Questions to ask an electrician before you hire

Updated November 10, 2026 · KeystoneProGuide editorial team

Why ask questions at all?

Because most of what separates a sound electrical job from a risky one is invisible once the walls are closed. A short list of questions, asked on the phone or at the estimate, tells you whether the electrician is licensed where you live, whether the work will be permitted and inspected, and whether two quotes are for the same job. Take notes; the answers belong in the written estimate.

Questions about licenses and registration

1. "Does my township or borough license electricians, and do you hold that license?" Pennsylvania has no state license; Labor and Industry says local requirements for electrical contractors exist in some municipalities and must be confirmed with the municipality itself.
2. "Which grade of license do you hold?" Some local schemes have grades. Lower Merion's code, for instance, has a master electrician limited special license that covers repairs in a single-family house but not new service or equipment.
3. "What is your Pennsylvania home improvement registration number?" The Attorney General says electrical contractors working on homes must register. The number should match the name on the estimate when you check it in the state contractor search.
4. "Will you do the work yourself, or send someone else?" If a crew is coming, ask who on it holds the license and whether that person will be on site.

Questions about insurance

1. "Can you send a certificate of insurance before the job?" The Federal Trade Commission advises hiring only licensed and insured contractors and asking for proof. State registration requires minimum liability cover; Philadelphia's license requires more, including workers' compensation.

Questions about the permit and inspection

1. "Does this job need a permit, and will you apply for it?" The state's code regulation says adding or relocating electric wiring is not an ordinary repair, so it needs a permit. The FTC lists a contractor asking you to get the permits as a sign of a scam.
2. "Who will inspect the work, and is their fee in your price?" Some towns inspect themselves, some require an outside agency, and Philadelphia requires the owner or agent to hire a licensed electrical inspection agency.
3. "When will the walls be closed?" The state regulation lists an electrical system inspection and a separate wallboard inspection, so ask how the electrical inspection fits the schedule if new drywall is involved.
4. "What will I get to show the work passed?" The state regulation requires a final inspection, and a third-party agency working for the permit holder must give the owner a copy of the final report.

Questions about price and scope

1. "Is this a fixed price or time and materials?" Under the home improvement law, a time-and-materials price may not exceed the written estimate by more than 10% unless you sign a change order.
2. "What is your minimum charge, and what is the call-out fee?" Angi says electricians bill a minimum of 1 to 4 hours. Bundling small jobs into one visit is cheaper.
3. "What exactly is included?" The permit, the inspection fee, patching walls, disposal of old equipment and any meter or service work are the items that most often appear in one quote and not another.
4. "What would change the price once you start?" In an older house, opening a wall can reveal wiring nobody expected. Ask how that would be handled and priced before it happens.

Questions about the job itself

1. "Does my panel have capacity for this?" For a car charger, the Department of Energy says an electrician can tell you whether the home has enough capacity for Level 2 charging and can add circuits if it does not. The same question applies to any large new load.
2. "Will the new work include arc-fault, ground-fault and tamper-resistant protection?" The National Fire Protection Association explains what AFCIs and GFCIs do and says a licensed electrician should install them. The Electrical Safety Foundation's account of the 2020 National Electrical Code lists where each is required in renovated rooms; ask which code edition your town enforces.
3. "Is the equipment listed by a testing laboratory?" The NFPA advises devices that carry the label of an independent testing laboratory.
4. "Is there aluminum wiring here, and how would you connect to it?" The Consumer Product Safety Commission considers twist-on connectors, and switches or outlets connected directly to aluminum wire, an inadequate fix.
5. "Is the house older than 1978, and are you certified for lead-safe work?" The Environmental Protection Agency requires anyone paid to disturb painted surfaces in a pre-1978 home to be certified in lead-safe practices.

Questions about after the job

1. "Will you label the breakers you changed?" Ask for the panel directory to be updated so it matches what is now on each circuit.
2. "What warranty do you give on labor and parts, and is it in writing?" Whatever the answer, get it on paper with the contract.

What answers should worry you?

A refusal to give a registration number, a suggestion that you take out the permit yourself, a price that will only be given verbally, pressure to sign the same day, or a request for the full amount up front. The FTC names the last two among scammers' tactics.

What a well-run job looks like from arrival to final inspection is in what to expect on the day. The checks behind these questions are in how to choose an electrician, the price ranges to compare against are in the cost guide, and electricians are listed on the electricians directory page.

Sources

1. Contractor Licensing, Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry
2. Frequently Asked Questions: Home Improvement Contractor Registration, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
3. Home Improvement Contractor Search, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
4. Get an Electrical Permit, City of Philadelphia
5. Get an Electrical Contractor License, City of Philadelphia
6. Chapter 72: Electrical Standards, Township of Lower Merion (eCode360)
7. How To Avoid a Home Improvement Scam, Federal Trade Commission
8. 34 Pa. Code § 403.62. Permit requirements and exemptions., Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania Code)
9. 34 Pa. Code § 403.64. Inspections., Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania Code)
10. Charging Electric Vehicles at Home, U.S. Department of Energy, Alternative Fuels Data Center
11. Electrical Home Fire Safety, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
12. Home Safety Devices - Renovate Your Home to Code, Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI)
13. May Is National Electrical Safety Month: Good News for Homeowners - Aluminum Wiring Fix Still Available, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
14. Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
15. How Much Does an Electrician Cost to Hire? [2026 Data], Angi