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Kentucky 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

Contractor, master and electrician applicants must score at least 70% on an approved examination. Passing scores remain valid for three years.

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Renewal

A license shall be valid for two (2) years and shall be renewed on or before the last day of the licensee's birth month in the second year. For electrical contractor licenses issued to corporations, partnerships, or business entities without a birth month, the renewal shall occur on or before the last day of the month the license was issued in the second year.

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Before you begin

Agency guidance

Biennial application fees: electrical contractor $400, master $200, electrician $100; initial fees may be prorated for at least 13 months. Biennial renewal fees are also $400, $200 and $100 respectively.

Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation

An application fee of $400 for a biennial license; … An application fee of $200 for a biennial license; … An application fee of $100 for a biennial license; … The application fees may be prorated for not less than thirteen (13) months … A renewal fee of: … $400 for an electrical contractor; … $200 for a master electrician; and … $100 for an electrician.

Official source

Agency guidance

An electrical contractor application must identify the affiliated master electrician. Applications use Form EL-2 for contractors and Form EL-3 for masters and electricians; renewals use Form DHBC L-1.

Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation

A completed Electrical Contractor's License Application, Form EL-2; … The name and license number of the master electrician affiliated with the applicant; … A completed Electrical License Application, Form EL-3; … A completed Licensing Renewal Application, Form DHBC L-1;

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
Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction, Electrical Division
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
Electrical Division … Responsible for inspection of state-owned and state-leased buildings, licensing of electricians and electrical contractors, certification of electrical inspectors, and educational programs in the administration and enforcement of electrical codes and standards.
Official source
Official agency page
Open the official agency page
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
Licensing of electrical contractors, master electricians, and electricians.
Official source
Check the qualifications
Experience
Master: 16,000 verifiable electrical trade hours since age 16; approved training or two years teaching can replace 4,000 hours, and a qualifying electrical degree or diploma can replace 6,000 hours. Electrician: 8,000 hours since age 16, with statutory training, degree or teaching substitutions of 4,000 hours.
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
Has completed sixteen thousand (16,000) hours of verifiable experience in the … electrical trade since his or her sixteenth birthday … Completion of any of the following shall substitute for four thousand … (4,000) hours of verifiable experience in the electrical trade … Completion of an associate's degree or diploma program in electrical … technology or a related field at a college within the Kentucky … Community and Technical College System or at an accredited college or … university shall substitute for six thousand (6,000) hours of verifiable … experience in the electrical trade … Has completed eight thousand (8,000) hours of verifiable experience in the … electrical trade since his or her sixteenth birthday. Completion of any one (1) … of the following shall substitute for four thousand (4,000) hours of verifiable … experience in the electrical trade
Official source
Exam
Contractor, master and electrician applicants must score at least 70% on an approved examination. Passing scores remain valid for three years.
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
An applicant for an electrical contractor's license, master electrician's license, or electrician's license shall pass, with a minimum score of seventy (70) percent, an examination administered by an approved examination provider. … A passing score shall be valid for a period of three (3) years.
Official source
Insurance
Electrical contractors must comply with workers' compensation and unemployment insurance laws and carry at least $1,000,000 general liability insurance.
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
Has submitted proof that he or she has complied with workers' compensation and unemployment insurance laws and administrative regulations and has obtained a general liability insurance policy of not less than one million dollars ($1,000,000).
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
A completed Electrical Contractor's License Application, Form EL-2; … A completed Electrical License Application, Form EL-3;
Official source

Reciprocity

Reciprocity requires compliance with a participating state's agreement, a license copy, a letter of good standing and the general application requirements; contractor applicants must also provide insurance.

Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation

The requirements established in the reciprocity agreement between Kentucky and the state in which the applicant is licensed; … A copy of the applicant's license from the participating jurisdiction; … A letter of good standing from the licensing authority of the jurisdiction in which the applicant is currently licensed; … If applying for an electrical contractor's license, provide proof of insurance as required by KRS 227A.060(1)(c).

Official source

How to renew

License term in years

2

Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation

A license shall be valid for two (2) years

Official source

Renewal rule

A license shall be valid for two (2) years and shall be renewed on or before the last day of the licensee's birth month in the second year. For electrical contractor licenses issued to corporations, partnerships, or business entities without a birth month, the renewal shall occur on or before the last day of the month the license was issued in the second year.

Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation

A license shall be valid for two (2) years and shall be renewed on or before the last day of the licensee's birth month in the second year. For electrical contractor licenses issued to corporations, partnerships, or business entities without a birth month, the renewal shall occur on or before the last day of the month the license was issued in the second year.

Official source

Continuing education hours

6

Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation

a licensee or certificate holder shall provide proof of at least six (6) hours of approved continuing education prior to license renewal.

