Michigan Electrician License Lookup

How to Look Up a Michigan Electrician License

LARA's Accela Citizen Access portal is the official database for verifying any electrical license issued by the Bureau of Construction Codes. You can search by the individual's or company's name, license number, or license type.

The portal shows the license holder's name, license type (apprentice, journeyman, master, or contractor), current status (active, expired, suspended), issue date, and expiration date. For contractor licenses, it also shows the qualifying master electrician of record.

Why Verification Matters

If you're a homeowner hiring an electrician, checking the license is the only way to confirm you're working with someone legally authorized to do the work. An unlicensed electrician's work cannot be permitted or inspected, which creates problems when you sell the home or file an insurance claim.

If you're an apprentice, verifying your supervisor's license is directly relevant to your career. LARA only credits hours worked under a properly licensed journeyman or master. If your supervisor's license was expired or suspended during part of your employment, those hours can be rejected from your application -- and you may not discover this until years later when you apply for your journeyman license.

If you're a contractor considering a subcontractor or a general contractor checking an electrical sub, the Accela lookup confirms both the individual trade license and the business contractor license. Both must be active and in good standing.

What the Lookup Shows (and Doesn't)

What you can see: License type, status, dates, and the name on the credential. For contractor licenses, the associated Master of Record.

What you won't see: Disciplinary history details, pending complaints, or insurance coverage. For disciplinary actions, you'd need to check LARA's enforcement records separately. Insurance verification requires requesting certificates directly from the contractor.

Detroit and Grand Rapids: The state lookup covers state-issued licenses. If someone holds a Detroit BSEED credential or a Grand Rapids municipal registration, those are separate databases maintained by the respective city building departments. A state license lookup won't tell you whether someone is registered to work in those municipalities.

Common Reasons to Run a Lookup

• Before hiring: Confirm the electrician and their contracting company both hold active licenses.
• Before starting an apprenticeship: Verify your employer's contractor license and your supervisor's individual license are both current.
• Before submitting a license application: Check that every supervisor whose hours you're claiming held an active license during the employment dates on your verification letters.
• Before a project starts: General contractors should verify the electrical sub's contractor license and confirm the Master of Record is still associated with the business.

What to Do If a License Shows as Expired or Suspended

If you discover that a contractor you've hired has an expired or suspended license, stop work immediately. Continuing to pay for work performed under an invalid license exposes you to liability, and the work cannot be legally inspected or permitted.

If you're an apprentice whose supervisor's license turns up as lapsed for a period you worked under them, document what you know now and consult with LARA about how to handle the affected hours before submitting your journeyman application. It's better to flag the issue proactively than to have LARA reject your application during review.

The Michigan Electrician License Guide includes a verification checklist for apprentices to audit their supervisors' license histories before applying -- catching problems early is far easier than reconstructing documentation after LARA flags a discrepancy.

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