How do I get an electrician license?

To get an electrician license you must complete an apprenticeship program (typically 4–5 years), pass a state licensing exam, and submit an application to your state electrical board. Requirements vary by state and license level (Apprentice, Journeyman, Master).

Is an electrician license valid in all states?

No. Electrician licenses are state-specific. Most states require a separate application to practice. Some states have reciprocity agreements. Check individual state guides for reciprocity details.

How much does an electrician license cost?

Electrician license fees vary by state and level, typically ranging from $25 to $200 for the application fee. Exam fees (usually through PSI or Prometric) are typically $65–$150. Some states also require proof of insurance and bonding.

How long does an electrician license last?

Most state electrician licenses are valid for 1–3 years and require renewal with continuing education (CE) hours — typically 8–24 hours per renewal period depending on the state.

Electrician License Requirements by State 2026

License overview

Electrician Licensing at a Glance

Electrician licensing is governed at the state level. Most states require separate licenses for Journeyman and Master electricians. Electrical contractors (businesses) need an additional contractor license.

The National Electrical Code (NEC) sets the technical standard used across the US, but licensing requirements — hours, exams, fees, and renewal — are set independently by each state. This page covers all 51 jurisdictions (50 states + DC) and 15 cities that issue their own electrician licenses.

Licensing authority

State electrical board

e.g. TDLR (TX), CSLB (CA), IBEW standards

Exam provider

PSI / Prometric

NEC-based written exam, varies by state

Exam fee

$65 – $150

Varies by state and exam provider

Application fee

$25 – $200

Varies by state and license level

Renewal period

1 – 3 years

CE hours required in most states

Reciprocity

State-by-state

No national compact — apply per state

License levels

Apprentice → Journeyman → Master → Contractor

Each level builds on the previous. Most employers hiring full-time require at minimum a Journeyman license.

Apprentice Electrician

$20–$32/hr

Typical pay range

✓Enroll in a registered apprenticeship program (IBEW, IEC, or state-approved)

✓4–5 years on-the-job training (8,000 hours typical)

✓Related technical instruction (144 hrs/year typical)

✓Some states issue a formal apprentice card — others do not

✓Cannot work unsupervised or pull permits at this level

✓OSHA 10 often required by employers during apprenticeship

Journeyman Electrician

$36–$54/hr

BLS OES 2025 median

✓Complete apprenticeship (typically 8,000 hours / 4–5 years)

✓Pass state Journeyman electrician exam (NEC-based, 80–100 questions)

✓Submit application + proof of hours to state board

✓Pay application fee ($25–$150 depending on state)

✓Can work independently — cannot pull permits in most states

✓Renewal: 1–3 years with continuing education (8–24 CE hours)

Master Electrician

$82–$118K/yr

BLS OES 2025 median $94K

✓Hold Journeyman license for 2–4 years (varies by state)

✓Pass state Master electrician exam (more advanced NEC content)

✓Can pull permits and supervise journeymen

✓Required to run your own electrical business in most states

✓Higher CE requirements at renewal (16–32 hours typical)

✓Some states require liability insurance and bonding

Electrical Contractor

Business license

Separate from individual license

✓Requires a qualifying Master Electrician on staff

✓Business entity registration in the state

✓Proof of general liability insurance (typically $500K–$1M)

✓Surety bond (amount varies $5K–$25K by state)

✓Separate application and fee from individual license

✓Required to legally bid and contract electrical work

State license guides

Electrician License Requirements — All 50 States + DC

Select your state for full requirements including exam details, fees, application steps, renewal period, and reciprocity agreements.

ROC licensePhoenix local

Arkansas

State exam

California

CSLB certificationLA local layer

Colorado

State examDenver local

State examMiami-Dade local

Georgia

State examAtlanta local

State examChicago local

State examNYC DOB license

State examPortland local

TDLR — state examHouston local layer

State examSeattle local

City-specific licensing

Cities That Issue Their Own Electrician Licenses

These 15 cities have local licensing requirements that may be in addition to or instead of a state electrician license. If you work in any of these cities, verify both state and city requirements.

