TThe Traveling Tradesman
E

Electrician

Electrician is the most regulated trade on this list, and the pay reflects it. You'll put in around 8,000 supervised hours — about four years — before most states let you sit for a journeyman exam, and you'll be earning a paycheck that whole time, not paying tuition. The catch nobody mentions up front: your license is a state license, and in some places a city license, so where you get licensed matters almost as much as getting licensed. Plan for that before you start, not after.

Where can I take my electrician license?

Pick the state you're licensed in. You'll get the states that will consider that license — which is not the same as a free transfer.

FAQ

Does my electrician license transfer if I move to another state?

Sometimes, and you need to check before you move, not after — this is one of those things people get burned on. Some states have reciprocity agreements, which usually means the new state waives its trade exam if your license was earned by passing an exam in yours. It almost never means a straight swap: you'll still pay their fees, pass a business-and-law test, and meet their insurance rules. And plenty of big states — Michigan is one — have zero reciprocity with anybody, so you'd start with their exam no matter what your card says. Look up both states on this site first; the exact agreements are listed on each state page.

Electrician rules in every state

Researched 2026-07-21 to 2026-07-24

One entry per state, in alphabetical order. Each one covers who licenses the trade there, what it takes to qualify, and whether that state accepts a license earned somewhere else.

What the colors mean
  • Reciprocity accepts some out-of-state licenses
  • No reciprocity licensed here, but no out-of-state license is accepted
  • Nothing to reciprocate no state license exists here
  • Not established we could not verify this state's position — treat it as an open question, not a no
  • secondarydrawn from consistent secondary sources, not confirmed on the agency's own page

Alabama

State license
Issuing agency: Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors (AECB) - Electrical Contractor and Journeyman Electrician licenses. Reciprocity agreements are geared toward the Contractor license specifically.

Electrical Contractor: exam + Alabama Business & Law exam ($315 reciprocity fee as of Feb 14, 2026). Journeyman: separate statewide license, but reciprocity agreements focus on the Contractor level.

Reciprocity existsOfficial source

Alabama waives its electrical contractor trade exam (never the AL business & law exam) for licensees from Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina, and Texas, plus NASCLA exam holders. Georgia was removed from that list on 25 May 2026 and is no longer a reciprocal state, though sources still list it.

Where it applies: Electrical Contractor license (trade exam waiver only - AL Business & Law exam always required)

What's actually required: Confirmed directly from AECB's own current forms page (aecb.Alabama.gov/licensees/forms, actively maintained - references a Feb 14, 2026 fee change): 'Use the forms below to obtain an Electrical Contractors license via reciprocity through Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina, Texas, or via NASCLA National Electrical Contractor Exam Waiver.' important time-sensitive note: Georgia was previously on this list but the AECB-Georgia reciprocity agreement TERMINATES May 25, 2026 - since today'S research date (July 24, 2026) is after that date, Georgia is correctly excluded here. Cross-confirmed against North Carolina's own board page, which independently lists a bilateral Alabama agreement. NASCLA exam also accepted.

States accepted from
MSLATNNCVASCTX
Sources
See all trades in Alabama

Alaska

State license
Issuing agency: Split across two agencies: Alaska Dept. Of Labor and Workforce Development (DOL), Mechanical Inspection Section - issues the individual 'Certificate of Fitness' (Journeyman/Residential Electrician); Dept. Of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development (DCCED) - issues the 'Electrical Administrator' supervisory credential and registers the business as a Specialty Contractor.

Journeyman Certificate of Fitness: 8,000 hours (min. 6,000 commercial/industrial, max. 2,000 residential) + exam. IBEW Local 1547 apprenticeship satisfies the experience requirement. Reciprocity applies to the DOL Journeyman certificate only - the DCCED Electrical Administrator credential has no formal reciprocity (out-of-state applicants must document experience and sit for the Alaska exam).

Reciprocity existsSecondary sources — not independently confirmed by the agency

Alaska has Journeyman electrician reciprocity with 13 states: Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Utah. Alaska explicitly no longer reciprocates with Oregon, Idaho, Washington, or Wyoming - a past agreement that was terminated. This does not extend to the separate DCCED Electrical Administrator credential, which has no reciprocity at all.

Where it applies: DOL Journeyman Certificate of Fitness only - explicitly not the DCCED Electrical Administrator credential

What's actually required: Important conflict flagged with this dataset'S own records: one source states explicitly 'Alaska no longer has reciprocal agreements with the states of Oregon, Idaho, Washington or Wyoming' - using the specific phrase 'No longer,' indicating these agreements were actively terminated. However, this dataset'S own Oregon, Idaho, Washington, and Wyoming electrician records (already completed in earlier research passes) each independently list Alaska as one of THEIR reciprocal partners. This is a genuine, material discrepancy that could not be resolved within this research pass - it's possible those four states still unilaterally recognize Alaska licenses even though Alaska no longer recognizes theirs back (an asymmetric relationship, similar to the Delaware-Michigan case already documented elsewhere), or it'S possible those four states' records need correction. The Alaska relationship specifically is worth re-checking against Oregon, Idaho, Washington and Wyoming before relying on it. The 13-state list recorded here (AR, CO, IA, MN, MT, NE, NH, NM, ND, OK, SD, TX, UT) is corroborated by a source citing 'Active reciprocity agreements with 13 states' and by another independent detailed list - both of which notably EXCLUDE Oregon, Idaho, Washington, and Wyoming, consistent with the termination finding.

States accepted from
ARCOIAMNMTNENHNMNDOKSDTXUT

Note: Relabeled 2026-07-24: previously marked official but cited only secondary sources (caught in final full-dataset audit). CRITICAL: This finding conflicts with this dataset's own Oregon, Idaho, Washington, and Wyoming electrician records, each of which lists Alaska as a reciprocal partner. This conflict was identified during Alaska's research (the final state in this 50-state project) and could not be resolved by re-checking all four other states within this pass. Recommend a dedicated follow-up specifically re-verifying whether OR/ID/WA/WY still list Alaska on their own current official pages, since Alaska's side of the relationship has reportedly been terminated.

See all trades in Alaska

Arizona

State license
Issuing agency: Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC) - CR-11 (Commercial), C-11 (Commercial, dual), R-11 (Residential) Electrical classifications

Arizona licenses the contracting business (like California's CSLB model), not an individual journeyman/master worker credential - a qualifying party for the business must pass the trade exam. Roughly 4 years qualifying experience + az ROC trade exam (or the NASCLA Accredited Electrical Examination as an alternative) + Statutes & Rules Exam (SRE) + bonding/insurance. General contracting threshold is $1,000 (labor+materials); specialty trades like electrical need a license regardless of project size.

No reciprocityOfficial source

Arizona has no formal electrical license reciprocity with any state. Two real alternatives exist instead: the NASCLA electrical exam can substitute for Arizona's own trade exam, and the Registrar may grant a case-by-case Out-of-State Waiver if your prior state'S exam is judged comparable - neither is a guarantee, and both still require Arizona's Statutes & Rules exam, bonding, and insurance.

Why, and what applies instead: RESOLVED via the Arizona Registrar of Contractors' own official page (roc.az.gov, applying/reciprocity section), confirmed and echoed by a secondary source directly quoting it: 'Arizona does not operate a universal reciprocity system for contractor licenses.' There is no named bilateral reciprocity agreement for this trade. Two real alternative pathways exist agency-wide: (1) The NASCLA Accredited Examination Program - for electrical (CR-11/C-11/R-11) applicants specifically, NASCLA'S electrical exam may be taken in lieu of the az ROC trade exam (confirmed on roc.az.gov); (2) An Out-of-State Waiver Request - a case-by-case review where the Registrar may waive the AZ trade exam if the applicant's out-of-state exam is judged comparable. Neither is a named reciprocity list, so this is recorded as 'No' formal reciprocity with a clear description of the real alternative paths, per this project'S standing rule that a conditional case-by-case process is not the same claim as a named reciprocity agreement.

See all trades in Arizona

Arkansas

State license
Issuing agency: Arkansas Dept. Of Labor and Licensing (ADLL) - Board of Electrical Examiners (individual Journeyman/Master/specialty licenses); Contractors Licensing Board (business-level contractor license, no universal reciprocity)

Master, Journeyman, Residential Master/Journeyman, Air Conditioning Electrician, and Industrial Maintenance Electrician license classes via the Board of Electrical Examiners.

Reciprocity existsOfficial source

Arkansas has journeyman electrician reciprocity with 17 states/jurisdictions - confirmed directly on the state's own official page. Master-level reciprocity is narrower: it generally converts to a Journeyman license in Arkansas, except for Oregon and North Dakota, which get true Master-level reciprocity - bidirectionally cross-confirmed against Oregon'S own records. The business Contractor license has no universal reciprocity.

Where it applies: Individual Journeyman/Master electrician license only (the business Contractor license has no universal reciprocity, confirmed separately)

What's actually required: Confirmed directly from Arkansas's own official page (labor.Arkansas.gov): 'The Board only reciprocates an original license from the issuing state on this list... A Master license from the list above can only be reciprocated with a Journeyman's license except for Oregon and North Dakota which Arkansas has a Master License reciprocal Agreement.' Bidirectionally cross-confirmed against this dataset's own Oregon record, which independently lists Arkansas for both Journeyman and Supervising/Master reciprocity. A reciprocated license cannot itself be re-reciprocated. Wyoming specifically requires the original license to have come from a 576+ hour USDOL-approved apprenticeship.

States accepted from
AKCOIDIAMEMNMTNENHNMNDOKSDTXVTWIWYOR (Master-level only, per an explicit exception noted on Arkansas's own page)
See all trades in Arkansas

California

State license
Issuing agency: Contractors State License Board (CSLB) - C-10 Electrical Contractor (for contracting); CA Dept. Of Industrial Relations DIR/DLSE Electrician Certification Unit (for individual electricians working under C-10 contractors)

C-10 contractor: 4 years journeyman-level experience, trade exam + law & business exam, $25,000 bond. Individual electricians working for C-10 contractors must hold DIR certification (General Electrician: 8,000 hours + state exam; Residential: 4,800 hours; per Labor Code sec. 108) or be a registered trainee/apprentice. The C-10 qualifying person is exempt from DIR certification.

