Covered at Last: Florida Adds Board Certification in Insurance Coverage Law

October 9, 2026

On October 8, 2026, the Supreme Court of Florida did something insurance lawyers on both sides of the “v.” have wanted for years: it carved out a dedicated specialty for them. Effective January 1, 2027, insurance coverage lawyers will have a new credential available.

The new rules are compact but complete: 6-32.1 sets the purpose, 6-32.2 defines the key terms, 6-32.3 lays out the minimum standards for certification, and 6-32.4 governs recertification. The court largely adopted the Florida Bar Association’s proposal, with minor modifications, including moving consideration of an insurance-related LL.M. degree into the practical-experience requirements.

What counts as “Insurance Coverage Law”?

“Insurance Coverage Law” covers the disputes among insurers, policyholders, and beneficiaries over rights and responsibilities arising out of policies—expressly including extra-contractual claims.

The court was careful to keep the specialty bipartisan. The governing certification committee must have at least nine members, including a minimum of two who represent policyholders and two who represent insurers, and all committee members must be board-certified in the field.

Requirements for becoming board-certified

To earn the credential, an applicant must clear a familiar set of hurdles:

Five years in practice immediately before applying;

Substantial involvement—at least 40% of practice devoted to insurance coverage law over those five years;

Practical experience—a showing of 30 substantive tasks, from drafting policy provisions and coverage opinion letters to representing policyholders or insurers at trial, on appeal, or in arbitration and mediation;

Peer review—five lawyer or judge references (no relatives, partners, or associates);

50 hours of approved insurance-law CLE over five years; and

A uniform written examination.

The grandparent window

Seasoned coverage lawyers get a break. An applicant with at least 20 years of substantial involvement who meets the practical-experience, peer-review, and education standards can skip the exam entirely—but only if they apply within the first two filing periods after the rules take effect. If you’ve spent two decades in coverage work, the clock to claim that exemption starts in 2027.

Staying certified

Certification is not forever. Every five years, lawyers must recertify by showing continued 40% involvement, 20 substantive tasks, three peer references, and a heftier 75 hours of CLE.

The takeaway

Come January 1, 2027, “insurance coverage law” joins the roster of Florida legal specialties. For practitioners, it’s a chance to formalize a reputation clients already rely on; for policyholders and carriers alike, it’s a new signal of vetted expertise in a notoriously technical field. And for the veterans, the message is simple: the exam-free window is open, but it won’t stay open long.

To read the opinion, click here.

For any further questions, please contact Mihaela Cabulea.