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How to become a licensed electrician in Alaska. State-level licensing required. Apprenticeship: 8,000 hours. Total initial fees: $250. Verified 2026-03-21. Data verified 2026-03-21. Source: LicenseMap (getlicensemap.com).
Electrician
Governing Authority
Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Mechanical Inspection Section (Certificates of Fitness); Alaska DCCED CBPL (Electrical Administrator licenses)
Official website →Some information on this page has not been fully verified.
61% of data points are verified against official sources. 18 fields based on preliminary research. We recommend confirming details with your state's licensing authority. See sources below · Report incorrect data
Yes
State Licensed?
Apprentice Hours
2 levels
License Levels
Total Initial Fees
CE Hours
NEC Version
Regulation Status
VerifiedState Licensed
Yes
Regulation Level
state
License Types
Notes
Alaska uses a 'Certificate of Fitness' (COF) system for individual electricians, administered by the Department of Labor Mechanical Inspection Section. A separate 'Electrical Administrator' license is issued by the Department of Commerce (CBPL) for those who supervise electrical contracting businesses. Two state agencies are involved: DOL (COF) and DCCED/CBPL (Administrator).
State-Level Licensing Required
Regulated by the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Mechanical Inspection Section (Certificates of Fitness); Alaska DCCED CBPL (Electrical Administrator licenses)
Official Title
Electrical Trainee (Apprentice)
Experience Required
Must register before beginning apprenticeship or field training. 8,000 hours of on-the-job training and related classroom instruction required to advance to Journeyman.
Exam Required
No
Additional Requirements
Official Title
Journeyman Electrician (Certificate of Fitness)
Experience Required
8,000 hours of experience in the trade. Minimum 6,000 hours must be commercial/industrial; maximum 2,000 hours may be residential.
Exam Required
Yes
Additional Requirements
Apprenticeship
Hours Breakdown
8,000
Total Hours
4
Years
8,000
On-the-Job
DOL Registered Apprenticeship
Exam Requirements
VerifiedRequired
Journeyman Exam
Not Required
Master Exam
Exam Provider
State-administered (Alaska DOL Mechanical Inspection) for COF exams; PSI Exams for Electrical Administrator exams
NEC Version
2020 NEC
Open Book
Yes
Journeyman Exam Details
240 min
Time Limit
70%
Passing Score
Minimum Age
Education
Background Check
Insurance Required
Bonding Required
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Apprentice Registration Fee Registration fee for Electrical Trainee | |
Journeyman License Fee $50 application/exam fee + $200 COF license fee (2-year) | |
Exam Fee Combined application and exam fee for COF exams | |
Renewal Fee 2-year COF renewal; $50 late fee if expired 90 days to 2 years | |
Total Initial Fees $50 application/exam + $200 COF license for Journeyman |
Renewal & CE Requirements
Verified2 years
Renewal Period
16 hrs
CE Hours Required
CE Topics
Renewal Fee
$200
2-year COF renewal fee; $50 late fee if expired 90 days to 2 years
Regulatory Board
Electrician licenses must be renewed on schedule. Most states require continuing education covering NEC code updates, safety practices, and applicable state/local amendments.
Out-of-State Reciprocity
VerifiedAccepts Out-of-State Credentials
Reciprocity Type
Reciprocal COF with select states
Transfer Details
Journeyman COF reciprocity with: Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Wyoming. As of August 2025, Alaska also accepts Provisional COF applications from any US state/jurisdiction ($150 fee, valid up to 1 year).
Additional Requirements for Transfer
Electrician license reciprocity varies significantly by state. Some states offer endorsement for experienced electricians, while others require passing the state exam regardless of prior credentials.
Alaska uniquely splits electrician credentialing between two agencies: DOL Mechanical Inspection issues 'Certificates of Fitness' for working electricians, while DCCED/CBPL issues 'Electrical Administrator' licenses for those supervising contracting businesses. There is no 'Master Electrician' credential. Alaska also offers a Provisional COF program allowing electricians from any US state to work temporarily.
Alaska uses a 'Certificate of Fitness' (COF) system, not traditional 'licensing.' COFs are issued by the Department of Labor Mechanical Inspection Section.
There is NO 'Master Electrician' license in Alaska. The 'Electrical Administrator' license (issued by DCCED/CBPL) serves as the supervisory credential required for electrical contracting businesses.
Two state agencies are involved: DOL Mechanical Inspection (COF for Trainee/Residential/Journeyman) and DCCED CBPL (Electrical Administrator).
Alaska also offers a Residential Electrician COF requiring only 4,000 hours of residential experience (vs 8,000 for Journeyman).
Electrical Administrator exams are administered by PSI Exams (100 questions for Unlimited, 75 questions for Residential, both 4-hour, 70% passing); COF exams are state-administered.
As of August 2025, Alaska accepts Provisional COF applications from any US state/jurisdiction ($150 fee, valid up to 1 year).
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in Alaska.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#1 of 51
Salary
#7 of 51
Cost
#38 of 51
Processing
#1 of 51
Based on May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data for Electricians (SOC 47-2111)
Entry Level
$61,110
25th percentile
Median
$81,860
+31% vs. national avg ($62,350)Experienced
$98,740
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
1,820 employed in this state
Source: BLS OEWS – Electricians (May 2024)
National employment projections for 2024-2034
Projected Growth
+7.1%
Average GrowthNew Jobs
+60,000
over 10 years
Annual Openings
68,500
per year (avg.)
839,600 currently employed nationwide (2024)
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (September 2025)
Electrical Career Ladder+21% salary growth potential
You are here
Electrician (Journeyman)
$81,860
Apprenticeship (4-5 years) + journeyman exam
You are here
Electrician (Journeyman)
Apprenticeship (4-5 years) + journeyman exam
$81,860
Master electrician license + contractor license
$99,020
Salary data from BLS OEWS May 2024 for this state. Career paths represent common advancement routes — actual progression may vary. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Outlook Handbook
Government fees and exam costs to obtain your initial license
Note: These are government licensing fees only. Education/training program costs (tuition, books, etc.) are not included as they vary widely by institution.
Estimated total: 212–224 weeks
Timeline estimated from licensing requirements on this page.
Source: Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development — Licensing Requirements
2–8 weeks
Estimated processing time
Source: Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development — Licensing Requirements
Study guides and NEC code practice tests for the electrician licensing exam.
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Official regulatory agency — added during electrician audit
Accessed 2026-03-22
Primary source for Alaska COF system
Accessed 2026-03-19
COF requirements and fees
Accessed 2026-03-19
Electrical Administrator license information
Accessed 2026-03-19
Reciprocity information
Accessed 2026-03-19
Administrator exam details
Accessed 2026-03-19
Alaska requires state-level licensing. An apprenticeship of 8,000 hours is required. All licensing is managed through the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Mechanical Inspection Section (Certificates of Fitness); Alaska DCCED CBPL (Electrical Administrator licenses).
Requirements vary by state and local jurisdiction. Always verify current requirements with your state licensing authority.