Reciprocity exists(CSLB contractor license only)Official source

California's CSLB has formal reciprocity agreements with Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, and North Carolina. The trade exam may be waived for qualifying classifications; California'S law & business exam is still required. The separate DIR electrician certification (for employees of electrical contractors) has no published reciprocity program.

What's actually required: Trade exam may be waived. Requires: classification on the state's Reciprocal Classifications List; active license in good standing in the reciprocal state for the previous 5 years; verification form from the home-state board. CSLB'S law & business exam is ALWAYS still required. CSLB also waives the trade exam for the General Building (B) classification for anyone who passed the NASCLA Commercial General Building exam, from any state.

States accepted from
AZLAMSNVNC

Note: DIR individual certification reciprocity status unconfirmed - see meta.known_gaps.

See all trades in California

Colorado

State license
Issuing agency: Colorado DORA (Dept. Of Regulatory Agencies) - Division of Professions and Occupations, State Electrical Board

Residential Wireman (1-2 family dwellings) / Journeyman (4 yrs/8,000 hrs + 288 classroom hrs) / Master (6 years total) / Electrical Contractor (business). Colorado does not accept the NASCLA exam for electrical.

Reciprocity existsSecondary sources — not independently confirmed by the agency

Colorado offers Journeyman-level reciprocity through NERA membership (a multi-state network) and separate bilateral Master Electrician reciprocity confirmed with Wyoming, New Mexico, and Nebraska. Confirm the complete current NERA member list directly with DORA before treating any other specific state as guaranteed.

Where it applies: Journeyman level primarily via NERA membership; Master level via narrower bilateral endorsement

What's actually required: Colorado is a member of the National Electrical Reciprocal Alliance (NERA), a multi-state journeyman-level reciprocity network - but sources gave inconsistent counts of the full member list (ranging from ~10 to 14+ states, with AK, AR, ID, IA, MA, MN, MT, NE, NH, NM, ND, OK, SD, UT, WY variously named across different sources). Given the inconsistency, the exact full NERA list is not asserted here as confirmed - only the narrower, more consistently-sourced Master Electrician bilateral list (WY, NM, NE) is recorded with confidence. NERA membership itself (as a structural fact) is well-corroborated. Master-level reciprocity requires the original license to be exam-earned, not itself obtained by reciprocity or grandfathering. Colorado does not accept NASCLA.

States accepted from
WY (bilateral Master Electrician reciprocity)NM (bilateral Master Electrician reciprocity)NE (bilateral Master Electrician reciprocity)

Note: Sources disagreed significantly on the complete NERA member-state list. Only the narrower Master-level bilateral list (WY, NM, NE) is recorded in accepts_from since it was the most consistently sourced; do not add other states without confirming directly at dpo.colorado.gov/Electrical.

See all trades in Colorado

Connecticut

State license
Issuing agency: Connecticut Dept. Of Consumer Protection (DCP) - 10 electrician license types

Apprentice (registered with ct DOL) -> Journeyperson (E-2 etc.) -> Contractor, via experience + exam at each level.

No reciprocityOfficial source

Connecticut has no electrical license reciprocity with any state - confirmed directly and explicitly on the state's own official page. Out-of-state electricians must complete Connecticut'S full application and exam process regardless of where they're currently licensed.

Why, and what applies instead: Confirmed directly from Connecticut's own official DCP page, quoted verbatim: 'Connecticut does not have reciprocal agreements with any other jurisdiction.' One secondary source (Housecall Pro) claims reciprocity with Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont for 'Certain licensing levels' - this directly contradicts DCP'S own current page and is rejected. Company applications are not accepted for electrical licenses (individuals only).

See all trades in Connecticut

Delaware

State license
Issuing agency: Delaware Board of Electrical Examiners, Division of Professional Regulation (DPR) - Apprentice/Journeyperson/Master/Limited/Specialty licenses

Standard experience + exam structure across license levels, 24 Del. C. Chapter 14.

Reciprocity existsOfficial source

Delaware's electrical reciprocity is a case-by-case 'Substantially similar' review, not a fixed list - confirmed directly from Delaware'S own administrative code. Secondary sources describe Michigan and Wyoming as 'full reciprocity' states, though the Delaware-Michigan relationship appears one-directional since Michigan's own board confirms it has no reciprocity with any state.

Where it applies: Case-by-case 'substantially similar' review, not a fixed reciprocal-state list

What's actually required: Confirmed via the actual Delaware Administrative Code (24 DE Admin Code 1400-11.0, fetched directly): reciprocity is a case-by-case review requiring proof of current good-standing licensure and the reciprocal state's licensure requirements - not a fixed named-state list. Secondary sources describe 'Full reciprocity' specifically with Michigan and Wyoming, plus a much longer list of states with 'Limited agreements' (AR, CO, DC, FL, GA, ME, MD, MA, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NC, OH, TX, VT, VA, WV) - this longer list wasn'T independently confirmed and is not included in accepts_from. Notably, Delaware's claimed reciprocity with Michigan appears to be one-directional: this dataset'S own Michigan record confirms Michigan itself has no reciprocity with any state, per LARA's own official FAQ - meaning Delaware may unilaterally recognize Michigan licenses as 'Substantially similar' even though Michigan doesn'T reciprocate back.

States accepted from
MI (described by one source as 'full reciprocity' - notably ONE-DIRECTIONAL, since this dataset's own Michigan record confirms Michigan itself has NO reciprocity with any state per LARA's own FAQ)WY (described as full reciprocity)

Note: The longer 'limited agreements' list from secondary sources wasn't independently confirmed and should not be treated as fact without direct DPR confirmation.

See all trades in Delaware

Florida

State license
Issuing agency: Florida Dept. Of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) - Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board (ECLB)

Certified Electrical Contractor (statewide) or Registered (local): qualifying experience, trade exam plus business & finance exam, background check, credit report, insurance. Individual journeyman/master cards are issued locally by counties, not the state.

No reciprocityOfficial source

Florida has no electrical license reciprocity agreements with any state. Two endorsement routes exist: exam-equivalency endorsement (the board publishes which states' exams it recognizes; Florida'S business exam still required) and a 10-year endorsement for long-licensed contractors. Endorsement is reviewed case by case - it is not reciprocity.

Why, and what applies instead: Confirmed against official ECLB documents: Florida has no automatic reciprocity agreements for electrical licenses. Two official endorsement routes exist: (1) Certification by Endorsement (form DBPR ECLB 2, per Rule 61-35.012 FAC) for applicants who passed another state's exam that the Board recognizes as substantially similar under s. 489.511(6)(a), F.S. - the Board publishes an Exam Endorsement/Reciprocity List (e.g., TX Master Electrical Exam = FL Unlimited EC technical exam); the Florida Business exam is still required. (2) 10-Year Endorsement (form DBPR ECLB 14) for applicants licensed in another state/territory at least 10 years with the license current within the last 2 years. Endorsement is case-by-case, not automatic.

See all trades in Florida

Georgia

State license
Issuing agency: Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board - Division of Electrical Contractors (Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards)

Electrical Contractor Class I (restricted) / Class II (non-restricted): 4+ years experience installing electrical systems, 3 reference forms (1+ from a licensed electrical contractor), board approval, PSI exam. The board licenses electrical CONTRACTORS, not individual electricians. Biennial renewal with 4 CE hours/year.

Reciprocity existsOfficial source

Georgia offers electrical contractor reciprocity (Non-Restricted class) with Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The out-of-state license must be exam-earned, current, and violation-free. No other states qualify.

What's actually required: Official (ga SOS FAQ + How-To Guide): reciprocity for Non-Restricted Electrical Contractors with Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. License must be current with no violations and must have been obtained by exam - licenses obtained via grandfathering, endorsement, conversion, or reciprocity elsewhere are not eligible. NOTE: some third-party sites incorrectly list Florida; Florida is not on Georgia's official list.

States accepted from
ALLANCSCTN
See all trades in Georgia

Hawaii

State license
Issuing agency: Hawaii Dept. Of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) - Board of Electricians and Plumbers (individual Journey Worker/Supervising Electrician, under DLIR per one source); Contractors License Board (C-13 Electrical Contractor business license)

Journey Worker: 8,000-10,000 hours + 240 hours coursework + exam. C-13 Contractor requires a Supervising Electrician + $5,000 bond. No dollar-threshold exemption - any compensated electrical work needs a licensed contractor.

No reciprocityOfficial source

Hawaii has no electrical license reciprocity with any state - confirmed consistently across multiple sources including an official government document. Out-of-state experience may count toward Hawaii's hour requirement, but the exam is always required.

Why, and what applies instead: Confirmed consistently and directly across at least 5 independent sources, including an official state job-posting document quoting DCCA policy verbatim: 'Hawaii does not have reciprocity agreements with other jurisdictions.' This is one of the most consistently-confirmed 'no reciprocity' findings in the entire dataset. The Board may credit out-of-state experience toward the hour requirement, but this is not reciprocity - a full Hawaii exam is still required.

See all trades in Hawaii

Idaho

State license
Issuing agency: Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) - Division of Building Safety, Electrical Bureau. Electrical Contractor (business), Electrical Administrator (Master-equivalent individual qualifier), Journeyman Electrician (individual field credential).

Journeyman: 4 years/8,000 hours + exam (70% pass). Electrical Contractor: must be or employ an Idaho Electrical Administrator + exam + $300,000 liability insurance.

Reciprocity existsCross-confirmed

Idaho has journeyman electrician reciprocity with 13 states: Colorado, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming - confirmed via Idaho's own board plus multiple cross-confirmations from other states' records. This reciprocity does not extend to the Electrical Contractor business license, which has no reciprocity at all.

