License lookup
Electrical License Lookup: Boards, Levels and Reciprocity in All 50 States
Use this electrical license lookup to find who licenses electricians in each state, which license levels exist, whether the state offers reciprocity, which NEC edition it enforces, and where to verify a license.
| State | Licensing body | Statewide license | License levels | Reciprocity | NEC edition | Verify |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Alabama Electrical Contractors Board | Yes | Journeyman Electrician, Electrical Contractor | Limited: MS, TN, NC, SC, VA and 3 more | 2020 NEC | Check a license |
| Alaska | Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Mechanical Inspection Section (certificates of fitness); Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing (Electrical Administrator) | Yes | Electrical Trainee, Residential Wireman, Electrician Journeyman, Power Lineman Journeyman, Electrical Administrator | Yes: AL, AR, CA, CO, CT and 27 more | 2020 NEC | Check a license |
| Arizona | Arizona Registrar of Contractors (contractor licenses only) | Partial | R-11 Electrical (residential), C-11 Electrical (commercial), CR-11 Electrical (dual) | No | Local adoption | Check a license |
| Arkansas | Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners (Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing) | Yes | Apprentice (registration), Journeyman Electrician, Master Electrician, Residential Journeyman Electrician, Residential Master Electrician, Industrial Maintenance Electrician | Yes: AK, CO, ID, IA, ME and 13 more | Confirm with board | Check a license |
| California | Contractors State License Board (C-10 contractor); Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, Electrician Certification Unit (electricians) | Yes | Electrician Trainee, General Electrician, Residential Electrician, Fire/Life/Safety Technician, Voice Data Video Technician, C-10 Electrical Contractor | Limited: AZ, LA, MS, NV, NC | 2023 NEC | Check a license |
| Colorado | Colorado State Electrical Board (Department of Regulatory Agencies, Division of Professions and Occupations) | Yes | Apprentice (registration), Residential Wireman, Journeyman Electrician, Master Electrician, Electrical Contractor (registration) | Yes | 2026 NEC | Check a license |
| Connecticut | Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, Electrical Work Examining Board | Yes | Apprentice (registration), E-2 Unlimited Journeyperson, E-1 Unlimited Electrical Contractor, Limited journeyperson and contractor classes | No | Confirm with board | Check a license |
| Delaware | Delaware Board of Electrical Examiners (Division of Professional Regulation) | Yes | Apprentice, Residential, Journeyperson, Limited, Master, Master Special / Limited Special | Yes | 2023 NEC | Check a license |
| District of Columbia | DC Board of Industrial Trades (Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection) | Yes | Apprentice, Journeyman, Master | Limited: VA, MD | 2014 NEC | Check a license |
| Florida | Florida Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board (Department of Business and Professional Regulation) | Partial | Certified Electrical Contractor (EC), Registered Electrical Contractor (ER), Certified Alarm System Contractor I, Certified Alarm System Contractor II, Certified Specialty Electrical Contractor | Limited: CA, GA, NC | 2020 NEC | Check a license |
| Georgia | Georgia State Board of Electrical Contractors (Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards) | Partial | Class I (Restricted) Electrical Contractor, Class II (Unrestricted) Electrical Contractor | No | 2023 NEC | Check a license |
| Hawaii | Hawaii Board of Electricians and Plumbers (DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing) | Yes | Confirm with board | No | Confirm with board | Check a license |
| Idaho | Idaho Electrical Board (Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses) | Yes | Apprentice, Journeyman, Master, Electrical Contractor, Limited (Specialty) Contractor, Limited Installer | Yes: CO, ME, MT, NE, NH and 7 more | Confirm with board | Check a license |
| Illinois | Local (municipal) licensing | No, city or county | Set locally | No | Local adoption | City or county |
| Indiana | Local (city/county) licensing | No, city or county | Set locally | No | 2008 NEC | City or county |
| Iowa | Iowa Electrical Examining Board (Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing) | Yes | Apprentice Electrician, Class A Journeyman Electrician, Class A Master Electrician, Residential Electrician, Residential Master, Electrical Contractor | Yes: AK, AR, CO, MN, MT and 8 more | 2023 NEC | Check a license |
| Kansas | Local (city/county) licensing | No, city or county | Residential Electrician, Journeyman Electrician, Master Electrician, Electrical Contractor | No | Confirm with board | City or county |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (Division of Electrical) | Yes | Electrician, Master Electrician, Electrical Contractor, Provisional Electrician | Limited: OH, VA, WV | 2023 NEC | Check a license |
