Hiring an unlicensed electrician is the most expensive shortcut in home improvement: the work is illegal, uninsurable, and usually has to be redone. Verification takes two minutes.
The two-minute check
Every legitimate electrical contractor in Ontario holds a Licensed Electrical Contractor (LEC) licence issued through the Electrical Contractor Registration Agency (ECRA), administered by the Electrical Safety Authority. Ask for the seven-digit ECRA/ESA number — a real contractor gives it without hesitation (ours is #7015314). Then check it on the ESA's "Find a Contractor" lookup at findacontractor.esasafe.com. The listing confirms the licence is active and shows the business name it's registered to — make sure it matches who you're actually hiring.
One nuance that catches people: a person can be a certified electrician (309A trade certificate) without being licensed to contract. The certificate makes someone qualified to work as an employee; only the LEC licence makes a business legal to sell electrical services. "I'm a licensed electrician" is not the same as "I'm a Licensed Electrical Contractor."
Beyond the licence
Three more questions separate professionals from pretenders. First: "Is the ESA permit included in this quote?" The right answer is yes, automatically — anyone who says the job doesn't need one is asking you to carry their risk (see do I need a permit for electrical work in Ontario). Second: "Can you show proof of liability insurance?" Two million dollars is standard. Third: "Will I get a written, itemized quote?" Verbal pricing has a way of growing.
Reviews matter, but read them for specifics — names, neighbourhoods, project types — rather than star counts. A contractor with detailed reviews mentioning panel upgrades in Scarborough or pot lights in Vaughan has a verifiable track record.
Why this matters more than price
Unlicensed work voids insurance claims, fails real estate transactions, and the ESA can order it exposed and redone at your cost. The few hundred dollars saved up front routinely becomes thousands later. Get a free written estimate from us, compare it against any other licensed contractor, and choose with confidence either way — that's how it should work.