What is a Certificate of Insurance (COI)?

A Certificate of Insurance (COI) is a document issued by an insurance company that verifies a vendor or subcontractor has active insurance coverage. General contractors and property managers require COIs to confirm vendors carry adequate general liability, workers compensation, and other required policies before allowing them on a job site.

How does VendorShield automate COI tracking?

VendorShield uses AI to analyze uploaded COI PDFs instantly. It extracts policy details including coverage types, limits, effective dates, and insurer information. The system automatically scores each COI for risk, flags coverage gaps against your requirements, and sends alerts before policies expire.

Can vendors upload their own COIs?

Yes. VendorShield provides each vendor with a self-serve portal link. Vendors can upload their COIs directly without needing an account. This eliminates the back-and-forth email chains that typically slow down compliance.

How much does VendorShield cost?

VendorShield starts at $499/month for the Starter plan (up to 25 vendors). The Pro plan is $799/month with unlimited vendors and custom compliance rules. Enterprise pricing is custom with multi-organization support, SSO, and dedicated support. All plans include a 14-day free trial.

What types of businesses use VendorShield?

VendorShield is built for general contractors, construction firms, property management companies, and any business that needs to track vendor insurance compliance. If you manage subcontractors or third-party vendors who must carry insurance, VendorShield automates the entire process.

All states

PARegistration-only (no exam)

Pennsylvania Contractor License & Insurance Requirements

Pennsylvania has no statewide GC license. The Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act (HICPA, 73 P.S. §517.1) requires Home Improvement Contractor REGISTRATION for any contractor doing $5,000+ of residential remodeling/repair per year. Commercial GC work is unlicensed at the state level. Trades (electrical, plumbing, HVAC) are licensed locally by city/county.

License threshold

HIC registration: $5,000+ in residential home-improvement work per year. Commercial: no state license.

WC trigger

All employers (77 P.S. §501) — first employee triggers WC.

Bond

No bond statewide. Some cities require bond at permit-puller level.

Authority

Verify license

License authority: PA Attorney General — Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Registration — license verification portal.

Workers' comp posture

Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Act applies from the first employee. Sole proprietors, LLC members, and corporate executives may elect to be excluded but must file Form LIBC-513 with the Bureau of Workers' Comp.

Common public-bid insurance minimums

These are limits commonly required on PA public-works prequalification. They are NOT a state-mandated minimum — verify against your specific procurement spec or contract.

General Liability

$1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate (typical PennDOT + state-system spec)

Workers' Comp

Statutory + $1M Employer's Liability

Auto Liability

$1M combined single limit

Pennsylvania state-specific quirks

HICPA registration is consumer-protection only — it does NOT verify the contractor's competence, just that they registered with the AG.
Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have city-level GC and trade licenses on top of HIC.
Plumbers and electricians are licensed by city/county — there is no state plumber or electrician license.
PA WC permits sole-proprietor exclusion but most GC contracts override by requiring WC anyway.
Public-works projects fall under the PA Prevailing Wage Act (43 P.S. §165) — certified payroll required.

3 pitfalls every PA GC misses

Treating HIC as a GC license

HIC registration is consumer protection only — it does not certify any skill or financial responsibility. Don't rely on HIC alone to vet a sub's competence.

Philly / Pittsburgh local license miss

Philadelphia issues its own GC and trade licenses; Pittsburgh has its own permit-puller registration. A PA HIC alone is not enough for permit-pulling in either city.

Sole-prop exclusion

A sole-prop sub may legitimately have no WC. Capture the LIBC-513 exclusion election + accident-only health coverage if you want to verify alternate protection.

Automate Pennsylvania sub vetting

VendorShield checks every COI for Pennsylvania compliance — license currency against PA Attorney General — Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Registration, WC posture, public-bid limit minimums, and 3 state-specific pitfalls flagged at intake. No more manual statute lookups.

Start free 14-day trial

Frequently asked questions

Does Pennsylvania require a state GC license?

No. PA has no statewide GC license. Home-improvement contractors doing $5,000+ in residential work per year must register with the AG (HICPA). Commercial work is unlicensed at the state level.

Is HIC the same as a contractor license?

No. HIC is a consumer-protection registration with the AG — it doesn't verify competence or financial responsibility. Don't treat it as equivalent to a GC license.

Does Pennsylvania require workers' comp from the first employee?

Yes. The PA Workers' Compensation Act applies from the first hire. Sole-prop and corporate-officer exclusions exist via Form LIBC-513.

How do I verify a Pennsylvania HIC?

Use the AG HIC search at hicsearch.attorneygeneral.gov/. For Philadelphia/Pittsburgh GC verification use the city Department of Licenses and Inspections / Permits.

Are PA plumbers and electricians licensed at the state level?

No. Trades are licensed by city/county (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allegheny, etc.). Confirm the project city's licensing requirements separately.

Other states

CACalifornia TXTexas FLFlorida NYNew York GAGeorgia ILIllinois

Reference data current as of 2026-06-04. This page is informational and is not legal advice. Always verify with the linked state authority before relying on a number for procurement, prequalification, or legal use.