HB 3215 Changes Electrical Licensing, Electrical Testing, & Electrical Apprentice Registration

Governor Kevin Stitt signed HB 3215 on May 3, 2024. This bill makes several changes to electrical licensing requirements. The changes include reducing the licensing test passing grade for contractors/journeymen, doubling continuing education hours for contractors/journeymen, and introducing new continuing education requirements for electrical apprentices.

Effective November 1, 2024, the passing grade for electrical contractors and electrical journeyman licensing test will be reduced from 75% to 70% for those taking an exam on or after November 1, 2024. In addition, those who do not achieve a passing grade on the test may re-test after 30 days including multiple attempts instead of waiting 90 days.

Effective January 1, 2026, new continuing education requirements will be required for all electrical apprentices. Additionally, Electrical journeymen/contractors' continuing education requirements have been doubled to 12 hours every three years.

Electrical apprentices will be required to complete 3 hours of continuing education every year before reregistering as an apprentice. The apprentice continuing education material shall cover a combination of the codes and revisions adopted by the Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission, Oklahoma electrical industry regulations as well as the rules of the Construction Industries Board, and "electrical safety" as defined by NFPA 70E, other trade subject matters approved by the Committee, or approved continuing education for the contractor or journeyman. If an apprentice is a student apprentice or is enrolled and attending an approved course, the continuing education shall not be required.

Electrical Journeyman/Electrical Contractors must complete twelve (12) hours of continuing education every three (3) years or thirty-six (36) months preceding the expiration date of the license or registration certificate.

The continuing education material shall cover:

• six (6) hours of codes and revisions adopted by the Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission (OUBCC)
• The remaining six (6) hours may include the study of:
  • electrical circuit theory and calculations
  • wiring methods
  • grounding and bonding
  • transformer and motor theory
  • electrical circuits and devices
  • control systems
  • alternative energy systems including energy storage
  • safety related to the electrical industry as defined by NFPA 70E
  • manufacturers' installation of equipment or parts
  • the Electrical License Act, the trade regulations as set forth in this act as well as the rules of the Construction Industries Board
  • other trade subject matters approved by the Electrical Committee.