How do I know if an electrician is licensed in California?

In California, anyone doing electrical work worth more than $500 in labor and materials must hold a C-10 electrical contractor license issued by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) — either as the business owner or as a qualifying employee named on the license.

You can verify any contractor's license for free at the CSLB's website by searching their business name or license number. A legitimate, active license shows the license status, bond information, and any disciplinary history. If a search turns up nothing, or the license shows 'expired' or 'revoked,' treat that as a hard stop.

Beyond the license itself, ask whether the electrician carries general liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage — a valid C-10 license doesn't automatically mean either is current, and both matter if something goes wrong on the job.

A quick way to sanity-check a business before you even call: look for a badge like Verified by Vera Home on their directory listing. That badge only appears after a business has been confirmed to meet a minimum review and consistency bar — it doesn't replace checking the CSLB yourself, but it's a useful first filter.