What Workers’ Compensation Insurance Requirements Apply in Washington?

Washington requires employers to cover workers unless a specific statutory exclusion applies, and private workers’ compensation policies are not allowed: employers use L&I’s State Fund or qualify as certified self-insured employers. A 1099 or business license does not establish an independent-contractor exclusion, so classify each person under Washington’s tests before reporting hours.

What Is Workers’ Compensation Insurance?

Workers’ compensation can pay medical care and part of an employee’s lost wages after a work-related injury or illness. If you have staff, check who is covered in each state; owners, contractors and some workers may be treated differently. Read the national Workers’ compensation guide.

Washington Workers’ Compensation Insurance Requirements

Requirement	Details
Coverage route	L&I State Fund or certified self-insurance; private workers’ compensation coverage is not permitted. ¹

What to Watch for With Workers’ Compensation in Washington

State Fund or Certified Self-Insurance
Washington does not allow private workers’ compensation coverage. Most businesses obtain a State Fund account through L&I; self-insurance is limited to employers certified by L&I. When comparing proposals, confirm the provider is arranging a compliant Washington route rather than a private policy that cannot satisfy this state’s system. ¹
A 1099 Does Not Exclude a Worker
L&I says a 1099 and contractor registration number do not decide workers’ compensation status; the worker must meet Washington’s exemption test. If a contractor fails it, you must report their hours and pay the state premium, so document each test element before excluding labor from your quarterly report. ^3,²
Owner Exclusions Depend on Structure
Sole proprietors and partners are excluded by statute. Corporate officers may qualify under an ordinary exclusion only when they satisfy its director, shareholder, substantial-control and nonmanual-work tests; a nonpublic corporation may instead exempt up to eight qualifying officer-shareholders, or any number of officers related by blood within the third degree or marriage. LLC-member treatment depends on whether management is vested in members or managers. Ask L&I to check each owner under the right entity rule and whether you want elective coverage. ^2,¹
Report Hours by Work
L&I bases State Fund premiums on industry and workers’ hours and directs employers to report hours quarterly. Give your broker or L&I the actual work performed and hours by worker so the account uses the right business classification and payroll report. ¹

Which Workers’ Compensation Providers Have Washington License Records?

These providers publish a national listing for Workers’ compensation; 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.

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. ¹¹
Corgi lists workers’ compensation insurance.
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. ¹³
ERGO NEXT offers workers’ compensation insurance for small businesses.
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. ¹²
Hiscox provides access to workers’ compensation underwritten by Hartford Fire Insurance Company and requires a general liability policy.
Risklytics
Insurance producer · checked 2026-09-28
Risklytics, Inc.
Risklytics’ licensing page lists its Massachusetts resident agency license plus state license records in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas and Washington; it identifies the NPN record date as September 10, 2026. This list is company-published and not a product availability map. ¹⁴
Risklytics arranges workers’ compensation insurance for robotics, hardware and AI 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. ¹⁵
TechInsurance arranges workers’ compensation 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. ¹⁶
Vouch lists workers’ compensation among core coverages for technology companies.

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. ^4,^5,⁶

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 ^7,⁸

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 Workers’ Compensation in Washington

Is this Washington placement through L&I’s State Fund or an L&I-certified self-insurance program?
Which of my contractors meet each Washington exemption test, and whose hours must I report?
How are LLC members or corporate officers treated under my exact management and ownership structure?
Which worker hours and business activities does L&I expect on each quarterly report?

Workers’ Compensation Insurance in Washington: FAQ

Can I buy private workers’ compensation insurance in Washington?

No. Washington requires employers to use L&I’s State Fund or qualify as a certified self-insured employer. ¹

Does a 1099 contractor need workers’ compensation in Washington?

A 1099 alone does not make a worker exempt. The worker must satisfy Washington’s exemption test; if not, the business must report the worker’s hours and pay the required premium. ³

Sources for Workers’ Compensation Insurance in Washington

1
Do I Need a Workers’ Comp Account? Washington State Department of Labor & Industries; Private workers’ compensation; Employers purchase workers’ compensation through L&I. Accessed 2026-09-28.
2
RCW 51.12.020, Employments Excluded. Washington State Legislature; Subsections (5), (8), and (13) (sole proprietors, partners, officers and LLC members). Accessed 2026-09-28.
3
Independent Contractors. Washington State Department of Labor & Industries; Personal Labor Test; Six-Part Test; Businesses with covered independent contractors. Accessed 2026-09-28.
4
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.
5
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.
6
Licensing Center. National Insurance Producer Registry; State producer licensing and lookup resources. Accessed 2026-09-28.
7
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.
8
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.
9
Licenses. At-Bay; Current producer introduction and state table; At-Bay Insurance Services LLC; P&C and surplus-lines identifiers. Accessed 2026-09-21.
10
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.
11
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.
12
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.
13
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.
14
About Risklytics. Risklytics; What we do; Who we insure; Licensing; Agency licenses table dated 2026-09-10. Accessed 2026-09-16.
15
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.
16
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 Workers’ Compensation Insurance Requirements Apply in Washington?

What Is Workers’ Compensation Insurance?

Washington Workers’ Compensation Insurance Requirements

What to Watch for With Workers’ Compensation in Washington

State Fund or Certified Self-Insurance

A 1099 Does Not Exclude a Worker

Owner Exclusions Depend on Structure

Report Hours by Work

Which Workers’ Compensation Providers Have Washington License Records?

Corgi

ERGO NEXT Insurance

Hiscox

Risklytics

TechInsurance

Vouch