Keith Knowles: Hi! I am Keith Knowles with LiveLight Energy. I am a licensed Solar Contractor and an authorized installer for SolarWorld, America's largest manufacturer of solar panels. I am here today to help you learn how to hire a solar contractor and we are going to discuss license requirements and other details that are important for you to know.

Most states require an electrical contractor's license to install solar electric systems. You want to check with your State Licensing Board or City Permit Office to make sure that your contractor has a right license to do the job. Most contractors will give you their license information right upfront. If a contractor hesitates when you ask for his license number, consider it a huge red flag.

The next thing you want to check is how they are insured; at a minimum every contractor should carry at least liability insurance and workman's comp. Many contractors also carry an insurance bond on their work, so that you are protected from any negligence on their part even if they got lot of business.

You'll also want to check references and get referrals from people you trust, just like with any other contractor. You want to make sure they have experience and a record of doing the job right. It's never a bad idea to check with a better business bureau for any outstanding complaints.

You may also want to look for special qualifications like NABCEP certification which means they have special advance training to install solar systems on your home. You may also want to look for factory training by the panel and inverter brands you prefer, which means the contractor has been specially trained to install the equipment you have chosen.

Now that you know what to look for in a contractor, you can go out and get server quotes.