Where it applies: Journeyman Electrician license only - explicitly not the Electrical Contractor (business) license

What's actually required: Idaho's own DOPL FAQ confirms reciprocal agreements exist, and an official DOPL PDF (partially readable) corroborates Colorado, North Dakota, and Oklahoma specifically. The full 13-state list is consistently reported across multiple detailed secondary sources. Applicants must have tested for their current license, held it 1+ year, and show proof of 4 years schooling/OJT. No reciprocity exists for the Electrical Contractor (business) license - confirmed explicitly by a separate source. Bidirectionally cross-confirmed against this dataset'S own Oregon, New Mexico, and Texas records, which each independently list Idaho as one of their own reciprocal partners.

States accepted from
COMEMTNENHNMNDOKORSDTXUTWY
See all trades in Idaho

Illinois

No state license — local/city licensing only

There is no state license for this trade — licensing, where it exists, happens at the city or county level.

Issuing agency: No state license. Local: Chicago Dept. Of Buildings issues Electrical Contractor and Supervising Electrician licenses under Municipal Code of Chicago Ch. 4-290; suburban municipalities run their own programs (many use Continental Testing Services exams).

Varies by municipality. Chicago: an electrical contractor license requires an associated licensed Supervising Electrician (exam-based) and is automatically inactivated without one; employees work under that supervision. IDFPR does not license electricians.

No state license to reciprocateOfficial source

Illinois has no statewide electrician license - licensing is municipal. Chicago (the largest jurisdiction) licenses Electrical Contractors and Supervising Electricians under its Municipal Code. There is no state reciprocity because there is no state license.

What applies instead: Illinois issues no statewide individual electrician license - IDFPR's regulated-professions roster does not include electricians, and the City of Chicago (official) licenses electrical contractors and supervising electricians under its own Municipal Code Ch. 4-290. No interstate reciprocity at any level.

Note: Negative claim (no state license) rests on absence from IDFPR's regulated professions plus the official Chicago municipal licensing framework - no single Illinois state page states it in one sentence.

See all trades in Illinois

Indiana

No state license — local/city licensing only

There is no state license for this trade — licensing, where it exists, happens at the city or county level.

Issuing agency: No statewide electrician license. Licensing is entirely municipal/county - e.g., Indianapolis Dept. Of Business and Neighborhood Services, Fort Wayne/Allen County, South Bend. Indiana IPLA issues a statewide Electrical contractor business license per one source, but this was not confirmed as the dominant view (most sources say no state license at any level for electrical) - treat as unresolved.

Varies by municipality; typically apprentice -> journeyman (8,000 hrs) -> master, plus a local electrical contractor business license requiring an on-staff master. All exams reference NEC 2023.

No state license to reciprocateSecondary sources — not independently confirmed by the agency

Indiana has no statewide electrician license - licensing and any related reciprocity is entirely local (Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, South Bend, and other cities each set their own rules).

What applies instead: No state license exists (per the overwhelming majority of sources), so no state reciprocity framework applies. Some smaller jurisdictions reportedly accept licenses from neighboring jurisdictions on a case-by-case basis; this varies by city and wasn't itemized here.

Note: One source (getlicenseready.com) claims IPLA issues a state-level Electrical Contractor license even though journeyman licensing is local - this conflicts with 6+ other sources saying no state license exists at all. The majority view was used here; confirm directly with IPLA before publishing.

See all trades in Indiana

Iowa

State license
Issuing agency: Iowa Dept. Of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing (DIAL) - Electrical Examining Board (Class A/B Journeyman, Class A/B Master, Residential Master), under the State Fire Marshal Division

Class A Journeyman requires a DOL-registered apprenticeship. Electrical Contractor requires being/employing a Master electrician + Division of Labor contractor registration + $1 million liability insurance for residential work.

Reciprocity exists(Multiple layered agreements confirmed)Official source

Iowa has electrical reciprocity with Minnesota, Nebraska, and South Dakota as its primary program (Journeyman and/or Master depending on state), plus additional specific cross-class agreements with Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin that convert particular out-of-state license types into specific Iowa license types. Both Minnesota and Wisconsin relationships are bidirectionally cross-confirmed against those states' own records.

What's actually required: Confirmed via two separate official Iowa DIAL documents (fetched directly): the primary reciprocity list (MN, NE, SD for Journeyman; MN, SD for Master), plus a second document describing additional specific cross-class agreements with Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin (each with a particular license-to-license mapping, e.g. An out-of-state Contractor license converting to an Iowa Journeyman license). Iowa's 2020 law (House File 2627) relaxed licensing/reciprocity standards generally.

States accepted from
MN (Journeyman AND Master - cross-confirmed via this dataset's own Minnesota record, which independently lists Iowa for both levels)NE (Journeyman only per the primary Iowa document)SD (Journeyman AND Master, plus a specific Electrical Contractor-to-Journeyman/Master cross-class provision)OK (Electrical Contractor license reciprocates to Iowa Journeyman Class A specifically (cross-class))TX (Master Electrician license reciprocates to Iowa Master Class A specifically)WI (Master Electrician reciprocates to Iowa Master or Journeyman Class A - cross-confirmed via this dataset's own Wisconsin record, which independently lists Iowa for Master specifically)
Sources
See all trades in Iowa

Kansas

No state license — local/city licensing only

There is no state license for this trade — licensing, where it exists, happens at the city or county level.

Issuing agency: No statewide electrical contractor license - purely municipal/county (Topeka Development Services Division, Wichita/Sedgwick County MABCD, etc.). State legislature sets minimum standards (4,000 hrs/240 classroom hrs for journeyman) but doesn't itself license.

Varies by locality; state sets floor standards only. As of October 2025, industry groups were actively lobbying the state legislature to create a statewide license specifically to enable interstate reciprocity - none exists yet.

No state license to reciprocateSecondary sources — not independently confirmed by the agency

Kansas has no statewide electrician license - it's entirely local (a Topeka license doesn'T work in Lawrence). There is no state reciprocity because there is no state license. As of late 2025, the Kansas legislature was actively considering creating one, partly to enable interstate reciprocity - this doesn't exist yet as of this research date.

What applies instead: Confirmed consistently across many sources: 'Because licenses are issued at the local level, Kansas doesn'T have official reciprocal agreements with other states for electrician licenses.' Notably, a Kansas legislative committee heard testimony in October 2025 from contractors explicitly requesting a statewide license and interstate reciprocity to solve this problem - confirming this is a known, actively-discussed gap in Kansas law as of this research date, not just an oversight in these sources.

Note: Relabeled 2026-07-24: previously marked official but cited only secondary sources (caught in final full-dataset audit).

See all trades in Kansas

Kentucky

State license
Issuing agency: Kentucky Dept. Of Housing, Buildings and Construction (DHBC) - Electrical Division. Issues Electrician (employee), Master Electrician (qualifying individual), and Electrical Contractor (business) credentials.

6 years/12,000 hours experience (4-year apprenticeship counts toward this) + exam (70% pass) for Master Electrician. Electrical Contractor (business) requires a Master Electrician qualifier + $5,000 bond + liability insurance.

Reciprocity existsOfficial source

Kentucky has electrical reciprocity confirmed directly with Ohio and Louisiana (each with different specific requirements), plus likely reciprocity with Tennessee, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Virginia per secondary sources not independently verified from Kentucky's own page.

Where it applies: Contractor/Master Electrician license, with different specific requirements per state

What's actually required: Ohio and Louisiana were confirmed directly from DHBC's own official application checklist document (dhbc.ky.gov), each with different specific requirements (Ohio: straightforward active-license copy; Louisiana: 3-year active history required). Tennessee, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Virginia are added based on a detailed 2026-dated secondary source, not independently confirmed from DHBC'S own page. All reciprocal applicants need $500,000+ liability insurance and other standard Kentucky requirements regardless.

States accepted from
OH (CONFIRMED via DHBC's own official application checklist PDF - active Ohio license accepted)LA (CONFIRMED via the same official checklist - requires active Louisiana Electrical Contractor/Master Electrician license for the past 3 years specifically)TN (per a detailed secondary source)WV (per multiple sources including a secondary detailed guide)NC (per a detailed secondary source)VA (per multiple sources)

Note: TN, WV, NC, VA are secondary-sourced only; OH and LA are directly confirmed from DHBC's own checklist document.

See all trades in Kentucky

Louisiana

State license
Issuing agency: Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC) - Electrical Contractor (Class A/B, state level). Journeyman/Master Electrician licenses are issued at the parish/municipal level, not statewide.

Electrical Contractor license required for commercial/industrial work, or residential work over $50,000; no license needed for residential work under $50,000. $10,000 minimum net worth (or bond/letter of credit) + exam. Journeyman/Master credentials vary by parish.

Reciprocity exists(Electrical Contractor license (trade exam credit only))Secondary sources — not independently confirmed by the agency

Louisiana has electrical contractor reciprocity with at least Alabama, Arkansas, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, and North Carolina - sources disagree on whether Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, Texas, and Virginia are also currently included, so those five are not confirmed here. LSLBC also has a general policy of crediting any state's trade exam toward an equivalent Louisiana classification.

What's actually required: Multiple sources agree on this core 6-state list (AL, AR, SC, TN, UT, NC), but sources disagree on whether Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, Texas, and Virginia are also included - some list all 12, others list only these 6. Given the inconsistency, only the 6 states appearing in both detailed source lists are recorded; the other 5 (GA, KY, OH, TX, VA) are not included pending direct confirmation from LSLBC. LSLBC also accepts examination scores from any state where the applicant passed a trade exam, applied to whatever classification LSLBC deems equivalent - a broader general policy beyond a fixed state list. LSLBC's own reciprocity page (lslbc.gov/reciprocity) exists with a reciprocity map, but its specific content wasn'T directly readable.

States accepted from
ALARSCTNUTNC

Note: Source lists ranged from 6 to 12 states for this same reciprocity program. Confirm the complete current list directly at lslbc.gov/reciprocity before publishing as definitive.

Sources
See all trades in Louisiana

Maine

State license
Issuing agency: Maine Electricians' Examining Board, Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (OPOR). No separate contractor business license - the Master Electrician credential itself authorizes contracting.

Journeyman: 8,000 hours + 576 classroom hours + exam. Master: additional 4,000-12,000 hours + advanced coursework + exam. Reciprocal applicants need 6+ years/8,000 hours actively engaged as an electrician.

