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Electrician
Total cost: $162
Governing Authority
Iowa Electrical Examining Board, under the Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing (DIAL)
Official website →Some details on this page are not yet confirmed against an official source. See sources below or contact the licensing board to verify.
Yes
State Licensed?
Apprentice Hours
3 levels
License Levels
Total Initial Fees
CE Hours
NEC Version
Get the Iowa Electrician Roadmap — every step, fee, and deadline mapped out. — every step mapped out.
Get the Roadmap — $20Apprentice Registration Fee
$20 for Apprentice Electrician (currently enrolled in U.S. DOL Apprenticeship Program) and Unclassified Person
Annual fee for Apprentice and Unclassified Person licenses
Journeyman License Fee
$75 for Journeyman Electrician, Residential Electrician, and Special Electrician
3-year license fee for Journeyman, Residential, and Special Electrician licenses
Master Electrician License Fee
$375 for Electrical Contractor, Residential Electrical Contractor, Master Electrician, and Residential Master Electrician
3-year license fee for Master Electrician, Residential Master, Electrical Contractor, and Residential Electrical Contractor
Exam Fee
$87
Paid to PSI
Renewal Fee
$75 (consistent with journeyman license fee; renewal fee equals initial license fee for journeyman-level licenses)
Journeyman/Residential/Special: $75 per 3-year renewal. Master/Contractor: $375 per 3-year renewal. Late fee: 10% per month for up to 3 months past expiration. After 3 months expired, must reapply.
Regulation Status
VerifiedState Licensed
Yes
Regulation Level
state
License Types
Notes
Iowa has Class A and Class B designations for both Journeyman and Master levels. Class A requires an exam; Class B is based on cumulative experience (16,000 hours, 8,000+ since Jan 1, 1998) without an exam but is subject to local restrictions by political subdivisions. Iowa also has an 'Unclassified Person' category for workers with 100 continuous days of on-the-job training. Special Electrician license covers limited tasks like irrigation wiring and AC/refrigeration equipment. The state has particularly broad reciprocity agreements.
State-Level Licensing Required
Regulated by the Iowa Electrical Examining Board, under the Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing (DIAL)
Official Title
Apprentice Electrician
Experience Required
No prior experience required. Must be actively enrolled in an apprenticeship training program registered by the U.S. Department of Labor. Works under direct supervision of a licensed electrician.
Exam Required
No
Additional Requirements
Official Title
Class A Journeyman Electrician
Experience Required
Must have successfully completed a registered apprenticeship program, passed a supervised written journeyman exam with a score of 70 or higher within 24 months of submission, and completed four years of experience as an apprentice electrician. (Iowa Admin Code 481-502.2(6)(a))
Exam Required
Yes
Additional Requirements
Official Title
Class A Master Electrician
Experience Required
Must have at least one year's experience as a licensed Class A or Class B Journeyman electrician and pass the master exam with 70% or higher within 24 months. (Iowa Testing Sponsorship Requirements document; Iowa Admin Code 481-502.2)
Exam Required
Yes
Additional Requirements
Apprenticeship
Hours Breakdown
8,000
Total Hours
4
Years
8,000
On-the-Job
DOL Registered Apprenticeship
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Exam Requirements
VerifiedRequired
Journeyman Exam
Required
Master Exam
Exam Provider
PSI examination; sponsorship by the state Electrical Examining Board is required before scheduling.
NEC Version
2020 NEC (effective April 1, 2021). Exams currently based on 2023 NEC. Full administrative adoption of 2023 NEC may be in progress.
Open Book
Yes
Journeyman Exam Details
80
Questions
180 min
Time Limit
70%
Passing Score
Master Exam Details
100
Questions
240 min
Time Limit
70%
Passing Score
Retake Policy
Must wait 30 days before retaking. Up to 3 attempts before additional training is required.
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Overall licensing difficulty: 33/100
Study recommendation: 1–2 weeks of focused review is usually sufficient
Practice with realistic exam questions
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Minimum Age
Education
Background Check
Insurance Required
Bonding Required
Not sure if you need an electrician license? Check whether your state requires one.
Iowa has 21% above average — nationally the ratio is 1 per 458 residents.
Iowa is one of the most saturated electricians markets in the country.
