Step 1: Get the license number in writing before you do anything else. If a contractor won't give you their number, stop here — you have nothing to verify.
A license number that returns a match isn't the same as a license that's active. A contractor can hand you a real number that belongs to a license that expired eighteen months ago, was suspended last spring, or is registered to a different person entirely. The checklist below confirms the status, not just the existence.
The Verification Checklist
1. Go to your state's contractor licensing board website directly. Search "[your state] contractor license lookup." Use the official .gov site — not a third-party aggregator that may show stale data.
2. Enter the license number they gave you. Confirm the name on the license matches the name of the person or company you're hiring. Mismatches here are the fastest way to catch a borrowed or fake number.
3. Read the status field, not just the result. You want it to say "Active," "Current," or "In Good Standing." Words like "Expired," "Inactive," "Suspended," "Revoked," or "Delinquent" mean you do not have a valid contractor in front of you.
4. Check the expiration date. If the license expires before your project ends, ask when they plan to renew and confirm it later. An expired license mid-project can void permits and insurance.
5. Look for the classification. A license for handyman work is not a license for electrical, roofing, or structural work. Match their classification to the job you're hiring for.
6. Scroll to the disciplinary or complaint history section. Many state boards list past violations, citations, and suspensions. One old resolved complaint isn't damning. A pattern is.
7. Confirm the bond and insurance are attached to the license. Some state lookups show whether a surety bond and liability coverage are on file. If they're listed as lapsed, treat the license as unreliable regardless of its status.
Ask These Questions Directly
Say to the contractor, word for word: "Can you send me your license number, and is it registered under your name or the company's?"
Then: "Is your license current through the end of this project, and are your bond and insurance active?"
Request a copy of their current certificate of insurance (COI) sent directly from their insurer or agent — not a PDF they email you themselves. An insurer-issued COI is much harder to fake.
A real number tells you the person once qualified. An active status tells you they still do. Homeowners confuse the two constantly, and it's exactly where the trouble starts.— State licensing board investigator
The One Red Flag That Shows Up in Almost Every Bad Hire
Hesitation to give you the license number in writing.
Every other problem on this list is something you catch by checking. This one you catch before you check anything. A licensed contractor who's active and in good standing hands over their number without flinching — it's public information and it works in their favor. The contractor who stalls, changes the subject, offers a discount for cash, or promises to "bring it by later" is telling you something. Believe them the first time.
Once you've confirmed the status is active, the next protection is how you pay. The contractors worth hiring don't just have clean licenses — they're comfortable with escrow, because getting paid the right way protects them too.