A career in electrical engineering offers multiple benefits regardless of whether you are a residential electrician or wish to pursue more advanced training. This guide is an overview of license requirements for electricians by state in each of the 50 states.
For many contractors in the trades, an electrician’s career path offers a solid career path. In the United States, the median salary for an electrician is $56,900 per year, which is $15,000 higher than the average median wage for all workers. Moreover, it provides real job security, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projecting an employment increase of 62,200 by 2029.
In most states, the only requirement for prospective electricians to start an apprentice program or enroll in a trade school is a high school diploma. Most states offer journeyman and master electrical licenses after you’ve completed an apprenticeship (and earned a salary while you train), and many offer specialty licenses for electricians who work on signs, repair elevators, and maintain refrigeration systems. You typically need a contractor’s license to operate your own business, which requires at least one master electrician, liability insurance, and workers’ compensation.
State |
Requirement Overview |
|---|---|
Alabama |
Electrical journeymen and electrical contractors in the state of Alabama must hold an Alabama electrical license issued by the Alabama Electrical Contractors Board in order to perform electrical work. Electrical apprentices and helpers do not need a license to begin working, but may need to pass an aptitude test to be hired. |
Alaska |
Journeyman and residential electricians in Alaska must hold a certificate from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. You must then obtain a professional license from the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development if you wish to run your own electrical contracting business. In order to begin the certification and licensing process, you must register with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development as an apprentice and complete 4,000 hours of practical experience and 1,400 hours of classroom instruction. |
Arizona |
As with most states, Arizona does not offer an official journeyman license. Contractor licenses are issued instead. Depending on the type of work the electrician does, Arizona offers several electrical contractor licenses:
A journeyman electrician is classified by the Arizona Registrar of Contractors based on his/her work experience. To become an electrical apprentice in Arizona you do not need a permit or license. |
Arkansas |
A contractor who wishes to perform electrical work in Arkansas must hold a license as an electrician, unless he or she has completed eight years or 16,000 hours of electrical construction work experience and training. Arkansas offers several electrician licenses, each with its own training requirements, including journeyman electrician, residential journeyman electrician, master electrician, residential master electrician, air conditioning electrician, and industrial maintenance electrician. |
California |
The Division of Labor Standards Enforcement of the State of California requires that you register as an electrical trainee before performing electrical work. You will be eligible to apply for a general or residential electrician license from the State of California Department of Industrial Relations once you have completed the required classroom and on-the-job training. After completing that training, you can obtain your electrical contractor’s license from the California Contractor’s State License Board. |
Colorado |
Electrical licenses are issued by DORA, the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies. The first step is to register as an electrical apprentice. If you earn a two-year degree from an electrical technology school and achieve 6,000 hours of on-the-job experience, you can apply for and take the exam required to become an electrical journeyman after completing 288 hours of classroom and lab-based training. You may also want to consider earning a master electrician license, or becoming an independent electrical contractor. |
Connecticut |
There are specific distinctions made by Connecticut regarding what kinds of systems electricians can work on, including fire alarms and voltage regulations. The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) offers 10 different types of electrician licenses. |
Delaware |
A license is required for electricians in Delaware. There are several types of electrician licenses in Delaware, including master, master special, limited, limited special, residential, journeyperson, and apprentice. In order to receive an electrician’s license in Delaware, you must first find a qualified apprenticeship program from the Delaware Board of Electrical Examiners. |
Florida |
To work as an electrician in Florida, you must have a state license. However, Florida often refers to electrical licensing requirements using the terms “certified” and “registered”. Registered licenses are limited to specific jurisdictions, while certified licenses allow you to work anywhere in the state as an electrical contractor.
