- Why should I verify a contractor's license before hiring?
- Unlicensed contractors are responsible for more than a third of consumer complaints to state licensing boards. Verifying the license number confirms the contractor has met the state's bonding, insurance, and exam requirements. If work is done by an unlicensed contractor and something goes wrong — injury, property damage, code violations — you may have little legal recourse and your homeowner's insurance may deny the claim. Most states make it a misdemeanor to contract without a license above a dollar threshold (e.g. $500 in California, $1,000 in Florida).
- What does "format valid" mean — does it mean the license is active?
- No. Format validation only checks that the number follows the correct structural pattern for that state: right number of digits, correct letter prefix, valid characters. A number can pass format validation but still be expired, suspended, revoked, or simply not issued. After validating the format here, always click the portal link to check the current status directly on the state board's official database.
- How do contractor license formats differ by state?
- California CSLB uses a plain 7-digit number (1000000–9999999). Florida DBPR uses a 2-3 letter trade prefix followed by 6 digits (e.g. CGC123456 for a general contractor, CFC123456 for an A/C contractor, EC12345 for an electrical contractor). Texas TDLR uses formats like TACLA12345E for A/C, TACLB12345E for refrigeration. Oregon CCB uses a 6-digit number. Nevada NSCB uses a 4-5 digit number with an optional letter suffix. Washington L&I uses a 12-character format (e.g. SMITHCO*123BB). Each state's hint is shown when you select it above.
- Can I check multiple contractor numbers at once?
- Yes — use the Bulk CSV Upload tab. Prepare a plain text or CSV file with one license number per line. After upload, all numbers are validated instantly and the results table can be downloaded as a CSV. This is useful for general contractors vetting subcontractors, property managers doing periodic compliance checks, or insurers auditing a roster of contractors.
- Which state portals does this tool link to?
- All 50 states are covered. Examples: California CSLB (cslb.ca.gov/OnlineServices/CheckLicenseII), Florida DBPR (myfloridalicense.com), Texas TDLR (tdlr.texas.gov), Oregon CCB (oregon.gov/ccb), Nevada NSCB (nscb.nv.gov), Washington L&I (lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits), New York DOS (aca5.accela.com/NYS), and the respective boards for all other states. Where the portal URL supports a query parameter, the link is pre-filled with your license number.