A certificate is a weak document for a claims made policy. A certificate shows the current policy period. On a claims made policy, what matters just as much is the retroactive date and whether coverage will still be in force when a claim eventually arrives, and the certificate says nothing useful about either. Who this is for: anyone collecting or supplying certificates for professional liability or cyber.
The short version
- Professional liability, cyber, and management liability are usually written claims made.
- The certificate shows the policy term, not the retroactive date that governs old work.
- A claims made policy that lapses leaves every past year uninsured, and no certificate will warn you.
- Contracts should require coverage to be maintained for two to six years after the work ends.
- Ask for the retroactive date in writing rather than trying to read it off a certificate.
Why the form falls short here
The certificate was designed around occurrence coverage, where the policy in force when something happened responds no matter when the claim shows up. Claims made coverage works the other way: the policy in force when the claim is made responds, and only for work done after the retroactive date.
| Question that matters | Does the certificate answer it? |
|---|---|
| Is a policy in force today? | Yes |
| What are the limits today? | Yes |
| What is the retroactive date? | No, unless someone types it in the description box |
| Will coverage still exist when a claim arrives in three years? | No |
| Has the policy been continuous since the work was done? | No |
| Were defence costs inside or outside the limit? | No |
What to require instead
- The retroactive date. Put it in the contract and ask for it in writing. It should predate the start of your work.
- A continuing insurance obligation. Two to six years after completion is the normal range, matched to the statute of limitations for the work.
- Notice if the policy is not renewed. If the other party will not maintain the policy, tail coverage is what preserves the protection you bargained for.
- Annual re-collection. Ask the vendor to confirm at each renewal that the retroactive date has not moved.
Sample contract language
A workable clause reads roughly like this: the vendor shall maintain professional liability insurance of not less than the stated limit, written on a claims made basis with a retroactive date on or before the commencement of services, and shall maintain such coverage, or purchase an extended reporting period, for a period of three years following completion. Have your own counsel adapt it, but that structure closes the gap a certificate leaves open.
Related reading: occurrence versus claims made and tail coverage and extended reporting periods.
What this looks like in practice
Illustrative example. It is typical of what we see and is not a promise of how any specific situation would be handled.
The setup: A company hires a consulting firm and collects a certificate showing $2M in professional liability, in force for the whole engagement.
What went wrong: The consulting firm changed carriers a year later and the new policy carried a retroactive date of the new inception, wiping out coverage for the earlier engagement.
What it cost: When a dispute surfaced two years after delivery, there was no policy that would respond, and the consulting firm had no assets worth pursuing.
The fix: Require a retroactive date on or before the start of work, plus a three year continuing insurance obligation, and re-collect certificates annually.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Does a certificate show the retroactive date?
Not by default. It can be typed into the Description of Operations box on request, and for claims made coverage that is worth asking for every time.
Q: Why does the retroactive date matter to me as a client?
Because work performed before that date is not covered. A vendor can hold a valid policy today that would not respond to a claim about work it did for you last year.
Q: How long should a vendor keep professional liability in force after the job?
Two to six years is the normal contractual range, matched to how long claims can realistically arrive. Say it explicitly in the contract, because nothing else compels it.
Q: What happens if the vendor cancels the policy after the project?
Claims arriving afterwards have no coverage, even though the work was done while insured, unless the vendor bought an extended reporting period. That is why continuing insurance obligations exist.
Q: Are cyber policies claims made too?
Usually yes, and the same questions apply. Ask about the retroactive date and about whether prior acts are covered when the vendor changes carriers.
Q: Can I require an occurrence form instead?
You can ask, but occurrence professional liability is rare and expensive. It is usually more practical to require a retroactive date and a continuing insurance obligation.
How Morrow helps with certificates of insurance
Morrow is a licensed independent commercial insurance brokerage that specializes in certificates of insurance and the endorsements behind them. Writing certificate requirements that work for claims made coverage is the kind of thing we handle every day, for clients across construction, trades, professional services, trucking, real estate, and hospitality, so we know what a compliance reviewer will reject before you send it.
- We issue certificates the same day you ask, and usually within the hour.
- We read the contract first, so the endorsements the certificate reports actually exist on your policy.
- We push back on requirements the market will not issue, and give you language your client will accept.
- We keep a record of who was issued what, so renewals go out before anyone chases you.
Get in touch and we will see how we can help. Send us the contract or the certificate request and we will tell you what your current policy can support and what needs to change. Start at morrowinsure.com or reach the team through the contact options on that page.
One more thing. This article is general information and is not legal advice or a statement of coverage. Certificates report what a policy says, and the policy wording controls in every case. Forms and requirements vary by carrier, by state, and by contract, so have a licensed advisor review your own policy and your own contract before relying on any of it.
Last updated: Reviewed by the Morrow commercial lines team. Last updated August 2026.