Alabama Electrical License Requirements

Official classification: Electrical Contractor License / Journeyman Electrician License · Issued by the Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors (AECB).

⚡ ElectricianAL ✔ Verified 2026-10-03

In Alabama, electricians must hold the Electrical Contractor License / Journeyman Electrician License, issued by the Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors (AECB), and no state surety bond is required. Full requirements — experience, exams, fees, insurance, renewal and reciprocity — are detailed below.

How to become a licensed electrician in Alabama

Follow these steps to earn your Electrical Contractor License / Journeyman Electrician License. Every figure is verified against the Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors (AECB); full detail for each step is further down the page.

Build the required experience. Electrical Contractor: minimum 8,000 hours of experience designing, planning, laying out, and directly supervising electrical construction (up to 2,000 hours may be substituted by accredited electrical curriculum at a 2:1 ratio). Journeyman Electrician: minimum 8,000 hours installing electrical wiring, apparatus or equipment for lighting, power or controls (commercial, industrial or residential); one year of accredited electrical curriculum or a recognized apprenticeship counts as 1,000 hours, up to 2,000 hours (Ala. Admin. Code 303-X-3-.03).
Pass the exam for the license class you are applying for. Providers, passing scores and fees are in the Exams section below.
Check the insurance rules. Liability: Not state-mandated by AECB for individual license; commonly required by project owners and local jurisdictions. Workers' compensation: Governed by Alabama's workers' compensation law (Ala. Code Title 25, Chapter 5), not by AECB.
Clear the background check. Not publicly specified by AECB
Submit your application and fees. Apply through the Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors (AECB) — Not separately listed (included in examination process) application fee, plus a $150 (Electrical Contractor) / $35 (Journeyman Electrician) license fee. Processing time: Exam applications must reach the Board by 4:30 PM ten full working days before a Board meeting, and license applications by 4:00 PM fourteen days before the next meeting. The Board examines applicants at least once every three months (Ala. Admin. Code 303-X-3-.03), and the exam vendor's bulletin says applications are reviewed quarterly, with deadlines posted on the Board's website.
Keep the license active. Renewal: Annual (renewal form available online); contractors' continuing education runs on a two-year cycle, and 2027 is the next CE year. Continuing education: 14 hours of continuing education every two years for Electrical Contractor licensees (Ala. Code 34-36-8(b); Ala. Admin. Code 303-X-4-.02). Per the Board, 2027 is a CE year: the hours must be completed before the 2027 renewal for 2028, and since May 2026 course providers report them through the Board's CE portal. Journeyman Electricians are currently not required to submit CE hours.

For the general path in every state, see the Electrician guide →

Alabama electrician license lookup

To confirm an electrician is properly licensed in Alabama — or to check the status of your own license — search the issuing agency's official license database. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.

Verify a license now: Search the official alecb-search.kalmservices.net database →

License types

Electrical Contractor — Engage in business soliciting and contracting electrical work statewide; must supervise installation
Journeyman Electrician — Install electrical systems; must work under a licensed master or state-certified electrical contractor
Provisional Electrical Licensee — Closed to new applicants: Act 2024-375 ended the issuance of new provisional electrical contractor licenses; existing provisional licensees may renew ($75 a year, Ala. Admin. Code 303-X-3-.10)

Requirements at a glance

Experience required	Electrical Contractor: minimum 8,000 hours of experience designing, planning, laying out, and directly supervising electrical construction (up to 2,000 hours may be substituted by accredited electrical curriculum at a 2:1 ratio). Journeyman Electrician: minimum 8,000 hours installing electrical wiring, apparatus or equipment for lighting, power or controls (commercial, industrial or residential); one year of accredited electrical curriculum or a recognized apprenticeship counts as 1,000 hours, up to 2,000 hours (Ala. Admin. Code 303-X-3-.03).
Application fee	Not separately listed (included in examination process)
License fee	$150 (Electrical Contractor) / $35 (Journeyman Electrician)
Renewal fee	$150/year (Active Electrical Contractor); $35/year (Active Journeyman); $75/year (Active Provisional Electrician); $50 late fee for Electrical Contractor renewals received after the renewal month (AECB annual renewal form)
Renewal period	Annual (renewal form available online); contractors' continuing education runs on a two-year cycle, and 2027 is the next CE year
Continuing education	14 hours of continuing education every two years for Electrical Contractor licensees (Ala. Code 34-36-8(b); Ala. Admin. Code 303-X-4-.02). Per the Board, 2027 is a CE year: the hours must be completed before the 2027 renewal for 2028, and since May 2026 course providers report them through the Board's CE portal. Journeyman Electricians are currently not required to submit CE hours.
Bond required	No state-level surety bond is required by the Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors (AECB); neither Ala. Code 34-36 nor the Board's rules impose one. A city may require its own permit bond.
Liability insurance	Not state-mandated by AECB for individual license; commonly required by project owners and local jurisdictions
Property damage	—
Workers' comp	Governed by Alabama's workers' compensation law (Ala. Code Title 25, Chapter 5), not by AECB
Background check	Not publicly specified by AECB
Credit requirement	None
Reciprocity	Mississippi; Tennessee; North Carolina; South Carolina; Virginia; Ohio; Louisiana; Texas; Georgia (reciprocity has ended — the AECB no longer shares reciprocity with Georgia); NASCLA National Electrical Contractor Exam holders may apply for waiver · compare all states
Processing time	Exam applications must reach the Board by 4:30 PM ten full working days before a Board meeting, and license applications by 4:00 PM fourteen days before the next meeting. The Board examines applicants at least once every three months (Ala. Admin. Code 303-X-3-.03), and the exam vendor's bulletin says applications are reviewed quarterly, with deadlines posted on the Board's website.

