Iowa Electrician License Requirements

Official classification: Class A Master Electrician / Class A Journeyman Electrician · Issued by the Iowa Electrical Examining Board (Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing).

⚡ ElectricianIA ✔ Verified 2026-09-21

In Iowa, electricians must hold the Class A Master Electrician / Class A Journeyman Electrician, issued by the Iowa Electrical Examining Board (Department of Inspections, Appeals, & 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 Iowa

Iowa licenses electricians through the Electrical Examining Board, with a clear progression from apprentice to journeyman to master. Here's the order most applicants follow.

Enter as an Apprentice Electrician, working under a licensed electrician's direct supervision, or start accumulating hours through other qualifying work if you're not in a formal apprenticeship.
Reach the hour requirement for Class A Journeyman: 8,000 hours through a registered apprenticeship program, or 4,000 hours of commercial/industrial work, or 6,000 hours combined with post-secondary electrical education.
Register for and pass the Class A Journeyman Electrician Examination (70% to pass) through the board-approved testing vendor, PSI.
Create an account at iowaelectrical.gov and submit your Journeyman application, choosing the pathway that matches how you qualified: by examination, by apprentice program, or by proof of work experience. Pay the $75 license fee.
Work at least 1 year as a licensed Class A Journeyman electrician; this is the experience requirement for Class A Master.
Register for and pass the Class A Master Electrician Examination (70% to pass) through PSI.
Submit your Master application through iowaelectrical.gov and pay the $375 license fee.
If you'll contract work rather than just work as an employee, line up $1,000,000 per-occurrence general liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage if you'll have employees. Iowa does not require a surety bond for electricians.
Renew every 3 years, completing 18 hours of continuing education first, at least 6 of them on the National Electrical Code.

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

Iowa electrician license lookup

To confirm an electrician is properly licensed in Iowa — 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 dps-eeb.my.site.com database →

License types

Class A Master Electrician — Full electrical design, installation, and contracting authority; supervision of all electrical work
Class B Master Electrician — Grandfathered master classification; limited electrical work under specific conditions
Residential Master Electrician — Residential electrical contracting and supervision authority
Class A Journeyman Electrician — All electrical work under supervision; full authority after experience requirement
Class B Journeyman Electrician — Grandfathered journeyman classification; limited electrical work
Residential Electrician — Residential electrical installations only
Special Electrician — Specialized electrical work (irrigation wiring, sign installation, A/C disconnection)
Apprentice Electrician — Limited work under direct supervision while completing apprenticeship

Requirements at a glance

Experience required	Class A Master: 1 year as licensed journeyman electrician. Class A Journeyman: 8,000 hours through registered apprenticeship program OR 4,000 hours of commercial/industrial work OR 6,000 hours with post-secondary education. Class B Journeyman: 16,000 cumulative hours since 1/1/1998. Residential Master: 2,000 hours as residential/journeyman electrician. Residential Electrician: 6,000 apprentice hours OR 4,000 supervised hours plus 1 year trade school OR 8,000 unclassified hours (2,000 residential). Special Electrician: 4,000 hours or exam for irrigation; 2 years experience for A/C disconnection. Class B Master requires 16,000 hours cumulative since 1/1/1998.
Application fee	Included in license fee
License fee	$375 for Class A/B Master and Electrical Contractor; $75 for Class A/B Journeyman, Residential Electrician, Special Electrician; $20 for Apprentice and Unclassified
Renewal fee	$375 (contractors/master) or $75 (journeyman/residential) or $20 (apprentice) per 3-year renewal cycle
Renewal period	Every 3 years
Continuing education	18 contact hours per 3-year renewal cycle; at least 6 contact hours must be on the National Electrical Code (per Iowa Code 103.18).
Bond required	Not required for electrician licenses in Iowa
Liability insurance	$1,000,000 per occurrence general liability insurance
Property damage	—
Workers' comp	Required if employing any staff
Background check	None
Credit requirement	None
Reciprocity	Alaska; Arkansas; Colorado; Minnesota; Montana; Nebraska; New Hampshire; North Dakota; Oklahoma; South Dakota; Texas; Wisconsin; Wyoming · compare all states
Processing time	Varies; online applications processed upon receipt and payment through iowaelectrical.gov portal

Exams

Class A Master Electrician Examination	Provider: PSI (board-approved vendor) · Passing: 70% · Fee: Set by the board-approved testing vendor (not published by the board)
Class A Journeyman Electrician Examination	Provider: PSI (board-approved vendor) · Passing: 70% · Fee: Set by the board-approved testing vendor (not published by the board)
Residential Master Electrician Examination	Provider: PSI (board-approved vendor) · Passing: 70% · Fee: Set by the board-approved testing vendor (not published by the board)
Residential Electrician Examination	Provider: PSI (board-approved vendor) · Passing: 70% · Fee: Set by the board-approved testing vendor (not published by the board)

