$1M Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance for Tutors

For tutors asked for proof of coverage by a school or platform: $1M Professional Liability (E&O) pays claims that your teaching or advice caused a client a financial loss, up to $1M per claim.

What does a $1M requirement mean for tutors?

Professional Liability (E&O, short for Errors and Omissions) covers claims that your teaching or advice caused a client a financial loss. A typical clause:

• Per claim: the most the policy pays for any one claim. Here, $1M.
• Aggregate: the most the policy pays for all claims in one policy year. Here, $2M. A $1M/$1M policy does not meet this clause. A $1M/$2M policy does.
• Claims-made: the policy covers claims made while it is active, for work done on or after the retroactive date (the earliest date of work the policy covers). See claims-made vs occurrence.
• Two years after: keep renewing, or buy tail coverage (extra time to report claims).

Refunds of fees and guarantees of results are often excluded, so a parent's refund demand is not always a covered claim.

Who asks tutors for $1M?

Tutors often see a $1M requirement from:

• Public school districts hiring outside tutors for intervention, credit recovery or after-school programs.
• Charter and private schools with standard vendor contracts.
• Universities and community colleges buying tutoring or test prep for their students.
• Tutoring companies and online platforms that hire tutors as independent contractors.
• Government training programs and nonprofits.
• Large corporate clients offering tutoring as an employee benefit. Bigger contracts may ask for $2M.

How is $1M built?

At $1M, the limit is usually one primary policy (the policy that pays first), with nothing stacked above it. Tutors usually buy Miscellaneous Professional Liability, a form made for service businesses that do not have their own policy type. If you work with minors, many school contracts also ask for abuse and molestation coverage. Miscellaneous E&O often excludes it. It may be added by an extension, sit on General Liability, or be a standalone policy, so check whether the clause names it.

A commercial umbrella (extra liability coverage stacked on other policies) almost never covers Professional Liability, so it usually will not raise this limit.

What will underwriters ask for?

An underwriter is the person at the insurer who decides whether to offer coverage and on what terms. For a tutor, they usually ask about:

• Your services and the share of revenue from each: subject tutoring, test prep, special education or admissions help.
• The ages of your students, and whether sessions are in homes, schools, your office or online.
• Background checks, training and supervision, and rules for one-on-one time with minors.
• Whether you promise score gains or admissions results.
• Revenue, number of tutors, prior claims, and your current policy.

What affects the cost?

• Type of tutoring. Special education support and admissions help may be rated as higher risk than homework help.
• Students served. Work with minors can add cost.
• Revenue and staff. More tutors and bigger contracts mean more possible claims.
• Claims history. Past claims or complaints can raise the price or narrow options.
• Aggregate, retention and defense terms. $1M/$2M usually costs more than $1M/$1M. A higher retention (what you pay per claim before the policy pays, like a deductible) usually lowers the premium. Defense outside the limit often adds cost.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of claim could a tutor face with $1M Professional Liability?

A tutor could face claims about promised results or missed learning-plan steps. Some hypothetical cases: a parent says a tutor promised a test score gain and wants a refund. A district says a tutor did not follow a student's learning plan, and the student fell behind. Coverage for each depends on the policy wording.

Does my General Liability policy cover claims about my tutoring?

Usually not. General Liability covers bodily injury and property damage, like a student who trips in your office. Claims about your teaching belong on Professional Liability. See Professional vs General Liability.

Is $1M/$1M enough if my school contract asks for $1M/$2M?

No. A $1M/$1M policy does not meet a $1M/$2M clause. Request new quotes for a $1M/$2M policy. Morrow can request them and ask carriers to keep your retroactive date and prior acts coverage (cover for past work done before the new policy starts) where the market allows. Keep your current policy until the new one starts, and report any possible claim to your current carrier first.

Can the school be named as an additional insured on my tutor policy?

Usually not. Additional insured status (a named party with rights under your policy) is less common on Professional Liability than on General Liability. Where it is available at all, it is usually limited and depends on underwriting. Many schools accept a certificate of insurance (a one-page summary of your coverage, limits and dates) instead, so check what your contract requires. See certificates of insurance for Professional Liability.

This article is general information, not legal advice or a coverage determination. Coverage depends on the actual policy wording, carrier underwriting and your contract terms.