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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.

Aug 7, 2024

Updated July 2024

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 exams or any required courses, that state may grant you an equivalent license.

Every state is different. For example, Florida’s licensing is mostly local, so it doesn’t offer state-wide reciprocity with any other states. However, states like North Carolina will accept someone from Florida’s license. Electrical licensing is decided at the city and county, but Missouri now offers a statewide electrical contractor license for electricians to work anywhere in the state

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.

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 Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin 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: Arkansas, Louisiana, Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

Reciprocity Application: Waiver Reciprocity Agreement

Alaska

State Certification Authority: Alaska Department of Labor and Workplace Development

Reciprocity: South Dakota, New Mexico, North Dakota, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Montana, Colorado, Minnesota, and Arkansas

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

Arizona

State Certification Authority: Arizona Registrar of Contractors

Reciprocity: Utah, Nevada, and California

Reciprocity Application: Arizona Registrar of Contractors Online Portal

Arkansas

State Certification Authority: Arkansas State Board of Electrical Examiners

Reciprocity: Alaska, Oregon, New Mexico, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Colorado

Reciprocity Application: Electrical Inspection and Licensing Forms

California

State Certification Authority: Electrical Contractors’ State Licensing Board

Reciprocity: Arizona, Louisiana, and Nevada

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

Colorado

State Certification Authority: Colorado State Electrical Board

Reciprocity: Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, 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: None.

Reciprocity Application: None.

Delaware

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

Reciprocity: Arkansas, Colorado, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia with proof of experience for licenses that are not substantially similar. However, Delaware does allow reciprocity without proof of experience from Michigan and Wyoming. For any other state, your license will need to be evaluated by the board.

Reciprocity Application: Electrician licenses and Reciprocity

Florida

State Certification Authority: State Board of Electrical Examiners and/or local jurisdictions

Reciprocity: Florida does not have a reciprocity agreement with any other state as licensing is local. In fact, electrical licensing is largely done on a local level rather than at the state level, with some exceptions, such as for businesses.

Reciprocity Application: N/A

Georgia

State Certification Authority: Georgia Board of Electrical Contractors

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

Reciprocity Application: Conditioned Air Contractors Reciprocity Application

Hawaii

State Certification Authority: Hawaii Board of Electricians and Plumbers

Reciprocity: N/A

Reciprocity Application: N/A

Idaho

State Certification Authority: Division of Building Safety (DBS)

Reciprocity: Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming

Reciprocity Application: N/A

Illinois

State Certification Authority: No state licensing

Reciprocity: N/A

Reciprocity Application: N/A

Indiana

State Certification Authority: No state licensing

Reciprocity: None

Reciprocity Application: N/A

Iowa

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

Reciprocity: Arkansas, Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

Reciprocity Application: Licensing agreements with other states

Kansas

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

Reciprocity: None

Reciprocity Application: N/A

Kentucky

State Certification Authority: Kentucky Electrical Licensing

Reciprocity: Virginia and Ohio

Reciprocity Application: Kentucky Reciprocity Electrical License Application

Louisiana

State Certification Authority: Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors

Reciprocity: Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Ohio, and Utah

Reciprocity Application: Louisiana Reciprocity Electrical License Application

Maine

State Certification Authority: Maine Electricians Examining Board

Reciprocity: New Hampshire and Vermont

Reciprocity Application: Maine Reciprocity Electrical License Application

Maryland

State Certification Authority: Maryland issues licenses at the county level

Reciprocity: West Virginia, Virginia, Delaware

Reciprocity Application: Maryland Reciprocity Electrical License Application

Massachusetts

State Certification Authority: State Examiners of Electricians

Reciprocity: New Hampshire

Reciprocity Application: Electronic application (Massachusetts no longer accepts paper applications)

Michigan

State Certification Authority: Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

Reciprocity: N/A

Reciprocity Application: N/A

Minnesota

State Certification Authority: Minnesota Board of Electricity

Reciprocity: Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska

Reciprocity Application: Minnesota Reciprocity Electrical License Application

Mississippi

State Certification Authority: Mississippi licenses electricians at the local level.

Reciprocity: Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Louisiana

Reciprocity Application: Mississippi State Board of Contractors Form

Missouri

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

Reciprocity: No

Reciprocity Application: N/A

Montana

State Certification Authority: Montana State Electrical Board

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

Reciprocity Application: Montana Reciprocity Electrical License Application

Nebraska

State Certification Authority: State of Nebraska, State Electrical Division

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

Reciprocity Application: Licensing Application

Nevada

State Certification Authority: Nevada State Contractors Board

Reciprocity: No

Reciprocity Application: N/A

New Hampshire

State Certification Authority: New Hampshire Electricians Examining Board

Reciprocity: Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, Colorado, Alaska, Arkansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, and Wisconsin

Reciprocity Application: Application Forms

New Jersey

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

Reciprocity: N/A

Reciprocity Application: N/A

New Mexico

State Certification Authority: New Mexico Electrical Bureau

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

Reciprocity Application: How to apply

New York

State Certification Authority: New York City requires licensing through the Department of Buildings

Reciprocity: No

Reciprocity Application: N/A

North Carolina

State Certification Authority: State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors

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

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

North Dakota

State Certification Authority: North Dakota State Electrical Board

Reciprocity: South Dakota and Minnesota

Reciprocity Application: Electrician's License by Reciprocity

Ohio

State Certification Authority: State of Ohio Department of Commerce

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

Reciprocity Application: Information and Application

Oklahoma

State Certification Authority: Oklahoma Construction Industries Board

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

Reciprocity Application: Reciprocate Your License

Pennsylvania

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

Reciprocity: No

Reciprocity Application: N/A

Rhode Island

State Certification Authority: Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training

Reciprocity: No

Reciprocity Application: N/A

South Carolina

State Certification Authority: South Carolina Contractor’s Licensing Board

Reciprocity: Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Mississippi, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah

Reciprocity Application: Applications

South Dakota

State Certification Authority: South Dakota State Electrical Commission

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

Reciprocity Application: You can find information here