Electrician License Renewal Requirements by State
How often an electrician license renews and how much continuing education (CE) each renewal takes, for every electrician guide we publish, side by side. Each row is a short version of its guide; the guide has the details, the exceptions and links to the board's own pages.
Rules differ by license type within a state, so each row names the licenses it covers. Before you renew, check the guide and the expiration date on your own license. Last reviewed November 2026.
| State | Licenses covered | Renews every | Continuing education | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Electrical contractor, journeyman | 1 year | Contractors: 14 hours every 2 years | Alabama Electrical License Renewal (Contractor & Journeyman)Reviewed October 2026 |
| Alaska | Electrician journeyman (certificate of fitness) | 2 years | 16 hours in the 24 months before renewal, 8 on NEC changes | Alaska Electrician & Plumber Certificate of Fitness RenewalReviewed October 2026 |
| Arkansas | Master, journeyman (and residential) | 1 year | 8 hours for each NEC code cycle | Arkansas Electrician License RenewalReviewed October 2026 |
| California | Certified electrician | 3 years | 32 hours | California Electrician Certification Renewal (DIR)Reviewed October 2026 |
| Colorado | All electrician licenses | 3 years (September 30) | 24 hours per 3-year period, 4 on NEC changes | Colorado Electrician License Renewal (State Electrical Board)Reviewed October 2026 |
| Connecticut | All electrical licenses | 1 year (September 30) | 4 hours a year, by June 30 | Connecticut Electrical License RenewalReviewed October 2026 |
| Delaware | Master, limited, special; journeyperson, residential | 2 years (June 30, even years) | 10 hours (master, limited, special); 5 hours on the NEC (journeyperson, residential) | Delaware Electrician License RenewalReviewed October 2026 |
| District of Columbia | All electrician licenses | 2 years (November 30, odd years) | No hours named on DLCP's pages: ask DLCP | District of Columbia Electrician License RenewalReviewed October 2026 |
| Florida | Electrical contractor (certified, registered) | 2 years (August 31, even years) | 11 hours | Florida Electrical Contractor License Renewal (ECLB)Reviewed October 2026 |
| Hawaii | Electrician licenses (not maintenance) | 3 years (June 30) | An NEC update course | Hawaii Electrician License RenewalReviewed October 2026 |
| Idaho | Master, journeyman, residential | 3 years | None | Idaho Electrician License Renewal (DOPL)Reviewed October 2026 |
| Chicago | Electrical contractor, supervising electrician | 1 year | None listed by the Department of Buildings | Chicago Electrical Contractor License RenewalReviewed October 2026 |
| Iowa | Master, journeyman, residential | 3 years | 18 hours per 3-year license, 6 on the NEC | Iowa Electrician License RenewalReviewed October 2026 |
| Kentucky | Master electrician, electrician, electrical contractor | 2 years | 6 hours a year | Kentucky Electrician License Renewal (HBC)Reviewed October 2026 |
| New Orleans | City Class A master electrical, C maintenance, D journeyman, E trainee | 1 year (on your birthday) | None listed by Safety and Permits | New Orleans Electrical and Mechanical License RenewalReviewed October 2026 |
| Maine | Master, journeyman | 2 years | A 15-hour NEC update course | Maine Electrician License RenewalReviewed October 2026 |
| Maryland | Master, journeyperson | 2 years | 10 hours (master), 5 hours (journeyperson) | Maryland Electrician License RenewalReviewed October 2026 |
| Massachusetts | Electrician licenses | 3 years (July 31) | 21 hours in the 3 years before renewal | Massachusetts Electrician License RenewalReviewed October 2026 |
| Michigan | Journeyman, master; electrical contractor | 1 year (journeyman, master); 3 years (contractor) | No yearly hours: a code update course after each new code (journeyman, master) | Michigan Electrician License Renewal (LARA)Reviewed October 2026 |
| Minnesota | Journeyworker, master, electrical contractor | 2 years | 16 hours, 12 on the NEC (journeyworker, master) | Minnesota Electrician License Renewal (DLI)Reviewed October 2026 |
| City of St. Louis | Electrical contractor, industrial-maintenance (City of St. Louis) | 1 year | 0.8 CEUs or 8 classroom hours on Electrical Code changes | City of St. Louis Electrical Contractor License RenewalReviewed October 2026 |
| Montana | Master, journeyman, residential, contractor | 2 years (July 15, even years) | 16 hours per cycle, 8 on NEC updates | Montana Electrician License RenewalReviewed October 2026 |
