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Iowa electrician license & renewal

The requirements, the timing and the official sources. Everything we’ve verified, in one place.

Sources verifiedLast verified 2026-10-24

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License fee

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Not verified yet

Required hours

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Not verified yet

Exam

Under the standard apprenticeship route, the Class A journeyman applicant must pass a board-approved supervised written examination with at least 70 within 24 months before the new application.

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Renewal

Licenses issued pursuant to this chapter shall expire every three years, with the exception of licenses for apprentice electricians and unclassified persons, which shall expire on an annual basis.

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Before you begin

Agency guidance

An electrical contractor must hold or employ an active master electrician and also have contractor registration.

Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation

An electrical contractor license may be issued to a person who submits an application with the applicable fee, who holds or employs a person who holds an active master electrician license, who is registered as a contractor with the labor services division of Iowa workforce development.

Official source

Agency guidance

The full three-year license fee is $75 for journeyman and $375 for master or electrical contractor. The 2026–2028 schedule prorates new licenses by the month and year of application.

Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation

License Fees For 2026-2028 license cycle … Journeyman Class A or B - Residential Electrician or Special Electrician … January $75.00 $50.00 $25.00 $82.50 … Electrical Contractor - Residential Electrical Contractor - Master Class A or B or Residential Master … January $375.00 $250.00 $125.00 $412.50

Official source

Agency guidance

For a license issued for less than a full three-year period, CE is 6 hours for each year or portion of a year licensed before renewal.

Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation

A holder of a license in a category which may be issued for a three-year period whose license is issued for less than a three-year period only needs to complete six hours of continuing education prior to renewal of the license for each year or portion of a year for which the license has been issued.

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
Iowa Electrical Examining Board; Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing
Official source
Official agency page
Open the official agency page
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
Electrical Licensing
Official source
Check the qualifications
Experience
A standard Class A master route requires one year as a licensed journeyman and a board-approved written master examination score of at least 70 within 24 months before the new application. Other routes are listed in rule 502.2(3).
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
Has completed one year of experience as a licensed journeyman electrician, and has passed a supervised written examination for master electrician approved by the board with a score of 70 or higher within 24 months of submission of a new application;
Official source
Education
A standard Class A journeyman route requires completing a registered apprenticeship and four years as an apprentice electrician. Other routes appear in rule 502.2(6).
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
Has successfully completed a registered apprenticeship program, has passed a supervised written examination for journeyman electrician approved by the board with a score of 70 or higher within 24 months of submission of a new application, and has completed four years of experience as an apprentice electrician.
Official source
Exam
Under the standard apprenticeship route, the Class A journeyman applicant must pass a board-approved supervised written examination with at least 70 within 24 months before the new application.
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
Has successfully completed a registered apprenticeship program, has passed a supervised written examination for journeyman electrician approved by the board with a score of 70 or higher within 24 months of submission of a new application, and has completed four years of experience as an apprentice electrician.
Official source
Insurance
Electrical contractors and electricians contracting independently rather than working for a licensed electrical contractor must maintain at least $1 million general and complete operations liability coverage.
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
Any holder of an electrical contractor license or any holder of an electrician license who is not employed by a licensed electrical contractor and who contracts to provide electrical work which requires a license issued pursuant to 661—Chapters 500 through 503 is to, at all times, maintain insurance coverage as provided in this rule. 502.7(1) The licensee is to maintain general and complete operations liability insurance in the amount of at least $1 million for all work performed which requires licensing pursuant to 661—Chapters 500 through 503.
Official source
Review fees and apply
Application fee
Not verified yet
Exam fee
Not verified yet
License fee
Not verified yet
Apply with the agency
Open the official agency page
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
Renew online at iowaelectrical.gov
Official source

Reciprocity

Class A journeyman reciprocity is available only under a board agreement with the issuing state and subject to the additional conditions in rule 502.2(14).

Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation

A journeyman class A license may be issued, without examination, to a person who holds a license from another state provided that: a. The board has entered into an agreement with the other state providing for reciprocal issuance of licenses;

Official source

How to renew

License term in years

3

Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation

Licenses issued pursuant to this chapter shall expire every three years, with the exception of licenses for apprentice electricians and unclassified persons, which shall expire on an annual basis.

Official source

Renewal rule

Licenses issued pursuant to this chapter shall expire every three years, with the exception of licenses for apprentice electricians and unclassified persons, which shall expire on an annual basis.

Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation

Licenses issued pursuant to this chapter shall expire every three years, with the exception of licenses for apprentice electricians and unclassified persons, which shall expire on an annual basis.

