How to Check a Virginia Electrician’s License Before You Hire

Before you let anyone work on your home’s electrical system, take two minutes to check their license. In Virginia it’s free, it’s online, and it protects you from the most common problems homeowners run into: unlicensed work, no permits, and no recourse when something goes wrong.

Who Licenses Electricians in Virginia

The Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), through its Board for Contractors, licenses both:

• Contracting businesses, as Class A, B or C contractors. The class sets the size of the jobs the business may take on, and the license must carry an electrical specialty (often shown as ELE) for electrical work.
• Individual electricians, as tradesmen: journeyman and master electricians.

Electrical work for hire has to be performed by a licensed contractor and done or supervised by licensed electricians.

How to Check a License

1. Go to DPOR’s License Lookup on the DPOR website.
2. Search by the business name, the individual’s name or the license number. A licensed contractor should give you their number readily; it’s often on their website, estimates and vehicles.
3. Check that the license is current, that the name matches the company you’re dealing with (including any trade name), and that it carries the electrical specialty.
4. Check the class fits the size of your job.
5. Look for any disciplinary actions shown on the record.

Other Things to Ask

• Insurance: ask for a certificate showing general liability and, if they have employees, workers’ compensation.
• Permits: a contractor who suggests skipping the permit “to save money” is putting your insurance and resale at risk. See electrical permits in Virginia.
• A written estimate and contract describing the work, the price and the payment terms.
• Reviews and references from local customers.
• Who will be in your home, and whether the company background-checks its technicians.

Why It Matters

Hiring a licensed contractor gives you more than skill. Virginia’s Contractor Transaction Recovery Fund, administered by DPOR, can help homeowners who suffer certain losses from a licensed contractor’s improper or dishonest conduct, under the fund’s rules. Work by an unlicensed person isn’t covered. Unlicensed electrical work also tends to skip permits and inspections, and can complicate insurance claims and home sales.

Red Flags

• No license number, or one that doesn’t match the business name
• Pressure to decide on the spot, or a large cash payment up front
• “We don’t need a permit for that” on work that clearly involves new circuits or panel work
• Door-to-door offers after a storm from crews you’ve never heard of

Looking for a licensed electrician? Progress and Heritage Electric is a Virginia licensed electrical contractor. Book a visit on our booking page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I look up an electrician’s license in Virginia?

Use DPOR’s License Lookup online and search by name or license number.

What do Class A, B and C mean?

They’re contractor license classes that limit the size of the jobs a business may perform. All three can do electrical work if the license carries the electrical specialty.

Is a handyman allowed to do electrical work in Virginia?

Electrical work for hire requires a licensed contractor with the electrical specialty, performed or supervised by licensed electricians.

What is the Contractor Transaction Recovery Fund?

A DPOR fund that can compensate homeowners for certain losses caused by a licensed contractor’s improper conduct, under its rules. It doesn’t cover unlicensed contractors.

Licensed, Insured and Background-Checked

Progress and Heritage Electric is a Virginia licensed electrical contractor serving Lynchburg, Roanoke, Danville, Martinsville and the surrounding counties. See what to expect when we visit.