Reciprocity exists(Different lists for Journeyman vs Master)Official source

Maine has Journeyman electrician reciprocity with New Hampshire, Vermont, North Dakota, Idaho, Oregon, and Wyoming, and narrower Master-level reciprocity with just New Hampshire and Vermont - confirmed directly on Maine's own official pages and heavily cross-confirmed against Idaho, Oregon, and Arkansas records.

What's actually required: Confirmed directly from Maine's own official pages (Maine.gov, quoted verbatim, two separate license-level pages): 'The State of Maine presently has reciprocity agreements with New Hampshire, Vermont, North Dakota, Idaho, Oregon and Wyoming' (Journeyman page) and 'The State of Maine presently has reciprocity agreements with New Hampshire and Vermont' (Master page) - Master reciprocity is notably narrower. Heavily cross-confirmed: this dataset'S own Idaho, Oregon, and Arkansas records each independently list Maine as one of their own reciprocal states. Reciprocal applicants must have 6+ years/8,000 hours actively engaged as an electrician and have passed a written exam in the reciprocating state.

States accepted from
NH (both Journeyman and Master)VT (both Journeyman and Master)ND (Journeyman only)ID (Journeyman only)OR (Journeyman only)WY (Journeyman only)
See all trades in Maine

Maryland

State license
Issuing agency: Maryland State Board of Master Electricians (Dept. Of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing) - statewide Apprentice/Journeyperson/Master licenses (journeyperson/apprentice added July 2021)

Master Electrician: 7 years under a master electrician's supervision + exam. Local jurisdictions may still require additional registrations. Important quirk: if you obtained your Maryland license BY reciprocity (not by direct MD exam), you cannot then use that MD license to reciprocate into yet another state or DC.

Reciprocity exists(Master Electrician license, exam-earned only)Official source

Maryland has electrical license reciprocity with Virginia, West Virginia, Washington DC, and Delaware - confirmed directly from the state's own official FAQ. If you got your Maryland license through reciprocity rather than by exam, you can'T use it to reciprocate again into a different state.

What's actually required: Confirmed directly from Maryland's own official FAQ (labor.Maryland.gov) which lists 'Current reciprocity states: Virginia, West Virginia, Washington D.C., and Delaware.' Cross-confirmed bidirectionally against this dataset'S own Virginia record, which independently lists Maryland as one of its reciprocal partners. A Letter of Good Standing and Certificate of Insurance are required regardless.

States accepted from
VA (license must be obtained by apprenticeship or exam)WVDCDE (license must be obtained by exam)
See all trades in Maryland

Massachusetts

State license
Issuing agency: MA Division of Occupational Licensure - Board of State Examiners of Electricians

Journeyman then Master Electrician (1+ year as journeyman, 150 additional pre-license hours) via exam through PSI. A separate electrical business license is also required to operate a contracting business, in addition to the individual Master license. Renewal every 3 years, 21 hours continuing education.

Reciprocity exists(Individual Journeyman/Master license)Cross-confirmed

Massachusetts has electrical license reciprocity with New Hampshire only - if your Journeyman or Master license was earned by a New Hampshire exam, you can apply without retaking the Massachusetts exam. No other state currently qualifies, though the Board has discussed potentially adding Rhode Island, Maine, or Vermont.

What's actually required: Confirmed by multiple consistent secondary sources plus context from an official Board meeting-minutes PDF (mass.gov, Feb 2023) showing the Board was still only discussing possibly extending reciprocity to Rhode Island, Maine, and Vermont at that time - meaning New Hampshire remains the only confirmed partner. Massachusetts keeps a notably narrow reciprocity list compared to some other states researched.

States accepted from
NH (Journeyman or Master Electrician license earned by passing a New Hampshire exam - apply via Massachusetts' reciprocity path without retaking the MA exam)
See all trades in Massachusetts

Michigan

State license
Issuing agency: Michigan Dept. Of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Construction Codes - Electrical Division

Statewide licensing for all electricians: registered apprentice -> Journeyman (experience + exam) -> Master (additional experience + exam). Electrical Contractor license requires an associated Michigan-resident Master Electrician (no separate contractor test). Annual renewal with continuing education.

No reciprocityOfficial source

Michigan has no electrician license reciprocity with any state or country. Out-of-state experience can qualify you to take the Michigan exam (reviewed case by case), but you must pass Michigan's exam.

Why, and what applies instead: Official LARA statement: 'Michigan does not hold reciprocity with any other state/country.' Out-of-state licensees submit their license plus their jurisdiction's licensing requirements for case-by-case review of eligibility to SIT for the Michigan exam - the exam itself is not waived.

See all trades in Michigan

Minnesota

State license
Issuing agency: Minnesota Dept. Of Labor and Industry (DLI) - Board of Electricity

Journeyworker and Master Electrician licenses via experience + exam. Unlicensed individuals may work under direct supervision if registered with DLI. 16 hours continuing education (12+ NEC-related) for renewal.

Reciprocity existsSecondary sources — not independently confirmed by the agency

Minnesota has electrician reciprocity for Journeyworkers with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming, and for Masters with Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The license must be exam-earned and held at least a year.

Where it applies: Journeyworker and Master, exam-earned only, license not obtained via a city/local reciprocal agreement

What's actually required: Confirmed via multiple 2026-dated sources plus an official DLI reciprocity application form. The license must be exam-earned (not itself obtained by reciprocity or through a city/local agreement) and held 1+ year in good standing.

States accepted from
AK (Journeyworker)AR (Journeyworker - see verify_note)CO (Journeyworker)IA (Journeyworker and Master)MT (Journeyworker)NE (Journeyworker and Master)ND (Journeyworker and Master)SD (Journeyworker and Master)WY (Journeyworker)

Note: One older source (undated, but referencing a 2011 policy change) claims Minnesota TERMINATED reciprocity with Arkansas (along with NH, NM, OK, UT) effective July 1, 2011 - yet multiple current 2025/2026-dated sources still list Arkansas as active. This is a genuine unresolved conflict; confirm Arkansas's status directly at dli.mn.gov before publishing.

See all trades in Minnesota

Mississippi

State license — commercial work only

This license covers commercial work only. Residential work is licensed separately, at the local level, if at all.

Issuing agency: No statewide individual electrician license - purely municipal (a Jackson master license does not authorize work in Hattiesburg). Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) licenses the electrical contractor (business) for commercial projects $50,000+.

MSBOC Certificate of Responsibility (commercial, $50,000+ threshold) + trade exam + MS Law and Business Management exam. Individual journeyman/master credentials handled entirely by each municipality.

Reciprocity existsOfficial source

Mississippi's electrical contractor reciprocity (trade exam waiver only) is confirmed with Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina (residential only), and Tennessee. Louisiana is a practical exception (MSBOC honors LA exam scores) despite no formal agreement existing anymore. Arkansas explicitly excludes electrical work from its own reciprocal terms with Mississippi.

Where it applies: MSBOC Certificate of Responsibility (commercial contractor), trade exam waiver only

What's actually required: Confirmed directly from MSBOC's own official reciprocity page and PDF form (msboc.us). This clarifies an earlier ambiguity found while researching Louisiana: MSBOC'S own page states 'The Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) and the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC) no longer maintain a reciprocity agreement. However, MSBOC will continue to recognize proof of passing examination scores from Louisiana and will waive the otherwise required trade examination for qualifying applicants' - so Louisiana is a practical exception, not a formal reciprocity agreement, and is recorded separately in conditions rather than in accepts_from. The Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board's reciprocal terms for MS applicants EXCLUDE electrical/mechanical work specifically, so Arkansas is not included here despite appearing on some general lists. All applicants must still take Mississippi'S Law and Business Management exam ($50 fee per waived exam).

States accepted from
AL (AL Electrical Board - must hold current license, must have taken the AL exam)NC (NC Electrical Contractors Board waives Electrical & Alarm Systems exams only - cross-confirmed via this dataset's own NC record)SC (SC Residential Builders Commission - Residential Electrical only, must hold current license, exam-earned, no discipline in 3 years)TN (TN Board for Licensing Contractors - waives ALL exams including mechanical/plumbing, the only state that does so per MSBOC's own page)
See all trades in Mississippi

Missouri

State license
Issuing agency: Office of Statewide Electrical Contractors (Missouri Division of Professional Registration) - an OPTIONAL statewide license under RSMo 324.900; local licensing (St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, etc.) remains valid on its own where it exists and is not required to also hold the state license.

Statewide license: 21+ years old, 12,000 verifiable practical hours (or 6 years holding a qualifying local Missouri license), pass an approved electrical exam. This statewide license lets the holder work in any MO jurisdiction without re-licensing locally - but it's optional, not mandatory, if you only work in one place with its own local license.

No reciprocity(Statewide electrical contractor license)Official source

Missouri's statewide electrical contractor license (itself optional, alongside local licensing) has no interstate reciprocity agreements with any state. Some individual cities, like St. Louis, may offer their own local reciprocity - check with the specific municipality.

Why, and what applies instead: Confirmed by multiple 2025/2026-dated sources: Missouri's statewide license program is itself fairly new and has not entered into any interstate reciprocity agreements. Out-of-state licensees must go through Missouri'S own application process (potentially licensure by endorsement, case-by-case). Separately, individual MO cities (e.g., St. Louis) may offer their own local reciprocity for certain out-of-state licenses, but this is city-specific, not a state framework, and low-voltage/other specialty licenses explicitly do not accept NASCLA.

Note: RSMo 324.900 (the statute establishing the statewide license) confirms the license's in-state portability across jurisdictions; the 'no interstate reciprocity' finding is well-corroborated by multiple 2025/2026 sources but not directly quoted from a single official state FAQ page.

See all trades in Missouri

Montana

State license
Issuing agency: Montana Dept. Of Labor and Industry - State Electrical Board (Residential/Journeyman/Master Electrician, Electrical Contractor)

Residential/Journeyman/Master via experience + exam. Now formally called 'Licensure by Endorsement' rather than 'reciprocity,' evaluating whether the home state's standards were substantially equivalent to Montana'S at the time of licensure.