The state of Florida does not have one set of requirements for electrician licensing. The Construction Trades Qualifying Board issues journeyman and master electrician certifications in local municipalities. Electrical Contractors Licensing Board (ECLB) licenses are issued by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). |
Georgia |
In Georgia, electrical contractors are required to obtain a license from the Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board, Division of Electrical Contractors. There is no journeyman licensing phase in Georgia, unlike most other states. Rather, after completing an apprenticeship, you can legally work as a journeyman for a general contractor without supervision. The majority of people gain experience as journeyman electricians prior to obtaining their own electrical contractor license from the state of Georgia. |
Hawaii |
It is a requirement of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Professional & Vocational Licensing Division, that any electrical work be licensed by the Hawaii Board of Electricians and Plumbers. There are multiple electrician licenses available in Hawaii, including journey worker electrician, supervising electrician, journey worker industrial electrician, supervising industrial electrician, journey worker specialty electrician, supervising specialty electrician, and maintenance electrician. |
Idaho |
To perform electrical work in Idaho, you need a license. Licenses are issued by the Idaho Division of Building Safety (IDBS). The state of Idaho requires electrical apprentices to register with them before they can become electricians. Electrical apprentices must be 16 years old, submit a notarized application, and pay a $15 registration fee. Idaho offers several different types of electrician licenses. The two most common are journeyman and master electrician. However, the state also offers various types of specialty licenses. |
Illinois |
For electricians in Illinois, licensing requirements and professional regulations vary based on the locality and the county. After passing an exam equivalent to that of a journeyman license in other states, electrical contractors can earn independent electrical contractor licenses. There is no state-recognized master electrician license in Illinois. |
Indiana |
To perform electrical work in Indiana, you need a license. The electricians, however, do not have a statewide regulatory board, unlike plumbers. Local municipalities issue electrical licenses. Journeyman electricians or residential electricians can work on one- or two-family homes in most Indiana counties and cities. If you are operating an electrical contracting business as a corporation, you must register with the Indiana Secretary of State. |
Iowa |
Electrical work in Iowa requires a state license. Licenses are issued by the State Fire Marshal Division of the Iowa Department of Public Safety. There are 11 different types of licenses available in Iowa. After completing each level of licensing, you will be able to work on a broader range of systems and assume responsibility for the work of others. |
Kansas |
All electrical work in Kansas requires a license. There are three types of electrical licenses in Kansas: journeyman electrician, master electrician, and electrical contractor. Although electrical licenses are issued by municipalities, the state requires 4,000 hours of electrical trade experience under the supervision of a licensed electrician, along with 240 hours of classroom instruction, to qualify for a journeyman license. |
Kentucky |
Electrical work in Kentucky requires a license. As a first step, you must register as an electrical apprentice with the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the U.S. Labor Department. Kentucky Public Protection Cabinet Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction issues electrical licenses, including journeyman, master, and electrical contractor licenses. |
Louisiana |
To perform electrical work in Louisiana, a license is typically required. Louisiana State University Agricultural Center states that you do not need a license to work on residential properties, as long as the job costs less than $50,000. Electricians must be licensed for commercial and industrial projects as well as residential projects exceeding $50,000. Municipalities and parishes issue electrician licenses for journeymen and master electricians. An electrical contractor’s license is issued at a statewide level through the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC). The LSLBC is now at 600 North Street in Baton Rouge. |
Maine |
In Maine, all electrical work must be licensed. Electrician’s Examining Board, which is a division of the State of Maine Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, administers electrical licensure. Upon successfully completing an apprenticeship program and gaining the necessary work experience, you can apply for a journeyman electrician license. A master electrician license is also available in Maine. You must register your electrical contracting business with the Maine Department of Secretary of State. |
Maryland |
Electrical work in Maryland requires a license. Through the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, the Maryland State Board of Master Electricians issues only one type of electrical license: the master electrician license. The requirements for electrical licenses vary by county in Maryland, so additional types of licenses are available. |
Massachusetts |
Massachusetts requires a license for electrical work. Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Electricians Licensing issues electrical licenses. Electrical trainees in Massachusetts must file an apprenticeship agreement with the Massachusetts Division of Apprenticeship Standards. After successfully completing an apprenticeship program, you can apply for one of the several types of electrician licenses, often referred to by Class A, B, C, and D. |
Michigan |
