hiscox Inc. as general agent and Lloyd’s coverholder for Syndicates 33 and 3624; surplus-lines placements through licensed surplus-lines brokers; A.M. Best rating statement. Accessed 2026-09-16.
14
Licenses. ERGO NEXT Insurance; Current entity-by-state license table reopened 28 September 2026: 50 rows under Next First Insurance Agency, Inc., including Washington, DC; New York rows instead list Next Insurance Services PC-1423070 and AP Intego BR-1198885. Accessed 2026-09-28.
15
About Risklytics. Risklytics; What we do; Who we insure; Licensing; Agency licenses table dated 2026-09-10. Accessed 2026-09-16.
16
Insurance Licenses by State. TechInsurance; Current state table; identifies TechInsurance as a division of Specialty Program Group LLC d/b/a SPG Insurance Solutions; lists DC 3000041536 and labels Rhode Island “Individual licenses,” without an agency license number. Accessed 2026-09-28.
17
Licenses. Vouch; Effective 16 January 2025: Vouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLC, NPN 19926463; P&C table (50 states and DC); surplus-lines table includes Idaho 870820; footnote says Georgia and Idaho do not issue agency-level surplus-lines licenses; Idaho retained as producer-only due to conflict. Accessed 2026-09-15.

What Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance Requirements Apply in Washington?

What Is Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance?

Washington Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance Requirements

What to Watch for With Professional Liability (E&O) in Washington

Inspection Date and Later Claim Timing Matter

The State Sets Insurer and Deductible Conditions

Company and Report Duties Affect the Insured Setup

The Financial-Responsibility Exceptions Are Narrow

Providers With Washington License Records

At-Bay

Coalition

Corgi

ERGO NEXT Insurance

Hiscox

TechInsurance

Vouch