Official source

Continuing education topics

Master/electrician: job safety, electrical codes or electrical trade subjects. Contractor: business or job safety. The rule requires the hours during the twelve months before renewal, subject to carryforward and first-renewal exceptions.

Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation

a licensee or certificate holder shall obtain the required number of hours of continuing education pursuant to Section 2 of this administrative regulation during the twelve (12) months prior to renewal of the license or certificate. … Each master electrician's, electrician's, and electrical inspector's continuing education course shall relate to one (1) or more of the following: … Job safety; … Codes related to the electrical industry; or … Subject matter directly related to the electrical trade. … Each electrical contractor's continuing education course shall relate to one (1) or more of the following: … Business; or … Job safety.

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 (13)

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

Official agency

Licensing of electrical contractors, master electricians, and electricians.

Official source

Verified 2026-10-24

Requirements / Experience

Has completed sixteen thousand (16,000) hours of verifiable experience in the … electrical trade since his or her sixteenth birthday … Completion of any of the following shall substitute for four thousand … (4,000) hours of verifiable experience in the electrical trade … Completion of an associate's degree or diploma program in electrical … technology or a related field at a college within the Kentucky … Community and Technical College System or at an accredited college or … university shall substitute for six thousand (6,000) hours of verifiable … experience in the electrical trade … Has completed eight thousand (8,000) hours of verifiable experience in the … electrical trade since his or her sixteenth birthday. Completion of any one (1) … of the following shall substitute for four thousand (4,000) hours of verifiable … experience in the electrical trade

Official source

Verified 2026-10-24

Requirements / Exam

An applicant for an electrical contractor's license, master electrician's license, or electrician's license shall pass, with a minimum score of seventy (70) percent, an examination administered by an approved examination provider. … A passing score shall be valid for a period of three (3) years.

Official source

Verified 2026-10-24

Requirements / Insurance

Has submitted proof that he or she has complied with workers' compensation and unemployment insurance laws and administrative regulations and has obtained a general liability insurance policy of not less than one million dollars ($1,000,000).

Official source

Verified 2026-10-24

License term

A license shall be valid for two (2) years

Official source

Verified 2026-10-24

Renewal

A license shall be valid for two (2) years and shall be renewed on or before the last day of the licensee's birth month in the second year. For electrical contractor licenses issued to corporations, partnerships, or business entities without a birth month, the renewal shall occur on or before the last day of the month the license was issued in the second year.

Official source

Verified 2026-10-24

Continuing education hours

a licensee or certificate holder shall provide proof of at least six (6) hours of approved continuing education prior to license renewal.

Official source

Verified 2026-10-24

Continuing education topics

a licensee or certificate holder shall obtain the required number of hours of continuing education pursuant to Section 2 of this administrative regulation during the twelve (12) months prior to renewal of the license or certificate. … Each master electrician's, electrician's, and electrical inspector's continuing education course shall relate to one (1) or more of the following: … Job safety; … Codes related to the electrical industry; or … Subject matter directly related to the electrical trade. … Each electrical contractor's continuing education course shall relate to one (1) or more of the following: … Business; or … Job safety.

Official source

Verified 2026-10-24

Reciprocity

The requirements established in the reciprocity agreement between Kentucky and the state in which the applicant is licensed; … A copy of the applicant's license from the participating jurisdiction; … A letter of good standing from the licensing authority of the jurisdiction in which the applicant is currently licensed; … If applying for an electrical contractor's license, provide proof of insurance as required by KRS 227A.060(1)(c).

Official source

Verified 2026-10-24

Agency guidance

An application fee of $400 for a biennial license; … An application fee of $200 for a biennial license; … An application fee of $100 for a biennial license; … The application fees may be prorated for not less than thirteen (13) months … A renewal fee of: … $400 for an electrical contractor; … $200 for a master electrician; and … $100 for an electrician.

Official source

Verified 2026-10-24

Agency guidance

A completed Electrical Contractor's License Application, Form EL-2; … The name and license number of the master electrician affiliated with the applicant; … A completed Electrical License Application, Form EL-3; … A completed Licensing Renewal Application, Form DHBC L-1;

Official source

Verified 2026-10-24

Board

Electrical Division … Responsible for inspection of state-owned and state-leased buildings, licensing of electricians and electrical contractors, certification of electrical inspectors, and educational programs in the administration and enforcement of electrical codes and standards.

Official source

Verified 2026-10-24

Application

A completed Electrical Contractor's License Application, Form EL-2; … A completed Electrical License Application, Form EL-3;

Official source

Verified 2026-10-24

Last verified 2026-10-24.

Official sources (4)

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