Electrical license lookup
Who Licenses ElectriciansWhere You Live?
Before an electrician touches your wiring, look up the license yourself. This page lists who licenses electricians in every US state, the District of Columbia and every Canadian province and territory, with a link to the lookup page where one exists. A general contractor's license is not an electrician's license, so check each one.
How to use this page
- Choose your state or province below.
- Open the lookup link and search the electrician's license number.
- Check that the status is active, the class is electrical, the name matches the person and the company, and there is no discipline on record.
- Do the same for the electrical company and for your general contractor.
Showing 64 of 64 places
United States
| State or province | Who licenses electricians | License and who holds it | Separate from the general contractor's license? | Look it up | How sure am I |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama AL | Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors (aecb.alabama.gov) | Yes: electrical contractor and journeyman licensesHolder: Contractor; journeyman as an individual | Yes (separate board from general contractors) | Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors(opens in a new tab) The board's site shows no public search on its homepage. Call the board to verify a license. | Partly read on the official page Checked October 8, 2026 |
The board's materials say an electrical contractor on a job over $50,000 needs a state license. Confirm the threshold with the board. | |||||
| Alaska AK | Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, Electrical Administrators program (commerce.alaska.gov); electricians (wiremen) are under the Department of Labor, Mechanical Inspection Section | Yes: Electrical Administrator license, at least one per contractor doing NEC/NESC workHolder: Individual administrator employed by the contractor (supervisory license only) | Yes | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 | |
Categories include unlimited commercial wiring, residential wiring, controls, communications and line work. | |||||
| Arizona AZ | Arizona Registrar of Contractors (roc.az.gov) | Yes: electrical classifications C-11 commercial, R-11 residential, CR-11 dualHolder: The contracting business (qualifying party) | Yes. ROC material says work on electrical systems must be subcontracted to an appropriately licensed contractor; a general contractor can't self-perform it | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 | |
Check that the license class on the contractor's license matches the work in your contract. | |||||
| Arkansas AR | Board of Electrical Examiners, Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing (labor.arkansas.gov) | Yes: master, journeyman, residential master, residential journeyman, A/C electrician, industrial maintenance; apprentices registeredHolder: Individual | Yes (separate from the contractors licensing board) | Electrical inspection and licensing (Department of Labor and Licensing)(opens in a new tab) No public search found. Ask the Board of Electrical Examiners for its license roster. | Partly read on the official page Checked October 8, 2026 |
| California CA | Contractors State License Board, CSLB (cslb.ca.gov) | Yes: C-10 ElectricalHolder: The contracting business, through a qualifier | Yes (C-10 is a specialty classification distinct from general contracting) | Read on the official page Checked October 8, 2026 | |
| Colorado CO | State Electrical Board, Division of Professions and Occupations, DORA (dpo.colorado.gov/Electrical) | Yes: master electrician, journeyman, residential wireman; electrical contractors registered; apprentices registeredHolder: Individual licenses; contractor registration | Yes (Colorado has no state GC license) | State Electrical Board(opens in a new tab) Use the license lookup on the Division of Professions and Occupations site. | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 |
Work must be done by a licensee or a registered apprentice directly supervised by one. Some local jurisdictions do their own inspections. | |||||
| Connecticut CT | Department of Consumer Protection (portal.ct.gov/DCP) | Yes: odd-numbered licenses are contractors (E-1, L-3, L-5); even-numbered are journeypersons (E-2, L-2, L-6)Holder: Individual only; DCP does not license companies. Only odd-numbered (contractor) licenses can pull permits and sign contracts | Yes | Partly read on the official page Checked October 8, 2026 | |
Journeypersons and apprentices can't work directly for consumers unless employed by or employing a licensed contractor of record. | |||||
| Delaware DE | Board of Electrical Examiners, Division of Professional Regulation (dpr.delaware.gov) | Yes: master, master special, limited, limited special, journeyperson, apprentice (also licenses electrical inspection agencies)Holder: Individual | Yes | Read on the official page Checked October 8, 2026 | |
| District of Columbia DC | Board of Industrial Trades, Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, DLCP (dlcp.dc.gov) | Yes: apprentice, journeyman and master electrician (plus specialty categories); an electrical bond applies to contractors or designated mastersHolder: Individual; master or contractor posts the bond | Yes | Board of Industrial Trades(opens in a new tab) Use the occupational and professional license search on the DLCP site. | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 |