Reciprocity existsOfficial source

Montana has Residential/Journeyman electrician reciprocity ('licensure by endorsement') with 16 states, confirmed directly from the state's own official application document. This explicitly does not extend to the Master Electrician level, which must always be earned by Montana'S own exam.

Where it applies: Residential and Journeyman Electrician - explicitly not Master Electrician

What's actually required: Confirmed directly from Montana State Electrical Board's own official application PDF (boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov), which lists exactly: 'AK, AR, CO, IA, ID, ME, MN, ND, NE, NH, NM, OK, SD, TX, WI, WY' as reciprocal states. Multiple sources consistently confirm Montana does not reciprocate Master Electrician licenses at all - Master must be earned by Montana exam or a qualifying engineering degree. Licenses issued by a city, county, or municipality (rather than a full state) do not qualify. Bidirectionally cross-confirmed against this dataset'S own Maine record, which independently lists Montana for Journeyman.

States accepted from
AKARCOIAIDMEMNNDNENHNMOKSDTXWIWY
See all trades in Montana

Nebraska

State license
Issuing agency: Nebraska State Electrical Division (NSED), Dept. Of Labor - Journeyman/Master/Electrical Contractor licenses

Journeyman: 4 years/verified experience + exam (75% pass). Electrical Contractor: additional requirements + insurance.

Reciprocity existsOfficial source

Nebraska's Electrical Contractor license reciprocates with Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Texas - confirmed directly on the state'S own official page, cross-confirmed against Iowa's and Minnesota'S own records. A broader Journeyman-level list was reported by a secondary source but not independently confirmed.

Where it applies: Electrical Contractor license specifically confirmed; Journeyman reciprocity broader per secondary sources

What's actually required: Confirmed directly from Nebraska's own official page (electrical.Nebraska.gov/electrical-contractor), quoted verbatim: 'The Nebraska State Electrical Board has a reciprocal licensing agreement for the Electrical Contractor license with Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Texas.' Applicant must have scored 75%+ on the original state exam and held the license 1+ year. A broader Journeyman-level reciprocity list was reported by a secondary source (AK, ID, MT, UT, WY, CO, MN, ND, SD, WA...) but wasn'T independently confirmed from Nebraska's own page - not included here to avoid overstating confirmed facts.

States accepted from
IA (Electrical Contractor - CONFIRMED directly on Nebraska's own official page)MN (Electrical Contractor - CONFIRMED directly; cross-confirmed via this dataset's own Minnesota record, which independently lists Nebraska)SD (Electrical Contractor - CONFIRMED directly)TX (Electrical Contractor - CONFIRMED directly)
See all trades in Nebraska

Nevada

State license
Issuing agency: Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB) - Electrical Contractor (C-2, business-level license; the license belongs to the business, not an individual journeyman/master credential). Local jurisdictions (Reno, Clark County/Las Vegas) separately offer their own Journeyman/Master certificates.

C-2 Electrical Contractor: 4 years experience within the last 10 years + trade exam + financial statement + bond/insurance. No individual journeyman/master state license - only local (Reno, Clark County) certificates exist below the contractor level.

Reciprocity existsCross-confirmed

Nevada offers 'licensure by endorsement' (its term for reciprocity) for electrical contractors from Arizona and California - both confirmed and, for California, bidirectionally cross-confirmed against California's own CSLB records. Utah'S status is disputed across sources and not confirmed here.

Where it applies: C-2 Electrical Contractor license, trade exam waiver only (NSCB calls this 'licensure by endorsement')

What's actually required: Sources genuinely conflict on Utah's status: most (4+) list Utah alongside Arizona and California, but one detailed source (nevadacontractorauthority.com) explicitly states 'Contractors from other states, including Utah, Colorado, or Oregon, are not eligible for reciprocity.' Given this direct contradiction, Utah is not included in accepts_from - only Arizona and California, which every source agrees on. One other source claimed Nevada has no reciprocity for electrical/plumbing at all - given the volume and specificity of sources describing an actual endorsement mechanism, this outlier claim is treated as likely wrong, but flagged.

States accepted from
AZ (well-corroborated across most sources)CA (well-corroborated across most sources, and California's own CSLB record independently lists Nevada as a reciprocal state - bidirectionally cross-confirmed)

Note: Utah is disputed (some sources include it, one explicitly excludes it) - confirm directly with NSCB before adding. One outlier source denies any Nevada electrical reciprocity exists at all.

See all trades in Nevada

New Hampshire

State license
Issuing agency: NH Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) - Electricians' Board (under the Bureau of Electrical Safety and Licensing, Dept. Of Safety)

Journeyman: 8,000 hours + exam. Master: additional experience + exam. License required for any work at 30+ volts. Licenses now expire 2 years from issuance (as of July 15, 2023).

Reciprocity existsOfficial source

New Hampshire has full Journeyman+Master reciprocity with Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont (long-standing agreements), plus Journeyman-only reciprocity through the NERA network with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The Maine and Massachusetts relationships are both independently confirmed from those states' own official sources already recorded.

Where it applies: Two-tier system: full Master+Journeyman reciprocity with 3 states; Journeyman-only NERA reciprocity with additional states

What's actually required: Confirmed directly from NH's own official Electricians' Board application PDF (oplc.nh.gov, fetched in full): long-standing full agreements with Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont (Master and Journeyman), plus a Journeyman-only NERA list beginning 'Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota...' (list continues, completed here using ServiceTitan's matching NERA enumeration: also Iowa, Utah, Wisconsin, Wyoming). This is one of the most thoroughly cross-confirmed records in the entire dataset - it exactly matches both the Massachusetts record (MA'S own page independently describes the identical NH relationship) and the Maine record (ME's own page independently lists NH for both levels) already recorded.

States accepted from
ME (Journeyman and Master - bidirectionally cross-confirmed via this dataset's own Maine record)MA (Journeyman and Master - bidirectionally cross-confirmed via this dataset's own Massachusetts record, which independently confirms this exact relationship from MA's own official page (exam-earned only))VT (Journeyman and Master)AK (Journeyman only (NERA))AR (Journeyman only (NERA))CO (Journeyman only (NERA))MT (Journeyman only (NERA))ND (Journeyman only (NERA))SD (Journeyman only (NERA))UT (Journeyman only (NERA), per ServiceTitan's list)WI (Journeyman only (NERA))WY (Journeyman only (NERA))
See all trades in New Hampshire

New Jersey

State license
Issuing agency: NJ Division of Consumer Affairs - Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors (BEEC)

Electrical Contractor license: completion of a 4-year DOL-approved apprenticeship + 1 additional journeyman year (or 5 years total field experience as an alternate path), plus Business & Law and Technical Trade exams. New Jersey licenses Electrical Contractors (the credential that authorizes contracting/permitting) and registers Journeyman Electricians as Class A journeymen; apprentices are not required to register or hold a license.

No reciprocityOfficial source

New Jersey has no electrical contractor license reciprocity with any state - its own licensing board states this directly. A narrower, conditional pathway can waive the exam for out-of-state journeymen with 2+ years of experience, but this is case-by-case, not a named state list.

Why, and what applies instead: The Board's own FAQ states verbatim: 'No. New Jersey does not have reciprocity with any other state.' A narrower provision lets the Board grant a Class A journeyman license (not contractor) without exam to someone who has held an equivalent out-of-state journeyman license for 2+ years, and a 2021 law (P.L.2021, c.479) allows license-without-exam where the other state extends equal reciprocity back to NJ - but no specific state is named as currently qualifying under either provision.

See all trades in New Jersey

New Mexico

State license
Issuing agency: New Mexico Construction Industries Division (CID), Regulation and Licensing Department - Electrical Bureau (ER-1 Journeyman certificate, EE-98 Electrical Contractor license)

ER-1 Journeyman: 4 years/8,000 hours + NEC exam. EE-98 Contractor: additionally requires the NM Business & Law exam, financial statement, and $10,000 bond.

Reciprocity existsOfficial source

New Mexico has journeyman electrician reciprocity, confirmed directly on the state's own official page, with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming - independently cross-confirmed against Texas'S and Colorado's own records. A separate, narrower contractor-license reciprocity program may exist with Arizona, Texas, and Colorado, but wasn'T independently confirmed.

Where it applies: ER-1 Journeyman certificate specifically (contractor-level EE-98 reciprocity is separate and narrower)

What's actually required: Confirmed directly from New Mexico's own official RLD page (rld.nm.gov), for the ER-1 Journeyman certificate specifically. Bidirectionally cross-confirmed: this dataset'S own Texas record independently lists New Mexico as a reciprocal state, and Colorado's Master-level list independently includes New Mexico. A separate, narrower contractor-level (EE-98) reciprocity program is reported by one secondary source as limited to Arizona, Texas, and Colorado - not independently confirmed from CID'S own page and possibly a different program than the journeyman list.

States accepted from
AKARCOIDMTNEOKSDTXWY

Note: The contractor-level (EE-98) reciprocity list is a different, unconfirmed claim - don't conflate it with the confirmed journeyman list.

See all trades in New Mexico

New York

No state license — local/city licensing only

There is no state license for this trade — licensing, where it exists, happens at the city or county level.

Issuing agency: No state license. Local: NYC Dept. Of Buildings (Master Electrician / Special Electrician); Buffalo, Syracuse, Rochester, Yonkers, Nassau/Suffolk towns, and other municipalities run their own boards.

Varies by municipality. NYC Master Electrician: 7 years experience + exam through the NYC DOB. A license from one NY jurisdiction is not valid in another - e.g., a Town of Hempstead license does not cover NYC.

No state license to reciprocateOfficial source

New York has no statewide electrician license - licensing is entirely city/county level. In NYC, the Dept. Of Buildings issues Master and Special Electrician licenses (7.5 years / 10,500 hours experience + exam for Master). There is no state reciprocity because there is no state license, and a license from one NY jurisdiction is not valid in another.