| Louisiana | Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (contractor licensing only); individual electricians licensed locally by parishes and municipalities | Partial | Electrical (major classification 5, commercial contractor), Electrical Controls and Instrumentation and Calibration, Telecommunications, Low Voltage | Yes | 2020 NEC | Check a license |
| Maine | Maine Electricians' Examining Board (Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation) | Yes | Master Electrician, Journeyman Electrician, Limited Electrician, Journeyman-in-Training Electrician, Apprentice Electrician, Helper Electrician | Yes: NH, MA, RI, VT, CT and 7 more | 2026 NEC | Check a license |
| Maryland | Maryland State Board of Electricians (Maryland Department of Labor) | Yes | Apprentice, Journeyperson, Master Electrician | Limited: VA, WV, DC, DE | Confirm with board | Check a license |
| Massachusetts | Board of State Examiners of Electricians (Division of Occupational Licensure) | Yes | Journeyman Electrician, Master Electrician, Systems Technician, Systems Contractor | Limited: NH | 2026 NEC | Check a license |
| Michigan | Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Construction Codes | Yes | Electrical Apprentice (registration), Journeyman Electrician, Master Electrician, Electrical Contractor, Fire Alarm Specialty Technician, Sign Specialist | No | 2023 NEC | Check a license |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (Board of Electricity) | Yes | Class A Master Electrician, Class A Journeyworker Electrician, Power Limited Technician, Maintenance Electrician, Lineman, Electrical Contractor | Yes: AK, AR, CO, IA, MT and 4 more | 2026 NEC | Check a license |
| Mississippi | Mississippi State Board of Contractors (contractor licensing only); no statewide journeyman or master electrician license | Partial | Electrical (commercial major classification), Residential Electrical, Communication Systems, Low Voltage Electrical | Limited: AL, LA, NC, OH, SC and 1 more | Confirm with board | Check a license |
| Missouri | Local (city/county) licensing; optional statewide license from the Office of Statewide Electrical Contractors (Division of Professional Registration) | Partial | Statewide Electrical Contractor (optional) | Confirm with board | Confirm with board | Check a license |
| Montana | Montana State Electrical Board (Department of Labor and Industry) | Yes | Residential Electrician, Journeyman Electrician, Master Electrician, Electrical Contractor | Yes | 2023 NEC | Check a license |
| Nebraska | Nebraska State Electrical Division (State Electrical Board) | Yes | Electrical Contractor, Journeyman Electrician, Residential Journeyman Wireman, Apprentice Electrician, Fire Alarm Installer | Yes: AK, AR, CO, IA, ID and 7 more | 2023 NEC | Check a license |
| Nevada | Nevada State Contractors Board (contractor licensing only); individual electricians licensed locally | Partial | C-2 Electrical Contracting | Limited: AZ, CA, CT, LA, NC and 3 more | Confirm with board | Check a license |
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire Electricians' Board (Office of Professional Licensure and Certification) | Yes | Apprentice Electrician, Journeyman Electrician, Master Electrician, High/Medium Voltage Electrician | Yes: CT, DE, ID, ME, MA and 6 more | 2023 NEC | Check a license |
| New Jersey | New Jersey Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors (Division of Consumer Affairs) | Yes | Electrical Contractor, Qualified Journeyman Electrician (registration), Class A Journeyman, Class A Electrical Apprentice, Class B Wireman | No | 2023 NEC | Check a license |
| New Mexico | New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Construction Industries Division (Electrical Bureau) | Yes | EE-98 Electrical Contractor (residential and commercial), ER-1 Residential Electrical, ES specialty classifications, EE-98J Journeyman Electrician | Limited: AK, AR, CO, ID, MT and 5 more | 2020 NEC | Check a license |
| New York | Local (city/county) licensing | No, city or county | Set locally | No | Confirm with board | City or county |
| North Carolina | North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors | Partial | Limited, Intermediate, Unlimited, Special Restricted (SP-SFD, SP-FA/LV, SP-EL, SP-PH, SP-WP, SP-SP, SP-ES) | Yes: AL, GA, MS, OH, SC and 3 more | 2020 NEC | Check a license |
| North Dakota | North Dakota State Electrical Board | Yes | Apprentice Electrician, Journeyman Electrician, Master Electrician, Class B Electrician, Power Limited Electrician | Yes: AK, AR, CO, ID, IA and 8 more | 2026 NEC | Check a license |
| Ohio | Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB), Ohio Department of Commerce | Partial | Electrical Contractor | Yes: KY, LA, MS, NC, SC and 4 more | 2023 NEC | Check a license |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma Construction Industries Board (CIB) | Yes | Electrical Apprentice, Electrical Journeyman, Electrical Contractor | Yes: AK, AR, CO, ID, IA and 5 more | 2023 NEC | Check a license |