Journeymen and masters licensed in Maryland or Virginia can be licensed in DC by reciprocity. | |||||
| Florida FL | Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board, Department of Business and Professional Regulation (myfloridalicense.com) | Yes: certified (statewide) or registered (local competency card); categories include unlimited, residential, alarm, utility line, limited energy, sign, lighting maintenanceHolder: Contractor (qualifying individual) | Yes (separate board from general contractors) | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 | |
A registered contractor can only work where they hold the local certificate. | |||||
| Georgia GA | Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board, Division of Electrical Contractors, Secretary of State (sos.ga.gov) | Yes: Class I (single-phase, up to 200 A) and Class II (unrestricted)Holder: Contractor (individual qualifier) | Yes (separate division from general contractors) | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 | |
| Hawaii HI | Board of Electricians and Plumbers, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (cca.hawaii.gov) | Yes: individual electrician licenses; also check the Contractors License Board classification for the businessHolder: Individual, plus a contractor license for the business | Probably. Check the Contractors License Board classification for the business as well as the individual license. | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 | |
The department also publishes a guide on hiring electricians and plumbers. | |||||
| Idaho ID | Idaho Electrical Board, Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (dopl.idaho.gov) | Yes: electrical contractor and journeyman licensesHolder: Contractor; journeyman as an individual | Yes | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 | |
| Illinois IL | No state electrical board. The City of Chicago Department of Buildings licenses electrical contractors and supervising electricians (chicago.gov) | No statewide license. SB 2307 (the Electrician Licensing Act) was filed February 7, 2025, and the Illinois General Assembly's status page still showed 'Referred to Assignments' in October 2026. If passed, it would take effect January 1, 2027Holder: Chicago: a business that employs at least one licensed supervising electrician. The contractor license covers the business and its employees working under that supervisor, not people paid as independent contractors. If another business's employees will do the electrical work, that business must be licensed as an electrical contractor and listed on the permit | Local. Chicago requires a licensed electrical contractor | Chicago electrical contractor license(opens in a new tab)Chicago supervising electrician license(opens in a new tab)SB 2307 status (Illinois General Assembly)(opens in a new tab)Cook County contractor registration(opens in a new tab) No statewide license. In Chicago, check the Department of Buildings. Elsewhere, ask the city or county building department. | Read on the official page Checked October 8, 2026 |
Chicago contractor licenses cost $150 a year in 2026 and last one year. Cook County has contractor registration. | |||||
| Indiana IN | No state electrical board found. Licensing is by cities and counties (examples seen: Lafayette, Goshen, Mishawaka, Bartholomew County) | No state license found; local optionHolder: Varies by locality | Local | Licensing is local. Ask your city or county building or code-enforcement department. | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 |
Several Indiana cities standardized their exams, but each sets its own rules. | |||||
| Iowa IA | Electrical Examining Board, Iowa Division of Labor / DIAL (dial.iowa.gov) | Yes: apprentice, journeyman, master (class A/B), residential, special, electrical contractor, residential electrical contractorHolder: Contractor must be or employ a licensed master electrician | Yes. Electrical contractors must also be registered with DIAL | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 | |
| Kansas KS | No state electrical board. Cities and counties license electricians under K.S.A. 12-1525 and 12-1526 (examples: Wichita/Sedgwick, Topeka, Johnson County, Kansas City/Wyandotte, Salina, Lawrence) | No statewide license. HB 2588 (2026) would have created statewide electrician licensing through the State Fire Marshal, and it diedHolder: Varies by locality. A certificate of competency earned by passing a designated exam is valid proof of competency in any Kansas county or city that requires licensure, and local licenses are valid in other localities that require one | Local | K.S.A. 12-1526 (local licensing)(opens in a new tab)HB 2588 status (died)(opens in a new tab) Licensing is local. Ask your city or county contractor-licensing office. | Read on the official page Checked October 8, 2026 |
K.S.A. 12-1526: a county or city may not ask more than the designated exam questions, sets a 75% passing score, and requires continuing education. Journeyman and residential certificates need two years of field experience under direct supervision; master certificates need two years as a journeyman. Attorney General opinions cited on the statute page include 1999-42 (a city may not use home rule to add licensure requirements). | |||||
| Kentucky KY | Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction, DHBC (dhbc.ky.gov) | Yes: electrical contractor, master electrician, electricianHolder: Contractor, with an affiliated master electrician named on the application | Yes (Kentucky has no state GC license) | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 | |
