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How to become a licensed electrician in New Jersey. State-level licensing required. Apprenticeship: 8,000 hours. Total initial fees: $100. Verified 2026-03-21. Data verified 2026-03-21. Source: LicenseMap (getlicensemap.com).
Electrician
Governing Authority
New Jersey Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors, Division of Consumer Affairs
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
New Jersey uses a tiered system: Class A Apprentice, Class B Wireman, Class A Journeyman, and Electrical Contractor (business permit). The Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors oversees all licensing. There is no separate 'Master Electrician' license; the Electrical Contractor license is the highest credential. Journeymen must be W-2 employees of a licensed electrical contractor.
State-Level Licensing Required
Regulated by the New Jersey Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors, Division of Consumer Affairs
Official Title
Class A Electrical Apprentice
Experience Required
Enrollment in a state-approved apprenticeship program; no prior experience required
Exam Required
No
Additional Requirements
Official Title
Class A Journeyman Electrician
Experience Required
8,000 hours of on-the-job training and 576 hours of classroom instruction through a state-approved apprenticeship program
Exam Required
No
Additional Requirements
Apprenticeship
Hours Breakdown
8,000
Total Hours
4
Years
576
Classroom
8,000
On-the-Job
DOL Registered Apprenticeship
Exam Requirements
VerifiedNot Required
Journeyman Exam
Required
Master Exam
Exam Provider
PSI Exams
NEC Version
2020 NEC (provided at test center; some sources indicate transition to 2023 NEC)
Open Book
Yes
Master Exam Details
100
Questions
260 min
Time Limit
70%
Passing Score
Retake Policy
Must wait 6 months before retaking after first or second failure. Must pass all required exams within 3 attempts. If not passed within 5 years from eligibility date, must reapply with the Board.
Minimum Age
Education
Background Check
Insurance Required
Bonding Required
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Journeyman License Fee Application fee for Class A Journeyman Electrician | |
Master License Fee Application fee for Electrical Contractor (Business Permit). NJ does not have a Master Electrician license; this is the highest credential. | |
Renewal Fee Journeyman triennial renewal fee. Contractor renewal is approximately $150 per triennial cycle (some sources report $100; verify with Board). | |
Total Initial Fees Electrical Contractor application fee. Excludes exam fee and surety bond costs. Journeyman application fee is $40. |
Renewal & CE Requirements
Verified3 years (triennial), renewal deadline March 31st
Renewal Period
34 hrs
CE Hours Required
CE Topics
Renewal Fee
$160
Journeyman triennial renewal. Contractor renewal is approximately $150 per triennial cycle.
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
Mostly verifiedAccepts Out-of-State Credentials
Reciprocity Type
Endorsement (case-by-case, no formal agreements)
Transfer Details
New Jersey does not have formal reciprocity agreements. May accept out-of-state licenses by endorsement; applicants must hold a valid journeyman or master license from another state and may need to pass the state exam.
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.
New Jersey uniquely does not require a state exam for journeyman electricians — registration is based solely on apprenticeship completion. The Electrical Contractor license has one of the highest CE requirements nationally at 34 hours per triennial cycle. There is no 'Master Electrician' title; the Electrical Contractor (Business Permit) is the highest credential. The exam retake policy is notably strict: 6-month wait between attempts with a 5-year window to pass.
New Jersey does not have a 'Master Electrician' license. The Electrical Contractor (Business Permit) is the highest credential.
NJ has a tiered license system: Class A Apprentice, Class B Wireman, Class A Journeyman, and Electrical Contractor.
No state exam is required for journeyman registration — it is based on completion of apprenticeship requirements.
The Electrical Contractor exam is a two-part exam: Trade (100 questions, 260 min) and Business & Law (50 questions, 130 min).
Contractors require 34 CE hours per triennial cycle — among the highest in the nation. Journeymen require 15 CE hours.
6-month waiting period between exam retakes after first or second failure. Must pass within 3 attempts or 5 years.
$1,000 surety bond and $300,000 minimum liability insurance required for electrical contractors.
Journeymen must be W-2 employees of a licensed electrical contractor.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in New Jersey.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#1 of 51
Salary
#14 of 51
Cost
#34 of 51
Processing
#1 of 51
Based on May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data for Electricians (SOC 47-2111)
Entry Level
$58,410
25th percentile
Median
$73,090
+17% vs. national avg ($62,350)Experienced
$109,760
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
15,230 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+42% salary growth potential
You are here
Electrician (Journeyman)
$73,090
Apprenticeship (4-5 years) + journeyman exam
You are here
Electrician (Journeyman)
Apprenticeship (4-5 years) + journeyman exam
$73,090
Master electrician license + contractor license
$103,850
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: New Jersey Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors — Licensing Requirements
2–8 weeks
Estimated processing time
Source: New Jersey Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors — Licensing Requirements
Study guides and NEC code practice tests for the electrician licensing exam.
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Official state website
Accessed 2026-03-19
Official document
Accessed 2026-03-19
Industry association update on new license classifications
Accessed 2026-03-19
Third-party guide
Accessed 2026-03-19
Exam prep provider
Accessed 2026-03-19
Surety bond provider
Accessed 2026-03-19
Third-party guide
Accessed 2026-03-19
New Jersey requires state-level licensing. An apprenticeship of 8,000 hours is required. All licensing is managed through the New Jersey Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors, Division of Consumer Affairs.
Requirements vary by state and local jurisdiction. Always verify current requirements with your state licensing authority.