How Electrician Licensing Works on Long Island

Suffolk County: one county license

• Master Electricians (and restricted electricians) are licensed by Suffolk County Consumer Affairs under County Code Chapter 563, Article XI.
• Licensees must complete continuing education to renew.
• You can look up a license on Suffolk County's online licensing portal or call Consumer Affairs.
• The same license applies across all ten Suffolk towns, from Huntington to the East End.

Nassau County: town, city or village

• Town of Hempstead: master electrician license through the Town's Examining Board of Electricians. Details.
• Town of North Hempstead: licenses under the Town Electrical Code, renewed every three years, with exam reciprocity for some other Nassau licenses. Many villages require registration. Details.
• Town of Oyster Bay: its own examining board and license exam. Details.
• City of Long Beach and many incorporated villages (e.g. Freeport, Rockville Centre, Valley Stream, Lynbrook) have their own license or registration rules.
• Not an electrical license: Nassau County Consumer Affairs' Home Improvement Contractor license, which carves out electricians.

A 3-minute check before you sign

1. Ask for the license number and which jurisdiction issued it.
2. Match it to where the house is: Suffolk County, or your Nassau town, city or village.
3. Confirm it with the issuing office (Suffolk's licensing portal, or your town or village building department).
4. Get liability and workers' comp certificates from the insurer.
5. Make sure the quote names the inspection agency and includes its fee (how inspections work).

Red flags

• "You don't need a permit for that" on panel, service, circuit or generator work
• Only a Nassau HIC number, or a license from a different county than your house
• Cash only, a large deposit, or no written quote
• Door-to-door offers after a storm