New York City

New York

NYC Department of Buildings (DOB)

NYC issues its own Master/Special Electrician license independent of NY state. Requires separate application and exam through NYC DOB.

Chicago

Illinois

City of Chicago Dept. of Buildings

Chicago administers its own Journeyman and Master Electrician exams separately from the state. Different exam content and renewal schedule.

Houston

Texas

Houston Permitting Center

Houston requires a city-level electrical permit license in addition to TDLR state license. Required for pulling permits in Houston city limits.

Los Angeles

California

LADBS — Dept. of Building & Safety

LA adds a local contractor registration layer on top of CSLB state certification. Required for electrical work within LA city limits.

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

City of Philadelphia L&I

Pennsylvania has no statewide electrician license. Philadelphia licenses electricians locally through the city's Dept. of Licenses and Inspections.

Dallas

Texas

City of Dallas Development Services

Dallas requires a separate city electrical registration in addition to TDLR state license for permit-pulling within city limits.

Phoenix

Arizona

City of Phoenix Planning & Development

Phoenix requires a local contractor registration layer on top of the Arizona ROC license.

Miami

Florida

Miami-Dade County Building Dept.

Miami-Dade County runs its own electrical contractor licensing authority alongside the state DBPR.

Atlanta

Georgia

City of Atlanta Office of Buildings

Atlanta requires a local permit registration for electrical contractors doing work within city limits.

Seattle

Washington

Seattle Dept. of Construction & Inspections

Seattle adds a local electrical contractor license layer on top of the L&I state license.

Denver

Colorado

Denver Development Services

Denver issues a city electrical contractor license separately from the state journeyman/master license.

Indianapolis

Indiana

City of Indianapolis — Dept. of Business & Neighborhood Services

Indiana has no statewide electrician license. Indianapolis and other Indiana cities license electricians locally.

Kansas City

Missouri

City of Kansas City Development Services

Missouri licenses trades locally rather than at the state level. KC issues its own Journeyman and Master licenses.

Omaha

Nebraska

City of Omaha Planning Dept.

Nebraska licenses electricians by city. Omaha has its own Journeyman and Master Electrician licensing board.

St. Louis

Missouri

City of St. Louis Building Division

St. Louis issues city Journeyman and Master Electrician licenses independently of Kansas City and state.

Frequently asked questions

Electrician License FAQs

How long does it take to get an electrician license?

The apprentice program takes 4–5 years. After completing the apprenticeship and passing the Journeyman exam, state boards typically process applications in 2–6 weeks. Some states offer expedited processing. Master Electrician applications require 2–4 years as a Journeyman first.

Can I use my electrician license in another state?

Most states do not have reciprocity agreements with other states for electrician licenses. You typically need to apply separately in each state where you want to work. Some neighboring states have bilateral reciprocity — check the individual state guides for current reciprocity information.

What is on the Journeyman Electrician exam?

The exam is based on the National Electrical Code (NEC) and typically covers code calculations, wiring methods, overcurrent protection, grounding, motor controls, and load calculations. Most states use PSI or Prometric as exam providers. The exam is 80–100 questions with a 75% passing score in most states.

Does GlobalCybers pay for my electrician license renewal?

Yes. Job seekers registered through GlobalCybers are eligible for covered license renewal fees, new certification costs, and required CE training as part of our candidate support program. Register as a candidate and our team will reach out about credential support.

What is the average salary for a Journeyman Electrician?

According to BLS OES 2025 data, the median annual salary for Journeyman Electricians is $74,000/year ($36/hr) nationally. The range runs from $48,000 (apprentice level) to $92,000+ (foreman and master level). Texas, California, and Illinois markets pay significantly above the national median.

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