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Skilled Trades license portability
Electrician license reciprocity by state
Electrician licenses are broadly portable across the US — 36 of the 50 states and DC offer direct recognition or licensure by endorsement, though endorsement often still requires a state-specific law and business exam. Each row below links to the state's official licensing board and lists the specific reciprocal states where we have them.
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36 via endorsement
edit_note
7 require exam
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4 not recognized
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2 no license required
Reciprocity tier legend
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Recognized
Existing license or national cert accepted directly.
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Endorsement
Apply for a new license — paperwork, fees, no re-exam.
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Exam required
Must retake the state exam or complete state-specific training.
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Not recognized
No reciprocity pathway. Satisfy state requirements from scratch.
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No license required
State does not license this profession.
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Check with board
The state publishes no clear transfer rule. Contact the licensing board.
All 50 states + DC
Each row shows the destination state's reciprocity tier, the board's own language behind it, and a link to the official state licensing board.
| State | Reciprocity tier | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | edit_note Exam required | Alabama offers limited reciprocity for journeyman and master electrician licenses. Reciprocity is commonly recognized with Mississippi, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Ohio, Louisiana, and Texas for electrical contractors. Applicants from reciprocal states must pass the Alabama Business and Law Exam and submit a reciprocity application with license verification. The Board also accepts the NASCLA Electrical Contractors Exam for reciprocal licensing. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Alaska | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. (Note: Alaska no longer has a reciprocal agreement with Utah.) Official state board arrow_outward |
| Arizona | edit_note Exam required | California, Nevada, Utah (for trade exam waiver, but Arizona Statutes and Rules Exam is still required). Some sources also mention Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Wisconsin, and Wyoming for journeyman electricians, but Arizona does not issue a journeyman license. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Arkansas | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Journeyman electricians have reciprocity with Alaska, Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. Master electricians have reciprocity with Oregon, North Dakota, Iowa, and Texas. Official state board arrow_outward |
| California | edit_note Exam required | California has a reciprocal licensing agreement for electricians with Arizona, Louisiana, and Nevada. However, even with reciprocity, applicants typically need to pass California's law and business exam and meet all other requirements, including background checks and proof of experience. Some sources indicate that California does not reciprocate with any state for the general electrician certification, but allows out-of-state licenses to qualify for taking the California examination. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Colorado | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Connecticut | edit_note Exam required | Connecticut does not have reciprocal agreements with any other jurisdiction. However, an out-of-state license may be submitted as proof of eligibility to take the state exams if it required equivalent classroom hours, curriculum, and on-the-job training. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Delaware | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Maryland, New Jersey (substantially similar, no proof of experience required). Arkansas, Colorado, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming (licensure standards not substantially similar, must submit proof of five years experience after licensure). Other states are evaluated individually by the Board. Official state board arrow_outward |
| District of Columbia | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Maryland (Master Electricians only), Virginia (Journeyman and Master Electricians) Official state board arrow_outward |
| Florida | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Florida does not have traditional reciprocity for electrical licenses but offers an endorsement process for Certified Electrical Contractors from states with substantially equivalent exams and 10 years of licensure. States with licenses or exams that may qualify for endorsement include Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, Rhode Island, and West Virginia. For journeyman licenses, individuals must contact the specific county or city where they plan to work. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Georgia | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee Official state board arrow_outward |
| Hawaii | help_outline Check with board | Not specified Official state board arrow_outward |
| Idaho | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Colorado, North Dakota, Maine, Oklahoma, Montana, Oregon, Nebraska, South Dakota, New Hampshire, Texas, New Mexico, and Wyoming. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Illinois | block Not recognized | None Official state board arrow_outward |
| Indiana | remove_circle_outline No license | Not specified at the state level; handled by individual municipalities. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Iowa | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming Official state board arrow_outward |
| Kansas | block Not recognized | Kansas does not have statewide reciprocity agreements. Reciprocity is handled at the local level and varies by municipality. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Kentucky | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Ohio, Virginia Official state board arrow_outward |
| Louisiana | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas (for Master Electrician), Arizona, South Carolina (for NASCLA Accredited Electrical Examination) Official state board arrow_outward |
| Maine | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Idaho, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oregon, Vermont, Wyoming Official state board arrow_outward |
| Maryland | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Master Electrician: Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, District of Columbia. Journeyperson Electrician: Virginia (license obtained by apprenticeship or exam), Delaware (license accepted via reciprocity), District of Columbia (license obtained by exam). Official state board arrow_outward |
| Massachusetts | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | New Hampshire Official state board arrow_outward |
| Michigan | edit_note Exam required | Michigan does not have direct reciprocity with other states. Out-of-state applicants must have their experience verified and pass the Michigan state exam. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Minnesota | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming Official state board arrow_outward |
| Mississippi | edit_note Exam required | Alabama, Arkansas (electrical excluded), Georgia (must have taken GA exam), Louisiana (electrical excluded unless exam taken in LA), North Carolina (must have taken NC exam), South Carolina (master electrician exams only, specific exam providers accepted), Tennessee Official state board arrow_outward |
