# Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Electrician in Pennsylvania > What to ask an electrician in Pennsylvania: local licensing (there's no statewide license), PAHIC registration, insurance, permits, written contracts, and price. URL: https://pennsylvaniaelectricians.us/guides/questions-to-ask-before-hiring-an-electrician/ **Short answer:** Ask whether your municipality requires a license and for the license number if so, their PAHIC registration number, proof of liability insurance, who pulls the permit, and for the scope and price in writing. Pennsylvania has no statewide electrician license, and home improvement contracts over $500 must be in writing. ## Why hiring an electrician works differently in Pennsylvania Most states license electricians statewide. **Pennsylvania doesn't.** Licensing is left to municipalities, so the rules change at the city or township line: - **Allentown** licenses electricians through its Electricians' Examining Board, including master, journeyman, and residential licenses based on ICC exams, renewed every year. - **Reading** licenses electricians through its own Electricians' Examining Board. - **Harrisburg** licenses electricians through its Bureau of Codes, and the application asks for proof of liability insurance. - **Many boroughs and townships** don't license electricians at all and rely on permits and inspections under the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code. That means "Are you licensed?" isn't a complete question. Ask: **"Does my municipality require a license for this work, and what's your license number?"** Your municipal permit office can tell you what applies at your address. ## The questions to ask ### Registration and insurance 1. **What's your PAHIC number?** Contractors who do $5,000 or more of home improvement work a year must register with the Pennsylvania Attorney General and put the Pennsylvania Home Improvement Contractor (PAHIC) number on contracts, estimates, and advertising. You can look registrations up at [hic.attorneygeneral.gov](https://hic.attorneygeneral.gov). 2. **Does my municipality require a license for this work, and what's your license number?** 3. **Can I see your certificate of liability insurance?** HICPA requires registered contractors to carry minimum insurance. Ask for the certificate, not just a yes. ### Permits and inspections 4. **Does this job need a permit, and who pulls it?** Panel replacements, service upgrades, new circuits, and rewiring generally need one under the UCC. The contractor normally pulls it. 5. **Who schedules the inspection, and will you be there?** 6. **Does the utility need to be involved?** Service upgrades need Met-Ed, PPL, or your local utility to disconnect and reconnect the meter. ### Scope and price 7. **What exactly is included?** Get it in writing: the work, materials, permit, patching, and cleanup. 8. **How do you charge?** Flat rate, hourly, or a service fee plus time. [Angi's 2026 data](https://www.angi.com/articles/how-much-does-it-cost-hire-electrician.htm) puts the typical service call at $100 to $200. 9. **If you find something unexpected, will you stop and give me a price first?** 10. **What's your warranty on workmanship?** ### For specific jobs - **Panel upgrade:** Did you do a load calculation? Is the meter base included? See [electrical panel upgrades](/electrical-panel-upgrade/). - **Rewiring:** How much is knob-and-tube or aluminum? Who patches the plaster? See [house rewiring](/electrical-wiring/). - **Repeated trips:** Is it the load, the wiring, or the breaker? See [why breakers keep tripping](/guides/why-does-my-circuit-breaker-keep-tripping/). ## What Pennsylvania law says about the contract Pennsylvania's Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act (HICPA) sets rules for home improvement contracts: - Contracts **over $500 must be in writing** to be enforceable against the homeowner. - You can **cancel within three business days** of signing, without penalty. - The contractor's **PAHIC registration number** must appear on the contract. The [Attorney General's home improvement contractor site](https://hic.attorneygeneral.gov) has more on registration and consumer rights. ## Red flags - No written contract, or pressure to sign the same day - "We don't need a permit for that" on a panel, service, or new-circuit job - A price far below other quotes for the same scope - No PAHIC number, or reluctance to show insurance - A diagnosis or firm price over the phone, before anyone has seen the problem ## How our referral fits in Pennsylvania Electricians is a referral service: when you call, you're connected with a participating independent electrician, if one serves your area. We don't license, certify, or vouch for participating electricians, so these questions apply to anyone you're connected with through us, too. That's the point of asking them. ## Quick answers **Do electricians need a license in Pennsylvania?** Not at the state level. Pennsylvania has no statewide electrician license; municipalities set their own rules. Cities including Allentown, Reading, and Harrisburg license electricians, while many boroughs and townships only require a permit for the job. Ask your municipality what applies. **How do I check a contractor's PAHIC registration?** The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General runs a home improvement contractor registration system at hic.attorneygeneral.gov, where registrations can be looked up. Contractors who do $5,000 or more of home improvement work a year must register and include the PAHIC number on contracts and estimates. **Can I cancel a contract with an electrician in Pennsylvania?** Under the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, home improvement contracts must let you cancel without penalty within three business days of signing. Contracts over $500 must be in writing. Referral disclosure: Pennsylvania Electricians is an independent contractor-referral service connecting homeowners and property owners with participating electrical professionals. Services are performed by independent contractors. We may receive compensation for qualified referrals. Phone: (717) 409-6059.