Do Electricians Need a License? Rules by State

Short answerRules differ by state, and some leave licensing to cities and counties. This page lists the 36 places where we read the rule on an official page, each with its source. A missing state means we couldn't verify it, not that no license is needed.

State	Rule	Source
Alabama	The Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors licenses electrical contractors and journeyman electricians. Journeymen must work under a master or state-certified electrical contractor.	Source
Alaska	A state-issued Certificate of Fitness is required to perform electrical construction work subject to the National Electrical Code in all parts of Alaska.	Source
Arkansas	The Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners licenses electricians, including master, residential master, journeyman and residential journeyman classes.	Source
California	Electrical contractors are licensed by the Contractors State License Board under the C-10 Electrical Contractor classification.	Source
Colorado	Colorado says it is a violation of state law for anyone other than the homeowner who is not a registered electrical contractor to install an electrical project on your property. If you hire an electrical contractor, the contractor is responsible for getting the required permits, and some local areas run their own electrical inspection programs.	Source
Connecticut	People doing electrical work must have the appropriate Connecticut license, in addition to any home improvement registration.	Source
Delaware	A Delaware professional license as an electrician is required to perform electrical services in the state, covering any activity governed by the National Electrical Code.	Source
District of Columbia	The DC Board of Industrial Trades licenses electricians. DC is a single jurisdiction, so this is a District-level license.	Source
Georgia	Georgia has a State Board of Electrical Contractors under the Secretary of State's Licensing Division.	Source
Hawaii	Hawaii's Board of Electricians and Plumbers issues electrician licenses. Even when a county does not require an electrical permit, the work may still have to be performed by a licensed electrician.	Source
Iowa	Iowa's Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing handles electrical licensing, including Class A journeyman licenses under Iowa Code chapter 103.	Source
Kentucky	The Electrical Division of the Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction licenses electricians and electrical contractors.	Source
Louisiana	The State Licensing Board for Contractors lists electrical projects exceeding $10,000, including labor and materials, under its commercial license. It does not settle smaller or residential jobs, so check with the board.	Source
Maine	The State of Maine licenses electricians, who can face discipline from their licensing board if they violate Maine law or the board's rules.	Source
Maryland	Maryland's green-technology licensing page says the State Board of Master Electricians licenses master electricians and that a local license is also required. Whoever connects a wind turbine to the electric box or grid needs a master electrician's license from the local jurisdiction, or a State one in the few places that don't issue it.	Source
Massachusetts	Massachusetts says electricians who provide services exclusively within the scope of their licensed profession do not need Home Improvement Contractor registration.	Source
Michigan	Michigan's Bureau of Construction Codes licenses electrical journeymen, master electricians and electrical contractors.	Source
Mississippi	On a qualifying residential construction or improvement project, residential electrical subcontractors need a state license regardless of their share of the job. Confirm smaller stand-alone jobs with the State Board of Contractors.	Source
Missouri	Missouri's statewide electrical contractor license is optional, not mandatory. Permits still come from the local government, and contractors continue to post bonds with the city or county.	Source
New Hampshire	New Hampshire requires an active and valid electrician license to work with 30 volts or higher. The Electricians' Board regulates apprentice, journeyman, master and high/medium voltage electricians, and apprentices must register.	Source
New Jersey	Electrical contractors are licensed by the State and do not need home improvement registration when working within their profession. A municipal permit for electrical work must be signed and sealed by a New Jersey licensed electrical contractor.	Source
New Mexico	The Construction Industries Division has an Electrical Bureau and handles journeyman certificates, including the EE-98J residential and commercial electrical classification, and the handyman exemption does not cover electrical wiring.	Source
North Carolina	The North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors regulates electrical contractors under NC General Statutes Chapter 87, Article 4.	Source
North Dakota	A contract to install electrical wiring may be entered only by a master electrician or power limited electrician, under North Dakota State Electrical Board guidelines. A class B electrician may contract for farmstead wiring or residential wiring in certain small-city dwellings.	Source
Ohio	The Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board issues state licenses to commercial contractors in electrical work. Applicants must pass an exam, carry at least $500,000 in contractor liability coverage, and generally have 5 years as a tradesperson. The board says local building departments may require this license for residential work, so ask yours.	Source
Oklahoma	The Oklahoma Construction Industries Board licenses electrical contractors. It is a violation to contract for services without current insurance and an active license, and a license is not required for performing solely telephone and CATV systems.	Source
Oregon	Electrical work is among the construction activities covered by the Construction Contractors Board license.	Source
Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania has no statewide requirement for most contractors, but some municipalities set their own requirements for electrical contractors or electricians. Check with the municipality where the work will take place.	Source
South Dakota	The South Dakota Electrical Commission licenses all electricians within the state.	Source
Texas	State electrician licensing from TDLR generally applies in Texas outside the listed exemptions. Municipal or regional rules may override those exemptions.	Source
Vermont	The Vermont Division of Fire Safety issues electrical licenses. Tradespeople licensed by the Department of Public Safety are exempt from contractor registration when working within their scope.	Source
Virginia	Electricians are licensed through Virginia's Tradesmen Program, with journeyman and master levels among the license classes.	Source
Washington	In Washington, only licensed electrical contractors employing certified electricians may perform electrical work, though property owners and qualifying nonprofit entities may apply for an exemption.	Source
West Virginia	Electrical contractor is one of the contractor license classes under the West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board.	Source
Wisconsin	Wisconsin's Department of Safety and Professional Services issues Master Electrician, Journeyman Electrician, Registered Electrician, Electrical Apprentice and Electrical Contractor credentials.	Source
Wyoming	A Wyoming electrical contractor must actively employ a full-time Wyoming-licensed master electrician as master of record. Journeyman and master electricians must work for a licensed electrical contractor.	Source

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General information, not professional advice. Conditions, codes and prices vary. Turn off power, gas or water before any work, and hire a licensed professional when in doubt. Cost figures are our estimates, not quotes.