Mississippi Electrician License Requirements

Official classification: Commercial Electrical Contractor (Certificate of Responsibility) / Residential Electrical Contractor · Issued by the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC).

⚡ ElectricianMS ✔ Verified 2026-06-24

In Mississippi, electricians must hold the Commercial Electrical Contractor (Certificate of Responsibility) / Residential Electrical Contractor, issued by the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC), 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 Mississippi

Follow these steps to earn your Commercial Electrical Contractor (Certificate of Responsibility) / Residential Electrical Contractor. Every figure is verified against the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC); full detail for each step is further down the page.

Build the required experience. No fixed number of years is set by statute; the board weighs the qualifying party's experience and ability (Miss. Code 31-3-13), and that person must be regularly employed by the license holder. Mississippi issues no individual journeyman or master electrician license at the state level — those are handled by cities.
Pass the Law & Business Management Exam and Electrical Work Trade Exam (NASCLA Master Electrical accepted for commercial) exams. Providers, passing scores and fees are in the Exams section below.
Line up insurance. You'll need liability insurance (Commercial: $300,000 per occurrence / $600,000 aggregate general liability. Residential: general liability required (no minimum amount set).), and workers' compensation coverage.
Clear the background check. The board reviews each applicant's record — character, performance on prior contracts, and compliance with state law (Miss. Code 31-3-13).
Meet the credit / financial requirement. Commercial: a CPA-reviewed financial statement from the past 12 months showing net worth of at least $50,000 for a major classification (e.g., Electrical Work) or $20,000 for a specialty. Residential: none specified.
Submit your application and fees. Apply through the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) — $400 (commercial, one classification); $50 (residential) application fee, plus a Included in the application fee; commercial adds a $200 Construction Education Fund fee; +$100 per additional classification license fee. Processing time: About 7 working days after the board has all documents and passing exam scores; the board meets quarterly.
Keep the license active. Renew annual (1 year), completing Commercial: none. Residential: 2 hours per year for licenses issued on or after July 1, 2015.

License types

Commercial Electrical Contractor (Electrical Work classification) — Electrical wiring, fixtures, and systems on public or private projects of $50,000 or more; licensed at the business level through a qualifying party.
Residential Electrical Contractor — Residential electrical work; required for remodels over $10,000 or new construction over $50,000.
Specialty electrical sub-classifications — Alarm/access/security, low-voltage/communications, traffic control, transmission and distribution, telecommunications, instrumentation, and more — each requires its own exam.

Requirements at a glance

Experience required	No fixed number of years is set by statute; the board weighs the qualifying party's experience and ability (Miss. Code 31-3-13), and that person must be regularly employed by the license holder. Mississippi issues no individual journeyman or master electrician license at the state level — those are handled by cities.
Application fee	$400 (commercial, one classification); $50 (residential)
License fee	Included in the application fee; commercial adds a $200 Construction Education Fund fee; +$100 per additional classification
Renewal fee	$400/year (commercial); $100/year (residential)
Renewal period	Annual (1 year)
Continuing education	Commercial: none. Residential: 2 hours per year for licenses issued on or after July 1, 2015.
Bond required	No state surety bond is required by the MSBOC. Some Mississippi municipalities require a local bond (amounts vary by city).
Liability insurance	Commercial: $300,000 per occurrence / $600,000 aggregate general liability. Residential: general liability required (no minimum amount set).
Property damage	Included in the general liability policy
Workers' comp	Required under Mississippi law for employers with 5+ employees (Miss. Code 71-3-5)
Background check	The board reviews each applicant's record — character, performance on prior contracts, and compliance with state law (Miss. Code 31-3-13).
Credit requirement	Commercial: a CPA-reviewed financial statement from the past 12 months showing net worth of at least $50,000 for a major classification (e.g., Electrical Work) or $20,000 for a specialty. Residential: none specified.
Reciprocity	Trade-exam waivers (not full reciprocity) for applicants licensed in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, and South Carolina (electrical); other requirements still apply.; Expedited licensure for military-trained applicants and spouses (Miss. Code 73-50-1).
Processing time	About 7 working days after the board has all documents and passing exam scores; the board meets quarterly.

Exams

Law & Business Management Exam	Provider: PSI (open book) · Passing: 70% · Fee: $50 per exam
Electrical Work Trade Exam (NASCLA Master Electrical accepted for commercial)	Provider: PSI (open book) · Passing: 70% · Fee: $50 per exam

Preparing for the Electrician exam? State-specific contractor exam-prep courses help you pass the first time. Start exam prep →

Local / municipal notes

Mississippi licenses electrical CONTRACTORS (businesses) through the MSBOC, not individual electricians: a commercial Certificate of Responsibility for projects $50,000+, or a residential electrical license for remodels over $10,000 / new construction over $50,000. Individual journeyman and master electrician credentials are issued locally (e.g., Jackson, Hattiesburg, Gulfport, Tupelo) — verify local requirements.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Mississippi electrician license cost?

Application: $400 (commercial, one classification); $50 (residential). License: Included in the application fee; commercial adds a $200 Construction Education Fund fee; +$100 per additional classification. Renewal: $400/year (commercial); $100/year (residential).

Do electricians in Mississippi need a surety bond?

No state surety bond is required by the MSBOC. Some Mississippi municipalities require a local bond (amounts vary by city).

What experience is required for a Mississippi electrician license?

No fixed number of years is set by statute; the board weighs the qualifying party's experience and ability (Miss. Code 31-3-13), and that person must be regularly employed by the license holder. Mississippi issues no individual journeyman or master electrician license at the state level — those are handled by cities.

Is insurance required for electricians in Mississippi?

Liability: Commercial: $300,000 per occurrence / $600,000 aggregate general liability. Residential: general liability required (no minimum amount set). Workers' compensation: Required under Mississippi law for employers with 5+ employees (Miss. Code 71-3-5)

How often must a Mississippi electrician license be renewed?

Annual (1 year). Continuing education: Commercial: none. Residential: 2 hours per year for licenses issued on or after July 1, 2015.

Fees and rules change frequently (often annually). This page was last verified on 2026-06-24 — always confirm current requirements directly with the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) before applying. This is not legal advice.