Which of the following best defines the purpose of professional liability insurance for architects?

• A. It protects against errors and omissions by the architect that cause harm to others.
• B. It covers all construction costs regardless of decisions.
• C. It insures the architect against theft of intellectual property.
• D. It replaces general liability insurance in evaluating project risk.

Answer: (A)

Professional liability insurance for architects protects against claims of professional negligence—errors or omissions in the architect’s design, oversight, or other professional services that cause financial harm to clients or third parties. It covers defense costs, settlements, or judgments up to the policy limits when the firm’s professional work is alleged to have caused harm. This type of coverage is specifically about the financial impact of mistakes in the architect’s professional duties, not about construction costs, intellectual property theft, or general, non-professional liability.

That’s why it’s the best definition: it targets the financial risk directly tied to the architect’s professional services and provides a defense and remedy when those services fall short. The other options describe coverages or protections outside the scope of professional liability—construction costs are more related to construction-phase or project budgeting, IP theft relates to intellectual property protection, and general liability is a separate policy covering bodily injury or property damage from operations, not professional negligence.