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Electrician License Requirements by State and Province (Verified, With Sources)

By Dale Morgan · Updated 2026-10-17 · Every fact links to its official source.

Ask ten electricians how licensing works and you'll get ten answers, because it depends entirely on where you work. Each state and province sets its own rules, and in some places the city matters as much as the state. That makes a simple question like "what do I need to get licensed?" surprisingly hard to answer.

This guide is meant to make the comparison easier. Start with the coverage table to see what we've verified for each jurisdiction, then jump to yours. We don't paraphrase the rules: every requirement is quoted from a fact our editor checked against an official page, with the link and check date beside it.

chart iconCoverage at a glance

Only facts our editor checked word-for-word against an official page are counted. A blank cell means not yet verified, not not required.

JurisdictionVerified factsExam infoFees infoReciprocity infoPage
Arizona8verified verifiedverified verifiedverified verifiedview
California8verified verifiedverified verified— not yetview
Texas8— not yetverified verified— not yetview
Colorado7— not yet— not yet— not yetview
Maine6— not yetverified verifiedverified verifiedview
Ontario6verified verifiedverified verifiedverified verifiedview
Quebec6verified verifiedverified verified— not yetview
Alberta5verified verified— not yetverified verifiedview
British Columbia5verified verified— not yetverified verifiedview
Michigan5verified verified— not yetverified verifiedview
Minnesota5verified verifiedverified verified— not yetview
New York5verified verifiedverified verified— not yetview
North Carolina5verified verifiedverified verifiedverified verifiedview
Ohio5verified verified— not yet— not yetview
Wyoming5— not yet— not yetverified verifiedview
Maryland4verified verified— not yetverified verifiedview
Nevada4verified verified— not yetverified verifiedview
North Dakota4— not yetverified verifiedverified verifiedview
Arkansas3— not yet— not yetverified verifiedview
Delaware3verified verified— not yet— not yetview
Florida3verified verified— not yet— not yetview
Georgia3— not yet— not yet— not yetview
Nebraska3— not yet— not yetverified verifiedview
New Brunswick3— not yet— not yetverified verifiedview
New Hampshire3— not yet— not yetverified verifiedview
Oregon3verified verified— not yet— not yetview
Prince Edward Island3verified verified— not yetverified verifiedview
Utah3verified verified— not yet— not yetview
Washington3verified verified— not yet— not yetview
Yukon3— not yetverified verified— not yetview
Alabama2verified verified— not yet— not yetview
Illinois2verified verified— not yet— not yetview
Massachusetts2— not yet— not yetverified verifiedview
New Mexico2— not yetverified verifiedverified verifiedview
Northwest Territories2verified verified— not yet— not yetview
Nunavut2— not yet— not yet— not yetview
Wisconsin2verified verified— not yet— not yetview
Alaska1— not yet— not yet— not yetview
Hawaii1— not yet— not yet— not yetview
Louisiana1— not yet— not yet— not yetview
Montana1— not yet— not yet— not yetview
New Jersey1— not yet— not yet— not yetview
Nova Scotia1— not yet— not yet— not yetview
Oklahoma1— not yet— not yet— not yetview
Pennsylvania1— not yet— not yet— not yetview
Saskatchewan1— not yet— not yet— not yetview
South Dakota1— not yet— not yet— not yetview
Tennessee1— not yet— not yet— not yetview

One tip before you dive in: pay attention to the scope label in italics after each fact. Some jurisdictions license individual electricians, some license only electrical contractors, and in a few places licensing happens at the city or county level. A fee or exam listed for a contractor license may not apply to you if you're working as an employee, and the reverse is also true.

If you're planning a move, read your current jurisdiction and your destination side by side. The differences in license levels and reciprocity usually tell you more than any single number.

chart iconThe licensing path at a glance

Typical path to a electrician license1Find thelicensing authority2Log supervisedexperience3Pass theexam4Apply andpay fees5Renew and keepup CE
Typical path to a electrician license. A general outline only; the order and requirements differ by jurisdiction — see the verified facts below.

section iconComparing the numbers

The charts below compare only like-for-like values: the same kind of fee or the same experience measure, each quoted from an official page. Read the scope note on each source, because a contractor fee and an individual license fee are not the same thing.