Licenses are biennial. | |||||
| Louisiana LA | Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, LSLBC (lslbc.louisiana.gov) | Yes: electrical work is a contractor classification; license needed above $10,000Holder: The contracting business | Yes, as a separate classification under the same board | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 | |
Journeyman and master electrician licensing may sit with local authorities or another agency. Ask the board. | |||||
| Maine ME | Electricians' Examining Board, Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (maine.gov/pfr) | Yes: master electrician, journeyman, journeyman-in-training and othersHolder: Individual | Yes (Maine has no state GC license) | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 | |
| Maryland MD | State Board of Electricians, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, Maryland Department of Labor (labor.maryland.gov/license/elec) | Yes: master, journeyperson, apprentice. All electrical work must be done by one of theseHolder: Individual; master electrician carries the business | Yes | State Board of Electricians(opens in a new tab) Use the Maryland Electricians License Search on the board's page. | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 |
Per the board's materials, a master electrician license needs general liability insurance of at least $300,000 and property damage coverage of at least $100,000. | |||||
| Massachusetts MA | Board of State Examiners of Electricians, Division of Professional Licensure (mass.gov) | Yes: master electrician, journeyman, systems technician and systems contractorHolder: Individual. A master electrician can hold a business license; journeymen work only under their own name | Yes | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 | |
The public record shows license type, number, issue and expiry dates, status and disciplinary action. | |||||
| Michigan MI | Bureau of Construction Codes, Licensing Section, LARA (michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/bcc) | Yes: master electrician, journeyman electrician, and a separate electrical contractor licenseHolder: Contractor must hold a master electrician license or hire one who is a Michigan resident | Yes (the electrical contractor license is distinct) | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 | |
The contractor license needs no exam but does need an application. | |||||
| Minnesota MN | Board of Electricity, Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, DLI (dli.mn.gov) | Yes: electrical contractor license for any business or individual contracting to do electrical work, plus individual electrician licenses and unlicensed-worker registrationHolder: Contractor must hold an active master electrician license (owner, officer, member, or W-2 employee actively in the electrical work) | Yes | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 | |
| Mississippi MS | Mississippi State Board of Contractors (ms.gov/agencies/state-board-contractors) | Yes: electrical is a contractor classification under this board (NASCLA lists it as a participating electrical-exam agency)Holder: The contracting business | Electrical appears to be a separate contractor classification. Confirm with the board. | State Board of Contractors(opens in a new tab) No public search found. Call the State Board of Contractors at 601-354-6161. | Not confirmed Checked October 8, 2026 |
Needs a follow-up fetch of the board's own site. Corroborated 2026-10-08: Ohio's licensing board lists electrical reciprocity with Mississippi (Business and Law exam required). | |||||
| Missouri MO | Office of Statewide Electrical Contractors, Division of Professional Registration (pr.mo.gov/electricalcontractors.asp) | Optional statewide electrical contractor license, effective 2017 law with applications from July 1, 2019. Local licenses still apply where a city or county requires themHolder: One supervisory person per company holds the statewide license and is responsible for the company's work | Yes (Missouri has no state GC license) | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 | |
The statewide license holder must carry $500,000 in liability insurance (per the board's FAQ). A local license is not needed if you hold the statewide one. | |||||
| Montana MT | State Electrical Board, Department of Labor and Industry (boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/electrical) | Yes: residential and commercial electrician, electrical contractor, master electricianHolder: Individual and contractor licenses | Yes | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 | |
| Nebraska NE | Nebraska State Electrical Division / State Electrical Board (electrical.nebraska.gov) | Yes: apprentice, journeyman, Class B journeyman, electrical contractor, Class B contractor, fire alarm installer, Class A and B master, residential wiremanHolder: Individual and contractor licenses | Yes | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 | |
Class B masters are limited to residential systems up to 400 amps, up to four-family dwellings, in municipalities under 100,000 people. | |||||
| Nevada NV | Nevada State Contractors Board (nvcontractorsboard.com) | Yes: classification C-2 ElectricalHolder: The contracting business, through a qualifying individual with 4 years of experience in the last 10 | Yes (a specialty 'C' classification, distinct from general 'A' and 'B') | State Contractors Board(opens in a new tab) Use the licensee search on the State Contractors Board site. | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 |
