This is my thoughts on the subject of E&O insurance and certification.  I think you should have it when you own a business - the only reason I did not have it before is because I didn't know where to get it - and kept putting off where to find it even though I asked several people for leads.  As far as certification, I received one as a paralegal in 1994 - but I would not need insurance unless I went into business for myself.  I think requiring E&O insurance would prevent some abstractors that are employed and want to continue to be employed but want to obtain a certification that would allow a potential new employer some guarantee of their skills be denied the chance to do so.  I think certification as to abilities and E&O insurance are two different things and should remain separate - now if there is a different purpose to this certification/insurance and SOT that would be different - so I guess what I am saying is what is the purpose - to guarantee that a person has skills or has insurance or is it to say that when you see SOT you can guarantee that this person has skills and insurance and then what happens after the SOT certification - who will keep up with if they have insurance from that point on if they receive the designation.  You see I think if you guarantee this, I think you will remain with some liability to this requirement.