Experience hours by jurisdiction — individual licenses (verified values only)Utah16,000Michigan8,000Delaware8,000Nebraska8,000British Columbia6,000Alberta1,560
Experience hours by jurisdiction — individual licenses (verified values only) (hours). Each bar is a single number quoted on an official page and reviewed by our editor; amounts are for the license type named in the scope note below and are not totals. Jurisdictions without a verified value are left out rather than estimated.

Chart sources (experience hours):

Application fee by jurisdiction — contractor licenses (verified values only)California$450Texas$110
Application fee by jurisdiction — contractor licenses (verified values only) (USD). Each bar is a single number quoted on an official page and reviewed by our editor; amounts are for the license type named in the scope note below and are not totals. Jurisdictions without a verified value are left out rather than estimated.

Chart sources (application fee):

pin iconUnited States

Arizona

Here is what the official Arizona pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Arizona electrician license requirements page.

Licensing authority

License levels

Exam

Fees

Renewal

Reciprocity & endorsement

California

Here is what the official California pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our California electrician license requirements page.

Licensing authority

Is a state/provincial license required?

Experience / hours

Education & training

Exam

Fees

Renewal

Texas

Here is what the official Texas pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Texas electrician license requirements page.

Is a state/provincial license required?

License levels

Fees

Renewal

Continuing education

Other notes

Colorado

Here is what the official Colorado pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Colorado electrician license requirements page.

Licensing authority

License levels

Renewal

Continuing education

Other notes

Maine

Here is what the official Maine pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Maine electrician license requirements page.

Experience / hours

Fees

Renewal

Reciprocity & endorsement

Michigan

Here is what the official Michigan pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Michigan electrician license requirements page.

Experience / hours

Exam

Reciprocity & endorsement

Local (city/county) licensing

Other notes

Minnesota

Here is what the official Minnesota pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Minnesota electrician license requirements page.

Exam

Fees

Renewal

Other notes

New York

Here is what the official New York pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our New York electrician license requirements page.

Experience / hours

Exam

Fees

Local (city/county) licensing

North Carolina

Here is what the official North Carolina pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our North Carolina electrician license requirements page.

License levels

Exam

Fees

Renewal

Reciprocity & endorsement

Ohio

Here is what the official Ohio pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Ohio electrician license requirements page.

License levels

Exam

Continuing education

Other notes

Wyoming

Here is what the official Wyoming pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Wyoming electrician license requirements page.

Experience / hours

Continuing education

Reciprocity & endorsement

Other notes

Maryland

Here is what the official Maryland pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Maryland electrician license requirements page.

License levels

Exam

Reciprocity & endorsement

Other notes

Nevada

Here is what the official Nevada pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Nevada electrician license requirements page.

Exam

Reciprocity & endorsement

Other notes

North Dakota

Here is what the official North Dakota pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our North Dakota electrician license requirements page.

Fees

Continuing education

Reciprocity & endorsement

Arkansas

Here is what the official Arkansas pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Arkansas electrician license requirements page.

License levels

Reciprocity & endorsement

Delaware

Here is what the official Delaware pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Delaware electrician license requirements page.

Experience / hours

Exam

Other notes

Florida

Here is what the official Florida pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Florida electrician license requirements page.

Experience / hours

Exam

Other notes

Georgia

Here is what the official Georgia pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Georgia electrician license requirements page.

License levels

Renewal

Continuing education

Nebraska

Here is what the official Nebraska pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Nebraska electrician license requirements page.

Experience / hours

Continuing education

Reciprocity & endorsement

New Hampshire

Here is what the official New Hampshire pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our New Hampshire electrician license requirements page.

Is a state/provincial license required?

Continuing education

Reciprocity & endorsement

Oregon

Here is what the official Oregon pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Oregon electrician license requirements page.

Licensing authority

Exam

Renewal

Utah

Here is what the official Utah pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Utah electrician license requirements page.

Experience / hours

Education & training

Exam

Washington

Here is what the official Washington pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Washington electrician license requirements page.

License levels

Exam

Other notes

Alabama

Here is what the official Alabama pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Alabama electrician license requirements page.

Exam

Continuing education

Illinois

Here is what the official Illinois pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Illinois electrician license requirements page.

