How to verify an electrician's license in California

A license check takes about five minutes and is free. The only place to do it is the Contractors State License Board (CSLB). Do not rely on a website badge, a truck decal or a card. Those are all things anyone can print.

Start with the number

California law (Business and Professions Code 7030.5) says a licensed contractor must put the license number in every contract, in every bid, and in all forms of advertising. That includes websites, social posts, online listings, and vehicle lettering. So an ad with no number is a flag by itself. Ask for the number before anyone comes to the house.

Run the lookup

1. Go to the CSLB license check at cslb.ca.gov and enter the number. If you only have a name, search by business or contractor name instead. You can also call CSLB at (800) 321-2752.
2. Read the status line. It should say the license is active. CSLB points out that a number on paper does not prove the license is valid, so the status is the part that matters.
3. Compare the business name and address of record with the person at your door. A mismatch does not always mean a problem, but ask about it.

Check the class

Electrical work falls under the C-10 classification. A general building contractor (class B) is not an electrical contractor. If the C-10 line is missing, the person should not be pulling an electrical permit or wiring a panel. A company can also hold the license while a different person on the job is the one who actually qualifies it, so ask who will be on site.

Check the bond

Every licensed contractor must have a $25,000 contractor license bond on file. CSLB says plainly that the bond does not guarantee a contractor’s skill or finances, and it may not be enough if a project costs more than the bond or if several people file claims. LLC licenses also carry an additional $100,000 bond for employees or workers. The bond is a floor, not a reason to skip the other checks.

Check workers’ compensation

If a contractor has employees, state law requires workers’ compensation coverage. The CSLB license page shows either a policy or an exemption. An exemption means the contractor certified there are no employees. That is fine for a solo electrician, but then no one else should be working on your panel. Ask for a certificate of insurance if a crew shows up.

Check the person, not just the paper

Ask to see the pocket license and a photo ID. If someone is selling the job rather than doing the work, that person must be registered as a Home Improvement Salesperson, and you can ask for the registration card. CSLB also suggests getting at least three written bids on the same scope and being careful with one that is far lower than the rest. The quote guide lists what each bid should spell out.

Read the contract before you sign

For home improvement work above $500 in labor and materials, Business and Professions Code 7159 requires a written contract, and you should get a copy signed and dated by both sides before work starts. It must include:

• the contractor’s name, address and license number
• the price and a description of the work and main materials
• a down payment line, capped at the lesser of $1,000 or 10 percent of the price (Business and Professions Code 7159.5)
• a progress payment schedule in dollars, tied to work or materials, with a warning that collecting payment for unfinished work is illegal
• approximate start and completion dates
• whether subcontractors will be used
• a notice of your right to cancel: three days, or five for seniors, for contracts that were not negotiated at the contractor’s place of business
• written change orders signed before extra work begins

Statutes get amended, so confirm the current text on the California legislative site if a term looks odd.

Permits are part of the check

A licensed electrician normally pulls the permit under their own license and schedules the city inspection. If someone asks you to pull it as the homeowner, ask why. The permits guide covers how the process runs. For panel and EV circuits, the city inspector, and sometimes the utility, signs off before the meter is released.

What to do if the check fails

Do not sign, and do not hand over a deposit. Check your spelling of the number first, then call CSLB. If the license is suspended or expired, it is not a small admin issue. Move on to another bid. A fresh set of quotes also helps, and the service call cost page shows typical SoCal ranges to compare against. Once you have a valid C-10 license in hand, prepare for the visit so the bid you get is accurate.

Send a photo of your panel when you are ready to compare.