Electrical License Reciprocity in 2026: Georgia Ends It as Alaska and Louisiana Open Up
Electrical license reciprocity, the agreements that let a licensed electrician or contractor work in another state without starting over, shifted in several states over the past two years. Georgia stopped offering it, while Alaska and Louisiana made it easier for out of state license holders to qualify.
Georgia ends licensure by reciprocity
Georgia’s State Board of Electrical Contractors licenses contractors rather than individual electricians. Its FAQ now says the state stopped offering licensure by reciprocity effective May 2026, so out of state contractors apply and test like anyone else. The change shows up next door too: Alabama’s Electrical Contractors Board says it no longer shares reciprocity with Georgia. Alabama’s current list covers Mississippi, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Ohio, Louisiana and Texas, for the contractor license, with Texas also covering journeymen.
Florida is a separate case. Its Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board has no reciprocity agreements at all, but it grants licensure by endorsement when another state’s exam is substantially equivalent, and it lists Georgia’s exam among the full endorsements, alongside California and North Carolina.
Alaska opens journeyman reciprocity to 32 states
Alaska issues certificates of fitness instead of electrician licenses and has no master license. Since August 8, 2025, it accepts Electrician Journeyman certificates from substantially similar states without needing a mutual agreement, and the Department of Labor publishes the list: 32 states at our check, from Alabama to Wyoming.
Louisiana accepts a passed trade exam from any state
Louisiana’s statewide license is a contractor license, required for electrical work over $10,000. Since October 2024, the State Licensing Board for Contractors accepts a passed trade exam from any state instead of relying on named agreements, which removes the guesswork about whether your home state is on a list.
Who still offers none
Several large markets have no reciprocity for electricians. Michigan recognizes no other state and reviews out of state licenses for equivalency instead. New Jersey’s board says it has no reciprocity with any state, and Connecticut says the same, while offering an equivalent license route. Wisconsin is narrow: Iowa and New Hampshire for journeymen, Iowa only for masters. Ohio sits at the other end for contractors, listing Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, Virginia and Texas.
When the lists disagree
Boards do not always agree with each other. New Jersey says it has no reciprocity, yet Maine and New Hampshire both list New Jersey as a partner. The board that matters is the one in the state where you want to work. Read its current page, apply in writing and keep the approval letter before you bid.
How we checked
We read each board’s own reciprocity page or FAQ on October 17, 2026, and our state license lookup shows the result for all 50 states and DC. Across those 51 jurisdictions, 38 list some form of reciprocity or license endorsement.
Sources
- Georgia State Board of Electrical Contractors FAQ
- Alabama Electrical Contractors Board, reciprocity
- Alaska Department of Labor, Mechanical Inspection reciprocity
- Louisiana LSLBC, 2024 reciprocity change
- Michigan LARA, electrical licensing
- New Jersey Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors FAQ
- Connecticut DCP, equivalent out of state license
- Wisconsin DSPS, journeyman electrician
- Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board
- Maine electricians FAQ
- New Hampshire OPLC, reciprocity changes