How to become an insurance underwriter
Official title: Insurance underwriters
Also called: Life underwriter, Group underwriter, Property underwriter, Insurance underwriter, Liability underwriter, Underwriter - insurance, Insurance rating analyst, Personal lines underwriter, Farm underwriter - insurance, Fire underwriter - insurance, Group underwriter - insurance, Junior underwriter - insurance
Insurance underwriters review and evaluate insurance applications to determine insurance risks, insurance premiums and extent of insurance coverage according to company policies. They are employed at head and branch offices of insurance companies.
Main tasks
- Review individual and group applications for automobile, fire, health, liability, life, property, marine, aircraft and other insurance
- Evaluate new and renewal applications to determine insurance risks, insurance premiums, extent of insurance coverage and other conditions of the insurance contract using medical reports, rate tables and other documents and reference materials; adjust premiums, coverage or risk itself to make acceptance of new and renewal applications possible
- Approve sale of insurance policies and ensure compliance with government regulations
- Provide recommendations on individual or group insurance plan designs
- Provide underwriting advice and answer inquiries from clients and from insurance agents, consultants and other company personnel
- Prepare underwriting reports and update insurance forms when necessary
How to become one
Completion of secondary school and some general insurance experience or A bachelor's degree, college diploma or some post-secondary education is required. Several years of on-the-job training and completion of insurance industry underwriting courses and training programs are required.
Ways in
- University: Business & Commerce degrees, Offered by 17 universities in Canada
- College or CEGEP: College or CEGEP program. 33% of workers hold a college or other non-degree diploma (Census 2021). Common fields: Insurance; Business/commerce, general; Business administration, management and operations.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $67,509 a year The middle half earn $57,993 to $80,009.
- About 28,100 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 32,800 are projected by 2033. (+16.7%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: balance.
Related jobs
- Accounting technicians and bookkeepers
- Insurance adjusters and claims examiners
- Assessors, business valuators and appraisers
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Questions people ask
How do I become an insurance underwriter?
Completion of secondary school and some general insurance experience or A bachelor's degree, college diploma or some post-secondary education is required. Several years of on-the-job training and completion of insurance industry underwriting courses and training programs are required.
How much does an insurance underwriter earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $67,509 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $57,993 to $80,009.
Is an insurance underwriter a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 17% by 2033, from about 28,100 to about 32,800 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become an insurance underwriter?
Not always. 46% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Business & Commerce degrees; College or CEGEP program.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03