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Insurance underwriter

Alternative titles for this job include

Insurance underwriters assess applications, decide whether to insure a person or company, and set out the details of policies.

Average salary (a year)

£27,000 Starter

to

£65,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

37 to 40

You could work

between 8am and 6pm

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role

University

You can take a degree before applying for a place on an insurance company's graduate training scheme. 

Useful subjects include:

  • business studies
  • finance
  • economics
  • maths
  • law

It can help to get some relevant work experience whilst you're studying, for example through an internship or placement.

Your university careers service will be able to help you with this.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

More Information

College

You could do a college course, which would teach you some of the skills and knowledge needed to get a trainee position with an insurance company.

Courses include:

  • providing financial services
  • T Level in Finance

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

More Information

Apprenticeship

You can apply to do an apprenticeship with an insurance company, such as:

  • Insurance Practitioner Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
  • Insurance Professional Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
  • Senior Insurance Professional Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship

These take between 1 and 3 years to complete and combine workplace training and study.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

More Information

Work

You may be able to join an underwriting team as an assistant and work your way up through training and promotion.

Employers will usually look for a minimum of GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), including English and maths, 1 or 2 A levels, and good IT skills, especially in using spreadsheets.

Once working, you could take qualifications offered by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), such as:

  • Certificate in Insurance
  • Diploma in Insurance
  • Advanced Diploma in Insurance

More Information

Career tips

As you gain experience, you may begin to specialise in certain types of insurance, for example:

  • property
  • healthcare
  • business liability
  • cyber

Professional and industry bodies

You can join the Chartered Insurance Institute for professional development opportunities and to build up your contacts in the industry.

Further information

You can find out more about careers in insurance from the Chartered Insurance Institute.

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • analytical thinking skills
  • customer service skills
  • the ability to work well with others
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • maths knowledge
  • the ability to use your judgement and make decisions
  • administration skills
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

As an insurance underwriter, you could:

  • inspect insurance applications
  • gather background information, like medical histories and credit ratings
  • analyse statistics and data from actuaries and other sources
  • request specialist assessments from experts, such as risk surveyors
  • work out the likelihood of an insurance payout
  • calculate the price of insurance premiums
  • judge whether to share the risk with another insurer
  • prepare quotes and negotiate terms with brokers or clients
  • draft policy wording, including terms and conditions
  • maintain accurate records of decisions made

Working environment

You could work in an office.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could deal with more complex policies and risks, as a senior underwriter.

You could also move into related jobs in risk management, loss adjustment and senior account management.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Claims Handler Apprentice (RPC)

  • Wage: Competitive Annually
  • Location: Counterslip, Bristol

Insurance Apprentice Level 3

  • Wage: £19,500 a year Annually
  • Location: Springfield Road, Horsham, West Sussex

Courses In England

T Level in Finance

  • Provider: GATESHEAD COLLEGE
  • Start date: 07 September 2026
  • Location: GATESHEAD

T Level in Finance

  • Provider: NEW COLLEGE SWINDON
  • Start date: 07 September 2026
  • Location: Swindon

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