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How to Become an Electrician: Apprenticeship, Hours, Exams and Licensing by State

By Dale Morgan · Updated 2026-10-18 · Every fact links to its official source.

Electricians are in demand across North America, and the path into the trade is well established: train as an apprentice, build supervised hours, pass an exam, and earn a license. The details, though, belong to each state or province. This guide explains the path in plain English, then shows the verified requirements jurisdiction by jurisdiction.

steps iconThe path, step by step

Path to becoming a licensed electrician1Start anapprenticeship2Log supervisedhours3Complete classroomtraining4Pass thelicensing exam5Get licensedand renew
Path to becoming a licensed electrician. A general outline only; the order and requirements differ by jurisdiction — see the verified facts below.
  1. Start as an apprentice or trainee. Some jurisdictions require you to register before your hours count, so check this first.
  2. Log your hours carefully. Experience is measured in hours or years, and you'll need records your employer can sign.
  3. Complete any required classroom training. Where an official page states it, it's in the Education & training facts below.
  4. Pass the exam. Exam provider, format and passing score vary. Below, we list only what official pages state.
  5. Apply, then renew. Licenses expire, and many jurisdictions require continuing education.

section iconHow much experience do you need?

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 — individual licenses (verified values only)New Mexico$75Tennessee$50
Application fee by jurisdiction — individual 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):

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):

If your jurisdiction isn't in the chart, that's because we haven't verified a single like-for-like hours figure for it yet, not because it has no requirement. Check its section below or the board.

section iconRequirements by jurisdiction

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.

License levels

Exam

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.

Experience / hours

Education & training

Exam

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.

License levels

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

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.

License levels

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

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.

Experience / hours

Exam

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.

License levels

Experience / hours

Exam

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

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.

Experience / hours

Exam

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

Exam

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

Exam

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Rhode Island

Here is what the official Rhode 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 Rhode Island electrician license requirements page.

Exam

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.

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.

section iconAfter you're licensed

Moving later? See electrician license reciprocity. In Canada, see Red Seal certification. Comparing every topic, including fees and renewal? Use electrician license requirements by state.

steps iconHow to use this guide

help iconFAQ

How many hours do I need to become an electrician in Alberta?

4-period apprenticeship: 1,560 hours work experience in periods 1–2 and 1,500 hours in periods 3–4 (each ~1 year). (Individual worker certificate) — source: Tradesecrets - Electrician, verified 2026-10-18

How many hours do I need to become an electrician in British Columbia?

Construction Electrician: 6,000 hours work-based training; 40 weeks technical training over 4 years. (Individual worker certificate) — source: Electrician, Construction | SkilledTradesBC, verified 2026-10-18

How many hours do I need to become an electrician in Michigan?

Journeyman: 8,000 hours and 4 years as an electrical apprentice. (Individual worker license (MI Bureau of Construction Codes)) — source: mi_bcc_electrical.pdf, verified 2026-10-18

How many hours do I need to become an electrician in Delaware?

Journeyperson by exam: at least 8,000 hours of supervised full-time electrical experience. (Individual worker license (DE Board of Electrical Examiners)) — source: Journeyperson Electrician - Division of Professional Regulation - State of Delaware, verified 2026-10-18

How many hours do I need to become an electrician in Nebraska?

Journeyman: at least four years (8,000 hours) of verifiable electrical experience. (Individual worker license (NE State Electrical Division)) — source: Journeyman Electrician | Nebraska State Electrical, verified 2026-10-18

How many hours do I need to become an electrician in Utah?

Journeyman (experience route): 16,000 hours of supervised licensed electrical experience. (Individual worker license (UT DOPL)) — source: journeyman-electrician.pdf, verified 2026-10-18