Electrician license
Michigan electrician license
LARA's Bureau of Construction Codes licenses electrical apprentices, journeymen, master electricians and electrical contractors statewide under the Skilled Trades Regulation Act. The City of Detroit issues its own electrical licenses and registrations. The licenses are Electrical Apprentice (registration), Electrical Journeyman, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Apprentice (registration) | Not set in hours | No exam | $15 registration fee; $15 a year to renew |
| Electrical Journeyman | 8,000 hours | 80 questions, 2023 NEC | $40 license fee; $40 a year to renew |
| Master Electrician | 12,000 hours | 76 questions, 2023 NEC | $50 license fee; $50 a year to renew |
| Electrical Contractor | Not set in hours | No exam | $300 to renew every three years |
How to get each Michigan license
Electrical Apprentice (registration)
Requirements. Register within 30 days of starting work for a licensed electrical contractor and master electrician, and stay enrolled in a related technical instruction (RTI) program. You cannot be on a job site without an active registration.
Exam. No exam for this license.
Fees. $15 registration fee; $15 a year to renew.
Sources: Electrical Examination, Licensing and Registration Application Information (LARA BCC); BCC-0704 Application for Electrical or Fire Alarm Specialty Apprentice Registration; License / Registration Renewals (LARA BCC).
Electrical Journeyman
Requirements. Be at least 20 years old with 8,000 hours over 4 years as a registered electrical apprentice, supervised by a Michigan-licensed journeyman or master electrician. Then pass the journeyman exam with at least 75%.
Experience. 8,000 hours.
Exam. Required.
| Testing company | PSI |
|---|---|
| Code edition | 2023 NEC |
| Questions | 80 questions |
| Time | 150 minutes (2.5 hours) |
| Passing score | 75% |
| Code book | Open book: the NEC (factory tabs and markings only), the Skilled Trades Regulation Act, the construction code act and Michigan Electrical Code Rules Part 8, all bound. The NEC Handbook is not allowed. |
| Exam fee | $100 |
| Official bulletin | Michigan Bureau of Construction Codes Electrical Candidate Information Bulletin (PSI, effective 8/20/2026) |
Fees. $40 license fee; $40 a year to renew.
The PSI bulletin says other NEC editions may be used in the exam, but the items are based on the 2023 edition.
Free practice. The journeyman electrician practice test on the 2023 NEC has 30 questions on code and calculations, scored by subject, with no account. It is general NEC practice, not built from the Michigan exam outline.
Sources: Electrical Examination, Licensing and Registration Application Information (LARA BCC); License / Registration Renewals (LARA BCC); BCC-341 Application for Journeyman, Master Electrician, Fire Alarm Specialty Technician or Sign Specialist Examination; Michigan Bureau of Construction Codes Electrical Candidate Information Bulletin (PSI, effective 8/20/2026).
Master Electrician
Requirements. Be at least 22 years old with at least 12,000 hours of experience over at least 6 years, including 4,000 hours as a journeyman and at least 2 years holding the journeyman license. Then pass the master exam with at least 75%.
Experience. 12,000 hours.
Exam. Required.
| Testing company | PSI |
|---|---|
| Code edition | 2023 NEC |
| Questions | 76 questions |
| Time | 180 minutes (3 hours) |
| Passing score | 75% |
| Code book | Open book, same reference list as the journeyman exam; the NEC Handbook is not allowed. |
| Exam fee | $100 |
| Official bulletin | Michigan Bureau of Construction Codes Electrical Candidate Information Bulletin (PSI, effective 8/20/2026) |
Fees. $50 license fee; $50 a year to renew.
Sources: Electrical Examination, Licensing and Registration Application Information (LARA BCC); License / Registration Renewals (LARA BCC); BCC-341 Application for Journeyman, Master Electrician, Fire Alarm Specialty Technician or Sign Specialist Examination; Michigan Bureau of Construction Codes Electrical Candidate Information Bulletin (PSI, effective 8/20/2026).
Electrical Contractor
Requirements. Required to do business as an electrician. You must hold a master electrician license or employ a licensed master electrician as master of record; if you live outside Michigan, the master you hire must live in Michigan. A master can be associated with only one contractor at a time.