| New Hampshire NH | Electricians' Board, Office of Professional Licensure and Certification, OPLC (oplc.nh.gov) | Yes: journeyman, master, and high/medium voltage electricianHolder: Individual | Yes (New Hampshire has no state GC license) | Electricians' Board (license lookup on this site)(opens in a new tab) Use the License Lookup on the OPLC site. | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 |
| New Jersey NJ | State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors, created by the Electrical Contractors Licensing Act of 1962 | Yes: electrical contractor license and a business permit for the contracting businessHolder: Licensed contractor, with a business permit for the business | Yes | No public search found. Call the board at 609-588-3123 or 609-588-3124. | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 |
The Department of Banking and Insurance's license search is not for this board. The state's licensing guide counted about 8,300 licensed electrical contractors and 6,300 business permit holders (undated). | |||||
| New Mexico NM | Construction Industries Division, Regulation and Licensing Department (rld.nm.gov) | Yes: EE-98 residential and commercial electrical contractor (wiring up to 5,000 volts), ER-1 residential, specialty classes; EE-98J journeymanHolder: Contractor; journeyman as an individual. A journeyman working under a limited license can only do that license's scope | Yes (separate classifications within CID) | Construction Industries Division(opens in a new tab) No public search found. Ask the Construction Industries Division. | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 |
EE-98 needs four years of experience. EE-98J reciprocity is accepted from AK, AR, CO, ID, MT, NE, OK, SD, TX and WY. | |||||
| New York NY | No statewide electrician license found. Licensing is by local governments: New York City Department of Buildings licenses master and special electricians | No state license found; localHolder: Varies by locality (NYC: licensed master electrician) | Local | No statewide license. In New York City, check the Department of Buildings. Elsewhere, ask the county, city or town. | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 |
NYC special electricians may only work as employees of a building owner or manager. | |||||
| North Carolina NC | State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors (ncbeec.org) | Yes: ten classifications of electrical contractor license (for example Limited up to $60,000 and Intermediate up to $150,000 projects)Holder: The contractor | Yes (separate from the Licensing Board for General Contractors) | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 | |
Search by license type, number, company, name, phone or address. | |||||
| North Dakota ND | State Electrical Board (history and agency listing at nd.gov); contractor registration is with the Secretary of State | Yes: master, journeyman, Class B, and apprentice registrationHolder: Individual licenses; contractor registered with the Secretary of State | Yes. Electrical licenses are separate from the contractor registration with the Secretary of State, and an electrical contractor needs both (confirm with the board). | Contractor registration search (Secretary of State)(opens in a new tab) No public search found for the electrical board. Contractor registration can be searched on the Secretary of State's site. | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 |
| Ohio OH | Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board, OCILB, Division of Industrial Compliance, Ohio Department of Commerce (com.ohio.gov) | Yes, for commercial contractors in electrical, HVAC, hydronics, plumbing and refrigeration (five years' trade experience and an exam). The state says residential contractors are not required to be licensed by the state, and local building departments may have their own licensing or verification rulesHolder: The contractor (one license, one company name). Tradespeople under the license must be W-2 employees or come through a recognized temporary agency. A worker paid on a 1099 is an independent contractor and must hold a state license for the trade | Yes | Read on the official page Checked October 8, 2026 | |
Minimum $500,000 contractor liability coverage. A license may not be used to pull permits for unlicensed competitors. Commercial complaints: https://com.ohio.gov/divisions-and-programs/industrial-compliance/file-a-complaint-industrial/commercial-complaints . Residential complaints go to the Ohio Attorney General's Consumer Protection Section (1-800-282-0515) and the local building department. | |||||
| Oklahoma OK | Construction Industries Board, CIB (oklahoma.gov/cib) | Yes: electrical contractor, journeyman and apprenticeHolder: Contractor; journeyman as an individual | Yes (no state GC license) | Electrical (Construction Industries Board)(opens in a new tab) Use the Find Licensee tool on the Construction Industries Board site. | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 |
From January 1, 2026, renewal needs 12 hours of continuing education every three years. | |||||
| Oregon OR | Building Codes Division, BCD, Department of Consumer and Business Services (oregon.gov/bcd) | Yes: electrical contractor license for the company, plus individual licenses (general supervising electrician, journeyman, limited and others)Holder: The company (electrical contractor) and its supervising electrician | Yes. For electrical work a contractor needs both a Construction Contractors Board (CCB) license and the BCD electrical contractor license | Building Codes Division licensing(opens in a new tab) Use the state license directory or the Building Codes Division's online license search. | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 |
