1. Get the exact license number + legal business name
Ask the contractor for their license number and the legal name it's held under. A real, confident contractor gives this without hesitation — it's printed on their truck, estimates, and contract. No number, or a runaround, is the first red flag.
2. Look it up on your state's official board — not a third-party site
Every state has an official licensing agency with a free public lookup. Use the board directly (see the list below) so you're reading the source of truth, not a stale aggregator. ProFix links the official board lookup on every pro's profile and evidence page.
3. Confirm the status is ACTIVE
The lookup shows a status: active, expired, suspended, or revoked. Only 'active' (or 'current') means they're licensed today. An expired or revoked license is a hard stop — and a contractor who lets it lapse is telling you something.
4. Check the classification matches your job
Licenses are scoped: a plumbing license doesn't cover a roof. Confirm the classification on the license actually covers the work you're hiring for, and that the name on the license matches the name on your contract.
5. Check bond, insurance, and complaint history where shown
Many boards also show bond amount, workers' compensation, and complaint or disciplinary history. A bond and active workers' comp protect you; an open complaint or disciplinary action is worth a direct conversation before you sign.
Going deeper on each signal: how to verify a contractor's insurance yourself (the COI, limits, and whether the policy is active), and how ProFix handles board disciplinary records — exact license-number matching only, with the board always the system of record.
How every state licenses contractors
The official starting point for all 50 states + DC. Some license contractors statewide; others license only specific trades (electrical, plumbing, HVAC) and leave general contracting to your city or county; a few have no statewide license at all. Each is labeled honestly below — always confirm the status reads active at the source.
15 of 51 jurisdictions don't license general contractors statewide. Read the full breakdown →
Commercial/general contractors via the GC Board; residential home builders (work over $10,000) via the separate Home Builders Licensure Board. Check the GC roster, and the HBLB lookup for residential work.
How to verify in Alabama →Construction Contractor registration (general, residential, specialty, mechanical) on top of a business license — a registration with bond/insurance. Professional License Search shows number, status, and classification.
How to verify in Alaska →Residential and commercial contractors. Lookup shows status, bond, and complaint history.
How to verify in Arizona →Commercial contractors (projects $50,000+) and, via the Residential committee, residential builders (over $2,000). 'Find A Licensed Contractor' shows status, classification, and category.
How to verify in Arkansas →All construction trades (~45 classifications). Lookup shows status, bond, and complaint disclosure.
How to verify in California →Colorado has no statewide general-contractor license — GC, roofing, and HVAC are licensed by each city/county. The state (DORA) licenses only electricians and plumbers; verify a GC with your local building department.
How to verify in Colorado →Registers Home Improvement Contractors and New Home Construction Contractors statewide (residential work over $200) — a consumer-protection registration, not a competency license. Verify on the state eLicense portal.
How to verify in Connecticut →Delaware has no statewide contractor competency license. Contractors need a state business license (Division of Revenue) and must register with the Dept. of Labor; some towns add local licenses. Verify the business license via the Division of Revenue search.
How to verify in Delaware →Contractors need a Basic Business License with the right construction endorsement (General Contractor Class A/B, Home Improvement Contractor, or specialty) — a registration with bonding/insurance. Verify on the DLCP business lookup.
How to verify in District of Columbia →Construction, electrical, and many home-service trades. Search by name, license, or location.
How to verify in Florida →Residential and general contractors (jobs over $2,500). Electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and low-voltage trades are licensed by separate state boards.
How to verify in Georgia →Contractors (the 'CT' license) and trade specialties. Lookup shows status, classification, and standing.
How to verify in Hawaii →Idaho requires contractor registration for construction work over $2,000 — a registration, not a competency exam. Verify on DOPL's search; electrical, plumbing, and HVAC are licensed separately.
How to verify in Idaho →Illinois has no statewide general-contractor license — GC is local (e.g. Chicago). The state licenses roofing contractors (IDFPR) and plumbers (IDPH). Verify a roofer on IDFPR's 'Check a License'; verify a GC with your city/county.
How to verify in Illinois →Indiana licenses plumbers statewide through the PLA; general contracting, HVAC, and electrical are licensed locally (city/county). Verify a plumber on the state lookup; verify a GC with your local building department.