The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Electrical Division, issues licenses. For example, the city of Detroit has a local governing agency for issuing electrical licenses within its limits, as does the city of Grand Rapids. The LARA offers several types of electrical licensure, including journeyman electrician, master electrician, electrical contractor, fire alarm specialist, fire alarm contractor, sign specialist, and sign specialist contractor. |
Minnesota |
Minnesota’s Department of Labor and Industry – Board of Electricity issues electrical licenses, including journeyman, master, and maintenance electricians, outside linemen, and class B installers. Unlicensed individuals may also perform limited electrical work in Minnesota. The state requires that you register and follow a set of guidelines. For example, unlicensed individuals can work only under the supervision of a licensed electrician, and they must report their annual electrical work experience to renew their registration. |
Mississippi |
Electrical work in Mississippi requires a license. Like journeyman electrician licenses in other states, Mississippi electrician licenses are issued locally and allow the holder to work in a specific jurisdiction. Licenses for electrical contractors are issued by the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC). |
Missouri |
Missouri requires a license for electrical work. In Missouri, electrician licenses are issued by individual cities and counties. Various municipalities offer journeyman electrician licenses, while others skip that step and issue master electrician or electrical contractor licenses directly. The Missouri Division of Professional Registration, Office of Statewide Electrical Contractors, offers an optional statewide electrical contractor license. |
Montana |
Montana requires a license for all electrical work. Montana Department of Labor & Industry issues electrician licenses through the Montana State Electrical Board. Applicants for electrician apprenticeships must be registered with the state as well. Montana issues five different electrician licenses, including residential electrician, journeyman electrician, master electrician, limited electrical contractor, and unlimited electrical contractor. |
Nebraska |
Nebraska requires a license for most electrical work. The Nebraska State Electrical Division regulates electrical license requirements and issues master electrician licenses, journeyman electrician licenses, and electrical contractor licenses. Electrical apprentices must also register with the state. |
Nevada |
A licensed electrician or contractor must be working in Nevada to perform electrical work. Each district has its own license requirements, and those are handled differently by county and city. In order to work in a certain place, electricians need to comply with its conditions.
A journeyman electrical license and an electrical contractor license are both available in Nevada. There are jurisdictions, such as Reno, that offer a residential journeyman certification, which requires about 2,000 fewer hours of documented experience than a general journeyman card. Clark County (Las Vegas) offers the opportunity for those already certified as journeymen to go one step further and become master electricians. |
New Hampshire |
As a journeyman, master electrician, or high/medium voltage electrician, you must be licensed in the state of New Hampshire to perform electrical work. New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification Electrical Board also requires registration for apprentice electricians and high/medium voltage trainees. |
New Jersey |
The state of New Jersey requires electrical contractors to be licensed, journeyman electricians to be licensed, and apprentices to work under licensed electricians. Both licenses are available from the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, Division of Consumer Affairs, Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors. |
New Mexico |
The New Mexico Construction Industries Division, Regulation & Licensing Department accredits electricians, based on recommendations from the Electrical Bureau.
The state of New Mexico requires that you be a licensed journeyman or electrical contractor to perform electrical work. A contractor’s license is mandatory to bid and contract all electrical services. |
New York |
New York has no statewide regulations for electricians, so electrical licensing requirements vary by jurisdiction. Local licensing boards may issue licenses to electricians.
Electrical licenses are issued by the Department of Buildings in New York City, for example. Electricians are not required to have a license in some parts of the state, like rural upstate New York. There are some cities in the state that offer traditional electrician licenses, such as the journeyman and master electrician licenses. Other cities, such as Syracuse, issue limited electrician licenses. The city of Albany issues Class A electrician licenses. Some cities also regulate residential electricians. |
North Carolina |
The North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors (NCBEEC) issues electrical contractor licenses, while municipalities issue journeyman electrician licenses. North Carolina offers three types of electrical contractor licenses: limited, intermediate, and unlimited. |
North Dakota |
North Dakota requires a license for all electrical work. Licenses for electricians are issued by the North Dakota State Electrical Board (NDSEB). Several types of electrical licenses are available in North Dakota. They include Class B electricians, journeymen electricians, and master electricians, of which there are three categories: contracting master electricians, master of record electricians, and non-contracting master electricians. |
Ohio |
After five years of experience working as an electrician employee, Ohio offers a statewide certifying qualification process for becoming a licensed contractor electrician. In Ohio, however, only electrical contractors who work on commercial projects are required to be licensed.