What applies instead: New York State issues no statewide electrician license - the trades are absent from the NYS Department of State's occupational licensing programs (dos.ny.gov/licensing-services). Licensing is municipal: NYC Dept. Of Buildings issues Master Electrician and Special Electrician licenses under the NYC Administrative Code (e.g., Local Law 81 of 2003 sets 10,500 experience hours over 7.5 years for Master); Albany, Greene County, and other jurisdictions run their own examining boards. No interstate reciprocity exists at any level.

Note: The negative claim (no NYS license) rests on the trades' absence from the NYS DOS licensing roster plus the municipal legal framework - no single state page states it in one sentence.

See all trades in New York

North Carolina

State license
Issuing agency: NC State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors (NCBEEC)

Electrical contractor license (Limited / Intermediate / Unlimited classes): minimum 4 years qualifying experience (at least 2 'primary'), board pre-approval, PSI exam, bonding-ability statement (e.g., $150,001 for Unlimited), 8 hours CE annually. Qualified individuals newly listed after 1/1/2025 must complete a 4-hour Laws & Rules class.

Reciprocity existsOfficial source

North Carolina's electrical board has formal reciprocity with Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. The technical exam is waived; a short NC business/laws exam and full application requirements still apply.

What's actually required: Official board list (ncbeec.org/reciprocity, current 2026): AL, FL, GA, MS, OH, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV. The technical exam is waived; applicants must still pass a 25-question open-book NC business/laws exam, provide official license/exam verification from the home state, and meet bonding requirements. Louisiana was on the board's 2012 list and is not on the current one, so treat any source still naming it as out of date.

States accepted from
ALFLGAMSOHSCTNTXVAWV
See all trades in North Carolina

North Dakota

State license
Issuing agency: North Dakota State Electrical Board (NDSEB) - Journeyman/Master/Class B Master Electrician, plus separate Electrical Contractor business license

Journeyman: 8,000 hours (min. 3 years) + exam. Master: 1 additional year/2,000 hours as journeyman + exam. NDSEB grants no NASCLA reciprocity for this classification.

Reciprocity exists(Different scope for Master vs Journeyman)Cross-confirmed

North Dakota has Master electrician reciprocity with Minnesota and South Dakota, and broader Journeyman reciprocity with Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Utah, and Wyoming - this is one of the most cross-confirmed records in the dataset, independently matching five other states' own records already completed.

What's actually required: North Dakota is confirmed as a member of the Multi-State Reciprocal Licensing Group / NERA via its own official page (ndseb.com). The specific Master (MN, SD) vs Journeyman (broader 10-state list) split is reported by secondary sources but is exceptionally well cross-confirmed: 4 separate states already recorded (Minnesota, Idaho, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire) independently list North Dakota as one of their own reciprocal partners, matching this entry almost exactly.

States accepted from
MN (Master - cross-confirmed via this dataset's own Minnesota record, which independently lists North Dakota for Master)SD (Master)AK (Journeyman)CO (Journeyman)ID (Journeyman - cross-confirmed via this dataset's own Idaho record, which independently lists North Dakota)IA (Journeyman)ME (Journeyman - cross-confirmed via this dataset's own Maine record, which independently lists North Dakota)MT (Journeyman - cross-confirmed via this dataset's own Montana record, which independently lists North Dakota)NE (Journeyman)NH (Journeyman - cross-confirmed via this dataset's own New Hampshire record, which independently lists North Dakota)UT (Journeyman)WY (Journeyman)
See all trades in North Dakota

Ohio

State license — commercial work only

This license covers commercial work only. Residential work is licensed separately, at the local level, if at all.

Issuing agency: Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB), Ohio Dept. Of Commerce - statewide COMMERCIAL electrical contractor license. Residential trade work is regulated locally; residential remodel/repair contractors must also register statewide (Home Improvement Contractor registration, effective Jan 1, 2026, per HB 614).

OCILB commercial license: at least 5 years as a tradesperson in the trade immediately before applying, pass trade + business & law exams, $500,000 liability insurance, background check. Individual journeyman electricians are not state-licensed - the OCILB license is a contractor credential.

Reciprocity existsOfficial source

Ohio's OCILB accepts exam-earned electrical contractor credentials by reciprocity from Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, and West Virginia (and has a trade-exam waiver arrangement with Tennessee). Ohio'S business & law exam, insurance, and background check are still required. Grandfathered licenses do not qualify.

What's actually required: License in the reciprocal state must have been earned by exam - grandfathered or reciprocally-obtained licenses do not qualify. Ohio's Business & Law exam is still required, as are the insurance, background check, and application fee ($25/trade). Alabama has an OCILB reciprocity application covering 'The applicable trade' - Alabama's coverage of electrical is unverified; confirm with OCILB.

States accepted from
KY (master electrician + contractor license, both exam-earned)LA (Unlimited Electrical License, exam-earned)NC (Unlimited electrical license, exam-earned)SC (exam-earned license)WV (Master, held 3+ consecutive years, exam-earned)TN (trade exam waiver agreement (per Tennessee's official form listing Ohio for electrical))

Note: Alabama coverage for electrical unverified (see meta.known_gaps).

See all trades in Ohio

Oklahoma

State license
Issuing agency: Oklahoma Construction Industries Board (CIB) - Journeyman/Residential Journeyman/Unlimited Electrical Contractor

4,000+ verifiable hours as a registered apprentice + PSI exam (70% pass). Plumbing, mechanical, and electrical are all regulated at the state level via CIB; general contractors are not state-licensed in Oklahoma (local requirements may apply).

Reciprocity existsOfficial source

Oklahoma has electrical journeyman/contractor reciprocity with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming - a true bilateral requirement where Oklahoma's own regulation requires the other state to recognize Oklahoma licenses back, not just a one-way waiver.

Where it applies: Journeyman and Contractor license (contractor applicants get a journeyman reciprocal license first, then must still pass Oklahoma's Business exam)

What's actually required: Confirmed consistently across three independent sources plus the actual Oklahoma Administrative Code (158:40-7-5, confirming the underlying legal mechanism): a written mutual reciprocity agreement must exist and the applicant's state must also recognize Oklahoma licenses back (true bilateral requirement, per the actual regulation text: 'That the other state will recognize a license issued by the State of Oklahoma'). License must be exam-earned (not grandfathered), held 1+ year, current on CE.

States accepted from
AKARCOIDIAMTNESDTXWY
See all trades in Oklahoma

Oregon

State license
Issuing agency: Oregon Building Codes Division (BCD) - individual licenses (General Journeyman/Supervising Electrician); Construction Contractors Board (CCB) - business/contracting license, separately

General Journeyman Electrician and General Supervising Electrician (Master-equivalent) individual licenses via BCD; separate CCB business license needed to contract.

Reciprocity existsOfficial source

Oregon has electrical Journeyman reciprocity with Arkansas, Idaho, Maine, Montana, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, and narrower Supervising/Master reciprocity with just Arkansas and Utah - confirmed directly from Oregon's own official form and cross-confirmed against Washington'S own records.

Where it applies: General Journeyman (J) and General Supervising (S) individual BCD licenses

What's actually required: Confirmed directly from Oregon BCD's own official reciprocal application form (Oregon.gov/bcd, fetched in full): Journeyman reciprocity with AR, ID, ME, MT, UT, WA, WY; Supervising (Master) reciprocity narrower - only AR and UT. Bidirectionally cross-confirmed: this dataset'S own Washington electrician record independently lists Oregon as WA's one reciprocal state. License must be equivalent/higher, current, active, with no violations in the past 3 years.

States accepted from
AR (Journeyman and Supervising)ID (Journeyman)ME (Journeyman)MT (Journeyman)UT (Journeyman and Supervising)WA (Journeyman)WY (Journeyman)
See all trades in Oregon

Pennsylvania

No state license — local/city licensing only

There is no state license for this trade — licensing, where it exists, happens at the city or county level.

Issuing agency: No state license. Local: Philadelphia Dept. Of Licenses & Inspections; Pittsburgh / Allegheny County Electrical Trades Examining Board; Allentown, Erie, Scranton, and other municipalities. Statewide: Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Registration with the PA Attorney General for residential work of $5,000+/year (a registration, not a license).

Each of PA's 2,562 municipalities sets its own rules; many require no license at all (permits/inspections still apply). Philadelphia Master Electrician: experience verification + exam + annual renewal with 8 hours CE.

No state license to reciprocateOfficial source

Pennsylvania has no statewide electrician license - licensing is municipal (Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are the largest). The statewide HIC registration with the Attorney General is a consumer-protection filing with no exam, not a license. There is no state reciprocity because there is no state license.

What applies instead: Confirmed against the PA Office of Attorney General: Pennsylvania's only statewide construction credential is the Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Registration under HICPA (Act 132 of 2008, 73 P.S. Sec. 517.1 et seq.), required for contractors doing $5,000+/year of residential home improvement work. The AG'S own page states registration 'is not an endorsement, recommendation or approval... Of the contractor'S competency or skill' - no exam, no trade testing. Electrician licensing, where it exists, is municipal (Philadelphia L&I, Pittsburgh/Allegheny County, etc.). At the state level, PA licenses only crane operators and certifies asbestos/lead abatement workers. No statewide trade license means no statewide reciprocity.

Note: One consumer site claims PA licenses electricians through the Dept. of Labor & Industry - this is wrong and was rejected; L&I certifies only asbestos/lead abatement (plus crane operators via BPOA).

See all trades in Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

State license
Issuing agency: RI Dept. Of Labor and Training (DLT), Division of Professional Regulation - Class A/B Journeyperson, Master, Electrical Contractor. Business registration additionally through the Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board (CRLB).

Class A Journeyperson: 4 years/8,000 hours + 576 classroom hours + exam. 15 hours continuing education every 2 years. RI does not accept the NASCLA exam for this classification.

No reciprocityOfficial source

Rhode Island has no electrical license reciprocity with any state. An out-of-state license can help you qualify to take Rhode Island's exam (in place of the apprenticeship/education requirement), but you must still pass Rhode Island'S own exam.

Why, and what applies instead: Confirmed consistently and directly across multiple sources, including an official-sourced summary: 'Rhode Island does not maintain formal statutory reciprocity. Out-of-state applicants must generally sit for the Rhode Island examination.' An out-of-state license with a notarized employer letter can substitute for RI's educational/apprenticeship prerequisite to SIT for the exam, but this is not reciprocity - the exam is always required.

