Generally, one works for a Contractor as a registered Apprentice to gain verifiable experience requirements to become a Journeyman, who also works for a Contractor, to earn verifiable experience requirements to become a Contractor.
All Electrical Contractors must be an Owner, Partner, or Officer in the electrical firm. The following are the license categories for electrical contracting which is the highest ranking electrical license.
All Electrical Contractors must be an Owner, Partner, or Officer in the electrical firm. The following are the license categories for electrical contracting which is the highest ranking electrical license.
Unlimited Electrical Contractors are unlimited in the type of electrical contracting they can perform. They must have:
12,000 Verifiable Hours on the job experience in electrical construction work
Proof of 4,000 hours experience as a licensed Unlimited Electrical Journeyman
6,000 hours must be in commercial industrial work obtained while employed by a Licensed Electrical Contractor
2,000 hours maximum may be satisfied by formal electrical education*
Residential Electrical Contractors are limited to contracting for wiring buildings as defined in the NEC for one and two family dwellings. They must have:
8,000 verifiable hours total
4,000 hours as a Residential or Unlimited Journeyman Electrician under the employment and supervision of an Electrical Contractor
4,000 hours as a registered apprentice, OR
3,000 hours as a registered apprentice and 1,000 hours may be satisfied by formal electrical education*
Limited Electrical Contractors must be an Owner, Partner, or Officer in an electrical firm and are prohibited from engaging in the work of an apprentice or journeyman electrician and:
Has a Degree in Electrical Engineering from an accredited college or university, and 8,000 hours of electrical experience in field construction, electrical estimating, electrical project management in commercial/industrial electrical work,
OR has verification of 16,000 hours experience in the electrical trade performing electrical work, estimating or project management in commercial/industrial work.
*Educational Experience must be actual, classroom hours verified with a transcript
For complete information on licensing requirements see the Rules and Laws for Electrical Regulations.
An Alarm Endorsement involving a criminal history check is required before anyone can begin work described in the Electrical Industry regulations as work requiring an alarm endorsement.