Electrician license
Kentucky electrician license
The Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction licenses electricians, master electricians and electrical contractors statewide through its Electrical Division. The license a journeyman-level worker holds is called simply Electrician. The licenses are Electrician (journeyman level), Master Electrician and Electrical Contractor. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrician (journeyman level) | 8,000 hours | 80 questions, 2023 NEC | $100 application fee for a two-year license; renewal is $100 every two years. |
| Master Electrician | 16,000 hours | 100 questions, 2023 NEC | $200 application fee for a two-year license; renewal is $200 every two years. |
| Electrical Contractor | Not set in hours | 40 questions | $400 application fee for a two-year license; renewal is $400 every two years. |
How to get each Kentucky license
Electrician (journeyman level)
Requirements. 8,000 hours of verifiable experience in the electrical trade since age 16, then pass the exam. One of these can replace 4,000 of those hours: an approved electrical training course, two years of a four-year approved training course (finishing it within four years), an associate degree or diploma in electrical technology, or two years teaching electrical technology.
Experience. 8,000 hours.
Exam. Required.
| Testing company | Prov |
|---|---|
| Code edition | 2023 NEC |
| Questions | 80 questions |
| Time | 180 minutes (3 hours) |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Code book | Open book: bring your own 2023 NEC; Ugly's Electrical References is also allowed. Repositionable tabs and sticky notes are not permitted. |
| Exam fee | $80, paid to Prov when you register |
| Official bulletin | Prov candidate information bulletin, Kentucky Electrical Licensing Board (effective October 31, 2026) |
Fees. $100 application fee for a two-year license; renewal is $100 every two years.
Prov lists this exam as "Journeyman Electrician (Skill Exam)". It is offered in English and Spanish, at Prov test centers or remotely. After a failed attempt you must wait 30 days to retest.
A passing exam score stays valid for three years.
A one-year, nonrenewable provisional Electrician license is available to someone with at least six years of experience at 2,080 hours a year in the trade since age 16.
Preparing for the Kentucky journeyman exam. The Kentucky journeyman electrician exam guide covers the format, the code book and the outline, and the free Kentucky practice test scores you by subject with no account. The full course is $149, one payment, six months of access.
Sources: KRS 227A.060, Qualifications for licensure; provisional license; 815 KAR 35:060, Licensing of electrical contractors, master electricians, and electricians (eff. 5-6-2025); Prov candidate information bulletin, Kentucky Electrical Licensing Board (KY CIB, effective 10/31/2026).
Master Electrician
Requirements. 16,000 hours of verifiable experience in the electrical trade since age 16, then pass the master exam. An approved training course or two years teaching electrical technology replaces 4,000 hours, and an associate degree or diploma in electrical technology replaces 6,000 hours.
Experience. 16,000 hours.
Exam. Required.
| Testing company | Prov |
|---|---|
| Code edition | 2023 NEC |
| Questions | 100 questions |
| Time | 240 minutes (4 hours) |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Code book | Open book: bring your own 2023 NEC; Ugly's Electrical References is also allowed. |
| Exam fee | $80, paid to Prov when you register |
| Official bulletin | Prov candidate information bulletin, Kentucky Electrical Licensing Board (effective October 31, 2026) |
Fees. $200 application fee for a two-year license; renewal is $200 every two years.
Sources: KRS 227A.060, Qualifications for licensure; provisional license; 815 KAR 35:060, Licensing of electrical contractors, master electricians, and electricians (eff. 5-6-2025); Prov candidate information bulletin, Kentucky Electrical Licensing Board (KY CIB, effective 10/31/2026).
Electrical Contractor
Requirements. Pass the Electrical Contractor business and law exam (a business names an owner, officer, director or full-time employee to take it), be affiliated with a licensed Master Electrician, and carry workers' compensation, unemployment insurance and at least $1,000,000 of general liability insurance.
Exam. Required.
| Testing company | Prov |
|---|---|
| Code edition | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Questions | 40 questions |
| Time | 90 minutes (1.5 hours) |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Code book | Open book: the NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, Kentucky's 815 KAR 35 and the Kentucky Lien Law. |
| Exam fee | $80, paid to Prov |
| Official bulletin | Prov candidate information bulletin, Kentucky Electrical Licensing Board (effective October 31, 2026) |
Fees. $400 application fee for a two-year license; renewal is $400 every two years.
