Ask which licence, registration, trade certificate, permit authorization, or business licence applies to the exact work, then verify the identifier with the issuing authority. The phrase “licensed and insured” is not enough because requirements vary by trade, project, and location.
Identify the requirement before searching
Begin with the permit authority or consumer-protection agency for the project address. Ask whether the business, qualifying individual, supervisor, or person performing a regulated task needs a current credential. General contractors, home-improvement contractors, electricians, plumbers, gas fitters, refrigeration mechanics, and other trades may use different systems.
Match the official record to the proposal
Use the issuing authority's website, not a lead-generation directory or copied database. Search the licence or certificate number and the legal business or individual name. Check credential type, status, expiry, trade scope, restrictions, disciplinary information where published, and whether the name matches the proposal and payment instructions.
In the United States, examples include the California Contractors State License Board and Ohio eLicense. These systems cover their own jurisdictions and credential types; neither is a national contractor registry.
Canadian examples include Technical Safety BC, SkilledTradesBC, and Saskatchewan's Trade Certification Verification. The Red Seal trade list explains interprovincial standards but does not replace local permit or licensing checks.
Separate licences, certificates, permits, and business registration
| Record | What it may show | What it does not prove alone |
|---|---|---|
| Contractor licence | Authority to contract for defined work in a jurisdiction | Current insurance, workmanship, or permit approval |
| Trade certificate | Individual qualification in a named trade | That the certificate holder will supervise this project |
| Business licence | Municipal or local authorization to conduct business | Technical qualification for every offered service |
| Building permit | Approval of submitted work for a property | That inspections are complete or the contractor is licensed |
| Association membership | Membership under an organization's current rules | Government authorization or guaranteed performance |
Request current insurance evidence
Ask for documentation appropriate to the project and jurisdiction. Check the insured legal name, policy period, insurer, coverage type, and whether the described operations fit the proposed work. Contact the insurer or broker using independently verified contact information when confirmation is important. Also ask the local authority what workers' compensation or equivalent clearance applies.
Insurance is not a workmanship guarantee and a licence lookup is not proof of insurance. Treat each as a separate verification step.
Record what you checked and when
Keep the authority name, official URL, identifier, matched name, status, expiry date, scope, and date checked with the project file. Recheck time-sensitive records before signing or before work begins. If the contractor cannot explain a mismatch, pause and contact the issuing authority.
Use the hiring questions to request consistent evidence, the permit guide to verify project approval, and the Crewdax map to find local profiles. Crewdax profile fields are discovery information, not official credential verification.