Guide · Verification
How to verify a contractor’s licence and insurance
The short answer
Ask which government authority issued the licence, then search that authority’s current record for the exact business name, licence class, status and discipline. Ask for insurance certificates and confirm coverage with the carrier. HomeProSherpa’s feed fields and badges are not independent licence or insurance verification.
Editorial status: source-checked on 2026-08-22; not reviewed by a lawyer, licensing authority, engineer or trade professional. United States; registrations, licence classes and insurance rules are state-, county-, city- and trade-specific.
Use the actual issuing authority
The FTC tells homeowners to check licensing with state or county government. Requirements are not uniform. Ask for the legal business name and licence number, then match the name, status, classification, locality and expiry on the authority’s own site. Check discipline where offered.
Request proof of general liability and, when applicable, workers’ compensation. Confirm the policy using insurer contact details you found independently. An insurance professional or lawyer must interpret whether coverage fits your project.
- Legal business name
- Issuer and licence number
- Correct trade class and locality
- Active status and expiry
- Disciplinary record
- Insurance policy confirmed with carrier
Know what our directory does not verify
HomeProSherpa receives a licence-status field from a third-party feed. It contains no licence number, issuer, class, jurisdiction, expiry or primary-source check. Treat it as a research prompt only and complete the official checks yourself before hiring.
Some work needs an additional credential. For covered work that disturbs lead-based paint in many pre-1978 homes, verify the firm under EPA’s Renovation, Repair and Painting program.
Sources
Primary government and consumer-protection sources checked for this guide:
- How To Avoid a Home Improvement Scam, Federal Trade Commission. Accessed .
- HIC Homeowner Resources, Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation. Accessed .
- Renovation, Repair and Painting Program: Contractors, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Accessed .