| Pennsylvania PA | No statewide electrician or electrical-contractor license. The state Department of Labor and Industry's own page says the Commonwealth has no licensure for most construction contractors or their employees | No state license; local optionHolder: Varies by municipality | Local. Some of the state's 2,562 municipalities license electrical contractors or electricians | State contractor licensing page (Department of Labor and Industry)(opens in a new tab) No statewide license. Ask your municipality or county. Also check the Attorney General's home improvement contractor registration. | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 |
| Rhode Island RI | Board of Examiners of Electricians, Division of Professional Regulation, Department of Labor and Training (dlt.ri.gov) | Yes: master electrician and journeyman electricianHolder: Individual | Yes. The electrical license is separate. Contractor registration is a different system, so check it too. | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 | |
Licenses renew every 24 months. | |||||
| South Carolina SC | Contractors' Licensing Board, CLB, SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (llr.sc.gov/clb); residential electrical is addressed by the Residential Builders Commission (llr.sc.gov/res) | Yes: electrical (EL) classification with a group number that sets per-job limits (up to $400,000 per job or bid at the top group)Holder: The contracting business | Yes (a separate classification) | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 | |
Residential electrical licensing runs through a separate commission and page. Confirm which applies to your job. | |||||
| South Dakota SD | South Dakota Electrical Commission, Department of Labor and Regulation (dlr.sd.gov/electrical) | Yes: electrical contractor, journeyman, Class B; contractors and Class B electricians post a bondHolder: Contractor; journeyman as an individual | Yes | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 | |
A contractor needs two years as a licensed journeyman plus 4,000 additional hours, including 2,000 commercial. | |||||
| Tennessee TN | Board for Licensing Contractors, Department of Commerce and Insurance (tn.gov/commerce/regboards/contractors.html) | Yes: CE (electrical contracting) classification, required for jobs of $25,000 and up. A Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) license covers work under $25,000 where the municipality uses the state Fire Prevention division for permits and inspectionsHolder: The contracting business (CE); an individual (LLE) | Yes (a separate classification) | Board for Licensing Contractors(opens in a new tab) Use the license search on the board's page. | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 |
A state CE licensee and its employees can't be required to pass a county or municipal exam. | |||||
| Texas TX | Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, TDLR Electricians program (tdlr.texas.gov/electricians) | Yes: apprentice, journeyman, master electrician, and an Electrical Contractor license for businesses. Non-exempt electrical work must be done through a licensed electrical contractorHolder: The contracting business (through a licensed master electrician); individual licenses for workers | Yes | Partly read on the official page Checked October 8, 2026 | |
Minimum insurance for electrical contractors: $300,000 per occurrence and $600,000 aggregate. | |||||
| Utah UT | Division of Professional Licensing, DOPL, Electrical (dopl.utah.gov/electrical) | Yes: apprentice, journeyman, master and residential journeyman electrician; contractor licenses E200 General Electrical Contractor and E201 Residential Electrical ContractorHolder: The contractor, with a master electrician qualifier; individual licenses for workers | Yes | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 | |
| Vermont VT | Electricians Licensing Board (26 V.S.A. Chapter 15), Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire Safety (firesafety.vermont.gov/licensing) | Yes: master electrician, journeyman electrician, and Type-S journeyman for specialty workHolder: Individual | Yes (the state-law dataset notes Vermont has no state-level GC license) | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 | |
| Virginia VA | Board for Contractors, Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, DPOR (dpor.virginia.gov) | Yes: electrical contractor classification (ELE) for businesses in Class A, B or C, plus individual tradesman licenses for electriciansHolder: The contracting business; its qualified individual must hold a Master Tradesman card in the electrical classification | Yes (a separate classification) | Board for Contractors(opens in a new tab)Tradesmen Program(opens in a new tab) Use the license lookup on the DPOR site. | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 |
Class C needs 1 year of experience for the qualified individual, Class B 3 years, Class A 5 years. | |||||
| Washington WA | Department of Labor and Industries, L&I (lni.wa.gov) | Yes: electrical contractor license (needs an electrical administrator or master electrician, a $4,000 bond, and a workers' comp account if there are employees); individuals certified as electricians or master electriciansHolder: The contracting business, through an administrator or master electrician; individual certification for workers | Yes | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 | |
