Electricians: checking registration before you hire
Electrical faults can cause fires and shocks long after the electrician has left, so the credentials behind the work matter as much as the finish. Here is what each market requires and how Top8Reviews will assess electrical contractors.
- Markets
- US · UK · UAE & GCC
- Criteria
- 6 (v1.0)
- Official sources
- 14
- Reviewed
- October 2026
What electricians do
Electricians install, alter, test and repair the fixed wiring in homes and businesses: circuits, sockets, lighting, consumer units, outdoor supplies and car charge points. Much of this work disappears behind plaster once finished, which makes paperwork the main evidence that it was done properly. Each market covered here ties certain electrical work to a register, licence or utility approval, and expects certificates or inspections that an owner can keep and later show to a buyer, tenant or insurer.
Top8Reviews weights credentials and safety more heavily for electricians than for most home services, because defects can stay hidden until they cause harm. Our assessment looks for registration that covers the exact type of work, evidence of testing and certification, clear written pricing and dependable attendance. Customer reviews are shown separately, and a strong customer rating never stands in for a current registration.
Replacing a property's fixed wiring in full or in part, usually alongside new sockets, switches and a replacement consumer unit.
Swapping an old fuse box for a modern consumer unit. In England this needs building regulations approval or an installer registered with a competent person scheme.
Periodic inspection and test reports for owners, buyers and landlords, recording defects and the remedial work each one needs.
Tracing tripping circuits, dead sockets, flickering lights and burning smells, then making the installation safe and repairing the cause.
Adding circuits for kitchens, extensions, outbuildings, showers and cookers, including work near baths and showers where extra rules apply.
Fitting a dedicated home charge point and circuit after checking that the existing supply can carry the extra load.
Installing indoor and outdoor lighting, dimmers, sensors and connected controls, from single fittings to whole-house schemes.
What to check in your market
Rules differ by country. Choose a market to see the licences, registers and complaint routes that apply there.
United States
Electrical licensing is set by states, and some cities keep their own systems. In Texas, anyone who performs or offers non-exempt electrical work must be licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), and the work must go through a licensed electrical contractor. New York City's Department of Buildings lets owners confirm licence status and look up disciplinary actions against master electricians. In California, the Contractors State License Board caps home improvement down payments at 10 percent of the contract price or USD 1,000, whichever is less.
In Texas, use the Verify a License link on TDLR's electricians page to confirm that both the electrician and the electrical contractor are licensed.
tdlr.texas.govIn New York City, use the Department of Buildings licence search and disciplinary lookups before hiring a master electrician.
nyc.govIn California, insist on a written contract and keep any down payment within the legal cap of 10 percent or USD 1,000, whichever is less.
cslb.ca.govAsk for proof of insurance and a written estimate covering the work, materials, completion date and price, with the licence number on the contract.
consumer.ftc.gov
Try to settle the issue with the contractor first, in writing. Licensing agencies such as TDLR take complaints against licensees. When a contractor dispute cannot be resolved directly, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) points consumers to their state attorney general or local consumer protection office, and to dispute resolution programmes.
United Kingdom
In England, Approved Document P gives the building regulations guidance on electrical safety in homes. Replacing a fuse box or changing electrics near a bath or shower needs building regulations approval unless the electrician belongs to a competent person scheme, such as Certsure (trading as NICEIC) or NAPIT, and self-certifies the work. Registered electricians appear on the Electrical Competent Person register. Private landlords, and social landlords since November 2025, must have installations inspected and tested at least every five years.
