Being a licensed electrician means that a person has fulfilled his or her licensing requirements. It means they’re educated and have completed the required number of training hours. And it means they can complete electrical work safely and to the specifications of your “near me” local, state, and national standards.
Why is it Important to Hire a Licensed Electrician ‘Near Me’?
High Stakes
Licensing is important because of the stakes. Low electrical voltage in homes (120 and 240 volts) can stop hearts, and industrial voltages can reach to ultra-high levels of more than 1000kV. Not only can electricity kill people, but errors within electrical systems can lead to fires and thousands of dollars in equipment failure. Simply put, electrical errors lead to worse consequences than mere inconvenience (which itself may be severe if the electricity goes out, considering how many appliances rely on electricity).
Electricians Need to Complete Training
It’s for these reasons that training to become a licensed electrician is among the longest apprenticeship programs. Electrician apprentices learn how to safely work with electrical systems and how to abide by local and state laws.
In Indianapolis, Indiana, once an apprentice completes his or her training, the apprentice must pass an examination to become a licensed electrician. To do so, they must have at least six years of documented experience as an apprentice. They must also have at least three reference letters from customers they’ve worked for during that time.
Municipalities that offer contractor’s licenses usually require additional training and experience. For example, the licensing board in Lafayette, Indiana, requires that an electrician have ten years of experience, verified by a city engineer, before receiving a contractor’s license. An electrician may, alternatively, have a four-year electrical engineering degree and six years of experience.
Licensing requirements for electricians are similar throughout the state.
Only Electricians can Work on Electrical Systems
It’s also important to hire a licensed electrician because, by law, a person must be licensed to perform electrical work. Indianapolis code Sec. 875-201 “requires an electrical contractor to be licensed if performing work to connect electrical power for onsite construction, to install, alter, replace, service or repair a system distributing electrical power, to service equipment supplying power to factory-constructed dwellings located in a mobile home park, and to install, modernize, replace, service or repair all or any part of an electrical power distribution system.”
Codes such like this are in the books of every municipality throughout Indiana. Local codes vary, however, which is why you want to find an electrician who is “near me.”
How to Verify an Electrician’s License
Depending on the city in Indiana, licensing boards will offer several types of licenses. A residential license allows an electrician to work on one- and two-family structures. A master’s license (also referred to as a commercial/industrial license) allows an electrician to perform unrestricted electrical work. And a contractor’s license requires that an electrician verify an employee’s work. Local municipalities may also divide contractor’s licenses into commercial/industrial and residential licenses.
When you view a license, make sure that a person’s name matches the name on the license.
There are three ways to verify an electrician’s license:
- Use the electrician’s full name, license number, or the company name to verify the license with your local licensing board. In Indiana, there is no state-wide licensing board, so you will have to look up a license within an individual municipality.
- Ask for proof of liability insurance. The insurance company can verify the license.
- Look up the electrician on a digital list of
If you’re looking for a licensed electrician in or near Indianapolis, Indiana, Grounded Solutions has you covered. Specializing in residential electrical work, Grounded Solutions is licensed, bonded, and insured to ensure your home and family remain safe and that all our work is performed correctly. Call or schedule an appointment with us today.
