There are a couple of ways to verify if your electrical contractor is licensed. One way to do this is to call your local building department and ask if they have your electrician's company name on file. Another way is to ask your electrician if they can provide you with an updated license number or copy of their actual license. In Amherst it's a requirement for licensed electricians to carry general liability insurance. If you ask to named additional insured or added as a certificate holder for your project you can rest assured you're covered in the event of an accident.