Want to search for your contractor license record but don’t know where to start? Check this post! Besides, if you’re concerned about your job history, bankruptcy, as well as criminal and traffic records, you can also find clues in this post.

How to perform a contractor license lookup?

Here we’re going to introduce 2 methods to look up contractor licenses easily.

Method 1 Local government portal

Given that each state has specific rules about contractor licensing, you may want to search directly on your state government’s official website. This is the most formal and accurate information provider for the public.

For example, you can google Washington contractor license lookup and find its website ended with .gov in the first place. Then you can verify a contractor by name, license number, worker’s company account, or WA UBI number. If you’re going to do a contractor license lookup with a name, just enter your last name as requested and click the search icon.

However, the last name may render a wealth of results to you, which you need to sort through by yourself and locate your own record. The filter on the left may help. After you spot the record, click it to view more details including address, license type, status, number, violation history, and continuing education.

Method 2 CSLB for California

CSLB stands for the Contractors State License Board. It is a regulatory agency that operates under the California Department of Consumer Affairs. The primary purpose of the CSLB is to protect the public by regulating the construction industry in California.

This tool allows you to search and view important information about any contractor in the state of California.

Here is how to look up a contractor license status on CSLB:

1. Go to www.cslb.ca.gov.
2. Click License Check.
   
3. Select one from five search methods: License number, Business name, Personnel name, HIS number, and HIS name. And then enter the specific information to run the search. Note that you may get plenty of results if you search by name, while only one record by a specific license number.
   
4. Here I searched by personnel name (e.g. John), and I got many results with similar names.
   
5. Click the name to view more details including license number, business name, city, association date, and status (active or not).
   
   

Making a call to verify a contractor’s license status is also possible. Simply call (800) 321-CSLB (2752). The CSLB call center will be able to help you verify a license 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

Method 3 License search with people search tools

What can a people search tool do?

Enter a name, phone number, address, email, social username, or even a vehicle license plate, you can get full details about a person, a house, or a car. When you type in a name to run research on people search engines, you can access this person’s all possible public records in one report. It may contain contact info, education, licenses, locations, assets, criminal & traffic records, social accounts, financial status, and more.

These tools outperform government portals in that they provide a detailed background check report. This may matter a lot to people who are concerned about what your online presence is.

BeenVerified is always our go-to option. Its 7-in-one search tool has earned a great reputation for years, helping people research a neighbor, find lost friends, investigate vehicles, and price property.

Just fill in a full name and click Search Now on this search page.

Your report will be ready in minutes, in which you can check all available personal information and public records. You can find your own license record and other online public records.

What’s the advantage of a licensed contractor?

Contractor license regulations vary in states. While most states do regulate contractors in different ways, some don’t have any licensing laws. For instance, NYC requests that anything that costs more than $200 must be done by a city-licensed professional, but the number surges to $500 in California.

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• A license ensures a contractor fulfills the minimum requirement of performing. For example, they have the requisite skill and character. They understand local laws and codes, and how to administer a contracting business.
• Property damage by an unlicensed contractor may not be covered under the homeowner’s insurance policy. You need to pay for the repair bills yourself.
• You may have to spend more for injured workers since they may not have a bond or compensation insurance like the licensed ones.

In short, unlicensed contractors bring more risk to house owner’s financial security, including but not limited to incomplete/faulty work, damaged property, and injured workers.

Contractor icons created by srip – Flaticon
License icons created by Freepik – Flaticon