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Electrician
Electrician licensing varies widely across the United States. Some states require state-level licensing with rigorous apprenticeship and exam requirements, while others defer to local jurisdictions. Most follow the National Electrical Code (NEC) and offer apprentice, journeyman, and master license tiers.
51
Total States
40
State-Level Licensing
35
Master License Available
7,989
Avg Apprentice Hours
Electrician licensing typically follows a progression from apprentice to journeyman to master, with increasing experience and exam requirements at each level.
Most states require 8,000 hours (approximately 4 years) of on-the-job training combined with classroom instruction. Apprenticeships may be registered with the U.S. Department of Labor and typically include coursework on the National Electrical Code (NEC), electrical theory, and safety.
After completing an apprenticeship, electricians take a journeyman exam covering the NEC, electrical theory, and local codes. Master electrician exams require additional experience (typically 2+ years as a journeyman) and test advanced knowledge of electrical systems and project management.
Some states issue licenses at the state level, while others defer to cities, counties, or local jurisdictions. A few states have no state-level licensing requirement at all. This patchwork means electricians moving between states or even counties may face different requirements.
Click any column header to sort. Click a state to view full requirements.
| State | State Licensed? | Apprentice Hours | Master Available | Fees | CE Hours | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama(AL) | Yes | 8,000 | Yes | $150 | 14 | Mar 2026 |
| Alaska(AK) | Yes | 8,000 | No | $250 | 16 | Mar 2026 |
| Arizona(AZ) | No | 8,000 | No | $720 | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| Arkansas(AR) | Yes | 8,000 | Yes | $150 | 8 | Mar 2026 |
| California(CA) | Yes | 8,000 | No | $175 | 32 | Mar 2026 |
| Colorado(CO) | Yes | 8,000 | Yes | $240 | 24 | Mar 2026 |
| Connecticut(CT) | Yes | 8,000 | Yes | $155 | 4 | Mar 2026 |
| Delaware(DE) | Yes | 8,000 | Yes | $303 | 10 | Mar 2026 |
| District of Columbia(DC) | Yes | 8,000 | Yes | $225 | 16 | Mar 2026 |
| Florida(FL) | No | — | No | — | 14 | Mar 2026 |
| Georgia(GA) | No | 8,000 | No | $70 | 8 | Mar 2026 |
| Hawaii(HI) | Yes | 10,000 | Yes | $232–$441 | 4 | Mar 2026 |
| Idaho(ID) | Yes | 8,000 | Yes | $130 | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| Illinois(IL) | No | 8,000 | No | — | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| Indiana(IN) | No | 8,000 | Yes | — | — | Mar 2026 |
| Iowa(IA) | Yes | 8,000 | Yes | $162 | 18 | Mar 2026 |
| Kansas(KS) | No | 4,000 | Yes | — | — | Mar 2026 |
| Kentucky(KY) | Yes | 8,000 | Yes | $125 | 12 | Mar 2026 |
| Louisiana(LA) | Yes | 8,000 | Yes | $185 | 16 | Mar 2026 |
| Maine(ME) | Yes | 8,000 | Yes | $250 | 15 | Mar 2026 |
| Maryland(MD) | Yes | 8,000 | Yes | $275 | 10 | Mar 2026 |
| Massachusetts(MA) | Yes | 8,000 | Yes | $330 | 21 | Mar 2026 |
| Michigan(MI) | Yes | 8,000 | Yes | $140 | 15 | Mar 2026 |
| Minnesota(MN) | Yes | 8,000 | Yes | $103 | 16 | Mar 2026 |
| Mississippi(MS) | No | 8,000 | Yes | — | — | Mar 2026 |
| Missouri(MO) | No | — | Yes | — | — | Mar 2026 |
| Montana(MT) | Yes | 8,000 | Yes | $240 | 16 | Mar 2026 |
| Nebraska(NE) | Yes | 8,000 | Yes | $110 | 12 | Mar 2026 |
| Nevada(NV) | Yes | 8,000 | No | $1,140 | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| New Hampshire(NH) | Yes | 8,000 | Yes | $150 | 15 | Mar 2026 |
| New Jersey(NJ) | Yes | 8,000 | No | $100 | 34 | Mar 2026 |
| New Mexico(NM) | Yes | 8,000 | No | $411-$561 | 16 | Mar 2026 |
| New York(NY) | No | 10,500 | No | — | — | Mar 2026 |
| North Carolina(NC) | Yes | 9,000 | No | $225-$325 | 8 | Mar 2026 |
| North Dakota(ND) | Yes | 8,000 | Yes | $25 | 8 | Mar 2026 |
| Ohio(OH) | Yes | — | No | — | — | Mar 2026 |
| Oklahoma(OK) | Yes | 8,000 | No | $167 | 12 | Mar 2026 |
| Oregon(OR) | Yes | 8,000 | Yes | $100-$200 | 24 | Mar 2026 |
| Pennsylvania(PA) | No | 8,000 | No | — | — | Mar 2026 |
| Rhode Island(RI) | Yes | 8,000 | Yes | $160 | 10 | Mar 2026 |
| South Carolina(SC) | No | — | No | $370 | — | Mar 2026 |
| South Dakota(SD) | Yes | 8,000 | No | $170 | 16 | Mar 2026 |
| Tennessee(TN) | Yes | 8,000 | Yes | $160 | 8 | Mar 2026 |
| Texas(TX) | Yes | 8,000 | Yes | $125 | 4 | Mar 2026 |
| Utah(UT) | Yes | 6,000 | Yes | $90-$105 | 16 | Mar 2026 |
| Vermont(VT) | Yes | 8,000 | Yes | $215 | 15 | Mar 2026 |
| Virginia(VA) | Yes | 8,000 | Yes | $190 | 3 | Mar 2026 |
| Washington(WA) | Yes | 8,000 | Yes | $268.20 | 24 | Mar 2026 |
| West Virginia(WV) | Yes | 8,000 | Yes | $135 | 16 | Mar 2026 |
| Wisconsin(WI) | Yes | — | Yes | $165 | 24 | Mar 2026 |
| Wyoming(WY) | Yes | 8,000 | Yes | $205 | 16 | Mar 2026 |
Electricians often work alongside other licensed professionals in construction and trades. Explore related licensing requirements.
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See the full comparison table above for all 51 states.
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