Electrician license
Wisconsin electrician license
The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) issues electrician credentials statewide under Wis. Admin. Code chapter SPS 305: electrical apprentice, journeyman electrician, master electrician and electrical contractor, plus residential and industrial versions. The licenses are Electrical Apprentice, Journeyman Electrician, 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 | Not set in hours | No exam | $15 credential fee and $15 application fee; renews yearly for $15 |
| Journeyman Electrician | 8,000 hours | Yes | $100 credential fee and $35 application fee; renewal $100 |
| Master Electrician | 10,000 hours | Yes | $200 credential fee and $35 application fee; renewal $200 |
| Electrical Contractor | Not set in hours | No exam | $200 credential fee and $35 application fee; renews every 4 years for $200 |
How to get each Wisconsin license
Electrical Apprentice
Requirements. Register with DSPS once you are entered into an electrical apprentice contract recognized under Wisconsin Statutes chapter 106. The registration renews every year as long as you remain in an apprentice contract.
Exam. No exam for this license.
Fees. $15 credential fee and $15 application fee; renews yearly for $15.
Sources: Electrical Apprentice: New Licensure (Wisconsin DSPS); Credential Fees and Renewal Dates (Wisconsin DSPS).
Journeyman Electrician
Requirements. Complete a construction electrician apprenticeship of at least 3 years approved by the U.S. Department of Labor or the Department of Workforce Development, or have at least 8,000 hours of experience over at least 48 months. A 2-year electrical program counts as 12 months and 2,000 hours. Then pass the exam.
Experience. 8,000 hours.
Exam. Required.
| Testing company | DSPS (at DSPS exam sessions) or Pearson VUE (computer-based, at Wisconsin Pearson centers) |
|---|---|
| Code edition | 2023 NEC |
| Questions | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Time | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Code book | Open book: one three-ring binder holding SPS 305, SPS 316 and printed notes, the 2023 NEC or NEC Handbook, and up to two bound reference books. |
| Exam fee | $95 at a Pearson VUE test center |
| Official bulletin | Pearson VUE Wisconsin DSPS Trades candidate handbook |
Fees. $100 credential fee and $35 application fee; renewal $100.
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 Wisconsin exam outline.
Sources: Journeyman Electrician: Licensure by Examination (Wisconsin DSPS); Credential Fees and Renewal Dates (Wisconsin DSPS); Trades Exam Information and Fee Schedule (Wisconsin DSPS); Pearson VUE Wisconsin DSPS Trades candidate handbook (copyright 2025).
Master Electrician
Requirements. Qualify for the exam with 12 months of experience while licensed as a journeyman electrician, or at least 10,000 hours of experience over at least 60 months, or a bachelor's or master's degree in electrical engineering. Then pass the master exam.
Experience. 10,000 hours.
Exam. Required.
| Testing company | DSPS or Pearson VUE |
|---|---|
| Code edition | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Questions | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Time | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Passing score | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Code book | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Exam fee | $95 at a Pearson VUE test center |
| Official bulletin | Pearson VUE Wisconsin DSPS Trades candidate handbook |
Fees. $200 credential fee and $35 application fee; renewal $200.
Sources: Master Electrician: Licensure by Examination (Wisconsin DSPS); Credential Fees and Renewal Dates (Wisconsin DSPS); Trades Exam Information and Fee Schedule (Wisconsin DSPS); Pearson VUE Wisconsin DSPS Trades candidate handbook (copyright 2025).
Electrical Contractor
Requirements. An organization credential. The applicant must be the owner of the contracting business, a partner applying for the partnership, or the board chair or chief executive officer applying for a corporation. The contractor must use appropriately licensed or registered individuals for the electrical work.
Exam. No exam for this license.
Fees. $200 credential fee and $35 application fee; renews every 4 years for $200.
Sources: Electrical Contractor: Licensure (Wisconsin DSPS); Credential Fees and Renewal Dates (Wisconsin DSPS).
