Arkansas Electrician License Requirements

Official classification: Master Electrician / Journeyman Electrician · Issued by the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners, Department of Labor and Licensing.

⚡ ElectricianAR ✔ Verified 2026-06-26

In Arkansas, electricians must hold the Master Electrician / Journeyman Electrician, issued by the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners, Department of Labor and Licensing, and no state surety bond is required. Full requirements — experience, exams, fees, insurance, renewal and reciprocity — are detailed below.

How to become a licensed electrician in Arkansas

Follow these steps to earn your Master Electrician / Journeyman Electrician. Every figure is verified against the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners, Department of Labor and Licensing; full detail for each step is further down the page.

Build the required experience. Journeyman: completion of a four-year USDOL-approved electrical construction apprenticeship, or 8 years (16,000 hours, at most 2,000 hours credited per year) of electrical construction experience or Board-approved training (17 CAR 210-404(e)). Master: an electrical engineering degree plus 2 years of construction experience, or 6 years of construction experience (residential and commercial) including 2 years as a licensed journeyman, or a Board-approved equivalent combination of training and experience (17 CAR 210-404(d)).
Pass the Arkansas Journeyman Electrician Exam and Arkansas Master Electrician Exam exams. Providers, passing scores and fees are in the Exams section below.
Check the insurance rules. Liability: Not mandated for licensing (but recommended for business coverage). Workers' compensation: Required if 1 or more employees.
Clear the background check. No drug test or fingerprinting appears in the Board's rules. An individual may petition for a prelicensure determination of whether a criminal record disqualifies them, and the Board may waive disqualification for an offense listed in Ark. Code 17-3-102 (17 CAR 210-404(a), (c)).
Submit your application and fees. Apply through the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners, Department of Labor and Licensing — $25 (journeyman) / $50 (master) initial license, per Ark. Code 17-28-301 application fee, plus a Included in the application fee license fee. Processing time: 2-4 weeks for application; 3-4 weeks for reciprocity.
Keep the license active. Renewal: Annual — expires the last day of the month one year after issue. Continuing education: 8 hours of continuing education per National Electrical Code cycle (a ~3-year cycle), all NEC-related (per Ark. Code 17-28-311).

For the general path in every state, see the Electrician guide →

Arkansas electrician license lookup

To confirm an electrician is properly licensed in Arkansas — or to check the status of your own license — search the issuing agency's official license database. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.

Verify a license now: Search the official labor.arkansas.gov database →

License types

Journeyman Electrician — Install, maintain, and modify electrical systems under supervision or independently perform electrical work after meeting experience and exam requirements
Master Electrician — Design, supervise, and authorize electrical work; can supervise journeymen and apprentices; responsible for compliance with electrical codes and safety standards

Requirements at a glance

Experience required	Journeyman: completion of a four-year USDOL-approved electrical construction apprenticeship, or 8 years (16,000 hours, at most 2,000 hours credited per year) of electrical construction experience or Board-approved training (17 CAR 210-404(e)). Master: an electrical engineering degree plus 2 years of construction experience, or 6 years of construction experience (residential and commercial) including 2 years as a licensed journeyman, or a Board-approved equivalent combination of training and experience (17 CAR 210-404(d)).
Application fee	$25 (journeyman) / $50 (master) initial license, per Ark. Code 17-28-301
License fee	Included in the application fee
Renewal fee	$25/year (journeyman) / $50/year (master)
Renewal period	Annual — expires the last day of the month one year after issue
Continuing education	8 hours of continuing education per National Electrical Code cycle (a ~3-year cycle), all NEC-related (per Ark. Code 17-28-311).
Bond required	No surety bond is required by the state Board of Electrical Examiners (none appears in Ark. Code Title 17 Ch. 28).
Liability insurance	Not mandated for licensing (but recommended for business coverage)
Property damage	—
Workers' comp	Required if 1 or more employees
Background check	No drug test or fingerprinting appears in the Board's rules. An individual may petition for a prelicensure determination of whether a criminal record disqualifies them, and the Board may waive disqualification for an offense listed in Ark. Code 17-3-102 (17 CAR 210-404(a), (c)).
Credit requirement	—
Reciprocity	Journeyman: Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Wisconsin and Wyoming (Wyoming only for a USDOL apprenticeship with at least 576 classroom hours).; Master: the Board's table lists Iowa, Oregon and Texas, and its note names Oregon and North Dakota as master-license agreements; otherwise a master license from a listed state reciprocates only as a journeyman license.; Only an original license from the issuing state qualifies (a reciprocated license cannot be reciprocated). A journeyman applicant must have held the license for 1 year and been tested in that state (17 CAR 210-404(e)(2)). · compare all states
Processing time	2-4 weeks for application; 3-4 weeks for reciprocity

