What Certifications, Licenses and Registrations Do Electricians Need?

People depend upon electricity for a significant portion of their daily lives. From heating and cooling to lighting and appliances, people across the country rely on electricity to power their lives – and electricians make it all possible. Without qualified electricians, many of the advancements and comforts people have come to expect would not be possible. Being an electrician is an exciting career that requires hands-on work, problem-solving skills, and customer service skills. Furthermore, engineering offers the opportunity to improve the lives of people everywhere.

Electricians are responsible for installing and maintaining electrical systems in homes, businesses, and industrial buildings. They handle the wiring, transformers, and circuit breakers to create a system that is safe and runs reliably for the users. Furthermore, they must follow state and local building regulation based on the National Electric Code.

Credentials for electricians

Attending a vocational school program to receive training in circuitry, safety, and electricity is a common way to start an electrician career. The Refrigeration School’s electrician training program prepares students for the exams they need to take in order to obtain their credentials. Every state has slightly different requirements for electricians in terms of what tests are required to receive the different licenses.

Although individual states have their own requirements for who qualifies for which position, most areas require that applicants complete a certain number of hours of classroom education and on-the-job training. Supervised worked experience and classroom learning about electricity prior to taking an intensive exam are commonly seen requirements for those seeking a journeyman certification.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ¹, students have to take their state’s journeyman licensing exam in order to perform duties on their own. This test will ensure they understand electricity, including the National Electric code, the state electrical codes, and local electrical codes. Passing the journeyman licensing exam opens the door for qualified professionals to advance through the field. Some professionals may also wish to pursue additional certifications, such as those offered for solar installation professionals by SEI or NABCEP. These certificates can help electricians proceed if they want to focus on solar energy electricity.

Here is a breakdown of which states do and do not require licensing. The exact requirements will vary by state, so interested professionals should contact their local building commission or other licensing body.

Alabama

Electrical contractor
• work experience, academics, exam

Journeyman electrician

• work experience, academics, exam

Alaska

Electrical contractor
• registration and must be/work with a licensed electrical administrator

Electrician

• work experience, exam

Arizona

Electrical contractor
• work experience, exam

Journeyman electrician

• licensed at local levels

Arkansas

Electrical contractor
• work experience, hold a Master’s Electrician’s license, exam

Electrician

• exam, continuing education

California

Electrical contractor
• evidence of technical knowledge and experience, exam

Electrician

• complete apprenticeship, certification, exam

General electrician

• work experience

Residential electrician

• work experience

Colorado

Electrical contractor
• hold a Master Electrician’s license

Master electrician

• degree, experience, exam

Journeyman electrician

• 4 year apprenticeship or applicable experience

Residential wireman

• experience

Connecticut

Electrical contractor
• 2 years as a licensed journeyman, exam

Journeyman electrician

• work experience, education, exam

Delaware

Master electrician general
• work experience, schooling, exam

Master electrician limited

• work experience, schooling, exam

Florida

Local registration
• local exam, journeymen licensed at local levels

Certified

• state-wide exam

Georgia

Contractor
• exam, continuing education

Hawaii

Electrical contractor
• exam

Journey workers

• work experience, exam

Supervising electrician

• 4 years as journey worker

Idaho

Electrical contractor
• be journeyman for at least 2 years, exam

Master journeyman electrician

• be journeyman for 4 years, exam

Journeyman electrician

• 4 years experience as apprentice in work experience and classroom, exam

Illinois

No statewide licensing, municipalities can license contractors

Indiana

No statewide licensing, municipalities can license contractors

Iowa

Working on developing licensing requirements, no statewide licensing of journeyman

Kansas

No statewide licensing, most local jurisdictions have licensing. Note: optional exam to ensure licensing in all jurisdictions.

Kentucky

Electrical contractor
• experience, exam

Master electrician

• experience, exam

Exam

• experience, exam

Louisiana

Electrical contractor
• experience, exam

Alarm installers

• license required

Journeyman electrician

• no statewide requirements

Maine

Fees and exams required for licensing in all electrician categories

Maryland

Master electrician
• exam

Massachusetts

Master electrician
• experience as journeyman, exam

Journeyman electrician

• work experience or apprenticeship, exam

Michigan

Electrical contractor
• exam

Master electrician

• exam

Journeyman electrician

• exam

Minnesota

Electrical contractor
• licensed electrician with insurance

Master electrician

• education, experience as journeyman, exam

Journeyman electrician

• experience, exam

Installer

• exam

Mississippi

Electrical contractor
• exam

Journeyman electrician

• licensed at local levels

Missouri

No statewide licensing

Montana

Master electrician
• experience, education, exam

Journeyman electrician

• experience, exam

Residential electrician

• experience, exam

Nebraska

Electrical contractor
• education, experience as journeyman, exam

Journeyman electrician

• experience, exam

Nevada

Electrical contractor
• exam

Journeyman

• no statewide licensing, some done in local jurisdictions

New Hampshire

Master electrician
• experience as apprentice or schooling, exam

Journeyman

• experience as apprentice or schooling, exam

New Jersey

Electrical contractor
• experience, exam

Journeyman electrician

• no state licensing

New Mexico

Electrical contractor
• experience, exam

Journeyman electrician

• experience, exam

New York

No state licensing, some local government licensing or permits

North Carolina

Electrical contractors
• exam, continuing education

Journeyman

• no state requirements, local municipalities with some requirements

North Dakota

Electrical contractor
• experience as journeyman or Class “B” electrician

Master electrician

• experience as journeyman, exam

Journeyman electrician

• experience, exam

Class “B” electrician

• experience, exam

Ohio

Contractor
• experience, exam, continuing education

Journeyman

• no statewide licensing

Oklahoma

Electrical contractor
• exam

Journeyman electrician

• exam

Oregon

General journeyman
• apprenticeship or equivalent, exam, continuing education

Limited journeyman electrician

• apprenticeship or equivalent, exam

Pennsylvania

No statewide requirements, some in local jurisdictions

Rhode Island

Licenses required, contact state for requirements

South Carolina

Electrical contractor
• exam

Journeyman

• licensed at local levels

South Dakota

Electrical contractor
• experience

Journeyman

• experience, exam

Class “B” electrician

• experience, exam

Tennessee

Contractors
• exam

Electricians

• exam

Texas

Master electrician
• experience, have journeyman license for 2 years, exam

Journeyman electrician

• experience, exam

Utah

Electrical contractor
• exam

Master electrician

• experience, exam

Journeyman electrician

• experience, exam

Vermont

Master electrician
journeyman’s license for 2 years, exam

Journeyman electrician

• education, experience, exam

Virginia

Master electrician
• exam

Journeyman

• exam

Washington

Master electrician
• apprenticeship or experience

Journeyman

• experience

District of Columbia

Must apply with experience to sit for exams for all classifications

West Virginia

Electrical contractor
• exam

Master electrician

• experience, exam

Journeyman

• experience, exam

Wisconsin

Master electrician
• exam, local municipalities determine certification

Journeyman electrician

• experience, local municipalities determine certification

Wyoming

Electrical contractor
• experience as master electrician

Master electrician

• experience, exam

Journeyman electrician

• experience, exam

Many states have reciprocal relationships with others, meaning that they will recognize licenses that have been issued by other states. For example, California, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah all acknowledge each other’s licenses in good standing. Maine will reciprocally recognize New Hampshire and Vermont at certain levels.

Working as an electrician is an exciting field that offers faster-than-average projected job growth ², the chance to work in emerging markets, and the opportunity to work in fields that directly impact people. Those interested in entering this industry should contact RSI for help in getting started.