How to check
- Enter the complete license
Use all 12 characters, including any asterisk. Spaces and letter case are normalized, but the identifier itself must match.
- Match the business
Compare business name, city, UBI, type and specialties with the contractor’s documents. A UBI can relate to more than one contractor registration.
- Read the status and dates
Status and registration dates are official fields as of the displayed snapshot. Do not treat an older snapshot as a live certification.
- Check additional licensing
L&I notes that plumbing, electrical, elevators, mobile home installation, boilers and asbestos can have requirements beyond basic contractor registration.
How to read the fields
Effective date is the date L&I received correct documents and payment and approved licensure; CivaVero does not relabel it as the first issue date. Registration expiration is separate from insurance filing dates.
General and specialty classifications describe the scope registered with L&I. A contractor’s record can also contain trade-specific license information that should be checked in the official tool.
What the record cannot prove
A matching active registration does not establish that an individual worker holds every required certification, that a municipal permit is unnecessary, or that the contractor is qualified for your particular job.
Official source: Washington State Department of Labor & Industries contractor verification.