| Missouri | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Missouri offers reciprocity for individuals holding a valid, current license for at least one year from another state, military branch, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia, for the same occupation and practice level. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Montana | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Montana has a 'Substantial Equivalency' model for reciprocity, evaluating if your home state's licensing standards meet or exceed Montana's. Reciprocal states for Journeyman electricians include AK, AR, CO, IA, ID, ME, MN, ND, NE, NH, NM, OK, SD, TX, WI, and WY. License verification will be obtained by board staff for these states. For endorsement states (AL, CA, CT, DC, DE, FL, HI, KY, MA, MI, NJ, OR, RI, UT, VA, VT, WA, WV), applicants must provide license verification. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Nebraska | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Nevada | remove_circle_outline No license | Nevada has reciprocity agreements for the C-2 Electrical Contractor trade examination only with Arizona, California, and Utah. Journeyman electrician reciprocity varies by local jurisdiction, and many states have limited or no reciprocity with Nevada for journeyman licenses. Official state board arrow_outward |
| New Hampshire | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Wyoming. Official state board arrow_outward |
| New Jersey | help_outline Check with board | New Jersey does not have reciprocity for Electrical Contractors with any other state. However, the Board may grant a Class A journeyman electrician license through reciprocity if the applicant meets specific criteria and the other jurisdiction provides equal reciprocity. Official state board arrow_outward |
| New Mexico | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. Official state board arrow_outward |
| New York | block Not recognized | New York State does not have reciprocity agreements with other states for electrician licenses. Some individual municipalities within New York may have reciprocity agreements with other municipalities within New York State, often on a case-by-case basis. Official state board arrow_outward |
| North Carolina | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia Official state board arrow_outward |
| North Dakota | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | North Dakota has reciprocal agreements for Journeyman electricians with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. For Master electricians, reciprocity is available with Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Ohio | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia Official state board arrow_outward |
| Oklahoma | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, Texas, Wyoming Official state board arrow_outward |
| Oregon | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Arkansas, Utah (for General Supervising Electrician); Washington, Idaho (for General Journeyman Electrician) Official state board arrow_outward |
| Pennsylvania | block Not recognized | No statewide reciprocity; licenses are jurisdiction-specific and generally do not transfer between municipalities. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Rhode Island | edit_note Exam required | Rhode Island does not have reciprocity with any other state. However, an active out-of-state license can be submitted as proof of eligibility to take the Rhode Island journeyperson exam. Official state board arrow_outward |
| South Carolina | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | South Carolina has reciprocity agreements for electrical contractor licenses with some states. For example, SC Electrical Contractor Group 2 or 3 licensees may apply for a Limited classification in North Carolina, Group 4 for Limited or Intermediate, and Group 5 for any electrical contracting license classification. South Carolina Residential Specialty Electrical Contractor licensees may apply for the SP-SFD (Special Restricted: Single Family Dwelling) license classification in North Carolina. Official state board arrow_outward |
| South Dakota | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Wyoming Official state board arrow_outward |
| Tennessee | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina (for Contractor's license trade exam waiver only). Tennessee also accepts the NASCLA National Commercial and Electrical exam for the Contractor's license. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Texas | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Journeyman Electrician reciprocity: Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Master Electrician reciprocity: Arkansas, Iowa (Class A master electrician), Louisiana (state contractor's license), Nebraska, and North Carolina (master electrician or unlimited electrical contractor). Official state board arrow_outward |
| Utah | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Utah has reciprocity agreements for Journeyman electricians with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Oregon. For Master electricians, reciprocity is available with Idaho, Oregon, and Wyoming. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Vermont | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Maine, New Hampshire Official state board arrow_outward |
| Virginia | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Alabama (Master Electrical Contractor), District of Columbia (Journeyman and Master Electrical Tradesman), Kentucky (Journeyman and Master Electrician), Maryland (Master Electrical Tradesman), West Virginia (Journeyman and Master Electrical Tradesman), North Carolina (Master Electrical Tradesman with Class A or B Contractor License), Ohio (Master Electrical License) Official state board arrow_outward |
| Washington | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Washington has a reciprocal agreement with Oregon for general journey-level electricians (01) and General Supervising Electricians (S). To be eligible, Oregon licensees must have obtained their license after completing an 8,000-hour apprenticeship with at least 576 classroom hours and passing Oregon exams. Washington does not have a reciprocal agreement with Idaho. Official state board arrow_outward |
| West Virginia | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | West Virginia has reciprocity agreements for Journeyman and Master Electricians. While some sources indicate reciprocity with all 50 states, others specifically mention Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, and Ohio. Applicants must hold an equivalent license in good standing from another jurisdiction and meet West Virginia's minimum requirements. A 'Letter of Good Standing' from the originating licensing board is required. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Wisconsin | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Iowa, New Hampshire Official state board arrow_outward |
| Wyoming | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Journeyman Electrician License has reciprocity with: Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, and Utah. Master Electrician License has reciprocity with: Idaho, South Dakota, and Utah. Official state board arrow_outward |
Electrician reciprocity: common questions
Does an electrician license transfer to another state?
Electrician licenses are broadly portable across the US — 36 of the 50 states and DC offer direct recognition or licensure by endorsement, though endorsement often still requires a state-specific law and business exam. It depends on the destination state — see the state-by-state table above.
Which states license out-of-state electricians by endorsement?
35 states and DC issue a new license by endorsement — an application, fees and verification of your current credential, typically without retaking the main exam: Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming. Confirm with the destination state's board before you move — rules change.
Which states make electricians take an exam to transfer?
7 states require a state exam or state-specific training before licensing an out-of-state electrician: Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Michigan, Mississippi, Rhode Island. Confirm with the destination state's board before you move — rules change.
Which states don't require a state license for electricians?
2 states do not license electricians at the state level, so there is nothing to transfer — employers may still expect a national certification: Indiana, Nevada.
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How this was compiled · Last updated 2026-10-15
Reciprocity tiers and summaries are compiled from each state's licensing board and department of professional regulation — linked per row above — and reviewed against public board guidance. Licensing rules change frequently and often depend on your license class (for example journeyman vs. master) and the specific states involved. Always confirm current requirements directly with the destination state's board before making a career or relocation decision. This page is informational and is not legal or licensing advice.
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