Search the Electrical Competent Person register by company name, or by postcode, to confirm the business is registered to self-certify domestic electrical work.
electricalcompetentperson.co.ukCheck the government's list of current competent person schemes and confirm the electrician's scheme covers electrical installations in dwellings.
gov.ukIf the job involves a new fuse box or electrics near a bath or shower, agree who will self-certify the work or apply for approval.
gov.ukExpect the compliance certificate within 8 weeks of completion and keep it with the property papers, since it appears in solicitors' searches on a sale.
gov.ukTenants in England should receive a copy of the latest electrical safety report within 28 days of the inspection and test.
gov.uk
Ask the electrician to put defects right first, in writing. Competent person schemes provide complaints procedures and insurance-backed warranties for registered work. In rented homes in England, local councils enforce the electrical safety standards and can fine landlords in breach up to GBP 40,000; social housing tenants can also complain to the Housing Ombudsman.
UAE & GCC
Electrical work in the UAE involves utility approvals as well as trade licences. In Dubai, applications for new electricity connections and additional load are made through contractors and consultants enrolled with the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA). In Abu Dhabi, TAQA Distribution assesses and licenses electrical contractors working on installations in buildings across the emirate, under the authority of the Department of Energy, and publishes a list of certified electrical contractors. Trade licence records can be checked through channels on the UAE government portal.
In Dubai, if the job needs a new connection or extra load, ask for the contractor's DEWA enrolment, because DEWA takes those applications from enrolled contractors.
dewa.gov.aeIn Abu Dhabi, download TAQA Distribution's list of certified electrical contractors and confirm the business is on it before agreeing any installation work.
addc.aeCheck the trade licence through the channels on the UAE government portal and confirm electrical work appears among its registered activities.
u.ae
Keep the quote, invoice and any utility paperwork. If the contractor will not resolve a problem, each emirate's economic department deals with consumer rights issues, and Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism runs an online consumer complaint service. Federal consumer complaints go to the Ministry of Economy and Tourism on 800 1222.
How we assess electricians
These are the editorial criteria behind every electrician we rank, with the weight each carries in the editorial score. The editorial score makes up 60% of a ranking and adjusted customer ratings the other 40%, as set out in how we rank.
| Criterion | Weight | What we look at | Evidence we accept |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration and licensing | 30% | Whether the business holds the register entry, licence or utility approval needed for the work offered. It carries the largest weight because unregistered electrical work can be unsafe and hard to certify. | Register or licence lookups matched to the trading name, scheme membership, utility approvals and the named people who sign off work. |
| Safety and testing | 20% | How the business tests and documents its work, isolates circuits safely and records defects, since hidden faults may not show until something fails. | Sample certificates and inspection reports, test equipment calibration records, safety policies and how urgent defects are reported to clients. |
| Installation quality | 15% | Neatness and compliance of installations, correct sizing of cables and protective devices, and whether work passes inspection first time. | Building control or utility inspection outcomes, completion certificates, photos of finished work and records of remedial visits. |
| Clear quotes and terms | 15% | Whether quotes itemise labour, materials and testing, state what is excluded and explain how extra work found during the job will be priced. | Written quotes, published terms, deposit and payment schedules, and the procedure for approving changes. |
| Reliability | 10% | Turning up on the agreed date, finishing within the quoted time and returning promptly to fix snags. | Scheduling commitments, completion times against quotes and consistent patterns in verified customer reviews. |
| Value | 10% | Fair pricing for the scope, including testing and certification, compared with similar local quotes for the same job. | Like-for-like quote comparisons, inclusions such as certificates and making good, and the length of any workmanship warranty. |
Before you hire
Questions to ask
- Which register, licence or utility approval do you hold, and does it cover this type of installation?
- Will you self-certify the work or notify building control, and when will I receive the certificate?
- Which tests will you carry out before handover, and will I get the results in writing?
- How will you price extra faults you find once walls or floors are opened?
- Does this job need the electricity utility involved for a new connection or extra load?
- Who signs off the work, and will that person be on site?
- What does your workmanship warranty cover, and for how long?
Red flags
- The business cannot name the register, scheme or utility approval it holds, or its name matches no listing.
- An offer to skip notification or certification to make the job cheaper or quicker.
- No testing before the power goes back on and no written results at handover.
- A request that you obtain the permits yourself, which the US Federal Trade Commission lists as a sign of a scam.
