Electrical License Reciprocity By State

Electrical license reciprocity agreements make it easy for electrical contractors who already hold a license in one state to obtain a license in a new state. Instead of taking that state’s administered examination or any required courses, that state may grant you an equivalent license.

Electrical licensing is decided at the city, county, or state level, which is why electrical license reciprocity agreements can be complex. Some states issue a reciprocal license through the state board, while others leave it up to local authorities.

What is Electrical License Reciprocity?

Electrical license reciprocity doesn’t mean you can automatically work in other states. It just means you may be able to bypass certain licensing requirements when applying in a new state, like having to without taking or passing a particular states’ electrical contractor exam(s) or pre-licensing courses.

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How To Apply For A Reciprocal License

First, you’ll want to check whether your state or local licensing agency has a reciprocal agreement with your current state (see our list below).

Then, you’ll need to fill out the application to certify that you hold a license and passed your state’s exams and submit any necessary paperwork.

Some states may require:

• Three reference letters, with one letter being from a licensed electrical contractor
• An enclose a letter of certification of the exam and licensure from a state board with a reciprocal agreement
• Your criminal history with each offense detailed
• Disciplinary action history - including suspended, revoked, or denied occupational license and certifications from any state

How Much Does A Reciprocal License Cost?

The reciprocity application fee for an electrical contractor license typically costs around $50 to $350 and is non-refundable.

Which States Have Reciprocity For Electrical Licenses?

All states except Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Utah have some form of license reciprocity. Because many of these states issue licenses locally, you should check the local licensing board to see if the local board will accept out-of-state licenses. Others may not require a license.

Electrical Licensing Reciprocity By State

Below you’ll find more information on electrical contractor licensing reciprocity in your state, including:

• The state certification authority’s website, which has detailed information about costs and recent updates
• Which states have reciprocity agreements with one another
• A link to the application you’ll need to fill out or how to get started

Alabama

State Certification Authority: Alabama Electrical Contractors Board

Reciprocity Agreements: Mississippi, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, or Louisiana

Reciprocity Application: To qualify for a reciprocal electrician license, applicants must complete the Waiver Reciprocity Agreement and submit the required license fee of $150.

Alaska

State Certification Authority: Alaska Department of Labor and Workplace Development

Reciprocity Agreements: The state of Alaska has reciprocal agreements for Electrical Journeyman licenses with Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming.

Reciprocity Application: Applicants can fill out a license for reciprocity here . Fees cost $250 for the application and two year license.

Arizona

State Certification Authority: Arizona Registrar of Contractors

Reciprocity Agreements: Applicants from another state can request a waiver of certain licensing requirements if they hold an equivalent license in good standing.

Reciprocity Application: Applicants must submit this form and send it to the state where you hold the license so they can verify your license and exam history.

Arkansas

State Certification Authority: Arkansas State Board of Electrical Examiners

Reciprocity Agreements: Journeyman electricians in Arizona have reciprocity with Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Master electricians only have reciprocity with Oregon, North Dakota, and Iowa.

Reciprocity Application: Reach out to the board: adll.electrical@arkansas.gov.

California

State Certification Authority: Electrical Contractors’ State Licensing Board

Reciprocity Agreements: For electricians, California only has a reciprocal licensing agreement with Arizona.

Reciprocity Application: Applicants can fill out a reciprocity form here .

Colorado

State Certification Authority: Colorado State Electrical Board

Reciprocity Agreements: Iowa, Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.

Reciprocity Application: Contact dora_dpo_licensing@state.co.us for assistance.

Connecticut

State Certification Authority: Electrical Board of Occupational Licensing

Reciprocity Agreements: Connecticut allows someone with an out of state electrical contractor license to apply for equivalency if the out of state license required the same amount of classroom hours, curriculum, and on the job training as Connecticut.

Reciprocity Application: Applicants can fill out this form and pay an $150 fee.

Delaware

State Certification Authority: Division of Professional Regulation, Board of Electrical Examiners

Reciprocity Agreements: Journeymen and master electricians may apply by reciprocity if they hold a current license from another state. Maryland and New Jersey are considered substantially similar, so no proof of experience is required. Applicants from Arkansas, Colorado, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming must show at least five years of supervised experience. All other states are reviewed individually by the Board.

