Does having a license or certification really matter

 When it comes to hiring someone to work on your property, here's a bit of Q&A to think about...

Q: Does not having any licenses, certifications, or registrations mean the person or company isn't capable or qualified?

A: No. It generally means they may not have had the money to pay for those things or access to resources to obtain them.  It does NOT necessarily mean they are incapable or unqualified.  Too many times, these items are more about an agency selling their permission or approval instead of actually ensuring capability or professionalism.

Having said that...

If they are indeed serious about presenting themself as a professional,  they will try to obtain whichever of those items that are able to.  Always ask questions about their background and experience.   If what what they suggest to do for you seems shady, questionable, or too good to be true, it probably is.

In fact, most actual professionals prefer to have credentials that show they have successfully demonstrated their quality and capabilities to a legitimate "authority" (that doesn't have to be government,  in fact, the better sources are almost always NOT government.)

A lot of times, licenses,  registrations, and certificates are used by certain trades and companies in an anticompetitive and restrictive way.  Particularly if the government through, some agency, requires said cert or license.

If the person or company you are considering hiring does not have any or certain of those provenances,  ask some specific questions...

Where do you draw the line at doing a particular type of work?  (If they aren't licensed as required by government agency,  they should,  if they're being honest, say that they can't/won't do the type of projects specifically restricted by license.

By doing that work anyway, they are putting you, the customer,  at risk.  Insurance companies won't cover unlicensed work if something should happen as a result.

If particular products are involved,  being unlicensed and/or not certified where it is required will void the warranty.

A professional,  regardless of provenances, will take your project requirements as the priority.  Things like obtaining permits, having required certifications,  being licensed, doing work according to product label instructions,  etc... are absolute priorities. If they are willing to ignore these things, just say NO.

Quick, cheap, and under the radar might accommodate customers immediate wants, but they absolutely violate customers needs and safety.

In the end, the customer is ultimately responsible for the work done.  It's up to the customer to learn enough to ensure work is being done to meet specs.

Doing shoddy, lazy, unprofessional work isn't limited to those who didn't pay for the paperwork.  Even fully licensed,  registered,  certified trade "pros" can leave customers high and dry.

People and businesses who voluntarily obtain those provenances, whether they are required or not, are a good first step.  They WANT to gain your trust and confidence by demonstrating their capabilities and qualifications. Not because they have to, but because it's a point of professional pride to them.