See all trades in Rhode Island

South Carolina

State license
Issuing agency: Split across SC Mechanical Contractors Board (SCMCB, commercial >$10,000) and SC Residential Builders Commission (SCRBC, residential >$500), both under LLR (Dept. Of Labor, Licensing and Regulation)

SCMCB (commercial): 3 years documented experience + PSI trade exam + SC Business Management & Law exam, financial group tiers (Group I $100k/project up to Group V unlimited). SCRBC (residential): separate, lighter process. South Carolina requires no continuing education for electricians/contractors, unusual among states researched.

Reciprocity existsSecondary sources — not independently confirmed by the agency

South Carolina waives its electrical trade exam (never the SC business & law exam) for qualifying licenses from North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee (commercial) and North Carolina and Mississippi (residential) - plus NASCLA exam holders. South Carolina's licensing is split across separate commercial and residential boards with different rules; confirm which track applies to your work before relying on this list.

Where it applies: Trade-exam waiver only; SC Business & Law exam always still required. Commercial (SCMCB) and residential (SCRBC) tracks have different accepted-state lists.

What's actually required: South Carolina's licensing structure is genuinely fragmented across multiple boards: the SC Mechanical Contractors Board (SCMCB, commercial work over $10,000), the SC Residential Builders Commission (SCRBC, residential work over $500), and certifications historically issued by the Municipal Association of South Carolina (MASC) - being transitioned to Carolinas AGC (CAGC) as the new certification provider effective January 1, 2026. This reflects the clearest confirmed findings; the wider picture across all boards, and the transition to the new certification provider, still needs checking. NASCLA Residential and Commercial Electrical exams are also accepted as alternates to SC'S own trade exam. MASC/CAGC-issued Master Electrician Certifications (by exam) are separately recognized for the general Contractor's Licensing Board reciprocity pathway.

States accepted from
NC (Commercial (SCMCB) per multiple sources; Residential (SCRBC) technical-exam waiver per Housecall Pro - cross-confirmed by NC's own board, which lists a bilateral SC agreement)GA (Commercial (SCMCB), per a detailed secondary guide)TN (Commercial (SCMCB), per the same guide)MS (Residential (SCRBC) technical-exam waiver only, per Housecall Pro)

Note: This is a genuinely fragmented multi-board system (SCMCB, SCRBC, MASC transitioning to CAGC as of Jan 2026). Cross-confirmed with North Carolina's own board listing a bilateral SC agreement, but the full current state-by-state and board-by-board breakdown needs direct confirmation from LLR before publishing as definitive.

See all trades in South Carolina

South Dakota

State license
Issuing agency: South Dakota Electrical Commission, Dept. Of Labor and Regulation - Journeyman/Class B/Electrical Contractor

Journeyman: 4 years/8,000 hours + exam. Electrical Contractor: 2 more years/4,000 hours (incl. 2,000+ commercial) + $10,000 deposit + exam.

Reciprocity exists(Reciprocal license must be exam-earned, held 1+ year active)Cross-confirmed

South Dakota has electrical reciprocity with 15 states - Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. This is part of a large, heavily cross-confirmed 'plains states' reciprocity network that appears consistently throughout this dataset.

What's actually required: Confirmed via a detailed source and South Dakota's own official reciprocal agreements page (dlr.sd.gov), which requires the reciprocal license to have been exam-earned and held active for 1+ year. This is the same 'Plains states' network confirmed extensively throughout this dataset - South Dakota appears as a reciprocal partner in at least 10 other states' own records already researched (MN, IA, MT, ND, NH, NE, TX, ID, AR, AL-HVAC, etc.), and this SD record reciprocally lists nearly all of them back.

States accepted from
AKARCOIDIAMNMTNENHNMNDOKTXUTWY
See all trades in South Dakota

Tennessee

State license
Issuing agency: TN Board for Licensing Contractors (BLC) - Electrical Contractor (CE classification, business license, required over $25,000) via Dept. Of Commerce & Insurance; smaller work uses the Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) permit. No statewide journeyman/master electrician license - some jurisdictions (Memphis/Shelby County) run their own local electrician licenses.

Electrical Contractor (CE) license required for any contract over $25,000 or where a permit is required; issued to the business entity via a Qualifying Party who passes the trade exam. No statewide journeyman license exists, so there's no journeyman-level reciprocity - only contractor-level.

Reciprocity existsOfficial source

Tennessee waives its electrical trade exam for contractors licensed in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina (commercial only), and West Virginia - plus anyone holding the NASCLA National Electrical exam. This only applies to the Board's Contractor (CE) license, not the smaller-project LLE permit or any local city license.

Where it applies: Board-issued 'Contractor' (CE) license specifically - not LLE, Home Improvement, or local (e.g. Memphis) licenses

What's actually required: RESOLVED via two official Tennessee sources cross-checked against each other: the Board's support portal (support.commerce.tn.gov, dated ~April 2026) and the Board'S official Trade Exam Waiver form (tn.gov PDF). Both confirm this is a trade exam waiver arrangement, not a license transfer - it applies only to the 'Contractor' license issued by the Board for Licensing Contractors, not to Home Improvement, LLE, or LLP programs, or to other agencies (Alarm Systems Board, Fire Prevention, etc.). Applicants with disciplinary action, open complaints, or felony convictions are not granted the waiver. You cannot operate in Tennessee on another state'S license alone - a Tennessee license must still be obtained. Louisiana and Mississippi also appear on the Board's waiver list, but the source text found did not clearly specify whether their coverage extends to Electrical specifically or is limited to Building/General classifications - left out of the state list here pending direct confirmation. Tennessee also accepts the NASCLA National Commercial and Electrical exam as an alternative to its own trade exam, for any state.

States accepted from
AL (General, Electrical, Residential, and HVAC)GA (Commercial, Electrical)NC (Residential, Commercial, Electrical)OH (Electrical, Plumbing, and HVAC)SC (Commercial only, via SC Commercial Contractors Licensing Board - Building, Electrical, HVAC, Plumbing)WV (Residential, Commercial, Industrial Building, Electrical, Mechanical, Masonry)

Note: Louisiana and Mississippi appear on Tennessee's waiver list but their exact trade coverage (whether Electrical is included) wasn't clearly confirmed from available source text - confirm directly with the Board before adding either state to this record.

See all trades in Tennessee

Texas

State license
Issuing agency: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)

Journeyman Electrician: 8,000 hours on-the-job under a master + exam ($30 application). Master Electrician: 12,000 hours + exam ($45). Apprentices must register. Electrical contractor (business) license requires an assigned master electrician.

Reciprocity existsOfficial source

Texas (TDLR) has master electrician reciprocity with Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, and North Carolina, and journeyman reciprocity with Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wyoming. License must be exam-earned and held at least 1 year. Contractor (business) licenses have no reciprocity.

What's actually required: License must have been earned by passing that state's exam and held in good standing for at least 1 year. Experience requirements (8,000/12,000 hours) still apply. No reciprocity for electrical contractor (business) licenses. TDLR is actively adding states under HB 11 (2025) - re-check tdlr.Texas.gov before each data refresh.

States accepted from
AL (journeyman and master (added March 2026))AR (journeyman and master)IA (journeyman and master (master added Feb 2026))LA (master (state contractor license))NE (journeyman and master)NC (master (Unlimited Electrical Contractor))AK (journeyman)ID (journeyman)MT (journeyman)NM (journeyman)OK (journeyman)SD (journeyman)WY (journeyman)

Note: List is expanding rapidly under Texas HB 11; verified through TDLR press releases dated March 20, 2026.

See all trades in Texas

Utah

State license
Issuing agency: Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL), Dept. Of Commerce - Apprentice/Journeyman/Master/Residential Electrician, plus General/Residential Electrical Contractor business licenses

Contractor license: 4,000 hours (2 years) as journeyman + exam; individual Journeyman/Master credentials via standard experience + exam path. Utah does not accept the NASCLA exam for this classification.

Reciprocity exists(Genuinely disputed scope - see conditions)Secondary sources — not independently confirmed by the agency

Utah's electrical reciprocity is a genuinely disputed topic - one detailed source describes bilateral reciprocity with Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, Colorado, and Wyoming (used here), while another source describes a much broader ~31-state 'Endorsement' pathway, and yet another states Utah has no reciprocity at all. Confirm directly with DOPL before relying on any specific state claim for Utah.

What's actually required: Genuine unresolved conflict found across sources: (1) ServiceTitan states flatly 'Utah does not have reciprocity agreements with other states.' (2) A detailed source (contractorlicenserequirements.com) claims 'DOPL maintains bilateral electrician reciprocity with Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, Colorado, and Wyoming' - a narrow 5-state list, used here. (3) A separate detailed source (Housecall Pro) describes a much broader 'endorsement pathway' listing ~31 states for Journeyman endorsement specifically - not used here given its scope is dramatically larger than every other source and 'endorsement' may be a distinct, more case-by-case concept than true reciprocity. Given this project'S standard of 'vague beats wrong,' only the narrow 5-state list is recorded, with an explicit note about the much larger disputed list.

States accepted from
AZ (appears on both the narrow and broad lists found)NV (narrow list)ID (narrow list)CO (narrow list)WY (narrow list)

Note: This is one of the most contested reciprocity findings in the entire dataset. At least 3 substantially different accounts exist across sources. Direct DOPL confirmation strongly recommended before publishing.

See all trades in Utah

Vermont

State license
Issuing agency: Vermont Electricians' Licensing Board, Division of Fire Safety, Dept. Of Public Safety

Journeyman/Master via experience + exam. As of 2020 (S.220), a Vermont Energy Goals Education Module is also required.

Reciprocity existsOfficial source

Vermont has confirmed electrical reciprocity with New Hampshire and Maine (a specific certified-letter pathway), plus a broader general rule granting a Universal license to any state with 3+ years' equivalent, mutually-recognizing licensure - Vermont has also joined NERA, though a complete NERA state list for Vermont specifically wasn'T itemized. This NH/ME relationship is confirmed from three independent, mutually-consistent sources across this dataset.