Reciprocity Application: Apply through the DelPros online portal.

Florida

State Certification Authority: State Board of Electrical Examiners

Reciprocity Agreements: Florida does not have a reciprocity agreement with any other state as licensing is local. However, the state does offer endorsement if your exam is deemed substantially equivalent, with recognized exams from California, Colorado, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, and several others.

Reciprocity Application: N/A

Georgia

State Certification Authority: Georgia Board of Electrical Contractors

Reciprocity Agreements: Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee

Reciprocity Application: Apply through the GOALS portal.

Hawaii

State Certification Authority: Hawaii Board of Electricians and Plumbers

Reciprocity Agreements: No state reciprocity agreements.

Reciprocity Application: N/A

Idaho

State Certification Authority: Division of Building Safety (DBS)

Reciprocity Agreements: Colorado, Montana, Maine, Nebraska, New Hampshire New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming

Reciprocity Application: N/A

Illinois

State Certification Authority: No state licensing

Reciprocity Agreements: No state reciprocity agreements.

Reciprocity Application: N/A

Indiana

State Certification Authority: No state licensing

Reciprocity Agreements: There are no reciprocity agreements Indiana recognizes for licensed electricians.

Reciprocity Application: N/A

Iowa

State Certification Authority: Department of Public Safety, Electrical Licensing, and Inspection

Reciprocity Agreements: Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin and Wyoming

Reciprocity Application: Fill out this form.

Kansas

State Certification Authority: Kansas issues electrical licenses from county to county.

Reciprocity Agreements: No state reciprocity agreements.

Reciprocity Application: N/A

Kentucky

State Certification Authority: Kentucky Electrical Licensing

Reciprocity Agreements: Ohio, Louisiana, and West Virginia

Reciprocity Application: Kentucky Reciprocity Electrical License Application

Louisiana

State Certification Authority: Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors

Reciprocity Agreements: Since 2024, Louisiana grants reciprocity to all applicants who passed a licensing exam in another state without waivers or exemptions.

Reciprocity Application: Louisiana Reciprocity Electrical License Application

Maine

State Certification Authority: Maine Electricians Examining Board

Reciprocity Agreements: For journeyman electricians, reciprocity is available with Vermont, North Dakota, Idaho, Oregon, and Wyoming. For master electricians, reciprocity is available with New Hampshire and Vermont.

Reciprocity Application: Fill out the Maine Reciprocity Electrical License Application and pay the required $171 fee.

Maryland

State Certification Authority: Maryland Department of Labor

Reciprocity Agreements: In Maryland, journeyperson reciprocity is limited to Virginia, while master electricians may qualify for reciprocity with Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, D.C., or certain local jurisdictions if the license was obtained by examination.

Reciprocity Application: Maryland Reciprocity Electrical License Application

Massachusetts

State Certification Authority: State Examiners of Electricians

Reciprocity Agreements: New Hampshire

Reciprocity Application: Electronic application

Michigan

State Certification Authority: Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

Reciprocity Agreements: No reciprocity

Reciprocity Application: N/A

Minnesota

State Certification Authority: Minnesota Board of Electricity

Reciprocity Agreements: Minnesota journeyman electricians holding licenses from Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming may apply by reciprocity. Master electricians are offered reciprocity with Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska.

Reciprocity Application: Minnesota Reciprocity Electrical License Application

Mississippi

State Certification Authority: Mississippi State Board of Contractors.

Reciprocity Agreements: Alabama, Arkansas, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

Reciprocity Application: Mississippi State Board of Contractors Form

Missouri

State Certification Authority: Licensed at the local level, not by State

Reciprocity Agreements: None

Reciprocity Application: N/A

Montana

State Certification Authority: Montana State Electrical Board

Reciprocity Agreements: New Mexico, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Texas, Minnesota, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming, and North Dakota.

Reciprocity Application: Fill out the Montana Reciprocity Electrical License Application and pay the $250 fee.

Nebraska

State Certification Authority: State of Nebraska Electrical Division

Reciprocity Agreements: Idaho, Colorado, Alaska, Arkansas, Montana, Iowa, Minnesota, Oklahoma, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming.

Reciprocity Application: Licensing Application

Nevada

State Certification Authority: Nevada State Contractors Board

Reciprocity Agreements: None, but you can apply through endorsement.

