Q: How important is a license? What risks do unlicensed electricians pose?
A: An electrical license is something we earn, not handed to us. Unlicensed electricians do not have the skills, education, and experience to be granted one. Not only do they hurt the economy and honest licensed electricians, they also compromise the safety of customers.

Q: Are unlicensed electricians insured?
A: Typically, most of them do not carry insurance. If something goes wrong, you will be accountable for someone else’s mistake—even if they weren’t qualified in the first place. Apart from paying them for the work, your insurance carrier will also have to fight the injury claim they could place on your homeowner’s insurance, thus compromising your premium.

Q: Why do unlicensed electricians have significantly lower rates?
A: It’s tempting to hire someone whose price is $1,000 cheaper than others. Most of the time, it’s too good to be true. Unlicensed electricians can quote half of the standard rate because they aren’t pulling permits and/or don’t have general liability and workers’ compensation insurance.

Q: How can I find out if my electrician is licensed?
A: One way is to look them up on www.tdlr.state.tx.us using their license number to make sure they are licensed within TX. You can also ask for a copy of their current Certificate of Insurance. This will show what they hold for insurance, effective dates of the policy, and the amount of coverage they have.