Are They Licensed?

HARTFORD — Finding out if a prospective professional you may be hiring is properly licensed by the State of Connecticut is easier with new online tools recently incorporated into the State’s E-License system, Consumer Protection Commissioner Jerry Farrell, Jr, announced September 8.

“I always encourage consumers in every transaction, before they do anything else, to learn if the business they are about to hire needs an occupational license to perform work, and to verify that the business or individual is indeed licensed,” Mr Farrell said. “The recent addition of ‘online rosters,’ where consumers can download lists of licensed individuals and businesses, helps people find properly licensed businesses.”

Connecticut residents can now get up-to-date lists of all actively licensed persons or businesses in more than 100 job categories online, thanks to this collaborative effort among the Department of Consumer Protection, Department of Public Health, and Department of Agriculture. 

Consumers wishing to access these rosters should go to www.elicense.ct.gov.

“This feature, tied into our online license renewal system, makes it simple for anyone to get a complete list of persons licensed to perform many types of jobs in Connecticut,” Commissioner Farrell said. “As the other agencies availed themselves of the online licensing system in order to better serve their licensees, more rosters became possible, including retail dairy stores, barbers, cosmetologists, and dozens more.”

The effort involved a months-long, intensive collaboration among leadership and staff at all three agencies. Additional state agencies are scheduled to join the license renewal and data-reporting system soon.

“Having all of these rosters available online at no cost is a terrific convenience for anyone looking to find out who is licensed in their area to provide services,” Dr Robert Galvin, commissioner the Department of Public Health, said.

“This online service not only provides a valuable resource for Connecticut residents, but it is also a great cost-saver to the state,” Agriculture Commissioner Philip Prelli said. “The amount of staff time, paper and postage that will be saved in meeting hundreds of requests each year for license rosters will be considerable.”