How to verify in Indiana →Iowa requires every construction contractor earning $2,000+/yr to register with DIAL — a registration tied to workers'-comp/UI compliance, not a competency license. Verify on DIAL's public contractor search.
How to verify in Iowa →Kansas has no statewide contractor license — even trades are licensed locally (city/county), so requirements vary widely. Verify with the building department where the work is done; the Kansas Business Center lists local contacts.
How to verify in Kansas →Kentucky has no statewide general-contractor license — GCs are regulated locally. The state licenses electricians, plumbers, and HVAC contractors (plus boiler/fire trades) through HBC. Verify a trade license on HBC's lookup.
How to verify in Kentucky →Commercial work over $50k and residential contractors. Lookup shows status and classifications.
How to verify in Louisiana →Maine licenses electricians and plumbers statewide through OPOR; there is no statewide general-contractor license (a residential-contractor license begins Jan 1, 2027). Verify a trade license on OPOR's lookup; check your town for local rules.
How to verify in Maine →Home-improvement contractors and subcontractors. Lookup shows status and complaint history.
How to verify in Maryland →Construction Supervisor License (CSL) and Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration. Lookup confirms both.
How to verify in Massachusetts →Residential builders and maintenance & alteration contractors; electrical, plumbing, and mechanical are licensed separately.
How to verify in Michigan →Residential building contractors/remodelers, plus electrical, plumbing, and high-pressure piping. Lookup shows license status and bond.
How to verify in Minnesota →Licenses commercial contractors (Certificate of Responsibility) and residential builders/remodelers and roofers statewide. 'Check A License' shows license type, classification, status, and bond.
How to verify in Mississippi →Missouri has no statewide contractor license — contractors are licensed locally, notably by St. Louis and Kansas City. Verify with the local building department; the Secretary of State only confirms the business entity is registered, not trade competency.
How to verify in Missouri →Montana requires Construction Contractor Registration (workers'-comp-based) for businesses with employees; self-employed contractors get an Independent Contractor Exemption Certificate. Verify registration/ICEC status on the DLI search.
How to verify in Montana →Nebraska requires contractors working on others' property to register with the Dept. of Labor — a registration (no exam; under $5,000/yr exempt), not a competency license. Verify on 'Search Registered Contractors'; electricians are licensed separately.
How to verify in Nebraska →All licensed construction trades. Lookup shows status, classification, and bond.
How to verify in Nevada →New Hampshire licenses electricians, plumbers, and gas/mechanical trades statewide through OPLC; there is no statewide general-contractor license — general contracting is governed locally. Verify a trade license on OPLC's lookup.
How to verify in New Hampshire →Requires every home-improvement contractor to register annually (NJHIC#) with the Division of Consumer Affairs — a consumer-protection registration, not a competency license. Verify on the Division's license search.
How to verify in New Jersey →Strong statewide licensing: CID issues general (GB), mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and specialty contractor licenses (exam + bond, no dollar threshold). Verify number, classification, status, and qualifying party on the state lookup.
How to verify in New Mexico →New York has no statewide contractor license — licensing is by city/county. NYC's DCWP licenses Home Improvement Contractors (work over $200) with a free 'Check a License' lookup; suburban counties license separately. Verify with the jurisdiction where the work is done.
How to verify in New York →General contractors over $40k; trade boards license plumbing/HVAC/electrical separately.
How to verify in North Carolina →North Dakota requires a contractor license from the Secretary of State for work over $4,000, in classes A–D by contract value. Verify 'good standing,' class, and status on the SOS FirstStop lookup.
How to verify in North Dakota →- Ohio — Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) via eLicense ↗Trades onlyOpen data
Ohio licenses five commercial trades statewide through OCILB — plumbing, HVAC, electrical, hydronics, and refrigeration. General and residential contracting is licensed locally by your city or county.
How to verify in Ohio → Oklahoma does not license general contractors statewide; the CIB licenses electrical, plumbing, mechanical (HVAC), and roofing trades plus inspectors. Verify a trade license on the CIB portal; verify a GC with your local building department.
How to verify in Oklahoma →General and specialty contractors. Lookup shows status, bond, and insurance.