Renewing an Iowa electrician license

The Class A Master Electrician / Class A Journeyman Electrician renews on a fixed cycle set by the Iowa Electrical Examining Board (Department of Inspections, Appeals, & 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	Every 3 years
Renewal fee	$375 (contractors/master) or $75 (journeyman/residential) or $20 (apprentice) per 3-year renewal cycle
Continuing education	18 contact hours per 3-year renewal cycle; at least 6 contact hours must be on the National Electrical Code (per Iowa Code 103.18).
Where to renew	Iowa Electrical Examining Board (Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing)

Local / municipal notes

Iowa has statewide licensing through the Electrical Examining Board; no separate municipal licensing. SAVE verification required for U.S. citizenship or lawful presence. First-time applicants with household income not exceeding 200% of federal poverty guidelines are eligible for fee waivers.

Upfront costs, itemized

Iowa's electrician fees are simpler than most states: one flat fee per license level, no bond, and an exam fee the board leaves to its testing vendor.

Cost	Paid to	Amount
License fee (application included)	Iowa Electrical Examining Board	Journeyman/Residential/Special: $75. Master/Electrical Contractor: $375. Apprentice/Unclassified: $20.
Renewal fee (every 3 years)	Iowa Electrical Examining Board	Same tiers as the license fee: $375, $75, or $20
Exam fee	PSI (board-approved testing vendor)	Set by the vendor; not published by the board
Surety bond	Not applicable	Not required for electrician licenses in Iowa
General liability insurance	An insurance carrier	Required coverage: $1,000,000 per occurrence. This is a minimum limit, not a premium figure.

Frequently asked questions

How do I look up a electrician license in Iowa?

Search the official license database at dps-eeb.my.site.com. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.

Do electricians in Iowa need a surety bond?

Not required for electrician licenses in Iowa

What experience is required for an Iowa electrician license?

Class A Master: 1 year as licensed journeyman electrician. Class A Journeyman: 8,000 hours through registered apprenticeship program OR 4,000 hours of commercial/industrial work OR 6,000 hours with post-secondary education. Class B Journeyman: 16,000 cumulative hours since 1/1/1998. Residential Master: 2,000 hours as residential/journeyman electrician. Residential Electrician: 6,000 apprentice hours OR 4,000 supervised hours plus 1 year trade school OR 8,000 unclassified hours (2,000 residential). Special Electrician: 4,000 hours or exam for irrigation; 2 years experience for A/C disconnection. Class B Master requires 16,000 hours cumulative since 1/1/1998.

Is insurance required for electricians in Iowa?

Liability: $1,000,000 per occurrence general liability insurance. Workers' compensation: Required if employing any staff.

How often must an Iowa electrician license be renewed?

Every 3 years. Continuing education: 18 contact hours per 3-year renewal cycle; at least 6 contact hours must be on the National Electrical Code (per Iowa Code 103.18).

How do I get an electrician license in Iowa?

Most people start as an Apprentice Electrician, accumulate 8,000 hours through a registered apprenticeship (or an equivalent path of 4,000 to 6,000 hours), and pass the Class A Journeyman exam through PSI. After 1 year as a licensed journeyman, you can sit the Class A Master exam and apply for a master license through iowaelectrical.gov.

How much does it cost to get an electrician license in Iowa?

The Iowa Electrical Examining Board charges $75 for a Journeyman license and $375 for a Master or Electrical Contractor license, both including the application. The PSI exam fee is set by the vendor and isn't published by the board, so budget for it separately.

How long does it take to become a master electrician in Iowa?

You first need to clear the journeyman hour requirement, 8,000 hours through apprenticeship or an equivalent path, and pass that exam. After that, Iowa requires at least 1 full year working as a licensed Class A Journeyman before you're eligible to sit the Master exam and apply for the Master license.

Do electricians need a bond in Iowa?

No. Iowa does not require a surety bond for any electrician license level. You do need $1,000,000 in per-occurrence general liability insurance, and workers' compensation coverage if you have employees.

Is there a fee waiver for Iowa electrician license applicants?

Yes. First-time applicants whose household income doesn't exceed 200% of the federal poverty guidelines are eligible for a fee waiver from the Iowa Electrical Examining Board. Iowa also requires SAVE verification of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence for licensure.

Fees and rules change frequently (often annually). This page was last verified on 2026-09-21 — always confirm current requirements directly with the Iowa Electrical Examining Board (Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing) before applying. This is not legal advice.