But my tenants are pipefitters (they can change a hot water tank), boilermakers (can change a hot water tank with their eyes closed), electricians (can replace a fuse box with a breaker box), electrical crews (can wire a 2 story house for cable tv), scaffold builders (can trim a tree with a pole saw), welders (can replace the factory exhaust with a custom stainless steel exhaust on a riding mower), construction foreman (can add a bathroom counter and vanity).

Your utility company will require that your electrician pull permits and have a final inspection prior to bringing the upgraded service to your property, so make sure you hire a licensed electrician.

At the most, the inspector will make a comment saying "recommend evaluation by a licensed electrician" or whatever's applicable.

In particular, most areas require licensed electricians and plumbers, and may require licenses for other specific "trades".

I am not certain on this - maybe you are, and I will admit to not being an electrician.

was going to glue 2" pink foam on bottom 24" of exterior block basement walls,,, then have electrician run conduit on top of that horizontally for outlets.

Think of it this way, you'd want it too, and imagine if you had to pay an electrician, plumber, etc to come in ON TOP of the price of the items new.

In NJ, only electricians and plumbers require licensure. 

Between the levels of Contractors license and if each person needs a license, that is just way too much for a homeowner to follow through on....Only exemptions are actual licensed professions, e.g. electricians, plumbers, radon remediation, etc.Oh, in NJ the HIC registration is good State-wide as is the licensed professions. 

Do Not give the entire job to a single general contractor instead hire a carpenter for carpentry work, an electrician for the electrical and so forth.