Iowa ranks #11 out of 51 states by electricians per capita.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Apprentice Registration Fee Annual fee for Apprentice and Unclassified Person licenses | |
Journeyman License Fee 3-year license fee for Journeyman, Residential, and Special Electrician licenses | |
Master License Fee 3-year license fee for Master Electrician, Residential Master, Electrical Contractor, and Residential Electrical Contractor | |
Exam Fee Paid to PSI | |
Renewal Fee Journeyman/Residential/Special: $75 per 3-year renewal. Master/Contractor: $375 per 3-year renewal. Late fee: 10% per month for up to 3 months past expiration. After 3 months expired, must reapply. | |
Total Initial Fees Journeyman: $87 exam (PSI) + $75 license = $162. Master: $87 exam (PSI) + $375 license = $462. |
Use our licensing cost calculator to estimate your total investment including education and exam fees.
Calculate your licensing ROI →
See how quickly your license investment pays for itself.
Renewal & CE Requirements
VerifiedAll journeyman and master-level electrical licenses expire every 3 years. Apprentice and Unclassified Person licenses renew annually.
Renewal Period
18 hrs
CE Hours Required
CE Topics
Renewal Fee
$75
Journeyman/Residential/Special: $75 per 3-year renewal. Master/Contractor: $375 per 3-year renewal. Late fee: 10% per month for up to 3 months.
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.
For a deeper dive into CE requirements and deadlines, see our electrician license renewal guide.
Out-of-State Reciprocity
VerifiedAccepts Out-of-State Credentials
Reciprocity Type
Full reciprocity
Transfer Details
Iowa reciprocates broadly. Journeyman license recognized from: Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin, Wyoming. Master license reciprocity with Minnesota and South Dakota.
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.
Moving to Iowa? Use our Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Compare Iowa with other states →
See how requirements, costs, and timelines differ across all 50 states.
Iowa's dual Class A/Class B system allows experienced electricians (16,000+ hours) to obtain journeyman or master licenses without an exam, though Class B licenses may be restricted by local jurisdictions. The 'Unclassified Person' category is a distinctive Iowa feature for workers outside formal apprenticeships. Iowa has one of the broadest reciprocity networks in the country with 13 states at the journeyman level. The state still formally uses the 2020 NEC while exams have already transitioned to the 2023 NEC.
Iowa has Class A (exam-based) and Class B (experience-based, no exam) pathways for both Journeyman and Master levels. Class B requires 16,000 hours of cumulative experience with at least 8,000 since January 1, 1998, but may be subject to local restrictions.
The 'Unclassified Person' category is unique to Iowa -- it covers workers with 100 continuous days of on-the-job training who are not enrolled in a formal apprenticeship.
Iowa has among the broadest reciprocity agreements in the country: 13 states at the journeyman level.
Residential Electrician license is limited to installations of no more than 4 living units in the same building.
Special Electrician license covers limited tasks: irrigation system wiring, disconnecting/reconnecting existing AC and refrigeration equipment.
Exam applicants must submit a Testing Sponsorship Request Form to the Electrical Examining Board before scheduling with PSI; approval can take up to 2 weeks.
Late renewal penalty: 10% per month for up to 3 months past expiration. After 3 months, must reapply for a new license.
Iowa requires a $25,000 surety bond and $1,000,000 general liability insurance for electrical contractors.
Contractor registration with Iowa Division of Labor ($50 annual fee) is separate from the electrical license.
Electrician Schools in Iowa
Compare approved training programs, costs, and requirements.
Electrician requirements in nearby states
See how Iowa compares: Electrician License Fees by State — Cheapest to Most Expensive →
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Study guides and NEC code practice tests for the electrician licensing exam.
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Official Sources
Electrician requirements in Iowa verified against Iowa Electrical Examining Board, under the Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing (DIAL), April 2026.
Official regulatory agency — added during electrician audit
Accessed 2026-03-22
Primary source for Iowa electrical licensing
Accessed 2026-03-19
Official board homepage
Accessed 2026-03-19
Official contact page
Accessed 2026-03-19
Official Iowa Code - license requirements
Accessed 2026-03-19
Official testing sponsorship document
Accessed 2026-03-19
Third-party exam guide
Accessed 2026-03-19
Accessed 2026-03-19
Third-party insurance guide
Accessed 2026-03-19
Moving to Iowa? Use our free Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Already licensed elsewhere? See how to transfer your Electrician license to Iowa →
Transfer your Electrician license from Iowa to: Illinois → | Minnesota → | Missouri → | Nebraska → | South Dakota → | Wisconsin →