All electrical contractors must be licensed and certified to work with electrical components. While these licensing requirements are different from state to state, every state has some level of regulation covering electricians. This is to protect customers from hiring electricians that know dangerously little about properly and safely doing electrical work. You should never assume that an electrician is "good enough" when it comes to your safety.

Find an electrician that is best suited to the size and scope of your job. With major jobs like rewiring a whole house, you will be paying a significant amount of money no matter who you pick. However, you can save money on smaller jobs by hiring electricians that specialize more in smaller jobs. These small jobs can be anything from installing electrical outlets to fixing lighting fixtures.

Always ask for an estimate before you hire a contractor. Contractors charge different amounts per hour. This is usually commensurate with their level of experience. If you get quotes from a lot of different electrical contractors, you will be more likely to get a reasonable price.