How to Get an Electrician License
This guide is compiled from the 46 statewide pages on this site, covering the path to an electrician license.
Most states license electricians at the state level, typically in journeyman and master tiers, with a separate contractor (business) license to run a company. Expect documented hours of on-the-job experience, a trade exam based on the National Electrical Code, and — for the contractor license — a surety bond and proof of insurance. Hours, fees and bond amounts vary widely by state; pick a state below for the verified figures.
Which states license electricians?
Licensed statewide (46): Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Iowa · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming
Licensed at the city level (3): Illinois · Indiana · Pennsylvania
Not yet covered on this site for Electrician: Kansas
The path, step by step
- Get the required experience. Each state sets its own rule and words it differently: in years, in supervised hours or through a registered apprenticeship, and not every state sets a fixed minimum. Open your state below for the exact wording.
- Sit the trade exam. All 46 statewide pages list a state trade exam.
- Prepare for the surety bond, if one applies. Of the 46 statewide pages, 8 pages state one fixed amount ($1,000–$25,000), 2 pages describe a bond that depends on tier, contract volume, endorsement or financial standing (see each state page), 1 page says the board may require one, 32 pages state that none is required, and 3 pages leave it unstated.
- Check the insurance rules. 28 of 46 statewide programs mandate liability insurance.
- Submit the application and its fee. Where a single application fee is stated (30 of 46 states), it ranges from $15 to $450.
- Keep the license active. Renewal cycles: Annual (14), every 2 years (20), every 3 years (11), every 4 years (1). 38 of 46 states mandate continuing education to renew.
Primary figures at a glance — the full, source-cited figure is on each state page.
Electrician license pages, by state
37 states list reciprocity agreements for Electrician — compare them on the reciprocity hub →
Verified: 49 pages, between 2026-06-19 and 2026-10-03
Frequently asked questions
Is there a national electrician license?
Most states license electricians at the state level, typically in journeyman and master tiers, with a separate contractor (business) license to run a company. Licensing is set state by state.
How much does an electrician license cost?
Where a single application fee is stated (30 of 46 states), it ranges from $15 to $450.
Which states set a fixed bond amount?
California, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Washington.