Electrical contractors in Ohio are licensed by the Ohio Department of Commerce’s Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB). The state of Ohio does not require state-level electrician licenses for residential journeyman electricians or master electricians, except in the cities of Middletown and Hamilton. For all other municipalities, one must instead work as an electrician employee for five years before being eligible to apply for an electrician contractor license. |
Oklahoma |
Oklahoma’s Construction and Industries Board (CIB) issues electrician licenses. Oklahoma offers several options for electrician licensing, including registered apprentice, unlimited electrical journeyman, residential electrical journeyman, unlimited electrical contractor, residential electrical contractor, and limited electrical contractor. |
Oregon |
Licenses for contracting electrical work are issued by the Oregon Construction Contractors Board (OCCB), while non-contracting electrical permits are issued by the Oregon Building Codes Division (BCD). It is unusual for Oregon to issue several types of specialty and limited electrical licenses, each of which requires a specific level of experience and classroom training. |
Pennsylvania |
In Pennsylvania, you must comply with the state’s Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act in order to provide electrical services legally. Pennsylvania does not offer statewide registration, certification, or licenses for electricians. Electrical contractors, plumbers, and HVAC contractors must obtain licenses from each of the 2,562 municipalities. The construction industry guidelines and building codes in the area they intend to work in must be followed by electricians. |
Rhode Island |
Electrical work in Rhode Island requires a license. Electrical licenses are issued by the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training Division of Workforce Regulation and Safety, Division of Professional Regulations Unit. Local building codes and the National Electrical Code (NEC) must be followed by electricians.
Rhode Island offers two types of electrician licenses: journeyperson electricians and electrical contractors. There is no master electrician license in the state. Rhode Island also offers specialty electrical licenses based on training and experience. |
South Carolina |
The state of South Carolina has specific laws regarding electrician licensing and regulation. Municipal Association of South Carolina offers voluntary journeyman and master electrician certifications. Obtaining these certifications is essential if you wish to obtain an electrical contractor license.
South Carolina’s Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation issues two types of electrical contractor licenses: mechanical and residential. |
South Dakota |
Electrical work in South Dakota requires a license. Several types of electrical licenses are issued by the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation through the South Dakota Electrical Commission. Click here to view the full list and licensing requirements. |
Tennessee |
In Tennessee, electrical licenses are issued both locally and at the state level. Local licenses, such as journeyman and master electrician licenses, are issued by cities and counties. Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance issues licenses to electrical contractors through the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors.
For cities and counties without local electrical license regulations, a state-issued Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) license is accepted by the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. |
Texas |
Everyone who performs electrical work in Texas must have a license, with certain exceptions. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) offers different types of electrician licenses, each requiring a different level of experience. |
Utah |
Licenses for electricians are issued by the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL). The state of Utah offers five types of electrical licenses: apprentice electrician, journeyman electrician, residential journeyman electrician, master electrician, and residential master electrician. There is no electrical contractor license in Utah. |
Vermont |
Electrical licenses in Vermont are issued by the Vermont Electrical Board, which is a subsidy of the Department of Public Safety’s Division of Fire Safety. The Vermont Department of Labor registers apprentice electricians. Vermont offers three types of electrician licenses: journeyman electrician, master electrician, and specialist electrician. |
Virginia |
Electrical licenses are issued by the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) through the Virginia Board for Contractors. Apprentice electricians are required to register with the Virginia Department of Labor. Journeyman and master electrician licenses are available in Virginia. |
Washington |
Electrician licenses are issued by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (WDLI). Electrical apprentices, journeymen electricians, master electricians, electrical administrators, electrical contractors, and specialty electrician contractors can earn electrician licenses. |
West Virginia |
To become a licensed electrical contractor in West Virginia, you must meet specific requirements. All electrical work over $1,000 requires an Electrical Contractor license.
Apprentice electricians, journeyman electricians, master electricians, and specialty electricians (HVAC, electrical signs, single-family dwellings, elevators, and low voltage) are licensed by the Office of the State Fire Marshal. For contractor licenses, you must schedule an exam with Prov and fill out a contractor license affidavit. |
Wisconsin |
According to the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS), only licensed or registered electricians may repair, maintain, or install electrical wiring. Electrical apprentices and registered electricians must be overseen by a licensed electrician or journeyman electrician.
Municipalities have their own contractor licensing requirements, which are handled differently by each county and city. Electricians must comply with local regulations pertaining to the area in which they intend to work. |
Wyoming |
Issuing electrician licenses is the responsibility of the Electrical Board of the Wyoming Department of Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety. The state of Wyoming offers several types of licenses, including apprentice electrician, journeyman electrician, master electrician, electrical contractor, and low voltage electrician. |
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