| Nebraska | All electrical licenses | 2 years (December 31, even years) | 12 hours, 6 on the NEC | Nebraska Electrician License RenewalReviewed November 2026 |
| Lincoln | City electrical contractor and fire alarm installer registration | Typically every other year (October 1 to December 31) | None listed by Building and Safety | Lincoln, NE Plumbing, Mechanical and Electrical License RenewalReviewed October 2026 |
| New Jersey | Electrical contractor | 3 years (March 31) | 34 hours per 3-year period, with a 10-hour NEC course | New Jersey Electrical Contractor License RenewalReviewed October 2026 |
| New York City | Master electrician | Go by your license: DOB's pages say 1 or 3 years | An 8-hour NYC Electrical Code course in the year before renewal | New York City Master Electrician License RenewalReviewed October 2026 |
| Westchester County | Master, special electrician, electrical inspector | 1 year (all expire December 31) | 4 hours a year | Westchester County Plumber and Electrician License RenewalReviewed October 2026 |
| North Carolina | Electrical contractor | 1 year | 8 hours (4 for special restricted licenses) | North Carolina Electrical Contractor License Renewal (NCBEEC)Reviewed October 2026 |
| North Dakota | Master, journeyman, Class B, power limited | 1 year | 8 hours, 4 on the NEC | North Dakota Electrician License RenewalReviewed October 2026 |
| Ohio | Electrical contractor (OCILB) | 1 year (3 in the compliant contractor program) | 10 hours a year, 5 in electrical code | Ohio Contractor License Renewal (OCILB)Reviewed October 2026 |
| Oklahoma | Journeyman, contractor | 1 year (end of your birth month) | 12 hours every 36 months, 6 on the adopted codes | Oklahoma Electrician License Renewal (CIB)Reviewed October 2026 |
| Oregon | Supervising, journeyman, limited | 3 years | 24 hours (supervising, general journeyman); 16 or fewer for limited licenses, some none | Oregon Electrician License RenewalReviewed October 2026 |
| Philadelphia | Electrical contractor | 1 year | 8 hours of NFPA 70 coursework each license period | Philadelphia Electrical Contractor License RenewalReviewed October 2026 |
| South Carolina | Residential electrician (Residential Builders Commission) | 2 years (June 30, odd years) | None | South Carolina Residential Electrician, Plumber & HVAC License RenewalReviewed October 2026 |
| South Dakota | Contractor, journeyman, Class B, apprentice | 2 years (June 30, even years) | 16 hours every 2 years, half on the NEC | South Dakota Electrician License RenewalReviewed October 2026 |
| Tennessee | Limited licensed electrician (LLE) | 2 years | None | Tennessee Limited Licensed Electrician and Plumber RenewalReviewed October 2026 |
| Texas | Electrician licenses (TDLR) | 1 year | 4 hours | Texas Electrician License Renewal (TDLR)Reviewed October 2026 |
| Utah | All electrician licenses | 2 years (November 30, even years) | 16 hours per 2-year cycle: 8 on the NEC, 4 on NFPA 70E | Utah Electrician License Renewal (DOPL)Reviewed October 2026 |
| Vermont | Master, journeyman; type-S journeyman | 3 years | 15 hours on the NEC per 36 months (master, journeyman); 8 hours (type-S) | Vermont Electrician License RenewalReviewed October 2026 |
| Virginia | Electrical tradesman (journeyman, master) | 3 years | 3 hours for the electrical designation | Virginia Tradesman License Renewal (DPOR)Reviewed October 2026 |
| Washington | Electrician certificate | 3 years (your birthdate) | 24 hours: 8 on code changes, 4 on RCW 19.28 | Washington Electrician License Renewal (L&I)Reviewed October 2026 |
| West Virginia | Master, journeyman, specialty | 1 year (June 30) | None | West Virginia Electrician License RenewalReviewed October 2026 |
| Wisconsin | Master, journeyman (and residential, industrial), contractor | Up to 4 years (June 30) | 24 hours (master, journeyman); 18 (residential, industrial); none (contractor) | Wisconsin Electrician License Renewal (DSPS)Reviewed October 2026 |
| Wyoming | Master, journeyman | Expires in the third year after the year of issue | 16 hours, 8 on the NEC | Wyoming Electrician License RenewalReviewed October 2026 |
NEC is the National Electrical Code. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Licensed in more than one state?
Add each license, your insurance policies and the COIs you collect from subs to LicenseLedger, and get an email before each one expires. Free for up to 3 records, no credit card required.
Start free