Alaska Electrician & Plumber Certificate of Fitness Renewal

At a glance

Renews every

Two years. A journeyman-level certificate of fitness and its renewal certificate are valid for two years, and Mechanical Inspection lists the same two-year duration for the residential wireman, plumber gas and plumber restricted utility certificates: go by the expiration date on your own certificate

Who needs one

State law says a person doing electrical wiring or plumbing work covered by the state's electrical and plumbing standards must first get the appropriate certificate of fitness. Mechanical Inspection says a state-issued certificate is required for electrical construction work in all parts of Alaska, and for plumbing work everywhere except communities under 2,500 people

Certificates renewed

The renewal application lists the Electrician Journeyman, Power Lineman Journeyman, Residential Wireman, Plumber Journeyman, Plumber Gas and Plumber Utility certificates

Continuing education

Electrician Journeyman and Plumber Journeyman only: 16 hours completed within the 24 months before you apply to renew. At least 8 hours must cover significant changes or updates to the National Electrical Code (electricians) or Uniform Plumbing Code (plumbers), and no more than 8 hours may be industry related. Attach the course certificates to the renewal application

CE waiver

If circumstances beyond your control kept you from getting the hours, you may request a waiver by explaining them in writing to the director. If the director agrees the circumstances were beyond your control, the director prescribes an alternative way to comply

Fee

$200 certificate fee. The renewal application adds the $50 application fee if you apply more than 90 days after expiration

Renewal opens

You may renew 90 days before the expiration date of your current certificate

Renewal notice

The department mails a notice of renewal to the address it has on file before your certificate expires

How to renew

Email the renewal application to mi@alaska.gov with the subject "COF Renewal", mail it with a $200 check (and a separate $50 check if you apply more than 90 days after expiration) payable to the Department of Labor to Mechanical Inspection, 1251 Muldoon Road, Suite 113, Anchorage, AK 99504, or renew in person at that office, which takes cash, check or card. The form also takes card details. Allow 7-10 business days: the renewed certificate is emailed to you as a PDF

After it expires

The certificate of fitness is invalid for performing the work as of its expiration date

Late renewal

The department renews a certificate without reexamination if you request renewal no later than two years after its expiration date and pay the fees. The renewal application says renewals two years after expiration require retesting

Carry it

The certificate must be carried on the person doing the work it covers

A trainee-level certificate of fitness is valid for six years. Mechanical Inspection's pages and rules describe trainee renewal differently, so ask the section before a trainee certificate runs out.

Electrical and mechanical administrator licenses and contractor licensing come from the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, not from Mechanical Inspection, and have their own renewals.

Violating the certificate of fitness law is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $500, for an employer or an employee.

How to renew

1. Check the expiration date on your certificate of fitness: a journeyman-level certificate is valid for two years.
2. If you hold an Electrician Journeyman or Plumber Journeyman certificate, finish 16 hours of continuing education within the 24 months before you apply, at least 8 on National Electrical Code or Uniform Plumbing Code changes, and keep the course certificates.
3. Within 90 days of the expiration date, fill in the renewal application from Mechanical Inspection and attach your course certificates.
4. Email it to mi@alaska.gov with the subject "COF Renewal", or mail it or bring it to the Anchorage office. Pay the $200 certificate fee with the card details on the form, by check if you mail it, or at the counter.
5. Allow 7-10 business days, then print the renewed certificate from the email and carry it on the job.

Deadline checklist

• 6 months outJourneyman electricians and plumbers: count your continuing education hours from the last 24 months and book what's missing, including at least 8 on code changes.
• 90 days outRenewal opens: fill in the renewal application, attach your course certificates and send it to mi@alaska.gov, paying the $200 certificate fee with the card details on the form.
• 2 weeks outProcessing takes 7-10 business days. If the renewed certificate hasn't arrived by email, check your spam folder, then contact Mechanical Inspection.
• Expiration dateThe certificate is invalid for the work from today. Renewing more than 90 days late adds the $50 application fee, and two years late means retesting.

Put this renewal in your calendar

Know your expiration date? Download a free calendar file with reminders before it, no sign-up needed. It's made in your browser: nothing you type is sent to us (your browser keeps it only if you follow the sign-up link, for your new ledger). A Google Calendar button sends just that one event to Google.

The file covers one date: once you renew, make a new one. How to add it to your calendar

Frequently asked questions