# How electrician licensing works by state

Check the business licence, trade credential and permit authority before you accept a quote.

Updated 2026-11-10. Also on the [web page](https://electricianpros.fyi/guides/electrician-licensing-by-state).

Start with the name of the business that will sign your contract. Ask for its licence number and issuing agency. Search the agency's own record. Save the result with the date you checked it. A matching business name matters as much as a matching number.

## California

California's Contractors State License Board describes the C-10 classification as Electrical Contractor. Its scope includes electrical wires, fixtures, appliances, raceways and conduits. See the CSLB classification page below, checked 2026-11-10. Use CSLB's licence check from its consumer page. Do not treat a directory category as evidence that the business holds that classification.

## Texas

Texas TDLR lists Electrical Contractor under business licences. It lists Master Electrician and Journeyman Electrician under individual licences. These are separate records on the TDLR page, checked 2026-11-10. Ask who holds the business licence and who will supervise the job. Use the Search Licenses link on the official page.

## Washington

Washington L&I's permit guide says the contractor must purchase its own permits for work it does on your property. Some cities and Tacoma Power issue their own permits. L&I handles the other locations described on its page. This is Washington guidance checked 2026-11-10, not a rule for other states. Confirm which office covers your job address before work starts.

## Ontario

Ontario ESA says a person hired for electrical work in a home must be a Licensed Electrical Contractor. It also says that the contractor files the notification and requests inspection. See ESA's guidance, checked 2026-11-10. Ask for the contractor licence, rather than relying only on a worker's trade title.

## Elsewhere

This is a selected jurisdiction guide, not a complete state or provincial law table. Start at your state board, provincial electrical safety authority or local building office. Ask which business and worker credentials apply to your exact scope. Do not assume a licence transfers across a border.

Before signing, record the legal business name, licence class, current status, agency link and contact details. Ask the agency about any condition you do not understand. A trade association membership and a paid directory badge do not replace this check.

## Sources

All sources below were fetched and checked on 2026-11-10. This is the check date, not a claim that each page was published that day.

- [California CSLB, C-10 Electrical Contractor](https://www.cslb.ca.gov/About_Us/Library/Licensing_Classifications/Licensing_Classifications_Detail.aspx?Class=C10). Checked 2026-11-10.
- [California CSLB, Hire a Licensed Contractor](https://www.cslb.ca.gov/Consumers/Hire_A_Contractor/). Checked 2026-11-10.
- [Texas TDLR, Electricians](https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/). Checked 2026-11-10.
- [Washington L&I, Electrical Permits, Fees & Inspections](https://www.lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/electrical/electrical-permits-fees-and-inspections/). Checked 2026-11-10.
- [Ontario ESA, Notifications and Inspections](https://esasafe.com/compliance/what-you-need-to-know/). Checked 2026-11-10.

## Questions

### Is a master electrician credential a business licence?

Check each record separately. Texas TDLR lists individual and business licences separately.

### Does the directory verify a licence for my job?

No. Ask the issuing agency to confirm the licence status and scope for your address.