There was an error. Please try again.
This page is already listed in your guide. Please choose a different page to add.
Personal Lines Underwriter, Commercial Insurance Underwriter, Technical Underwriting Assistant, Underwriter, Underwriter Trainee
In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.
The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used.
Here is how this occupation has been classified over time.
2006 NOC
2006 NOC-S
2011 NOC
2016 NOC
2021 NOC
2023 OaSIS
When individuals and organizations apply for insurance policies, insurance agents and brokers present the applications to underwriters who work for the insurance company. Insurance underwriters then:
Underwriters work within corporate policies, principles, and rules for taking acceptable risks. If they decide a risk is not acceptable, they may:
If the policy needs to be changed after it is in place, underwriters determine whether to accept the proposed changes. They also review the risk at renewal to ensure it remains acceptable. Depending on the company and product line, they may check policies issued by others. In this case, they try to ensure the policies follow guidelines, fit the risks being covered, and charge correct rates.
Insurance underwriters spend much of their time on the phone with, writing letters to, or exchanging emails with insurance agents and brokers, people in other departments of their company (such as claims and legal departments), and others.
Insurance underwriters most often work in an office setting but may travel within a specified territory. Because brokers often press for quick answers, an underwriter’s job can be stressful. Insurance companies use computers a lot to speed up decision making and reduce paper flow.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2023 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
To find out how well this occupation fits your work personality types, complete the Work Personalities Quiz in Find Your Fit.
Click or tap a personality type for its description.
Find other alis occupations that match this occupation’s work personalities.
To identify or change your work personalities, complete the Work Personalities Quiz in Find Your Fit.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2023 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Insurance underwriters
2023 OaSIS: 12202.00
The graph below shows how well your scores match the overall abilities for this occupation.
The closer your ability scores are to the center, the more they match this occupation’s. The further away they are, the less they match this occupation’s.
The lower your ability scores are compared to the occupation’s, the more challenging the occupation will likely be for you. The higher your ability scores are compared to the occupation’s, the less challenging the occupation will likely be for you.
To find out how well this occupation fits your abilities, complete the Abilities Quiz in Find Your Fit.
The 49 abilities are grouped into 5 abilities sets: Critical Thinking, Numbers and Patterns, Physical Activity, Mind-Body Coordination, and Senses.
Some abilities are more relevant to an occupation than other abilities. Individual abilities that are not relevant to an occupation are greyed out.
To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Quiz in Find Your Fit.
Critical Thinking includes 9 abilities related to identifying and solving problems, thinking of ideas, and communication, such as speaking and writing.
This is how well your scores match the set of Critical Thinking abilities for this occupation:
Numbers and Patterns includes 10 abilities related to math, memorizing, and multitasking. It also includes how we perceive patterns, shapes, and distances.
This is how well your scores match the set of Numbers and Patterns abilities for this occupation:
Physical Activity includes 9 abilities related to strength, balance, flexibility, coordination, and endurance.
This is how well your scores match the set of Physical Activity abilities for this occupation:
Mind-Body Coordination includes 9 abilities related to movement control and how we react to signals. It also includes fine motor skills, such finger and hand dexterity and hand-eye coordination.
This is how well your scores match the set of Mind-Body Coordination abilities for this occupation:
Senses includes 12 abilities related to seeing, hearing, and speaking.
This is how well your scores match the set of Senses abilities for this occupation:
Insurance underwriters need:
They should enjoy coordinating information and taking a methodical approach to their work. They should also like working with people and making decisions.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 28 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Dec 02, 2021 and Dec 10, 2025.
Review these skills to learn:
| Tasks: Evaluate new and renewal applications to determine insurance risks, insurance premiums, extent of coverage and other conditions | 23 |
|---|---|
| Tasks: Provide underwriting advice | 23 |
| Tasks: Prepare underwriting reports | 23 |
| Attention to detail | 22 |
| Tasks: Review individual and group applications for insurance | 22 |
| Tasks: Ensure compliance with government regulations | 22 |
| Insurance Experience: Business risk insurance | 21 |
| Insurance Experience: Property insurance | 21 |
| Insurance Experience: Liability insurance | 21 |
| Insurance Experience: Automobile insurance | 20 |
Most insurance companies prefer to hire underwriting trainees with some post-secondary education. It takes most underwriters 2 to 5 years to become fully qualified. They do this by taking related courses and slowly taking on more responsibility. They must be able to analyze reports from other departments (such as claims or accounting departments). They also need to keep up to date with current affairs and changes that affect their work.
Before enrolling in an education program, prospective underwriters should discuss their training options with potential employers.
The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.
To expand or narrow your program options, visit Post-Secondary Programs and start your search with:
Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.
Certification is not required, as there is currently no legislation regulating this occupation. However, most general insurance companies encourage their underwriters to take a program of study offered by the Insurance Institute of Canada (IIC). The program leads to the designation Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP). Courses are offered in class, virtually and through distance education through the IIC local chapter or at designated post-secondary schools. The IIC also offers the Advanced CIP and Fellow Chartered Insurance Professional (FCIP) designations.
Education and certification programs for life insurance underwriters are offered by LOMA and Advocis.
Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Underwriters in the field of general insurance tend to work in regional offices of insurance companies, often in large cities. Life insurance underwriters most often work in company head offices.
With experience, underwriters begin assessing more complex risks such as commercial or farm properties or auto fleets. This includes quoting premiums on risks—that is, determining prices and conditions to offer for proposed policies.
After earning a designation as a Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP), a general insurance underwriter may move into more advanced areas. This can include more technical areas such as underwriting and management. Or they may move into other departments such as marketing.
Some underwriters become independent insurance agents. Others enter the fields of reinsurance or brokering. All insurance agents and independent adjusters must be licensed (to learn more, see the Insurance Adjuster and Insurance Agent / Broker occupational profiles).
This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Insurance underwriters
2016 NOC: 1313
100.0% of people in this occupational group work in:
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.
This section shows the Alberta job market condition, or short-term demand forecast, for this occupation over a 3-year period. It also shows the number of people employed in the occupation.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Source: 2024-2026 Alberta Short-Term Employment Forecast
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.
To see data for all occupations, visit Occupations in Demand.
This section shows the employment outlook for this occupation in Alberta over a 5-year period.
Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Annual growth is from 2021 to 2025. New positions created each year are in addition to job openings created by employment turnover.
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
Incomes in this occupation vary considerably. No current salary data is available.
Advocis, The Financial Advisors Association of Canada website: myadvocis.ca
Alberta Insurance Council (AIC) website: www.abcouncil.ab.ca
Canadian Securities Institute website: www.csi.ca
Insurance Institute of Canada (IIC) website: www.insuranceinstitute.ca
IIC, Career Connections website: www.career-connections.info
LOMA website: loma.org
Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.
Updated Mar 31, 2022. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.
