CNA vs Usi: Professional Liability / E&O Insurance

USI Insurance Services' AICPA program for CPA firms is itself underwritten by CNA.

Kearny Risk organizes these comparisons for firms whose advice, content or technology creates professional exposures.Research updated 2026-09-30

What Are the Key Differences Between CNA and USI Insurance Services Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance?

Broad professional classes and a CPA program

CNA names miscellaneous professional liability for consultants, staffing firms, advertising agencies and event planners, alongside technology E&O designed to support contractual requirements. USI’s cited AICPA Professional Liability Program is aimed at sole practitioners and regional CPA firms. For a CPA practice, that gives USI a defined program route; other professional businesses should ask CNA which class and form fits, since the AICPA eligibility does not extend to them. [1] [7]

Who arranges the policy and who underwrites it

For the AICPA program, USI acts as endorsed producer through USI Affinity and says CNA underwrites the policy; USI separately brokers E&O for other business types. CNA itself describes modular E&O and cyber products. The shared CNA name therefore does not make every USI placement the same product or route. Ask USI whether your firm qualifies for the endorsed CPA program and ask CNA which insurer and form would apply to any direct or non-CPA placement. [1] [7]

What Should You Confirm in CNA and USI Insurance Services Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance Quotes?

  • Does your CPA firm meet the AICPA program’s eligibility, and what CNA form and limit would be quoted? [1]
  • For a non-CPA business, which insurer and policy form would USI place? [7]

Areas of coverage

CNA

  • role: CNA describes Epack 3 as combining technology and professional liability with cyber and media in a modular policy; EPS Plus combines E&O and cyber for professional-services firms. These are separate product routes and are not evidence that technology E&O and miscellaneous E&O share identical wording.company-reportedSource ↗Source ↗
  • eligibility: CNA says its Miscellaneous Professional Liability targets non-licensed professional classes such as consultants, staffing firms, advertising agencies and event planners. The listed classes are a target list, not a complete or guaranteed eligibility rule.company-reportedSource ↗
  • coverage: CNA markets Technology E&O for technology businesses facing professional-liability exposures and says it is intended to support contractual requirements. The page is a summary and does not define covered services, contract exceptions or policy triggers.company-reportedSource ↗
  • services: CNA describes dedicated claims and risk-control support for its cyber, media, technology and professional-liability business. This portfolio-level statement does not establish a service outcome or a line-specific claims protocol.company-reportedSource ↗

USI Insurance Services

  • role: For CPA firms, USI runs the AICPA Professional Liability Program through its USI Affinity division as the endorsed producer, rather than underwriting the policy itself. USI's general Business Services practice separately brokers errors and omissions/professional liability coverage for other business types. AICPA program page and Business Services practice page.company-reportedSource ↗Source ↗
  • insurer: USI's own page states that the AICPA Professional Liability Program is "underwritten by CNA," naming the carrier for that specific program. USI's general Business Services E&O placements do not name an insurer. Direct quote from the AICPA program page; CNA underwrites only this named program, not USI's other professional-liability placements.company-reportedSource ↗
  • eligibility: USI markets the AICPA program to sole practitioners and regional CPA firms. It has offered CPA coverage since 1967 and has been the endorsed AICPA Program provider since 1994. Program page description.company-reportedSource ↗
  • coverage: USI describes the policy as insuring a CPA and their practice against third-party claims that professional services caused financial harm, providing a defense and paying damages for covered claims arising from high-risk situations tied to new clients, changing business plans, or new laws and regulations. Program page description; actual insuring agreements, exclusions and conditions are set by the issued CNA policy form.company-reportedSource ↗
  • limits: The AICPA program page does not publish limit, retention or premium figures; it says coverage plans allow a firm to tailor coverage to its risk profile. Page as read on 2026-09-23.not-disclosedSource ↗
  • services: USI says firms enrolled in the program get supportive claims handling and exclusive access to risk-management resources, including engagement-letter templates, in addition to the coverage itself. Program page description.company-reportedSource ↗
  • application: USI directs CPA firms seeking a quote or renewal to contact USI Affinity, with a dedicated Affinity_APL@usi.com address for the AICPA program specifically. Contact instructions on the AICPA program page.company-reportedSource ↗

CNA describes E&O combinations for technology and professional services; USI operates the AICPA CPA liability program as endorsed producer, with CNA underwriting that program.

Sources reviewed

  1. 01
    Cyber Insurance - Cyber Risk Solutions

    CNA · Current U.S. page: Epack 3 combines cyber, media, technology and professional liability; MPL appetite, media support, technology E&O, claims and risk-control descriptions. Retrieved 2026-09-30. · accessed 2026-09-30

  2. 02
    Epack 3 – Cyber, Media, Technology & Professional Liability

    CNA · Official sell sheet: modular bundled policy, media coverages and possible extensions, technology/professional line descriptions and quote process for small risks. Marketing summary expressly defers to issued policy. Retrieved 2026-09-30. · accessed 2026-09-30

  3. 03
    Professional Liability – US Direct Errors and Omissions Insurance

    Hiscox Inc. specimen · About this Policy / Coverage for Claims Made Against You; I.A Insuring Agreement; I.B Defense; I.C Settlement; II.A Notice of Claims; II.C Optional Extended Reporting Period; III.A, III.K, III.M, III.R, III.S Exclusions; IV.A–B Limits and Deductible; VI.O Professional Services; VI.U Wrongful Act · accessed 2026-09-16

  4. 04
    Professional liability insurance

    Insurance Information Institute · Opening paragraphs (professional services/advice and E&O name); Claims not covered by general liability; What types of businesses need professional liability insurance?; What’s covered… and what’s not (claims-made versus occurrence, defense and judgments, non-financial/intentional limits, BOP/in-home exclusion) · accessed 2026-09-16

  5. 05
    FAQ: Professional liability insurance

    Texas Department of Insurance · What’s professional liability coverage?; What types of damages…; What’s general liability insurance?; Do I need professional liability… if I have general liability…?; Is professional liability insurance required?; Can a client require…?; What’s the difference between occurrence policies and claims-made policies · accessed 2026-09-16

  6. 06
    Get business insurance

    U.S. Small Business Administration · Six common types of business insurance table · accessed 2026-09-16

  7. 07
    Accountants Professional Liability — USI Affinity

    USI Insurance Services · Quality Professional Liability Insurance Exclusively for CPA Firms; "The AICPA Professional Liability Program, underwritten by CNA, has been offering coverage to CPAs since 1967 and has been the endorsed provider of the AICPA Program since 1994."; supportive claims handling and exclusive access to extensive risk management resources, including engagement letter templates; Email Affinity_APL@usi.com · accessed 2026-09-23

  8. 08
    Business Services

    USI Insurance Services · USI advises clients...and provides solutions for...Errors & Omissions/Professional Liability... · accessed 2026-09-23

  9. 09
    USI Specialty Program Solutions

    USI Insurance Services · USI Affinity delivers high-quality insurance and financial solutions to members of affinity organizations and targeted industry segments...for professional associations, law firms, alumni and collegiate organizations, travel groups, and insurance administrators. · accessed 2026-09-23

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