STATE-BY-STATE · VERIFIED
Electrician license requirements by state
✓ VERIFIED 2026-09-13every state against its official board
The short version
Most licensing states want roughly 8,000 supervised hours (about 4 years) plus a code exam for journeyman level — but the MODEL varies: some license individuals, some license only contractors, and a few leave it to cities. Pick your state below for the verified specifics.Compare the 20 verified states
| State | Licensing model | Min. route | Median wage | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | State certification | 8,000 hrs | $76,160 | 2026-09-13 |
| Colorado | State license (individual ladder) | 4,000 hrs | $62,230 | 2026-09-13 |
| Florida | Contractor-level licensing | 3 yrs | $57,250 | 2026-09-13 |
| Illinois | No state license — local rules | local | $99,560 | 2026-09-13 |
| Indiana | No state license — local rules | local | $68,490 | 2026-09-13 |
| Maryland | State license (individual ladder) | 8,000 hrs | $73,490 | 2026-09-13 |
| Michigan | State license (individual ladder) | 8,000 hrs | $76,270 | 2026-09-13 |
| Minnesota | State license (individual ladder) | see routes | $78,160 | 2026-09-13 |
| New York | No state license — local rules | local | $78,750 | 2026-09-13 |
| North Carolina | Contractor-level licensing | 3,000 hrs | $56,800 | 2026-09-13 |
| Ohio | Contractor-level licensing | 3 yrs | $64,700 | 2026-09-13 |
| Oklahoma | State license (individual ladder) | 8,000 hrs | $61,010 | 2026-09-13 |
| Oregon | State license (individual ladder) | 4 yrs | $101,310 | 2026-09-13 |
| Pennsylvania | No state license — local rules | local | $67,600 | 2026-09-13 |
| Tennessee | Contractor-level licensing | see routes | $61,090 | 2026-09-13 |
| Texas | State license (individual ladder) | 4,000 hrs | $58,570 | 2026-09-13 |
| Utah | State license (individual ladder) | 8,000 hrs | $62,000 | 2026-09-13 |
| Virginia | State license (individual ladder) | 2 yrs | $62,900 | 2026-09-13 |
| Washington | State license (individual ladder) | 4,000 hrs | $95,220 | 2026-09-13 |
| Wisconsin | State license (individual ladder) | 8,000 hrs | $76,540 | 2026-09-13 |
Pick your state
California
8,000 hours · shortest route
California Department of Industrial RelationsColorado
4,000 hours · shortest route
Colorado DORAFlorida
Contractor-level licensing
Florida DBPRIllinois
No state license — local rules
No statewide electrician licenseIndiana
No state license — local rules
No statewide electrician licenseMaryland
8,000 hours · shortest route
Maryland Department of LaborMichigan
8,000 hours · shortest route
Michigan LARAMinnesota
State license (individual ladder)
Minnesota Department of Labor and IndustryNew York
No state license — local rules
No statewide licenseNorth Carolina
3,000 hours · shortest route
NC State Board of Examiners of Electrical ContractorsOhio
Contractor-level licensing
Ohio Construction Industry Licensing BoardOklahoma
8,000 hours · shortest route
Oklahoma Construction Industries BoardOregon
State license (individual ladder)
Oregon Building Codes DivisionPennsylvania
No state license — local rules
No statewide electrician licenseTennessee
Contractor-level licensing
Tennessee Board for Licensing ContractorsTexas
4,000 hours · shortest route
Texas Department of Licensing and RegulationUtah
8,000 hours · shortest route
Utah Division of Professional LicensingVirginia
State license (individual ladder)
Virginia DPORWashington
4,000 hours · shortest route
Washington State Department of Labor & IndustriesWisconsin
8,000 hours · shortest route
Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services
Not sure where to start?
Answer four questions and get your qualification route with the actual hours, exam and fees.
FAQ
Which states have the toughest electrician licensing?
Measured by published hours, the strict ladder states cluster around 8,000 supervised hours for journeyman level (Texas, Washington, Michigan, Colorado for electricians). Contractor-only states look "easier" on paper but require 3–5 documented years to contract legally.
Which states don't license electricians at all?
It varies by trade — see the "local rules" rows in the table. Pennsylvania licenses none of the three trades statewide; Illinois licenses plumbers but not electricians; New York leaves all of it to cities.
How current is this data?
Every state page shows its own verification date and links the official pages we read. We re-verify in tranches and ship corrections first — the current dataset was verified 2026-09-13.
Licensing rules change — every state page links its official sources and shows its verification date. Confirm with the board before applying. Not legal advice.