Angie’s List has always encouraged homeowners and consumers to use licensed contractors and other professionals. Now finding license information for hiring home improvement and other professionals is easier with the Angie’s List License Info Database.

Based on the extensive research compiled by the Angie’s List Licensing Compliance team, a team that vets and verifies thousands of service professionals’ licenses each year, the License Info Database allows consumers to find out what type of license is needed and where. For consumers, one of the most important steps in seeking trade license information is to verify that the professional or company in question has the right credentials for their line of work in the areas they will be performing the work.

Licensing regulation is a patchwork of laws and codes that vary from state to state, city to city and even county to county. Finding a contractor who says they carry the proper licensed is one matter; but often verifying the license, especially in metro areas that contain multiple jurisdictions, presents a much more difficult challenge for the consumer.

With the Angie’s List License Info Database, you can select the state and the repair or service professional you plan on hiring and the database supplies you with the license information that’s required to legally perform the work in cities listed, as well as information on how to contact the licensing department.

Why is using a licensed professional important? Regulation of home improvement and other service professionals not only helps ensure that contractors carry credentials that afford consumer protections like holding insurance, bonding and proper training, in some jurisdictions, it also offers consumers avenues to financial recourse should something go wrong during the job.