What an Alabama electrician license costs

Application fee	Not separately listed (included in examination process).
License fee	$150 (Electrical Contractor) / $35 (Journeyman Electrician).
Electrical Contractor Examination (references the 2023 NEC, NFPA 70)	$165.
Alabama Business & Law Exam (required for reciprocity applicants)	Included in reciprocal application fee.
Journeyman Electrician Examination	$115.
Surety bond	No state-level surety bond is required by the Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors (AECB); neither Ala. Code 34-36 nor the Board's rules impose one. A city may require its own permit bond.
Renewal fee	$150/year (Active Electrical Contractor); $35/year (Active Journeyman); $75/year (Active Provisional Electrician); $50 late fee for Electrical Contractor renewals received after the renewal month (AECB annual renewal form).
Renewal period	Annual (renewal form available online); contractors' continuing education runs on a two-year cycle, and 2027 is the next CE year.

Exams

Electrical Contractor Examination (references the 2023 NEC, NFPA 70)	Provider: Provexam.com · Passing: 75% · Fee: $165
Alabama Business & Law Exam (required for reciprocity applicants)	Provider: Provexam.com · Passing: Not publicly disclosed by AECB · Fee: Included in reciprocal application fee
Journeyman Electrician Examination	Provider: Provexam.com · Passing: 75% · Fee: $115

Renewing an Alabama electrician license

The Electrical Contractor License / Journeyman Electrician License renews on a fixed cycle set by the Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors (AECB). Finish the continuing-education requirement before you file — boards generally will not process a renewal without it. Late and lapsed renewals are handled differently by every board, so check the renewal page linked below before the deadline passes.

Renewal period	Annual (renewal form available online); contractors' continuing education runs on a two-year cycle, and 2027 is the next CE year
Renewal fee	$150/year (Active Electrical Contractor); $35/year (Active Journeyman); $75/year (Active Provisional Electrician); $50 late fee for Electrical Contractor renewals received after the renewal month (AECB annual renewal form)
Continuing education	14 hours of continuing education every two years for Electrical Contractor licensees (Ala. Code 34-36-8(b); Ala. Admin. Code 303-X-4-.02). Per the Board, 2027 is a CE year: the hours must be completed before the 2027 renewal for 2028, and since May 2026 course providers report them through the Board's CE portal. Journeyman Electricians are currently not required to submit CE hours.
Where to renew	Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors (AECB)

Local / municipal notes

Reciprocal license fee is $315 (effective February 14, 2026). All fees non-refundable. Applicants cannot self-certify their own experience hours.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an Alabama electrician license cost?

Application: Not separately listed (included in examination process). License: $150 (Electrical Contractor) / $35 (Journeyman Electrician). Renewal: $150/year (Active Electrical Contractor); $35/year (Active Journeyman); $75/year (Active Provisional Electrician); $50 late fee for Electrical Contractor renewals received after the renewal month (AECB annual renewal form).

How do I look up a electrician license in Alabama?

Search the official license database at alecb-search.kalmservices.net. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.

Do electricians in Alabama need a surety bond?

No state-level surety bond is required by the Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors (AECB); neither Ala. Code 34-36 nor the Board's rules impose one. A city may require its own permit bond.

What experience is required for an Alabama electrician license?

Electrical Contractor: minimum 8,000 hours of experience designing, planning, laying out, and directly supervising electrical construction (up to 2,000 hours may be substituted by accredited electrical curriculum at a 2:1 ratio). Journeyman Electrician: minimum 8,000 hours installing electrical wiring, apparatus or equipment for lighting, power or controls (commercial, industrial or residential); one year of accredited electrical curriculum or a recognized apprenticeship counts as 1,000 hours, up to 2,000 hours (Ala. Admin. Code 303-X-3-.03).

Is insurance required for electricians in Alabama?

Liability: Not state-mandated by AECB for individual license; commonly required by project owners and local jurisdictions. Workers' compensation: Governed by Alabama's workers' compensation law (Ala. Code Title 25, Chapter 5), not by AECB.

How long does it take to get an Alabama electrician license?

Processing time: Exam applications must reach the Board by 4:30 PM ten full working days before a Board meeting, and license applications by 4:00 PM fourteen days before the next meeting. The Board examines applicants at least once every three months (Ala. Admin. Code 303-X-3-.03), and the exam vendor's bulletin says applications are reviewed quarterly, with deadlines posted on the Board's website.

Is a background check required for electricians in Alabama?

Background check: Not publicly specified by AECB.

How often must an Alabama electrician license be renewed?

Annual (renewal form available online); contractors' continuing education runs on a two-year cycle, and 2027 is the next CE year. Continuing education: 14 hours of continuing education every two years for Electrical Contractor licensees (Ala. Code 34-36-8(b); Ala. Admin. Code 303-X-4-.02). Per the Board, 2027 is a CE year: the hours must be completed before the 2027 renewal for 2028, and since May 2026 course providers report them through the Board's CE portal. Journeyman Electricians are currently not required to submit CE hours.

Fees and rules change frequently (often annually). This page was last verified on 2026-10-03 — always confirm current requirements directly with the Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors (AECB) before applying. This is not legal advice.