L&I's verify tool also lets you check that the person doing electrical work is certified. | |||||
| West Virginia WV | West Virginia State Fire Marshal, Regulatory and Licensing Division (firemarshal.wv.gov) for electricians; West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board (wvclboard.wv.gov) for contractors | Yes: master, journeyman and temporary electrician licenses (State Fire Marshal); contractor licensing is separate (Contractor Licensing Board)Holder: Individual (State Fire Marshal); contractor (Contractor Licensing Board) | Yes, in the sense that electricians are licensed by a different agency than contractors | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 | |
Check both when hiring: the electrician's license and the contractor's license. | |||||
| Wisconsin WI | Department of Safety and Professional Services, DSPS (dsps.wi.gov) | Yes: electrical contractor license or certification, master electrician (licensed and registered), residential master and journeyman, registered electricianHolder: Contractor (business); individual credentials for electricians | Yes | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 | |
By statute, no person or business may install, repair or maintain electrical wiring as a business without an electrical contractor license or certification. | |||||
| Wyoming WY | Department of Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety, Wyoming State Fire Marshal (wsfm.wyo.gov/electrical-safety) | Yes: apprentice, journeyman, master, electrical contractor, low-voltage/limited technicianHolder: Contractor. Journeymen and masters must be employed at all times by a contractor holding a current Wyoming electrical contractor license | Yes | Electrical Safety licensing(opens in a new tab) Use the public portal and look-up on the State Fire Marshal's site. | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 |
Canada
| State or province | Who licenses electricians | License and who holds it | Separate from the general contractor's license? | Look it up | How sure am I |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta AB | Safety Codes Council certifies master electricians (safetycodes.ab.ca); permits are issued under the Safety Codes system | Yes: Master Electrician certificate of competency. Other than homeowners, only master electricians can obtain electrical permitsHolder: Master electrician (annual renewal) | Yes | Safety Codes Council: about master electricians(opens in a new tab) No public search found. Ask the Safety Codes Council. | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 |
Master electrician certification needs 3 years as a journeyperson within the last 5 and an exam. Master electricians must take training when a new Canadian Electrical Code comes into force. | |||||
| British Columbia BC | Technical Safety BC (technicalsafetybc.ca) | Yes: electrical contractor licence, with a designated Field Safety Representative (an individually certified person) named on the licence; individuals certified for regulated electrical workHolder: The contractor business, through its Field Safety Representative | Yes | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 | |
The Field Safety Representative signs declarations for the work, examines it, requests inspections and confirms no work is concealed. | |||||
| Manitoba MB | Inspection and Technical Services, Manitoba government (gov.mb.ca/labour/its and firecomm.gov.mb.ca); Electricians' Licence Act | Yes for individuals: journeyperson construction (HC), industrial (HI) and power (PE) electrician licences, and limited specialized licences. No person may do electrical work without a licence or permitHolder: Individual. No separate electrical contractor licence found; ask Inspection and Technical Services. | Yes | Inspection and Technical Services (electrical)(opens in a new tab)Manitoba e-licensing(opens in a new tab) The e-licensing portal is for managing licences. No public lookup found; call Inspection and Technical Services at 204-945-3373. | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 |
Call ITS at 204-945-3373 to ask about contractor licensing and how to verify. | |||||
| New Brunswick NB | Justice and Public Safety, Technical Inspection Services (gnb.ca) | Yes: Electrical Contractor Licence (needed to obtain wiring permits and do an installation), and Electrician Licence Class 2 or 3Holder: The contractor, who must hold a Class 3 NB electrician's licence plus two years' experience or employ someone who does | Yes | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 | |
| Newfoundland and Labrador NL | Service NL / Government Services, Electrical (gov.nl.ca/gs/licences/electrical) | Yes: Electrical Contractor's Registration Certificate in three classes (unrestricted, restricted, residential). The holder, or an employee, must hold a journeyman's certificate in electrical constructionHolder: The person or company registered as contractor | Yes | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 | |
Registration is $200 per year. A certified journeyperson electrician may get a permit for work on their own property. | |||||