How to verify in Oregon →Pennsylvania requires Home Improvement Contractor registration with the Attorney General for anyone doing over $5,000/yr of residential work — a registration, not a competency license. Verify a PA HIC number on the AG's free public search; building codes are enforced locally.
How to verify in Pennsylvania →Requires all general contractors to register with the CRLB and licenses several specialty trades (roofers, well drillers, and more). Verify a registrant on the board's 'Search a Registrant/Licensee' lookup.
How to verify in Rhode Island →General and mechanical contractors; residential builders via the Residential Builders Commission. Lookup shows status and classification.
How to verify in South Carolina →- South Dakota — Dept. of Labor & Regulation (DLR) — Electrical/Plumbing/Mechanical commissions ↗Trades only
South Dakota has no statewide general-contractor license; it licenses electricians, plumbers, and HVAC statewide through DLR commissions. Verify a trade license on DLR's lookups; verify a GC with your local building department.
How to verify in South Dakota → Licenses general/commercial and home-improvement contractors statewide, each with a monetary limit (the max project size they may bid). Verify status, classification, and that limit on the verify.tn.gov lookup.
How to verify in Tennessee →- Texas — Dept. of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) ↗Trades onlyOpen data
Texas has no statewide general-contractor license. TDLR licenses HVAC, electricians, and other regulated trades statewide; general contracting is verified at the city/county level.
How to verify in Texas → General and specialty contractors, electricians, and plumbers. Lookup shows status and any actions.
How to verify in Utah →Vermont requires residential contractors to register with the Secretary of State's OPR for projects of $10,000 or more — a registration with insurance/contract attestations, not a competency license. Verify on OPR's public roster.
How to verify in Vermont →Contractors (Class A/B/C) and tradesmen. Lookup shows status and specialty.
How to verify in Virginia →Registered contractors. 'Verify a Contractor' shows status, bond, insurance, and lawsuits.
How to verify in Washington →West Virginia requires a statewide contractor license for most construction, administered by the Contractor Licensing Board / Division of Labor. Verify a contractor license on the Division of Labor's database search.
How to verify in West Virginia →Wisconsin requires a Dwelling Contractor certification (and a Dwelling Contractor Qualifier) to pull permits for 1–2 family homes, and licenses the electrical, plumbing, and HVAC trades statewide. Verify any credential on the DSPS license lookup.
How to verify in Wisconsin →Wyoming has no statewide general, plumbing, or HVAC contractor license — those are licensed locally by each city/county. Only electricians are licensed statewide (State Fire Marshal). Verify a GC with your local building department.
How to verify in Wyoming →
Find a pro whose license you can check
Every ProFix profile links the official license lookup and the public evidence behind a contractor's credentials — so you can verify before you call.
Browse verified pros →FAQ
How do I check if a contractor's license is real?
Get their license number and legal business name, then look it up on your state's official contractor licensing board (the free public lookup — not a third-party site). Confirm the status reads ACTIVE, the classification covers your job, and the name matches your contract. Most boards also show bond, insurance, and any complaints.
Does every contractor need a license?
It depends on the state and the trade. Plumbing, HVAC, and electrical work are licensed in most states; general contracting is licensed at the state level in some states and handled locally in others (Texas, for example). When a license is required for your trade and state, hiring an unlicensed contractor usually voids your recourse if the work goes wrong.
What's the difference between licensed, bonded, and insured?
Licensed means the state has verified the contractor's qualifications for that trade. Bonded means there's a surety bond that can compensate you if they don't finish or breach the contract. Insured (general liability + workers' comp) protects you if property is damaged or someone is hurt on your job. You want all three — and the state board often shows the first two.
Where does ProFix get its license information?
From official, public state licensing data — the same boards you'd check yourself. We link the official lookup on every pro's profile so you can confirm it at the source, and we never invent or imply a credential a contractor doesn't actually hold.
Their license didn't check out — or you want a second option?
Verify on the official board first — that's always the source of truth. But if the status came back expired, suspended, or you simply want an alternative to weigh, we can match you with pros we've already checked against official license records. Free for homeowners, and we never resell your info.
Get matched with license-checked pros →