Electrician license
Master electrician license
A master electrician license is the license above journeyman: it takes more experience and a further exam, and in many states it is what lets an electrician supervise others or qualify a contracting business. 28 of the 50 states and DC issue one statewide. The table gives every state's license, experience and exam.
Master license, experience and exam in every state
Each row links to the state's page. Where a state has no master license, its contractor license is usually the next step; the state page covers it.
| State | Master license | Experience | Exam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No statewide license at this level | ||
| Alaska | No statewide license at this level | ||
| Arizona | No statewide license; see the local licenses | ||
| Arkansas | Master Electrician | See the state page | 60 questions |
| California | No statewide license at this level | ||
| Colorado | Master Electrician | See the state page | 90 questions, 2026 NEC |
| Connecticut | No statewide license at this level | ||
| Delaware | Master Electrician | See the state page | 80 questions, 2023 NEC |
| District of Columbia | Master Electrician | 16,000 hours | 100 questions, 2011 NEC |
| Florida | No statewide license; see the local licenses | ||
| Georgia | No statewide license; see the local licenses | ||
| Hawaii | Supervising Electrician (ES) | See the state page | 70 questions, 2020 NEC |
| Idaho | Master Electrician | See the state page | 100 questions |
| Illinois | No statewide license; see the local licenses | ||
| Indiana | No statewide license; see the local licenses | ||
| Iowa | Class A Master Electrician | See the state page | 100 questions, 2023 NEC |
| Kansas | Master Electrician certificate (issued locally) | See the state page | Required |
| Kentucky | Master Electrician | 16,000 hours | 100 questions, 2023 NEC |
| Louisiana | No statewide license; see the local licenses | ||
| Maine | Master Electrician | 12,000 hours | 100 questions, 2026 NEC |
| Maryland | Master Electrician | See the state page | 90 questions, 2020 NEC |
| Massachusetts | Master Electrician | See the state page | 90 questions |
| Michigan | Master Electrician | 12,000 hours | 76 questions, 2023 NEC |
| Minnesota | Class A Master Electrician | See the state page | 2026 NEC |
| Mississippi | No statewide license; see the local licenses | ||
| Missouri | No statewide license; see the local licenses | ||
| Montana | Master Electrician | See the state page | 80 questions, 2020 NEC |
| Nebraska | No statewide license at this level | ||
| Nevada | No statewide license; see the local licenses | ||
| New Hampshire | Master Electrician | See the state page | 126 questions, 2020 NEC |
| New Jersey | No statewide license at this level | ||
| New Mexico | No statewide license at this level | ||
| New York | Master Electrician (New York City) | See the state page | 80 questions |
| North Carolina | No statewide license; see the local licenses | ||
| North Dakota | Master Electrician | 10,000 hours | Required |
| Ohio | No statewide license; see the local licenses | ||
| Oklahoma | No statewide license at this level | ||
| Oregon | General Supervising Electrician (S) | 8,000 hours | 64 questions |
| Pennsylvania | Electrical Trade License (Pittsburgh) | See the state page | Required |
| Rhode Island | No statewide license at this level | ||
| South Carolina | No statewide license; see the local licenses | ||
| South Dakota | No statewide license at this level | ||
| Tennessee | No statewide license; see the local licenses | ||
| Texas | Master Electrician | 12,000 hours | 100 questions, 2026 NEC |
| Utah | Master Electrician | 8,000 hours | 80 questions |
| Vermont | Master Electrician | See the state page | 105 questions, 2023 NEC |
| Virginia | Master Electrician (tradesman license) | See the state page | 90 questions, 2020 NEC |
| Washington | Master Journey Level Electrician | See the state page | 110 questions, 2020 NEC |
| West Virginia | Master Electrician | See the state page | Required |
| Wisconsin | Master Electrician | 10,000 hours | Required |
| Wyoming | Master Electrician | 16,000 hours | 100 questions, 2023 NEC |
What a master license adds
Where a state issues one, a master electrician can usually plan and supervise electrical work, and in many states a business needs a master on staff to hold an electrical contractor license. The master exam goes further into the code and calculations, and some states add business and law.
Common questions
How do you become a master electrician?
In most states that issue one, you hold a journeyman license for a set number of years or hours, then pass the master exam, which goes further into the code, calculations and often business and law. Each state page gives the exact requirement.
Do all states have a master electrician license?
No. 28 of the 50 states and DC issue a master electrician license statewide (or a license at that level under another name). Others license only contractors, or leave it to cities and counties.
Electrician license requirements by state · How to become an electrician · Journeyman electrician license · Master electrician license
Practice for the exam
The free practice test has 30 questions on code and calculations, scored by subject, in 2026 and 2023 NEC versions.
Last verified November 11, 2026.