Electrician Licensing

About Electrician Licenses

Almost every state requires electricians to obtain a license before performing electrical work. Some states, like Arizona and New York, do not have state-level licenses but defer licensing responsibilities to county and city governments.

Electrician licensing follows a progression based on education, experience, and the passage of exams. Most states have three stages of electrician licensing: apprentice, journeyman, and master.

Electrician Apprentice

Apprenticeships generally include a classroom component as well as substantial on-the-job training. Although relatively few states require electrician apprentices to hold a license, prerequisites must be met before a candidate is considered for an apprenticeship. In most cases candidates must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or GED, pass an aptitude test, and go through an interview process.

After obtaining an apprentice license or being accepted into an apprentice program, individuals can perform limited duties under the supervision of a journeyman or master electrician.

Journeyman Electrician

Before getting a journeyman license, candidates must meet education and experience requirements and then pass an exam. Prerequisites vary by state, but candidates will typically need about 8,000 hours of work experience to sit for the journeyman exam. Some states allow classroom hours to be substituted for a portion of the experience requirement.

A journeyman license generally allows a licensee to work independently, and journeymen are often called upon to supervise the work of apprentices.

Master Electrician

In order to become a master electrician, candidates in most states are required to meet additional experience and exam requirements. Hawaii, for example, requires candidates to have at least four years of experience as a journeyman before applying for a master license.

Licensed master electricians are able to supervise the work of junior electricians, pull permits for projects, and take on complex wire system installations.

Specialty License Types

Many states offer specialty license classifications in addition to the apprentice, journeyman, and master designations. In Delaware, electricians that do not meet master license requirements may be eligible for a special master electrician license if they have knowledge in a specialty area, such as pools, HVAC, or elevators.

Getting a License

After meeting the education and experience prerequisites for a license, candidates should file an application for licensure with the state board of electrical examiners. Application requirements vary by state and license type, but common requirements include:

• Proof of experience
• Application fee
• Employment record
• Certificate of completion of apprenticeship
• Verification of licensure if licensed in other states
• Proof of liability insurance
• Photo of applicant

Once a license application is approved by the board, applicants should follow board instructions on how to schedule the relevant exam. After passing the exam, candidates will receive their license in the mail.

Reciprocity

Electricians with projects in multiple states may need to obtain a license from each state in which they intend to work. Many states, however, have reciprocal agreements that allow for the use of licenses issued by states with substantially similar requirements.

Reciprocal license application requirements vary by license type and state. In some cases licensees need to submit proof of experience and take an exam, while in other cases, licensees will simply need to submit an application and fee.

License Renewal

Electrician licenses typically expire annually or biennially. In addition to filing a renewal application, electricians are required to demonstrate ongoing professional development by completing continuing education (CE) hours. CE requirements vary by state and license type, but between 4 and 8 hours of CE are typically required. Individuals who fail to renew their license may face enforcement actions including license suspension or revocation.

Click on a link below to view licensing information in your state.