Field guide · 49 states
Electrician licensing, state by state
There is no national electrician license. 49 states, 49 rulebooks — experience, exams, fees and the surety bond, compared side by side.
Most states license electricians at the state level, typically in journeyman and master tiers, with a separate contractor (business) license to run a company. Expect documented hours of on-the-job experience, a trade exam based on the National Electrical Code, and — for the contractor license — a surety bond and proof of insurance. Hours, fees and bond amounts vary widely by state; pick a state below for the verified figures.
Most searched: Alabama · Louisiana
Moving states? Electrician license reciprocity, all 50 states →
Bond type: Fixed set amount · Tiered scales by volume · Credit-based financial responsibility in lieu of a bond · None no bond required
| ALAlabama | 8k h | $165 | Varies | Varies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AKAlaska | 8k h | $50 | $50 | Varies |
| AZArizona | 4 yr | $61 | $80 | Varies Tiered |
| ARArkansas | 4 yr | $80 | $25 | None |
| CACalifornia | 4 yr | Incl. | $450 | $25,000 Fixed |
| COColorado | 2 yr | $75 | Varies | Varies |
| CTConnecticut | 4 yr | $65 | $150 | Varies |
| DEDelaware | 6 yr | $100 | Varies | Varies |
| FLFlorida | 6 yr | $123.75 | $263.25 | — Credit-based |
| GAGeorgia | 4 yr | $288 | $110 | None |
| HIHawaii | 5 yr | $95 | $40 | Varies Tiered |
| IDIdaho | 8k h | $75 | $15 | Varies |
| ILIllinois | 2 yr | $150 | $150 | Varies |
| INIndiana | Varies | — | $247 | $10,000 Fixed |
| IAIowa | 1 yr | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| KYKentucky | 2 yr | Varies | $100 | Varies |
| LALouisiana | Varies | $50 | Varies | — Credit-based |
| MEMaine | 8k h | $90 | $21.00 | Varies |
| MDMaryland | 7 yr | $65 | Varies | None |
| MAMassachusetts | 4 yr | Varies | Varies | None |
| MIMichigan | 4 yr | $100 | Varies | $1,000 Fixed |
| MNMinnesota | 5 yr | $50 | $188 | $25,000 Fixed |
| MSMississippi | Varies | $50 | $400 | None |
| MOMissouri | 10k h | $100 | Varies | Varies |
| MTMontana | 8k h | $75 | $240 | Varies |
| NENebraska | 4 yr | $60 | $60 | Varies |
| NVNevada | 15 yr | Varies | $300 | — Credit-based |
| NHNew Hampshire | 8k h | $50 | $133 | Varies |
| NJNew Jersey | 5 yr | $100 | $100 | $1,000 Fixed |
| NMNew Mexico | 4 yr | $269.06 | $36 | $10,000 Fixed |
| NYNew York | 7.5 yr | $525 | $500 | $20,000 Fixed |
| NCNorth Carolina | Varies | $125 | $125 | None |
| NDNorth Dakota | 1 yr | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| OHOhio | 5 yr | $69 | $25 | Varies |
| OKOklahoma | 2k h | $92 | Varies | $5,000 Fixed |
| OROregon | 576 h | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| PAPennsylvania | 4 yr | $115 | $60 | Varies |
| RIRhode Island | 4 yr | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| SCSouth Carolina | 2 yr | Varies | $350 | Varies |
| SDSouth Dakota | 4 yr | Varies | $60 | $10,000 Fixed |
| TNTennessee | Varies | Varies | $250 | None |
| TXTexas | 2 yr | $78 | $30 | None |
| UTUtah | 2 yr | Varies | Varies | — Credit-based |
| VTVermont | 2 yr | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| VAVirginia | 1 yr | $100 | Varies | — Credit-based |
| WAWashington | 4 yr | $75.40 | $107.60 | $4,000 Fixed |
| WVWest Virginia | 1 yr | $25 | $25 | Varies |
| WIWisconsin | 5 yr | $30 | $15 | None |
| WYWyoming | 4 yr | Varies | $100 | Varies |