Reciprocity Application: N/A

New Hampshire

State Certification Authority: New Hampshire Electricians Examining Board

Reciprocity Agreements: Rhode Island, Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming

Reciprocity Application: Application Forms

New Jersey

State Certification Authority: New Jersey Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors

Reciprocity Agreements: New Jersey does not have reciprocity with any other state.

Reciprocity Application: N/A

New Mexico

State Certification Authority: New Mexico Electrical Bureau

Reciprocity Agreements: Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming.

Reciprocity Application: How to apply

New York

State Certification Authority: New York does not offer statewide electrical licenses, licensing is handled locally by cities and counties.

Reciprocity Agreements: None

Reciprocity Application: N/A

North Carolina

State Certification Authority: State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors

Reciprocity Agreements: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia

Reciprocity Application: You can find forms for each state here.

North Dakota

State Certification Authority: North Dakota State Electrical Board

Reciprocity Agreements: In North Dakota, reciprocity is available for both master and journeyman electricians with Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota, while journeyman reciprocity is recognized with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Utah, and Wyoming.

Reciprocity Application: Electrician's License by Reciprocity

Ohio

State Certification Authority: State of Ohio Department of Commerce

Reciprocity Agreements: Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia

Reciprocity Application: Information and Application

Oklahoma

State Certification Authority: Oklahoma Construction Industries Board

Reciprocity Agreements: Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Colorado, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, Texas, South Dakota, and Wyoming

Reciprocity Application: Information and Application

Oregon

State Certification Authority: Construction Contractors Board

Reciprocity Agreements: Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Washington, Maine, Idaho, and Arkansas

Reciprocity Application: Reciprocate Your License

Pennsylvania

State Certification Authority: No statewide licensing, changes by the municipality

Reciprocity Agreements: None

Reciprocity Application: N/A

Rhode Island

State Certification Authority: Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training

Reciprocity Agreements: None

Reciprocity Application: N/A

South Carolina

State Certification Authority: South Carolina Contractor’s Licensing Board

Reciprocity Agreements: Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, South Carolina.

Reciprocity Application: Reciprocity Agreements

South Dakota

State Certification Authority: South Dakota State Electrical Commission

Reciprocity Agreements: Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Texas, Oklahoma, Utah, and Wyoming

Reciprocity Application: You can find more information here.

Tennessee

State Certification Authority: Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors

Reciprocity Agreements: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Ohio

Reciprocity Application: Fill out this form.

Texas

State Certification Authority: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations

Reciprocity Agreements: Texas journeyman electrician's from Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wyoming may apply by reciprocity. Master Electricians from Louisiana, North Carolina, and Nebraska may apply by reciprocity.

Reciprocity Application: Forms and requirements

Utah

State Certification Authority: Utah Department of Commerce

Reciprocity Agreements: Utah does not have reciprocity agreements for electricians, but it does allow licensure by endorsement if your out of state license is equivalent and in good standing for at least one year.

Reciprocity Application: Apply online for endorsement

Vermont

State Certification Authority: Vermont State Electrical Licensing Board

Reciprocity Agreements: Maine and New Hampshire

Reciprocity Application: Application

Virginia

State Certification Authority: Virginia Board for Contractors

Reciprocity Agreements: Maryland, West Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, and Alabama

Reciprocity Application: Contact the Board for Contractors at contractor@dpor.virginia.gov or 804-367-8511.

Washington

State Certification Authority: Washington Department of Labor and Industries

Reciprocity Agreements: Oregon

Reciprocity Application: Application and requirements

West Virginia

State Certification Authority:  West Virginia State Fire Marshal

Reciprocity Agreements: West Virginia allows issuance of an electrician license without a written exam if the applicant holds an equivalent license from another jurisdiction, is in good standing, and can show qualifications equivalent to West Virginia’s requirements.

Reciprocity Application: WV State Fire Marshal Electrical Reciprocity

Wisconsin

State Certification Authority: Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services

Reciprocity Agreements: Iowa and New Hampshire

Reciprocity Application: Division of Professional Credential Processing

Wyoming

State Certification Authority: Wyoming Department of Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety

Reciprocity Agreements: Idaho, Utah, and South Dakota

Reciprocity Application: Reciprocity Information

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