SPEC SHEET · MI · ELECTRICIAN
Michigan electrician license requirements
The answer
Michigan licenses electricians statewide under the Skilled Trades Regulation Act. Journeyman: 8,000 hours over at least 4 years under licensed supervision (age 20+); Master: 12,000 hours over 6+ years plus 2 years holding a journeyman license (age 22+). Apprentices register with the state.Your paths to the license
Register and earn 8,000 hours
Register as an apprentice, work at least 4 years (8,000 hours) in electrical construction/maintenance under the direct supervision of a licensed electrician, then pass the journeyman exam.
Apply on documented hours
Submit an affidavit of your supervised hours with the exam application. Fail the exam twice in 2 years and you wait a year and must complete a Michigan electrical code course before retesting.
Military interior electrician
Service as an interior electrician (or equivalent) with 8,000 hours of entry-level experience, honorably discharged within the past year, qualifies via a commanding-officer affidavit (MCL 339.5715(1)(b)).
Licensed in another state
No blanket reciprocity — the department may grant experience credit toward the 8,000-hour requirement based on documented out-of-state experience; you take the Michigan exam.
License levels in Michigan
| Level | What it takes | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Registered apprentice | Register with LARA; work under licensed supervision while accruing hours. | — |
| Electrical journeyman | 8,000 hours over ≥4 years under direct licensed supervision + exam (age 20+). MCL 339.5715. | — |
| Master electrician | 12,000 hours over ≥6 years under a master + journeyman license held 2 years + exam (age 22+). MCL 339.5713. | — |
Published fees
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Exam / license / renewal | Per LARA's current fee schedule (Skilled Trades Regulation Act, Article 2) |
The exam
| Provider | LARA (via testing vendor) |
| Fees | Examination and license fees are set under the act — see LARA's current electrical fee schedule |
| Notes | Two failures within 2 years = 1-year wait + a required Michigan electrical code course. |
Moving here with a license? Renewal? The rest of the picture
Reciprocity: No formal reciprocity; experience credit is discretionary. Check your exact state pair →
Renewal & continuing education: Renewal requires code-update education as a condition of renewal per the act; see LARA for the current cycle and hours.
Watch out: Fee amounts and exam vendor details are on LARA's current application forms. · Electrical contractor (business) licensing is separate — a master electrician must qualify it.
Official sources for this page
Michigan electrician licensing FAQ
How many hours do you need to become a licensed electrician in Michigan?
The shortest published route requires 8,000 hours of supervised experience. Michigan licenses electricians statewide under the Skilled Trades Regulation Act. Journeyman: 8,000 hours over at least 4 years under licensed supervision (age 20+); Master: 12,000 hours over 6+ years plus 2 years holding a journeyman license (age 22+). Apprentices register with the state.
What does the Michigan electrician license cost?
Examination and license fees are set under the act — see LARA's current electrical fee schedule. Fee amounts are published on the current official application — see the sources below.
Does Michigan have electrician license reciprocity?
No formal reciprocity; experience credit is discretionary.
How often does the license renew?
Renewal requires code-update education as a condition of renewal per the act; see LARA for the current cycle and hours.
Get your personal route
Four questions — your experience and training matched against Michigan's actual routes.