When building a house or adding an addition, your best bet is to hire a licensed electrician. When it comes to electricians, hiring a licensed electrician could come down to a life or death situation. Faulty wiring can be very dangerous and lead to a house fire, putting your whole family or business at risk.

On another level entirely is the fact that if you hire a non-licensed electrician, your home inspection might not pass. Unlicensed electricians are not covered by the state board of electrical contractors. All states have specific electrical codes that ensure families, business and their property from hazards that can arise when using electricity. These codes must be met for a building project to pass and move on to the next step.

A licensed electrician ensures a qualified professional who knows the codes and how to install all electrical components and what type of permit is needed for the job at hand. Most states renew licenses for a fee and sometimes a class is offered which updates the licensed electrician of any code changes. OSHA (Occupational Health and Safety Administration) is an organization whose mission it is to ensure America’s worker’s health and safety by setting and enforcing specific standards. They provide training and education to licensed businesses to continually improve workplace health and safety. Becoming a licensed electrician is very much like becoming a doctor. First you have to do the actual bookwork, understanding complicated electrical concepts and math formulas, and then you need to get hands on experience through an apprenticeship before taking the final licensing exam.

Licensed electricians have put in their time and money to become what they are, and are less likely to mar their good reputation by performing subpar work that would likely risk the safety of themselves, their client and their client’s property and building project. Not only does an electrician have to worry about the client’s project, he has to think about his own welfare. People have been seriously injured or even killed by high voltage electricity, and an improperly trained individual can put himself and others at risk by performing tasks that a licensed electrician should be doing. If a person fails the licensing exam it means they are in need of more training, or are incapable of safely performing electrical duties.

When hiring a licensed electrician you can be sure they are highly trained and skilled in household wiring and electrical repairs. Their goal is to do quality work quickly and make sure you are 100% satisfied. Licensed electricians will have their trucks stocked with all the proper tools along with common replacement parts (outlets, switches, faceplates, receptacles), and wiring components needed to complete jobs effectively and ensure customers are not inconvenienced longer than is necessary.

Many licensed electricians will give you a free estimate, and will sign a contractual agreement on a set price for the job. You can also be guaranteed that all electrical supplies used will be up to electrical codes in your area. They will guarantee that electrical fixtures they supply and install will perform as needed or be repaired or replaced free of charge. A licensed electrician will most likely be bonded and will carry adequate insurance in case of any mishaps on his part to protect you and your building and electrical project and property. When in need of electrical work, call a licensed electrician as opposed to a handyman or unlicensed electrician. In the long run you will save money, time, liability and worries…..Guaranteed!