How do I check if an electrician is licensed in Florida?

Florida electrical contractors are licensed through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), which publishes a free public licence search. Ask the contractor for their licence number and look it up yourself to confirm the status is active, the name matches the business you are hiring, and there is no disciplinary history.

What is the difference between an EC and ER licence in Florida?

An EC number indicates a certified electrical contractor, licensed to work anywhere in Florida. An ER number indicates a registered electrical contractor, licensed to work only in the specific local jurisdictions where they have registered.

Does electrical work in Florida need a permit?

Panel replacements, service changes, rewires and new circuits generally require a permit and an inspection by the local building department. The inspection is independent verification that the work meets code. A contractor suggesting you skip the permit is asking you to give up that protection.

Should I pay an electrician upfront?

A deposit can be reasonable on jobs with significant material costs, but being asked for most or all of the job's value before work begins is a warning sign. Get an itemised written estimate covering labour, materials and permit fees before any money changes hands.

Hiring Guide

How to Hire an Electrician in Central Florida: A Homeowner's Checklist

2026-09-18 · 6 min read

Key points

Florida electrical contractor licences can be verified free through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation — always check the number yourself.
An 'EC' licence number indicates a state-certified electrical contractor; 'ER' indicates a registered contractor limited to specific local jurisdictions.
Confirm both general liability insurance and workers' compensation, and ask for the certificate directly from the insurer.
Insist on a permit for panel work, service changes, rewires and new circuits — the inspection is your independent verification.

Electrical work is one of the few home trades where poor workmanship can stay invisible for years and then cause a fire. It is worth spending an extra twenty minutes on verification before you hire.

Here is what actually matters, roughly in order.

1. Verify the licence yourself

Florida licenses electrical contractors at the state level through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). Any contractor doing electrical work in Central Florida should be able to give you a licence number without hesitation.

The important step is that you check it rather than take the number at face value. DBPR publishes a free public licence search, and it will show you the licence status, the licensee's name, and whether there is disciplinary action on record.

Two prefixes are worth understanding:

EC — a certified electrical contractor, licensed to work anywhere in Florida.
ER — a registered electrical contractor, licensed to work only in the specific local jurisdictions where they have registered.

Check that the name on the licence matches the business you are actually hiring, and that the licence is active rather than expired or null.

For reference, Pro Electrical Service holds Florida licence EC13011354.

2. Confirm insurance — both kinds

There are two separate coverages and you want both:

General liability covers damage to your property caused by the contractor's work.
Workers' compensation covers injury to their workers on your property. Without it, an injury at your home can become your problem.

Ask for a certificate of insurance. The stronger version of this request is to ask that it be sent directly from their insurance agent, which removes any question about whether the document is current.

3. Ask who is actually doing the work

A licensed contractor may send employees, apprentices, or subcontractors. That is normal and fine — apprentices working under supervision is how the trade trains people. What you want to know is that there is a qualifying licensed contractor responsible for the job, and that whoever is in your home is supervised appropriately.

4. Insist on a permit where one is required

Permits get treated as red tape, and they are one of the strongest consumer protections you have. Panel replacements, service changes, rewires, and new circuits generally require a permit and a subsequent inspection by the local building department.

That inspection is an independent professional checking the work against code — verification you are not otherwise equipped to perform yourself. A contractor who suggests skipping the permit to save time or money is proposing that you give that up.

Unpermitted electrical work can also surface later as a problem during a home sale, or when an insurer investigates a claim.

5. Get the estimate in writing, itemised

A written estimate should make clear what is included: labour, materials, permit fees, and what happens if something unexpected is found once a wall or panel is opened. Vague single-number quotes make it very hard to compare bids or to dispute a final invoice.

Be cautious about large upfront deposits. Some deposit is reasonable on jobs with significant material costs; being asked for most of the job's value before work begins is not.

6. Read the reviews properly

Volume of reviews matters less than what they describe. Look for reviews that name specific technicians, specific problems, and specific outcomes — those are much harder to fake than generic praise. Pay attention to how the company responds to criticism.

Recency matters too. A company's crew and management can change; reviews from five years ago describe a different business than reviews from this year.

7. Ask the questions that reveal thinking

A good electrician will explain why, not just what. Useful questions:

What is causing this, not just what will you replace?
Is this a code requirement or a recommendation?
What happens if I defer this for a year?
Will this require a permit and inspection?
What warranty applies to the labour, and to the parts?

Someone who answers these clearly and without pressure is usually someone who understands the system they are working on.

Warning signs worth walking away from

Reluctance or refusal to provide a licence number.
Pressure to decide immediately, or "today only" pricing.
A suggestion to skip the permit.
Cash-only demands, or a request for full payment upfront.
A quote dramatically below every other bid — usually it excludes something, and often that something is the permit.
No written estimate.
Unsolicited door-to-door offers following a storm.

A note specific to Central Florida

Florida leads the United States in lightning strikes, and the Orlando area sits in the most active part of it. Storm-related surge damage is common here, and so are storm-chasing contractors. If a company appears at your door after a storm with an urgent offer, apply the checklist above rather than the urgency they are selling.

Working with us

Pro Electrical Service is a family-owned, licensed and insured electrical contractor serving Orlando, Oviedo, Winter Park, Kissimmee and surrounding Central Florida communities. We provide free in-home estimates and upfront pricing before work begins.

Call 407-542-3161 or request an estimate through the site.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check if an electrician is licensed in Florida?: Florida electrical contractors are licensed through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), which publishes a free public licence search. Ask the contractor for their licence number and look it up yourself to confirm the status is active, the name matches the business you are hiring, and there is no disciplinary history.
What is the difference between an EC and ER licence in Florida?: An EC number indicates a certified electrical contractor, licensed to work anywhere in Florida. An ER number indicates a registered electrical contractor, licensed to work only in the specific local jurisdictions where they have registered.
Does electrical work in Florida need a permit?: Panel replacements, service changes, rewires and new circuits generally require a permit and an inspection by the local building department. The inspection is independent verification that the work meets code. A contractor suggesting you skip the permit is asking you to give up that protection.
Should I pay an electrician upfront?: A deposit can be reasonable on jobs with significant material costs, but being asked for most or all of the job's value before work begins is a warning sign. Get an itemised written estimate covering labour, materials and permit fees before any money changes hands.

All articles · Home