| Oregon | Oregon Building Codes Division (DCBS), Electrical and Elevator Board | Yes | General Journeyman Electrician, General Supervising Electrician, Limited Residential Electrician, Limited Supervising Electrician, Limited Energy Technician (Class A, Class B), Electrical Contractor | Yes: AR, ID, ME, MT, UT and 2 more | 2026 NEC | Check a license |
| Pennsylvania | Local (city/county/municipal) licensing | No, city or county | Set locally | No | Confirm with board | City or county |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, Board of Examiners of Electricians | Yes | Confirm with board | Confirm with board | 2023 NEC | Check a license |
| South Carolina | South Carolina LLR, Contractor's Licensing Board | Partial | Mechanical Contractor, Electrical classification (EL) | Yes: AL, GA, MS, NC, OH and 3 more | 2020 NEC | Check a license |
| South Dakota | South Dakota Electrical Commission, Department of Labor and Regulation | Yes | Apprentice Electrician, Journeyman Electrician, Electrical Contractor, Class B Electrician | Yes: AK, AR, CO, ID, IA and 9 more | 2023 NEC | Check a license |
| Tennessee | Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors, Department of Commerce and Insurance | Partial | Electrical Contractor (CE), Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) | Limited: AL, LA, MS, NC, OH and 2 more | 2017 NEC | Check a license |
| Texas | Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) | Yes | Apprentice Electrician, Residential Wireman, Journeyman Electrician, Journeyman Industrial Electrician, Master Electrician, Electrical Contractor | Yes: AL, AK, AR, ID, IA and 9 more | 2026 NEC | Check a license |
| Utah | Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL), Department of Commerce | Yes | Apprentice Electrician, Journeyman Electrician, Master Electrician, Residential Journeyman Electrician, Residential Master Electrician | Yes | 2023 NEC | Check a license |
| Vermont | Vermont Electricians' Licensing Board, Department of Public Safety Division of Fire Safety | Yes | Apprentice, Journeyman Electrician, Type-S Journeyman Electrician, Master Electrician | Yes: NH, ME | 2023 NEC | Check a license |
| Virginia | Virginia DPOR, Board for Contractors (Tradesman Program) | Yes | Journeyman Electrician, Master Electrician, Electrical Contractor (Class A, B or C contractor license) | Yes: AL, DC, KY, MD, WV and 2 more | 2020 NEC | Check a license |
| Washington | Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), Electrical Program | Yes | Electrical Trainee, Journey Level Electrician (01), Specialty Electrician, Master Electrician, Electrical Administrator, Electrical Contractor | Limited: OR | 2023 NEC | Check a license |
| West Virginia | West Virginia State Fire Marshal's Office, Regulatory and Licensing Division | Yes | Apprentice Electrician, Journeyman Electrician, Master Electrician, Specialty Electrician | Yes | 2020 NEC | Check a license |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) | Yes | Electrical Apprentice, Journeyman Electrician, Master Electrician, Journeyman Electrician, Residential, Master Electrician, Residential, Electrical Contractor | Limited: IA, NH | 2023 NEC | Check a license |
| Wyoming | Wyoming Department of Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety (State Fire Marshal), Electrical Safety | Yes | Apprentice Electrician, Journeyman Electrician, Master Electrician, Electrical Contractor, Low Voltage Technician, Low Voltage/Limited Contractor | Yes: AK, AR, CO, ID, ME and 12 more | 2026 NEC | Check a license |
Source: each state licensing board and code agency’s own website. Checked October 17, 2026.
How to read the table
Statewide license. 35 of 51 jurisdictions issue electrician licenses statewide. “Partial” (11 states) means the state licenses electrical contractors or some license types and leaves the rest to cities and counties. “No” (5 states) means licensing is local.
Reciprocity. “Yes” means the board publishes reciprocity or endorsement agreements; “Limited” means they cover only some license types or partner states. Partner lists are shortened to five states; the board page has the full list. Read what changed in reciprocity this year.
NEC edition. The edition the state enforces today, from the adopting agency. See which states moved to the 2026 NEC.
Confirm with board. We could not confirm that field on an official state page, so we do not guess.
How we checked
Hiring rather than applying? Read how to hire an electrician for the license, permit and quote checks to make first.
Every row was compiled from the licensing board, code agency or state rule itself, with archived copies of official pages only when a live page blocked access. We recheck all 51 rows every quarter. Spot something out of date? Tell us and we will correct it.