Sources: KRS 227A.060, Qualifications for licensure; provisional license; 815 KAR 35:060, Licensing of electrical contractors, master electricians, and electricians (eff. 5-6-2025); Prov candidate information bulletin, Kentucky Electrical Licensing Board (KY CIB, effective 10/31/2026).
How to apply
Register and pay for the exam directly with Prov, then send DHBC the Electrical License Application (Form EL-3; contractors use Form EL-2) with the fee, proof of experience and a passport-sized color photo taken within six months. Apply on the official site.
Sources: 815 KAR 35:060, Licensing of electrical contractors, master electricians, and electricians (eff. 5-6-2025); Prov candidate information bulletin, Kentucky Electrical Licensing Board (KY CIB, effective 10/31/2026).
Renewal and continuing education
| Renewal | Every two years, by the last day of your birth month in the second year. |
|---|---|
| Continuing education | Proof of at least 6 hours of approved continuing education before each renewal. No more than 2 hours of safety practices count in a 12-month period. |
Sources: 815 KAR 35:060, Licensing of electrical contractors, master electricians, and electricians (eff. 5-6-2025); 815 KAR 2:010, Continuing education requirements.
Reciprocity with other states
By written agreement with other states: you must meet that agreement's terms and send a copy of your license and a letter of good standing. Virginia's Board for Contractors lists an agreement covering Kentucky Electrician and Master Electrician licenses and Virginia journeyman and master licenses. Kentucky's own pages opened do not list its other agreements.
Sources: 815 KAR 35:060, Licensing of electrical contractors, master electricians, and electricians (eff. 5-6-2025); Virginia Board for Contractors, Reciprocal Licensing/Examination Agreements.
Look up a Kentucky electrician license
To check that an electrician or contractor is licensed, use the official DHBC License Search and Verification.
Common questions
Who issues electrician licenses in Kentucky?
The Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction licenses electricians, master electricians and electrical contractors statewide through its Electrical Division. The license a journeyman-level worker holds is called simply Electrician.
How do I get a journeyman electrician license in Kentucky?
Electrician (journeyman level): 8,000 hours of verifiable experience in the electrical trade since age 16, then pass the exam. One of these can replace 4,000 of those hours: an approved electrical training course, two years of a four-year approved training course (finishing it within four years), an associate degree or diploma in electrical technology, or two years teaching electrical technology. Register and pay for the exam directly with Prov, then send DHBC the Electrical License Application (Form EL-3; contractors use Form EL-2) with the fee, proof of experience and a passport-sized color photo taken within six months.
How many hours do you need to become a journeyman electrician in Kentucky?
8,000 hours for the Electrician (journeyman level).
How many questions are on the Kentucky journeyman electrician exam?
80 questions in 180 minutes (3 hours), and the passing score is 70%.
Does Kentucky accept electrician licenses from other states?
By written agreement with other states: you must meet that agreement's terms and send a copy of your license and a letter of good standing. Virginia's Board for Contractors lists an agreement covering Kentucky Electrician and Master Electrician licenses and Virginia journeyman and master licenses. Kentucky's own pages opened do not list its other agreements.
How often does a Kentucky electrician license renew?
Every two years, by the last day of your birth month in the second year. Continuing education: Proof of at least 6 hours of approved continuing education before each renewal. No more than 2 hours of safety practices count in a 12-month period.
How do I look up an electrician license in Kentucky?
Use the official DHBC License Search and Verification at https://dhbc.ky.gov/Search/HBC_List_Licensees.aspx
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from Kentucky'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.
- DHBC Electrical Division, opened November 11, 2026
- 815 KAR 35:060, Licensing of electrical contractors, master electricians, and electricians (eff. 5-6-2025), opened November 11, 2026
- KRS 227A.060, Qualifications for licensure; provisional license, opened November 11, 2026
- Prov candidate information bulletin, Kentucky Electrical Licensing Board (KY CIB, effective 10/31/2026), opened November 11, 2026
- 815 KAR 2:010, Continuing education requirements, opened November 11, 2026
- DHBC License Search and Verification, opened November 11, 2026
- Virginia Board for Contractors, Reciprocal Licensing/Examination Agreements, 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.