Class code 8868: School and college professional employees

Class code 8868 is the workers' compensation classification for the professional and clerical employees of colleges, schools, and trade or vocational institutions — teachers, professors, administrators, and similar staff.

What 8868 covers

  • Professors, teachers, administrators, and clerical staff of academic, trade, and vocational institutions.
  • In New York's description, guidance counselors, social workers, therapists, nurses, and athletic coaches.
  • In North Carolina's description, professional employees of seminaries, military schools, correspondence schools, and driver training schools.

What doesn't belong in 8868

  • Maintenance, custodial, food service, and other non-professional school employees, which are classified separately.
  • Child day care centers and preschools, which have their own classifications.

Official titles by state

Each rating bureau publishes its own definition. Titles below are quoted exactly as the bureau publishes them; follow the link for the full official description.

StateOfficial title for 8868Source
North CarolinaCOLLEGE: PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES & CLERICALNorth Carolina bureau lookup
MassachusettsCOLLEGE PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES & CLERICALMassachusetts bureau: 8868
New YorkSchool or College – Professional Employees & ClericalNew York bureau: 8868
How states differ

North Carolina's description also extends 8868 to professional employees of religious organizations, such as clergy and their assistants. Scope details like this vary by state.

Codes 8868 is often confused with

What a premium audit looks at

  • Staff rosters split between professional and non-professional roles.
  • Payroll for maintenance, cafeteria, and transportation staff, which is classified separately.

Frequently asked questions

Are school custodians classified as 8868?

No. 8868 covers professional and clerical employees. Custodial, maintenance, and other non-professional school staff are classified separately.

Does 8868 apply to day care centers?

Generally no. Child day care centers and preschools have their own classifications.

Check the official manuals

Related terms

General information, not a classification ruling. Summaries on this page are written in plain English from the bureaus' published descriptions; the classification manual for the state where the work was performed governs, and the carrier and rating bureau determine the classification for any policy.

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