Exam. No exam for this license.
Fees. $300 to renew every three years.
Sources: Electrical Examination, Licensing and Registration Application Information (LARA BCC); License / Registration Renewals (LARA BCC).
How to apply
Apply and pay the license fee online through LARA's Accela portal (or by mail on form BCC-341 for the journeyman and master exams). Once approved, PSI contacts you to schedule the exam, and the exam fee is paid to PSI. Apply on the official site.
Renewal and continuing education
| Renewal | Journeyman and master licenses renew every year by December 31; apprentice registrations every year by August 31; electrical contractor licenses every three years by December 31. |
|---|---|
| Continuing education | No yearly hours. Journeymen and masters must complete a Board-approved code update course within 12 months after Michigan adopts a new code; apprentices and contractors need none. |
Sources: License / Registration Renewals (LARA BCC); MCL 339.5715 Electrical journeyman's license requirements (Skilled Trades Regulation Act).
Reciprocity with other states
None. Michigan has no reciprocity with any other state; out-of-state applicants send their license and that state's requirements for review.
Source: Electrical Examination, Licensing and Registration Application Information (LARA BCC).
Look up a Michigan electrician license
To check that an electrician or contractor is licensed, use the official LARA Find / Verify a BCC Licensed Professional or Business.
Good to know
Detroit issues its own electrical licenses and registrations; Detroit residents apply to the city, not to LARA.
Source: Electrical Examination, Licensing and Registration Application Information (LARA BCC).
Common questions
Who issues electrician licenses in Michigan?
LARA's Bureau of Construction Codes licenses electrical apprentices, journeymen, master electricians and electrical contractors statewide under the Skilled Trades Regulation Act. The City of Detroit issues its own electrical licenses and registrations.
How do I get a journeyman electrician license in Michigan?
Electrical Journeyman: Be at least 20 years old with 8,000 hours over 4 years as a registered electrical apprentice, supervised by a Michigan-licensed journeyman or master electrician. Then pass the journeyman exam with at least 75%. Apply and pay the license fee online through LARA's Accela portal (or by mail on form BCC-341 for the journeyman and master exams). Once approved, PSI contacts you to schedule the exam, and the exam fee is paid to PSI.
How many hours do you need to become a journeyman electrician in Michigan?
8,000 hours for the Electrical Journeyman.
How many questions are on the Michigan journeyman electrician exam?
80 questions in 150 minutes (2.5 hours), and the passing score is 75%.
Does Michigan accept electrician licenses from other states?
None. Michigan has no reciprocity with any other state; out-of-state applicants send their license and that state's requirements for review.
How often does a Michigan electrician license renew?
Journeyman and master licenses renew every year by December 31; apprentice registrations every year by August 31; electrical contractor licenses every three years by December 31. Continuing education: No yearly hours. Journeymen and masters must complete a Board-approved code update course within 12 months after Michigan adopts a new code; apprentices and contractors need none.
How do I look up an electrician license in Michigan?
Use the official LARA Find / Verify a BCC Licensed Professional or Business at https://aca-prod.accela.com/LARA/GeneralProperty/PropertyLookUp.aspx?isLicensee=Y&TabName=APO
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from Michigan'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.
- Electrical Examination, Licensing and Registration Application Information (LARA BCC), opened November 11, 2026
- Licensing Section (LARA Bureau of Construction Codes), opened November 11, 2026
- Michigan Bureau of Construction Codes Electrical Candidate Information Bulletin (PSI, effective 8/20/2026), opened November 11, 2026
- License / Registration Renewals (LARA BCC), opened November 11, 2026
- BCC-341 Application for Journeyman, Master Electrician, Fire Alarm Specialty Technician or Sign Specialist Examination, opened November 11, 2026
- BCC-0704 Application for Electrical or Fire Alarm Specialty Apprentice Registration, opened November 11, 2026
- MCL 339.5715 Electrical journeyman's license requirements (Skilled Trades Regulation Act), opened November 11, 2026
- Find or Verify a Licensed Professional or Business (LARA), 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.