- Gain necessary hands-on work experience and required classroom training to become an electrician
- Take the required licensing exam
- Apply to earn the Electrical Contractor license
COUNT YOUR MILITARY EXPERIENCE VIA ONE OF THESE PATHWAYS
Master electricians must work at least two years as journeyman electricians before becoming master electricians. You can apply your Military job experience towards the electrical experience requirements.
The licensing department shall issue a Journeyman Electrician license to an applicant who meets the following requirements:
PATH 1:
Complete Six (6) years of verifiable experience in the electrical trade since his or her sixteenth birthday; and a training course in electrical work, acceptable to the department; and
A training course in electrical work, acceptable to the department, or an additional two (2) years of verifiable experience in the electrical trade
PATH 2:
Five (5) years of verifiable experience in the electrical trade since his or her sixteenth birthday; and
An associate’s degree or diploma program in electrical technology at a college within the Kentucky Community and Technical College System after 1998
Proof of experience shall be provided by: Per 815 KAR 35:060
- Tax returns or other official tax documents that indicate the applicant’s occupation or the nature of the applicant’s business activities, including Federal Schedule C, Form 1040 Form 1099, or local occupational tax returns;
- One (1) year of electrical experience shall consist minimally of 1,600 hours of electrical work in a contiguous twelve (12) month period.
- A copy of a business license issued by a county or municipal government that did not issue electrical contractors, master electrician’s, or electrician’s licenses prior to June 24, 2003, if the business license indicates the applicant operated as an electrical contractor or worker;
- A sworn affidavit, on the affiant’s letterhead, certifying that the affiant has personal knowledge that the applicant has worked as a master electrician or an electrician for at least one (1) of the following:
- An electrical workers union;
- A certified electrical inspector; or
- An employer that employed the applicant as an electrician or a master electrician; or
- Records of a branch of the United States Armed Forces that indicate the applicant performed a function that primarily involved electrical work. Experience gained while in the military shall be deemed to have been earned in Kentucky.
- An applicant for a master electrician license or electrician license attending an accepted electrical training program in accordance with 815 KAR 35:090 shall provide the following with his or her application:
- An affidavit from the director or authorized agent of the electrical training program confirming the applicant’s participation in the electrical training program; and
- Documentation that the applicant has completed the required number of hours in accordance with 815 KAR 35:090.
- Additional proof of experience shall be requested by the department, prior to or after licensing, if the department has reason to believe that the experience shown is insufficient or nonexistent. has reason
Candidate Information Bulletin for Frequently Asked Questions
- Prov has established eleven (12) testing centers within Kentucky where candidates can take their examinations. These testing centers are located in Ashland, Bowling Green, Florence, Frankfort, Highland Heights, Lexington, Louisville, Murray, Owensboro,
- Paducah and Somerset. Please refer to the individual list for each site for its testing availability and directions.
- Exams are $80
- 75% required for passing score
- Authorized reference materials are permitted during the exam
- Candidate Information Bulletin for Frequently Asked Questions
- Contractor Licensing Requirements by Municipality
- An applicant seeking a master electrician license shall submit to the department:
- A completed Electrical License Application, Form EL-3;
- An application fee of $100 for a twelve (12) month license; and
- Proof of the applicant’s experience as established by KRS 227A.060(3)(b) and this administrative regulation.
- (Has completed: 1. Two (2) years of verifiable experience in the electrical trade since his or her sixteenth birthday; and 2. a. A training course in electrical work, acceptable to the department; b. Two (2) years of a minimum four (4) year training course in electrical work, acceptable to the department, and shall complete the remaining years of that training course within four (4) years of obtaining the electrician license, or the electrician license shall be revoked; or c. An additional two (2) years of verifiable experience in the electrical trade)
- Per 227A.060 Qualifications for licensure — Provisional license
The department shall issue a provisional license as a “master electrician” to an applicant who meets the following requirements: - Has paid to the department the application fee not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100) and the appropriate examination fee not to exceed the actual cost of the examination;
- Has completed:
- Six (6) years of verifiable experience in the electrical trade since his or her sixteenth birthday; an
- A training course in electrical work, acceptable to the department, or an additional two (2) years of verifiable experience in the electrical trade; OR
- Five (5) years of verifiable experience in the electrical trade since his or her sixteenth birthday; and
- An associate’s degree or diploma program in electrical technology at a college within the Kentucky Community and Technical College System after 1998; and
- Has achieved a passing score, as set by the department, on all portions of the examination required by the department.
- A license shall be valid for one (1) year and shall be renewed on or before the last day of the licensee’s birth month. For electrical contractor licenses issued to corporations, partnerships, or business entities without a birth month, the renewal month shall be the month the license was issued.
- Filing for renewal. An master electrician shall submit to the department:
- A completed form: Electrical License Application, Form EL-3 for a master electrician;
- A renewal fee of: $100 for a master electrician; and
- Proof of annual continuing education attendance in accordance with 815 KAR 2:010; and
- Proof of insurance as required by KRS 227A.060(1)(c) and this administrative regulation for an electrical contractor. Continuing Education Course Approval CE-2
- A license that is in inactive status shall be exempt from annual renewal.
- An inactive license shall be reactivated upon payment of the annual renewal fee, the reactivation fee, and upon compliance with the continuing education requirements established in 815 KAR 2:010.
- A licensee who applies for reissuance of a license pursuant to 2018 Ky. Acts ch. 186, sec. 2 shall submit to the department:
- A completed:
- Electrical Contractor’s License Application, Form EL-2 for an electrical contractor; or
- Electrical License Application, Form EL-3 for a master electrician and electrician;
- A completed:
- Proof of licensure as described in 2018 Ky Acts ch. 186, sec. 2;
- A reissuance fee of $100; and
- Proof of insurance as required by KRS 227A.060(1)(c) and this administrative regulation for an electrical contractor.
- The reissued license shall be valid for one (1) year from the date of issuance. The reissued license holder shall obtain a full license if the reissued license holder passes the corresponding license examination pursuant to Section 4 of this administrative regulation.
- If the individual with the reissued license fails to take and pass an examination within one (1) year of reissuance, the department shall terminate the license.
- A licensee who has not previously provided a passport-sized color photograph shall provide one (1) with the licensee’s next application for renewal.
Commonwealth of Kentucky
Department of Housing,
Buildings and Construction
101 Sea Hero Road
Suite 100 Frankfort, KY 40601-5405
Phone: 502.573.0365
Web site: www.dhbc.ky.gov/