How to apply
Apply online through LicensE (license.wi.gov): choose the credential and application method, upload proof of apprenticeship completion or the trades experience form, and pay. Exam scheduling instructions follow once DSPS finds you eligible. Apply on the official site.
Source: Journeyman Electrician: Licensure by Examination (Wisconsin DSPS).
Renewal and continuing education
| Renewal | Every 4 years, by June 30, for journeyman and master electricians and electrical contractors. Apprentice registrations renew every year. |
|---|---|
| Continuing education | 24 hours of approved continuing education for each journeyman or master renewal. Apprentices and contractors have no continuing education requirement. |
Sources: Credential Fees and Renewal Dates (Wisconsin DSPS); Journeyman Electrician (Wisconsin DSPS).
Reciprocity with other states
A journeyman electrician license earned by state exam in Iowa or New Hampshire, held continuously for at least one year, can be used to get a Wisconsin journeyman credential without the exam.
Source: Journeyman Electrician: Reciprocity (Wisconsin DSPS).
Look up a Wisconsin electrician license
To check that an electrician or contractor is licensed, use the official DSPS LicensE public license lookup.
Good to know
DSPS runs paper exam sessions on set dates around the state; the computer-based Pearson VUE option gives results faster at a slightly higher cost.
Source: Trades Exam Information and Fee Schedule (Wisconsin DSPS).
Common questions
Who issues electrician licenses in Wisconsin?
The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) issues electrician credentials statewide under Wis. Admin. Code chapter SPS 305: electrical apprentice, journeyman electrician, master electrician and electrical contractor, plus residential and industrial versions.
How do I get a journeyman electrician license in Wisconsin?
Journeyman Electrician: Complete a construction electrician apprenticeship of at least 3 years approved by the U.S. Department of Labor or the Department of Workforce Development, or have at least 8,000 hours of experience over at least 48 months. A 2-year electrical program counts as 12 months and 2,000 hours. Then pass the exam. Apply online through LicensE (license.wi.gov): choose the credential and application method, upload proof of apprenticeship completion or the trades experience form, and pay. Exam scheduling instructions follow once DSPS finds you eligible.
How many hours do you need to become a journeyman electrician in Wisconsin?
8,000 hours for the Journeyman Electrician.
Does Wisconsin accept electrician licenses from other states?
A journeyman electrician license earned by state exam in Iowa or New Hampshire, held continuously for at least one year, can be used to get a Wisconsin journeyman credential without the exam.
How often does a Wisconsin electrician license renew?
Every 4 years, by June 30, for journeyman and master electricians and electrical contractors. Apprentice registrations renew every year. Continuing education: 24 hours of approved continuing education for each journeyman or master renewal. Apprentices and contractors have no continuing education requirement.
How do I look up an electrician license in Wisconsin?
Use the official DSPS LicensE public license lookup at https://license.wi.gov/s/license-lookup
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from Wisconsin'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.
- Journeyman Electrician (Wisconsin DSPS), opened November 11, 2026
- Journeyman Electrician: Licensure by Examination (Wisconsin DSPS), opened November 11, 2026
- Master Electrician: Licensure by Examination (Wisconsin DSPS), opened November 11, 2026
- Electrical Contractor: Licensure (Wisconsin DSPS), opened November 11, 2026
- Electrical Apprentice: New Licensure (Wisconsin DSPS), opened November 11, 2026
- Journeyman Electrician: Reciprocity (Wisconsin DSPS), opened November 11, 2026
- Credential Fees and Renewal Dates (Wisconsin DSPS), opened November 11, 2026
- Trades Exam Information and Fee Schedule (Wisconsin DSPS), opened November 11, 2026
- Pearson VUE Wisconsin DSPS Trades candidate handbook (copyright 2025), opened November 11, 2026
- Credential Verification (Wisconsin DSPS), 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.