- A demand for a large payment before materials are bought or a start date is fixed.
- Extras added after the job starts without your written approval.
How pricing works
Electricians tend to price small jobs by the hour, often with a minimum charge, and larger projects such as rewires, consumer unit changes or charge point installations as fixed quotes. Testing and certification take time and should appear in the quote rather than arrive as a surprise. Rewires can uncover hidden problems, so ask how extra work will be priced and approved before the job starts.
Deposits deserve care. In California, the Contractors State License Board says a home improvement down payment should never exceed 10 percent of the contract price or USD 1,000, whichever is less, with an exception for contractors holding a specific bond. Elsewhere, link payments to completed stages, and keep the final payment back until the work is finished and certified.
- Hourly with minimum charge
- Labour billed per hour after a minimum attendance charge, with materials added; typical for fault finding and small additions.
- Fixed quote
- One price for a defined job such as a consumer unit change, listing testing, certification and exclusions.
- Staged payments
- For rewires and larger projects, payments linked to milestones such as first fix, second fix and final certification.
- Inspection fee
- A set fee for a periodic inspection and report, with any remedial work quoted separately afterwards.
Top 8 electricians
Rankings for this category are being researched market by market. Each one will publish when enough businesses pass the eligibility checks and an editor has approved the assessment. A list is never padded to reach eight.
Questions about electricians
How do I check an electrician is registered in England?
Search the Electrical Competent Person register by business name or postcode. It lists electricians registered with government-authorised schemes, such as Certsure (trading as NICEIC) and NAPIT, who can self-certify that their work complies with the Building Regulations. If the business is not listed, notifiable work will need building regulations approval instead.
How often must landlords in England have the wiring inspected?
At least every five years, by a qualified and competent person. Landlords must give existing tenants the report within 28 days and complete required remedial work within 28 days, or sooner if the report says so. The rules now cover social housing too, and social tenancies granted before 1 December 2025 need an inspection before 1 November 2026.
Do electricians in Dubai need DEWA approval?
For a new electricity connection or additional load, the application goes through a contractor or consultant enrolled with DEWA, so ask for proof of enrolment. For other jobs, ask which approvals apply before agreeing a price, and confirm through the UAE government portal that the trade licence is current and covers electrical work.
Is a Texas electrician's licence enough on its own?
Not quite. TDLR requires anyone performing or offering non-exempt electrical work in Texas to be licensed, and that work must be performed through a licensed electrical contractor. Check the individual electrician and the contracting business separately, and ask whether your city requires a permit before work starts.
What certificate should I get after electrical work in England?
For notifiable work by a registered electrician, the installer should give you a building regulations compliance certificate within 8 weeks of completion. It serves as evidence that the work complies and shows up in solicitors' searches when you sell. If the work was approved by building control instead, ask the electrician how that approval was recorded.
Sources
Official sources behind this page, checked in October 2026.
- Registered Competent Person Electrical registerElectrical Competent Person Scheme Operators LtdUK
- Competent person scheme - current schemes and how schemes are authorisedGOV.UKUK
- Building regulations approval: When you need approvalGOV.UKUK
- Building regulations approval: Use a competent person schemeGOV.UKUK
- Electrical safety: Approved Document PGOV.UKUK
- Electrical safety standards in the private and social rented sectors: guidanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentUK
- Electricians HomepageTexas Department of Licensing and RegulationUS
- Know Your Construction ProfessionalNYC Department of BuildingsUS
- What should I look for in a contract and binding agreements?Contractors State License BoardUS
- How To Avoid a Home Improvement ScamFederal Trade CommissionUS
- Getting Electricity ConnectionsDubai Electricity and Water AuthorityUAE & GCC
- Information for contractorsTAQA DistributionUAE & GCC
- Verify business licencesThe Official Platform of the UAE GovernmentUAE & GCC
- Consumer protectionThe Official Platform of the UAE GovernmentUAE & GCC