What an Arkansas electrician license costs

Application fee	$25 (journeyman) / $50 (master) initial license, per Ark. Code 17-28-301.
License fee	Included in the application fee.
Arkansas Journeyman Electrician Exam	$80.
Arkansas Master Electrician Exam	$80.
Surety bond	No surety bond is required by the state Board of Electrical Examiners (none appears in Ark. Code Title 17 Ch. 28).
Renewal fee	$25/year (journeyman) / $50/year (master).
Renewal period	Annual — expires the last day of the month one year after issue.

Exams

Arkansas Journeyman Electrician Exam	Provider: PROV · Passing: Not published by the board · Fee: $80
Arkansas Master Electrician Exam	Provider: PROV · Passing: Not published by the board · Fee: $80

Renewing an Arkansas electrician license

The Master Electrician / Journeyman Electrician renews on a fixed cycle set by the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners, Department of Labor and Licensing. Finish the continuing-education requirement before you file — boards generally will not process a renewal without it. Late and lapsed renewals are handled differently by every board, so check the renewal page linked below before the deadline passes.

Renewal period	Annual — expires the last day of the month one year after issue
Renewal fee	$25/year (journeyman) / $50/year (master)
Continuing education	8 hours of continuing education per National Electrical Code cycle (a ~3-year cycle), all NEC-related (per Ark. Code 17-28-311).
Where to renew	Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners, Department of Labor and Licensing

Local / municipal notes

Electrical contractors in Arkansas are licensed under the Board of Electrical Examiners. Arkansas operates primarily under a statewide licensing system; municipal licensing is subsumed under state authority.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an Arkansas electrician license cost?

Application: $25 (journeyman) / $50 (master) initial license, per Ark. Code 17-28-301. License: Included in the application fee. Renewal: $25/year (journeyman) / $50/year (master).

How do I look up a electrician license in Arkansas?

Search the official license database at labor.arkansas.gov. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.

Do electricians in Arkansas need a surety bond?

No surety bond is required by the state Board of Electrical Examiners (none appears in Ark. Code Title 17 Ch. 28).

What experience is required for an Arkansas electrician license?

Journeyman: completion of a four-year USDOL-approved electrical construction apprenticeship, or 8 years (16,000 hours, at most 2,000 hours credited per year) of electrical construction experience or Board-approved training (17 CAR 210-404(e)). Master: an electrical engineering degree plus 2 years of construction experience, or 6 years of construction experience (residential and commercial) including 2 years as a licensed journeyman, or a Board-approved equivalent combination of training and experience (17 CAR 210-404(d)).

Is insurance required for electricians in Arkansas?

Liability: Not mandated for licensing (but recommended for business coverage). Workers' compensation: Required if 1 or more employees.

How long does it take to get an Arkansas electrician license?

Processing time: 2-4 weeks for application; 3-4 weeks for reciprocity.

Is a background check required for electricians in Arkansas?

Background check: No drug test or fingerprinting appears in the Board's rules. An individual may petition for a prelicensure determination of whether a criminal record disqualifies them, and the Board may waive disqualification for an offense listed in Ark. Code 17-3-102 (17 CAR 210-404(a), (c)).

How often must an Arkansas electrician license be renewed?

Annual — expires the last day of the month one year after issue. Continuing education: 8 hours of continuing education per National Electrical Code cycle (a ~3-year cycle), all NEC-related (per Ark. Code 17-28-311).

Fees and rules change frequently (often annually). This page was last verified on 2026-06-26 — always confirm current requirements directly with the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners, Department of Labor and Licensing before applying. This is not legal advice.