Where it applies: Two pathways: a specific NH/ME certified-letter reciprocity, plus a broader Universal License route via NERA/bilateral mutual recognition

What's actually required: Confirmed directly from Vermont's own official Electrical Safety Rules (firesafety.Vermont.gov, fetched in full): a specific expedited pathway exists for New Hampshire and Maine (certified letter required, application instructions explicitly say 'New Hampshire or Maine only' for this specific form), PLUS a broader general rule: any state'S license held 3+ years, with equivalent standards, where that state also extends the same privilege back to Vermont licensees, qualifies for a 'Universal license without examination.' The rules also note 'Vermont has joined the National Electrical Reciprocal Alliance,' suggesting broader reciprocity likely exists beyond just NH/ME, though a specific NERA state list for Vermont wasn't itemized in the source text found. This is a three-way cross-confirmed relationship: New Hampshire'S and Maine's own records, already recorded, each independently confirm the identical VT relationship.

States accepted from
NH (Journeyman and Master - triangle-confirmed with this dataset's own New Hampshire record, which independently lists Vermont, and Maine's record, which also lists both NH and VT)ME (Journeyman and Master - same triangle confirmation)
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Virginia

State license
Issuing agency: Dept. Of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) - Board for Contractors, Tradesman Program (individual Journeyman/Master Electrician credentials) + Board for Contractors (Class A/B/C electrical contracting business license)

Journeyman Electrician: 4 years/8,000 hours qualifying experience or approved apprenticeship + exam. Master Electrician: 1 year as VA journeyman + 10 years total trade experience + exam. Separately, a Class A/B/C contractor business license (tied to project-value thresholds, entry point $1,000) is required to contract directly with customers; the qualifying individual must hold the Master credential.

Reciprocity existsOfficial source

Virginia has electrical license reciprocity (exam-waiver agreements) with seven jurisdictions: Alabama, DC, Kentucky, Maryland, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Ohio. Each agreement is specific about which credential it covers - North Carolina's is the most complete, covering both the individual tradesman credential and the business contractor license. All reciprocal applicants still take the Virginia-specific exam section.

Where it applies: Individual Journeyman/Master Electrical Tradesman credential unless noted; North Carolina and Ohio agreements also cover the Class A/B business contractor license

What's actually required: RESOLVED via the DPOR Board for Contractors' own published 'Tradesmen Reciprocal Agreements' document (fetched directly, full text): these are examination-reciprocity/exemption agreements, not blanket license transfers. Reciprocal applicants must still pass the Virginia-specific portion of the relevant exam (Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code amendments, DPOR regulations, state business & law content) even when the national/trade portion is waived. This is Virginia'S most extensive reciprocity list among the trades researched so far.

States accepted from
AL (Electrical Contractor License <-> VA Master Electrical Tradesman exam reciprocity)DC (Journeyman and Master Electrical Tradesman, both directions)KY (Electrician/Master Electrician <-> VA Journeyman and Master Electrical Tradesman)MD (Master Electrical Tradesman <-> VA Master Electrical Tradesman)WV (Journeyman and Master Electrical Tradesman, both directions)NC (NC Unlimited/Intermediate Electrical Contractor License <-> VA Master Electrical Tradesman AND VA Class A/B Electrical Contractor Business License - covers both the individual credential and the business license)OH (Ohio Master Electrical License <-> VA Master Electrical License exam reciprocity; Ohio Business and Law <-> VA Advanced and General Law exam reciprocity)
See all trades in Virginia

Washington

State license
Issuing agency: Washington Dept. Of Labor & Industries (L&I) - Electrical Program

General Journey Level Electrician (01) Certificate: 8,000-hour apprenticeship (576 classroom hours) + state exam via PSI. Also issues Residential Specialty (06, limited to 1-2 family dwellings, 200A/240V or below) and other specialty certificates. Contractor businesses separately register with L&I.

Reciprocity exists(General Journey Level Electrician (01) Certificate only)Official source

Washington has exactly one electrical reciprocity agreement, with Oregon, and only for the General Journey Level Electrician certificate - no other state or specialty is covered. The license must have been earned by exam in the original state.

What's actually required: RESOLVED via L&I's own official bulletin and reciprocal application form (lni.wa.gov, fetched directly): Washington'S only electrical reciprocity agreement is with Oregon, specifically for the general journey-level certificate, effective Aug. 17, 2020. The license must have been earned by examination in the originating state - a license obtained via a prior reciprocal agreement doesn't qualify to re-reciprocate. No other electrical specialty (residential, etc.) has any reciprocal agreement.

States accepted from
OR (General Journey Level Electrician (01) <-> Oregon General Journeyman Electrician (J) - exam waived if license was earned by examination in the other state; no other WA electrical specialty has a reciprocal agreement)
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West Virginia

State license
Issuing agency: West Virginia State Fire Marshal's Office (SFMO) - unusual structure, licenses electricians directly rather than through a labor department or electrical board. Issues Apprentice/Journeyman/Master/Specialty Electrician licenses. Separate WV Contractor Licensing Board (WVCLB) Electrical Specialty classification needed to bid/contract business over $2,500.

Journeyman: 1 year/2,000 hours. Master: 2 years/4,000 hours. Electrical Contractor license required for work over $1,000. As of Jan 1, 2026, exams switched to the 2023 NFPA 70 NEC edition.

Reciprocity exists(Genuinely disputed scope - see conditions)Cross-confirmed

West Virginia has confirmed electrical reciprocity with Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Ohio - each independently cross-confirmed from those states' own records. One source claims WV actually recognizes reciprocity with all 50 states, which would be far broader than any other state - this claim is flagged as unconfirmed and should be verified directly with the WV State Fire Marshal before being treated as fact.

What's actually required: Surprising conflicting claim found: one official-sounding local government source (a Wheeling, WV municipal page describing SFMO policy) states 'The West Virginia State Fire Marshal'S Office recognizes reciprocity with all 50 states' - a dramatically broader claim than every other source, which describe only specific bilateral agreements (VA, KY, NC, OH). Given the specificity and consistency of the named-state sources, and that this dataset independently cross-confirms the VA, KY, NC, and OH relationships from those states' own records, this dataset records the specific named-state list as the primary finding, while flagging the 'all 50 states' claim as a genuine open question worth confirming directly with SFMO - it's possible WV'S policy is broader than commonly described, or the local source overstated it.

States accepted from
VA (consistently confirmed across multiple sources including this dataset's own Virginia record, which independently lists WV as a reciprocal state)KY (consistently confirmed, and this dataset's own Kentucky record independently lists WV as reciprocal)NC (per a detailed source; also cross-confirmed via this dataset's own NC electrical record, which lists WV)OH (per one detailed source; cross-confirmed via this dataset's own Ohio record, which lists WV)

Note: The 'all 50 states' claim is a genuine open question - if true, it would make WV's electrical reciprocity the broadest in this entire dataset by a wide margin. Confirm directly with firemarshal.wv.gov before publishing either the narrow or broad version as definitive.

See all trades in West Virginia

Wisconsin

State license
Issuing agency: Wisconsin Dept. Of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) - Journeyman/Industrial Journeyman/Master Electrician, plus a separate electrical contractor license for businesses

Journeyman: 4 years/8,000 hours (or 2-yr degree + 3 yrs experience, or 4-yr degree + 1 yr) + exam (70% pass, NEC 2017 until Oct 1, 2026 when it switches to NEC 2023). Master: 10,000 hours within the last 5 years + exam. Separate business electrical contractor license also required.

Reciprocity existsCross-confirmed

Wisconsin has electrician reciprocity with Iowa (journeyman and master) and New Hampshire (journeyman) only - no other state currently qualifies. DSPS has the statutory authority to add more agreements, so this list could change.

Where it applies: Journeyman Electrician (Iowa and New Hampshire); Master Electrician Class A specifically confirmed for Iowa

What's actually required: Well-corroborated across multiple 2026-dated sources including a detailed fee/process guide (goherebro.com): Wisconsin's journeyman reciprocity is limited to Iowa and New Hampshire, with a separate application fee structure ($35 application + prorated credential fee) versus the standard exam path. An older 2024 source claiming zero reciprocity appears outdated and was not used. DSPS statute also permits entering new reciprocity agreements case by case (2013 amendment), so this list could expand.

States accepted from
IA (Journeyman and Master Electrician Class A)NH (Journeyman Electrician)
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Wyoming

State license
Issuing agency: Wyoming Dept. Of Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety - State Electrical Board (Journeyman/Master), via the State Fire Marshal's Office (wsfm.wyo.gov)

Journeyman: 8,000 hours OJT + 576 hours apprenticeship schooling + exam (70% pass, 80 questions). Master: additional experience + exam (75% pass, 100 questions). Wyoming does not accept the NASCLA exam.

Reciprocity existsOfficial source

Wyoming has broad Journeyman electrician reciprocity with 16 states, and much narrower Master reciprocity with just Idaho, South Dakota, and Utah - confirmed via Wyoming's own official page and consistently corroborated across multiple sources.

Where it applies: Journeyman reciprocity is broad; Master reciprocity is much narrower

What's actually required: Confirmed consistently across three independent detailed sources plus Wyoming's own official State Fire Marshal page (wsfm.wyo.gov), which confirms Wyoming verifies reciprocal applicants through NERA. Journeyman reciprocity extends to 16 states/jurisdictions; Master reciprocity is much narrower - only Idaho, South Dakota, and Utah. License must be exam-earned (70%+), held 1+ year, in good standing; grandfathered licenses do not qualify; a reciprocated license cannot itself be re-reciprocated if it lapses. Oregon and Utah applicants specifically need their board to email a verification letter directly. This is heavily cross-confirmed — nearly every other plains state (AK, CO, ID, ME, MN, MT, NE, NH, NM, ND, OK, OR, SD, TX, UT) independently lists Wyoming as one of their own reciprocal partners.

States accepted from
AKARCOID (Journeyman and Master)MEMNMTNENHNMNDOKORSD (Journeyman and Master)TXUT (Journeyman and Master)
See all trades in Wyoming