In most regions, a contractor requires professional licensing while a handyman does not. For this reason, your jurisdiction, board, or homeowners insurance company may authorize a handyman to work on projects such as major electrical, plumbing, remodeling work, or certain emergency repairs only if they are carried out under the supervision of a licensed contractor. Handymen in some states are prohibited by law from performing plumbing tasks other than minor jobs, such as installing a new faucet fixture, so you might want to hire a licensed plumber for bigger tasks. For electrical work, you might need a master electrician to do major wiring jobs, but for small electrical repairs, you can hire a handyman as long as he has an electrical license.