Exam

Local (city/county) licensing

Massachusetts

Here is what the official Massachusetts pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Massachusetts electrician license requirements page.

Licensing authority

Reciprocity & endorsement

New Mexico

Here is what the official New Mexico pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our New Mexico electrician license requirements page.

Fees

Reciprocity & endorsement

Wisconsin

Here is what the official Wisconsin pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Wisconsin electrician license requirements page.

Exam

Continuing education

Alaska

Here is what the official Alaska pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Alaska electrician license requirements page.

License levels

Hawaii

Here is what the official Hawaii pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Hawaii electrician license requirements page.

Renewal

Louisiana

Here is what the official Louisiana pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Louisiana electrician license requirements page.

Is a state/provincial license required?

Montana

Here is what the official Montana pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Montana electrician license requirements page.

Continuing education

New Jersey

Here is what the official New Jersey pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our New Jersey electrician license requirements page.

Experience / hours

Oklahoma

Here is what the official Oklahoma pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Oklahoma electrician license requirements page.

Continuing education

Pennsylvania

Here is what the official Pennsylvania pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Pennsylvania electrician license requirements page.

Is a state/provincial license required?

South Dakota

Here is what the official South Dakota pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our South Dakota electrician license requirements page.

Continuing education

Tennessee

Here is what the official Tennessee pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Tennessee electrician license requirements page.

Licensing authority

pin iconCanada

Ontario

Here is what the official Ontario pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Ontario electrician license requirements page.

Licensing authority

Is a state/provincial license required?

Experience / hours

Exam

Fees

Reciprocity & endorsement

Quebec

Here is what the official Quebec pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Quebec electrician license requirements page.

Licensing authority

License levels

Experience / hours

Exam

Fees

Renewal

Alberta

Here is what the official Alberta pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Alberta electrician license requirements page.

License levels

Experience / hours

Exam

Reciprocity & endorsement

Other notes

British Columbia

Here is what the official British Columbia pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our British Columbia electrician license requirements page.

Is a state/provincial license required?

Experience / hours

Exam

Reciprocity & endorsement

New Brunswick

Here is what the official New Brunswick pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our New Brunswick electrician license requirements page.

License levels

Education & training

Reciprocity & endorsement

Prince Edward Island

Here is what the official Prince Edward Island pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Prince Edward Island electrician license requirements page.

License levels

Exam

Reciprocity & endorsement

Yukon

Here is what the official Yukon pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Yukon electrician license requirements page.

License levels

Fees

Other notes

Northwest Territories

Here is what the official Northwest Territories pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Northwest Territories electrician license requirements page.

Education & training

Exam

Nunavut

Here is what the official Nunavut pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Nunavut electrician license requirements page.

License levels

Education & training

Nova Scotia

Here is what the official Nova Scotia pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Nova Scotia electrician license requirements page.

Renewal

Saskatchewan

Here is what the official Saskatchewan pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Saskatchewan electrician license requirements page.

Licensing authority

pin iconStates and provinces not covered yet

If your jurisdiction is not listed above, we have not verified its electrician rules yet. Use the Electrician hub to find the official board link — we don't publish guesses.

steps iconHow to use this guide

help iconFAQ

What does Arizona require for an electrician license?

Qualifying Party must pass the AZ Statutes and Rules exam (SRE) and a trade exam (unless waived), each with at least 70%. (Contractor license (AZ ROC, C-11 / R-11 / CR-11 Electrical)) — source: Applying for a License | Arizona Registrar of Contractors, verified 2026-10-17

What does California require for an electrician license?

CSLB: applicants must pass a trade exam and/or a business and law exam, given by an approved testing vendor (exam fees paid to the vendor). (Contractor license (C-10 Electrical, CSLB)) — source: Apply for a Sole Owner license, verified 2026-10-17

What does Maine require for an electrician license?

Journeyman: 8,000 hours as a licensed apprentice/helper plus 576 hours of approved study. (Individual worker license (ME Electricians’ Examining Board)) — source: me_journeyman_electrician.pdf, verified 2026-10-17

What does Ontario require for an electrician license?

Certifying exam; on passing, Skilled Trades Ontario issues a Certificate of Qualification. (Individual worker certificate) — source: Electrician - Construction and Maintenance - Skilled Trades Ontario, verified 2026-10-17