Official source

Continuing education hours

18

Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation

the licensee shall be required to complete eighteen contact hours of continuing education courses approved by the board during the three-year period for which a license is granted.

Official source

Continuing education topics

At least 6 hours must study the National Electrical Code. Remaining hours may cover board-approved electrical material, including circuit theory, blueprint reading, transformer and motor theory, circuits and devices, control systems, programmable controllers and microcomputers; additional NEC hours are accepted.

Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation

The contact hours shall include a minimum of six contact hours studying the national electrical code described in section 103.6, and the remaining contact hours may include study of electrical circuit theory, blueprint reading, transformer and motor theory, electrical circuits and devices, control systems, programmable controllers, and microcomputers or any other study of electrical-related material that is approved by the board. Any additional hours studying the national electrical code shall be acceptable.

Official source

Remind me before renewal Add to my calendar

Use the expiration date on your license. Your dashboard can export it to your calendar.

Official sources and verification (15)

Last verified 2026-10-24. Each quotation supports the corresponding published value.

Board

Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing

Official source

Verified 2026-10-24

Official agency

Electrical Licensing

Official source

Verified 2026-10-24

Application

Renew online at iowaelectrical.gov

Official source

Verified 2026-10-24

Requirements / Experience

Has completed one year of experience as a licensed journeyman electrician, and has passed a supervised written examination for master electrician approved by the board with a score of 70 or higher within 24 months of submission of a new application;

Official source

Verified 2026-10-24

Requirements / Education

Has successfully completed a registered apprenticeship program, has passed a supervised written examination for journeyman electrician approved by the board with a score of 70 or higher within 24 months of submission of a new application, and has completed four years of experience as an apprentice electrician.

Official source

Verified 2026-10-24

Requirements / Exam

Has successfully completed a registered apprenticeship program, has passed a supervised written examination for journeyman electrician approved by the board with a score of 70 or higher within 24 months of submission of a new application, and has completed four years of experience as an apprentice electrician.

Official source

Verified 2026-10-24

Requirements / Insurance

Any holder of an electrical contractor license or any holder of an electrician license who is not employed by a licensed electrical contractor and who contracts to provide electrical work which requires a license issued pursuant to 661—Chapters 500 through 503 is to, at all times, maintain insurance coverage as provided in this rule. 502.7(1) The licensee is to maintain general and complete operations liability insurance in the amount of at least $1 million for all work performed which requires licensing pursuant to 661—Chapters 500 through 503.

Official source

Verified 2026-10-24

License term

Licenses issued pursuant to this chapter shall expire every three years, with the exception of licenses for apprentice electricians and unclassified persons, which shall expire on an annual basis.

Official source

Verified 2026-10-24

Renewal

Licenses issued pursuant to this chapter shall expire every three years, with the exception of licenses for apprentice electricians and unclassified persons, which shall expire on an annual basis.

Official source

Verified 2026-10-24

Continuing education hours

the licensee shall be required to complete eighteen contact hours of continuing education courses approved by the board during the three-year period for which a license is granted.

Official source

Verified 2026-10-24

Continuing education topics

The contact hours shall include a minimum of six contact hours studying the national electrical code described in section 103.6, and the remaining contact hours may include study of electrical circuit theory, blueprint reading, transformer and motor theory, electrical circuits and devices, control systems, programmable controllers, and microcomputers or any other study of electrical-related material that is approved by the board. Any additional hours studying the national electrical code shall be acceptable.

Official source

Verified 2026-10-24

Reciprocity

A journeyman class A license may be issued, without examination, to a person who holds a license from another state provided that: a. The board has entered into an agreement with the other state providing for reciprocal issuance of licenses;

Official source

Verified 2026-10-24

Agency guidance

An electrical contractor license may be issued to a person who submits an application with the applicable fee, who holds or employs a person who holds an active master electrician license, who is registered as a contractor with the labor services division of Iowa workforce development.

Official source

Verified 2026-10-24

Agency guidance

License Fees For 2026-2028 license cycle … Journeyman Class A or B - Residential Electrician or Special Electrician … January $75.00 $50.00 $25.00 $82.50 … Electrical Contractor - Residential Electrical Contractor - Master Class A or B or Residential Master … January $375.00 $250.00 $125.00 $412.50

Official source

Verified 2026-10-24

Agency guidance

A holder of a license in a category which may be issued for a three-year period whose license is issued for less than a three-year period only needs to complete six hours of continuing education prior to renewal of the license for each year or portion of a year for which the license has been issued.

Official source

Verified 2026-10-24

Last verified 2026-10-24.

Official sources (6)

Not legal or tax advice. Confirm with the official agency before filing.