| Northwest Territories NT | Department of Infrastructure, Electrical Systems (inf.gov.nt.ca/en/services/electrical-systems) | Registration, not a contractor licence: all Qualified Electrical Workers and electronic technicians must be registered under the Electrical Protection Act (3-year term)Holder: Individual qualified electrical worker. The contractor obtains the permit as part of the project agreement | Yes | Electrical registration (Infrastructure)(opens in a new tab) No public lookup found. See the registration page. | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 |
A permit is required before any electrical or electronic installation begins. | |||||
| Nova Scotia NS | Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration, Safety Branch / Chief Electrical Inspector (novascotia.ca/lae/electricalsafety) | Yes: licences for electrical contractors, communications cabling contractors, sign installers and maintenance electricians; electrical permits only go to holders of a construction electrician certificateHolder: The company (needs $1 million liability insurance and a $10,000 bond or a certified cheque) with qualified people; individuals hold the trade certificate | Yes | Electrical safety licensing(opens in a new tab) No public search found. Call the Safety Branch at 902-424-5400. | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 |
| Nunavut NU | Office of the Chief Electrical Inspector, Safety Services, Community and Government Services (gov.nu.ca) | Registration of qualified electrical workers under the Nunavut Electrical Protection Act; the office also issues permits and inspects workHolder: Individual qualified electrical worker | Yes | Office of the Chief Electrical Inspector(opens in a new tab) No public search found. Contact esafety@gov.nu.ca or 867-975-5423. | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 |
No separate contractor licence found. | |||||
| Ontario ON | Electrical Safety Authority, ESA (esasafe.com), through its ECRA/ESA licensing | Yes: Licensed Electrical Contractor, shown by a 7-digit ECRA/ESA licence number on vehicles, cards and estimatesHolder: The contractor business | Yes. ESA has a 'Working with General Contractors' page | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 | |
The ECRA/ESA licence covers contractors. Individual trade certification is handled separately. | |||||
| Prince Edward Island PE | Department of Justice and Public Safety (princeedwardisland.ca); Electrical Inspection Act | Yes: you must be a licensed electrical contractor to do any electrical work or get an electrical permit; the applicant must be a certified electrician with at least two years' experienceHolder: The electrical contractor | Yes | Apply for an electrical permit (Justice and Public Safety)(opens in a new tab) No public search found. Call Justice and Public Safety at 902-368-4550. | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 |
Licence fee is $250 per year. | |||||
| Quebec QC | Régie du bâtiment du Québec, RBQ (rbq.gouv.qc.ca), with the Corporation des maîtres électriciens du Québec, CMEQ (cmeq.org) | Yes: contractor licence with subcategory 16 (Electrical contractor). Under the Law on Master Electricians, doing electrical installation work without it, and without CMEQ membership, is prohibitedHolder: The contractor; CMEQ membership is required | Yes (subcategory 16 is specific to electrical) | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 | |
Pages are in French; the Register is bilingual. | |||||
| Saskatchewan SK | Technical Safety Authority of Saskatchewan, TSASK (tsask.ca) | Yes: electrical contractor licence (business, needs at least one qualifier who has held a Red Seal journeyperson ticket for 2 years; $10,000 surety bond), full and restricted electrical journeyperson licencesHolder: The contracting business, through a qualifier; individual licences for journeypersons | Yes | Electrical licensing (TSASK)(opens in a new tab) Use licence verification on the TSASK site. | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 |
Contractor licence is what lets a business pull permits through TSASK. | |||||
| Yukon YT | Department of Community Services, Electrical Safety (yukon.ca); Electrical Protection Act; the Electrical Safety Standards Board hears appeals | Yes: electrical contractor's licence in classes A to E (for example B for a qualified electrician with five years' experience)Holder: A qualified electrician, or a person who employs one | Yes | From an official site's summary Checked October 8, 2026 | |
If any part of a home is a rental unit, an electrical contractor must be hired. Permits go only to the owner or a licensed contractor. | |||||
How sure am I?
This is a first pass from October 2026. For most places the information comes from summaries of official government sites, not the pages themselves. A few places were read directly on the official page, and the badge on each row says which. We did not read every statute. Laws change, and some sites change their web addresses. Confirm with the board, or with your local building department, before you rely on any row. This page is not legal advice.
Links were checked on October 8, 2026. A few government sites block automated checks or ask your browser for a quick verification, so a link can look broken when it is not. If a link fails, search for the board's name, or report it with the form below.
This page covers electrical work only.
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Verifying the license is step one.
The Electrical Contractor guide covers the rest: who is really on your job, the permit, the inspection before the walls close, the bid, the contract and the payment schedule.
See the Electrical Contractor guide