Colorado electrician license & renewal
The requirements, the timing and the official sources. Everything we’ve verified, in one place.
License fee
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Not verified yet
Required hours
Journeyman: at least 8,000 hours over at least 4 years of qualifying apprenticeship or practical experience.
Exam
Master and journeyman examinations require board approval; the board or its designee administers and grades them and establishes the passing score.
Renewal
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Not verified yet
Before you begin
Agency guidance
Electrical contractors must register with the board and have a licensed master electrician supervising all electrical work, either as an owner or employee.
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
No person, firm, copartnership, association, or combination thereof shall engage in the business of an electrical contractor without having first registered with the board. … If any person, firm, copartnership, corporation, association, or combination thereof engages in the business of an electrical contractor and does not comply with subsection (5)(b) of this section, it shall employ at least one licensed master electrician, who shall be in charge of the supervision of all electrical work performed by the contractor.Official source
Agency guidance
The 24-hour CE requirement does not apply to the first renewal or reinstatement when the original license required passing the licensing examination.
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
Subsection (4)(d)(I)(A) of this section does not apply to the first renewal or reinstatement of a license for which, as a condition of issuance, the applicant successfully completed a licensing examination pursuant to subsection (4)(a) of this section.Official source
How to get this license
Use the agency’s requirements below to plan your next steps. Missing details stay marked.
Start with the licensing authority
Licensing board
Colorado State Electrical Board, Department of Regulatory Agencies
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
The state electrical board exercises its powers and performs its duties and functions under the department and is allocated to the division.
Official sourceOfficial agency page
Check the qualifications
Required hours
Journeyman: at least 8,000 hours over at least 4 years of qualifying apprenticeship or practical experience.
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
the act allows an applicant for a journeyman electrician's license to have a minimum of 8,000 hours over a period of at least 4 years of certain apprenticeship or practical experience
Official sourceEducation
Journeyman: at least 288 hours of training in safety, the National Electrical Code and its applications, and other board-required training within the last 8 years of training, apprenticeship or practical experience.
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
The act also changes the time frame for which an applicant for a journeyman electrician's license must complete at least 288 hours of training in safety, the national electrical code and its applications, and any other training required by the state electrical board (board) from the last 4 years to the last 8 years of the applicant's training, apprenticeship, or practical experience.
Official sourceExperience
Master routes: accredited electrical-engineering graduate plus 1 year of practical construction electrical experience; electrical trade school or community-college graduate plus at least 4 years of practical electrical work; or at least 1 year of planning, layout, supervision and installation beyond the journeyman experience requirement.
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
The applicant is a graduate electrical engineer of an accredited college or university and has one year of practical electrical experience in the construction industry; (II) The applicant is a graduate of an electrical trade school or community college and has at least four years of practical experience in electrical work; or (III) The applicant has had at least one year of practical experience in planning, laying out, supervising, and installing wiring, apparatus, or equipment for electric light, heat, and power beyond the practical experience requirements for the journeyman's license.
Official sourceExam
Master and journeyman examinations require board approval; the board or its designee administers and grades them and establishes the passing score.
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
The board, or its designee, shall conduct and grade the examination and shall set the passing score to reflect a minimum level of competency.
Official sourceInsurance
Contractor registration requires evidence of compliance with applicable workers' compensation and unemployment compensation laws.
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
presentation of evidence that the applicant has complied with the applicable workers' compensation and unemployment compensation laws of this state
Official sourceReview fees and apply
Application fee
Not verified yet
Exam fee
Not verified yet
License fee
Not verified yet
Apply with the agency
Not verified yet
Reciprocity
Endorsement requires substantially equivalent credentials and qualifications. Reciprocity requires an agreement for an equivalent license between Colorado and the issuing state.
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
the person possesses credentials and qualifications that are substantially equivalent to requirements in Colorado for licensure. … The board shall issue an electrical license by reciprocity where a reciprocal agreement for an equivalent license exists, pursuant to section 12-115-107 (2)(i), between the board and the electrical board, or its equivalent,Official source
Official sources and verification (12)
Last verified 2026-10-24. Each quotation supports the corresponding published value.
The state electrical board exercises its powers and performs its duties and functions under the department and is allocated to the division.Official source
Verified 2026-10-24
the act allows an applicant for a journeyman electrician's license to have a minimum of 8,000 hours over a period of at least 4 years of certain apprenticeship or practical experienceOfficial source
Verified 2026-10-24
The act also changes the time frame for which an applicant for a journeyman electrician's license must complete at least 288 hours of training in safety, the national electrical code and its applications, and any other training required by the state electrical board (board) from the last 4 years to the last 8 years of the applicant's training, apprenticeship, or practical experience.Official source
Verified 2026-10-24
The applicant is a graduate electrical engineer of an accredited college or university and has one year of practical electrical experience in the construction industry; (II) The applicant is a graduate of an electrical trade school or community college and has at least four years of practical experience in electrical work; or (III) The applicant has had at least one year of practical experience in planning, laying out, supervising, and installing wiring, apparatus, or equipment for electric light, heat, and power beyond the practical experience requirements for the journeyman's license.Official source
Verified 2026-10-24
The board, or its designee, shall conduct and grade the examination and shall set the passing score to reflect a minimum level of competency.Official source
Verified 2026-10-24
presentation of evidence that the applicant has complied with the applicable workers' compensation and unemployment compensation laws of this stateOfficial source
Verified 2026-10-24
the department shall not renew or reinstate a license unless the applicant has completed twenty-four hours of continuing education since the date of issuance of the applicant's initial license or, if the applicant's license was renewed or reinstated, the most recent renewal or reinstatement.Official source
Verified 2026-10-24
requirements and standards must include course work related to the national electrical code, including core competencies as determined by the board.Official source
Verified 2026-10-24
the person possesses credentials and qualifications that are substantially equivalent to requirements in Colorado for licensure. … The board shall issue an electrical license by reciprocity where a reciprocal agreement for an equivalent license exists, pursuant to section 12-115-107 (2)(i), between the board and the electrical board, or its equivalent,Official source
Verified 2026-10-24
No person, firm, copartnership, association, or combination thereof shall engage in the business of an electrical contractor without having first registered with the board. … If any person, firm, copartnership, corporation, association, or combination thereof engages in the business of an electrical contractor and does not comply with subsection (5)(b) of this section, it shall employ at least one licensed master electrician, who shall be in charge of the supervision of all electrical work performed by the contractor.Official source
Verified 2026-10-24
Subsection (4)(d)(I)(A) of this section does not apply to the first renewal or reinstatement of a license for which, as a condition of issuance, the applicant successfully completed a licensing examination pursuant to subsection (4)(a) of this section.Official source
Verified 2026-10-24
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Same license in other states
- Alabama
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- Delaware
- District of Columbia
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- Indiana
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- Maryland
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- New Hampshire
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- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
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- Tennessee
- Texas
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- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
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Last verified 2026-10-24.
Official sources (2)
Not legal or tax advice. Confirm with the official agency before filing.