Electrician license
Alabama electrician license
The Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors licenses electrical contractors and journeyman electricians statewide. A journeyman must work under a master or state certified electrical contractor. The licenses are Journeyman Electrician and Electrical Contractor (statewide). Each is below with its hours, exam, fees and official source, followed by how to apply, renewal, reciprocity and the official license lookup.
Licenses at a glance
| License | Experience | Exam | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Journeyman Electrician | 8,000 hours | 80 questions, 2023 NEC | $35 license fee; $35 a year to renew |
| Electrical Contractor (statewide) | 8,000 hours | 110 questions, 2023 NEC | $150 license fee; $150 a year to renew |
How to get each Alabama license
Journeyman Electrician
Requirements. 8,000 hours of experience installing electrical wiring, apparatus or equipment for lighting, power or controls (commercial, industrial or residential). Up to 2,000 hours may be replaced by accredited electrical education or a recognized apprenticeship, at 1,000 hours per year. An approved exam application expires after two years.
Experience. 8,000 hours.
Exam. Required.
| Testing company | Prov |
|---|---|
| Code edition | 2023 NEC |
| Questions | 80 questions |
| Time | 240 minutes (4 hours) |
| Passing score | 75% |
| Code book | Open book: bring the 2023 NEC. |
| Exam fee | $115, paid to the Board with the exam application (non-refundable; 4% card fee) |
| Official bulletin | Prov, Electrical Contractors Board Candidate Information Bulletin (AL CIB 2026.11.09) |
Fees. $35 license fee; $35 a year to renew.
The same bulletin also lists the NASCLA Journey-level Electrician exam (110 questions, 300 minutes, 75%). The bulletin says this version retires at the end of 2026, with details of the new exam due in late December 2026.
Preparing for the Alabama journeyman exam. The Alabama journeyman electrician exam guide covers the format, the code book and the outline, and the free Alabama practice test scores you by subject with no account. The full course is $149, one payment, six months of access.
Sources: Ala. Admin. Code ch. 303-X-3, Licensing and Fees (revised 2/14/26); Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors, How to Get Licensed; Prov, Electrical Contractors Board Candidate Information Bulletin (AL CIB 2026.11.09, last revised November 9, 2026).
Electrical Contractor (statewide)
Requirements. 8,000 hours of experience in the design, planning, layout and direct supervision of electrical construction, or 8,000 hours as a journeyman electrician in charge of jobs. Up to 2,000 hours may be replaced by accredited education or apprenticeship. The license is unlimited in voltage and bid size; the term is interchangeable with master electrician.
Experience. 8,000 hours.
Exam. Required.
| Testing company | Prov |
|---|---|
| Code edition | 2023 NEC |
| Questions | 110 questions |
| Time | 300 minutes (5 hours) |
| Passing score | 75% |
| Code book | Open book: bring the 2023 NEC and the listed business references. |
| Exam fee | $165, paid to the Board with a paper exam application |
| Official bulletin | Prov, Electrical Contractors Board Candidate Information Bulletin (AL CIB 2026.11.09) |
Fees. $150 license fee; $150 a year to renew.
The contractor exam mixes business and law items (business organization, contracts, lien laws, licensing laws, taxes) with technical NEC items.
Sources: Ala. Admin. Code ch. 303-X-3, Licensing and Fees (revised 2/14/26); Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors, How to Get Licensed; Prov, Electrical Contractors Board Candidate Information Bulletin (AL CIB 2026.11.09, last revised November 9, 2026).
How to apply
Apply for the exam first: journeymen can apply online or on paper; contractors apply on paper by mail or email. After passing, file the EC-1 license application (contractors also file the EC-2) with the license fee. Apply on the official site.
Source: Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors, How to Get Licensed.
Renewal and continuing education
| Renewal | Every year: licenses expire annually and must be renewed before the last day of the quarter in which they were issued. |
|---|---|
| Continuing education | Electrical contractors need 14 hours of continuing education every two years. The rule does not set a continuing education requirement for journeymen. |
Source: Ala. Admin. Code ch. 303-X-3, Licensing and Fees (revised 2/14/26).
Reciprocity with other states
By agreement with Mississippi, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Ohio and Louisiana for the electrical contractor license only, and with Texas for contractor or journeyman. Reciprocity applicants must pass Alabama's business and law exam and pay $315. Alabama no longer has reciprocity with Georgia.
Source: Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors, How to Get Licensed.
Look up an Alabama electrician license
To check that an electrician or contractor is licensed, use the official Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors licensee search.
Common questions
Who issues electrician licenses in Alabama?
The Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors licenses electrical contractors and journeyman electricians statewide. A journeyman must work under a master or state certified electrical contractor.
How do I get a journeyman electrician license in Alabama?
Journeyman Electrician: 8,000 hours of experience installing electrical wiring, apparatus or equipment for lighting, power or controls (commercial, industrial or residential). Up to 2,000 hours may be replaced by accredited electrical education or a recognized apprenticeship, at 1,000 hours per year. An approved exam application expires after two years. Apply for the exam first: journeymen can apply online or on paper; contractors apply on paper by mail or email. After passing, file the EC-1 license application (contractors also file the EC-2) with the license fee.
How many hours do you need to become a journeyman electrician in Alabama?
8,000 hours for the Journeyman Electrician.
How many questions are on the Alabama journeyman electrician exam?
80 questions in 240 minutes (4 hours), and the passing score is 75%.
Does Alabama accept electrician licenses from other states?
By agreement with Mississippi, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Ohio and Louisiana for the electrical contractor license only, and with Texas for contractor or journeyman. Reciprocity applicants must pass Alabama's business and law exam and pay $315. Alabama no longer has reciprocity with Georgia.
How often does a Alabama electrician license renew?
Every year: licenses expire annually and must be renewed before the last day of the quarter in which they were issued. Continuing education: Electrical contractors need 14 hours of continuing education every two years. The rule does not set a continuing education requirement for journeymen.
How do I look up an electrician license in Alabama?
Use the official Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors licensee search at https://alecb-search.kalmservices.net/
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from Alabama's own licensing board, statute or rule, or the testing company the board names. Where a fact could not be confirmed from one of them, the page says to check with the board. Rules and fees change: confirm with the board before you apply.
- Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors, How to Get Licensed, opened November 11, 2026
- Ala. Admin. Code ch. 303-X-3, Licensing and Fees (revised 2/14/26), opened November 11, 2026
- Prov, Electrical Contractors Board Candidate Information Bulletin (AL CIB 2026.11.09, last revised November 9, 2026), opened November 11, 2026
- Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors, Consumers (licensee search link), opened November 11, 2026
Electrician license requirements in every state · How to become an electrician · Journeyman electrician license · Master electrician license
Last verified November 11, 2026.