Getting electrical licenses renewed is critical for contractors to maintain their legal status to operate and prove professional qualifications. However, no one-size-fits-all method exists. 

Since electrical contractors are not permitted to bid on any work in a jurisdiction in which they are not licensed, or where their license could be expiring, this is a fairly straightforward process for those operating in just one state. 

This process is more complex for contractors working in multiple states. And, the more states the electrical contractor operates in, the more complex the process can become. That’s why contractors benefit from bringing experts onboard that can understand each state’s licensing process. 

Most jurisdictions will require some type of qualification from contractors. To obtain an electrical contractor’s license, the holder will either need to hold a master electrician license or employ a licensed master electrician willing to sign on as the supervising electrician for the jurisdiction, said Kyle Krueger, executive director of codes and standards at NECA. If your contracting company is growing, there are steps to ensure you can operate in, for example, Georgia and Florida, as well as Louisiana and Arizona, and to ensure your renewal doesn’t expire in any location before the project is finished. 

Contractors gain from familiarizing themselves with each license’s expiration date. Meeting each state’s renewal prerequisites means they have complied with continuing education requirements, documentation and renewal fees.

Getting education to meet requirements

Online courses recognized by multiple states can streamline compliance, and some programs boast that their courses are accepted across state lines. However, when making a mistake can mean shutting down a project, contractors need to do their due diligence before taking any online offering.

Safety courses are intended to explain the purpose of electrical safety programs, help recognize unsafe practices, enable arc flash hazard analysis recall, help avoid arc flash incidents, and knowing limited and restricted approach boundaries, and identify appropriate personal protective equipment for electrical hazards.

Each jurisdiction’s licensing renewal process comes with its own steps. First, identify each state’s accredited courses or online programs covering code updates, safety regulations and technological advancements. Before purchasing a course, be sure to verify if it is accepted in the states you need and that it meets necessary regulatory requirements, said Jeff Noren, manager of codes and standards at NECA, and assistant secretary to the NECA Codes and Standards Committee.

Contractors should next gather essential documents such as course-completion certificates and proof of work experience to streamline the renewal process.

They can then accurately complete and submit the renewal application with all the necessary documentation to the relevant licensing authority.

One common theme across several states for contractor licensing relates to business and labor practices, Krueger said. Additionally, some states require a certain amount of electrical-­code-related training.

Which code is adopted in which state

There are lists available for each location and its renewal requirements. 

“Around the country, the challenges that the electrical contractors have is knowing what version of the National Electrical Code has been adopted by that state,” said Wesley Wheeler, NECA’s executive director of safety, a BCSP safety management specialist and an NFPA Certified Electrical Safety Compliance Professional.

According to a report from NFPA, as of March 2025, the 2023 NEC is in effect in 17 states; the 2020 edition in 21 states; 2017 in six states; and 2008 in two states. There are also e-brochures related to NEC articles for surge protection in some states.

That’s not all. The 2022 California Electrical Code, California Code of Regulations Title 24, Part 3, is based on the 2020 edition of the NEC. The 2018 Chicago Electrical Code is based on the 2017 edition, and the 2011 New York City Electrical Code is based on the 2008 edition.

Arizona doesn’t have a statewide adoption of the NEC, but it has city requirements—the cities make the determination for education and qualifications.

Reciprocal licensing programs are only effective in jurisdictions that have corresponding NEC licensing requirements. For instance, if a state is still using the 2017 NEC, it might reciprocate with another state on 2020, but a state using the 2020 edition would not reciprocate with one following the 2017 version.

Timelines for coursework also vary. Wisconsin has a four-year renewal cycle, while Florida has a two-year cycle.

For larger contractors, tracking these requirements and staying up-to-date on the renewals and related coursework can require a full-time employee. Wheeler pointed to some companies that employ an individual who may go to one state to get the company licensed there, and then go to another state to accomplish the same. They can carry the majority of the contractor’s licenses required around the country.

Assigning a qualifying agent

When thinking about renewals and employee engagement, along with retaining employees, the qualifying agent offers outsized value. If a contractor operates across many states or dozens of municipalities around the country, “you can see where that individual could definitely be spending most of his time taking continuing education classes and keep the license active,” Wheeler said.

There really isn’t a magic number of state licenses needed to warrant hiring a qualifying agent. 

“That will be highly dependent on the projects and customer base,” Krueger said.

The qualifying agent for the company can work remotely for a wide variety of projects around the country, or they can go on-site as project manager, acting as the master electrician and supervisor of the work being done there. 

Wherever they are physically, the qualifying agent guarantees the work is properly licensed. 

Licensing disputes

If there are any questions about legitimate licenses in the state where work is taking place, there can be a hearing, and if it finds the contractor is not following the code, there are provisions for those authorities having jurisdiction to go back and either fine the contractor or take another form of disciplinary action. 

“Luckily, that doesn’t happen very often,” Wheeler said, adding that, “that kind of thing can be on the back of your mind when you’re bidding on projects out of state.”

Varying expectations

For individuals or contractors holding licenses in multiple states, it is essential to avoid complacency when it comes to requirements across jurisdictions, Noren said. 

Online courses recognized by multiple states may streamline compliance. When it comes to online continuing education credits, “you may be lucky enough to find some that will qualify you in more than just one state, but that’s not always the case,” Wheeler said. 

Some states require a very specific class that isn’t taught elsewhere, “so that just adds to a little bit of the angst,” he said.

Some states prohibit or restrict online continuing education. If someone is permitted to take the courses online, research the provider to accurately make sure it applies to the jurisdiction or jurisdictions and license the person is renewing or seeking.

“Doing a little research on a new area you will be working in can go a long way,” Krueger said.

Other expectations may vary, for example, work height requirements. Some states require that workers maintain a specific height for panel installation. So Arizona may not have a stringent height requirement, but the city of Phoenix might.

Another example is the dimension for height of working space for equipment operating at 600V or less to ground and likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing or maintenance while energized. The work space should be clear and extend from the grade, floor or platform to a height of 6½ feet or the height of the equipment, whichever is greater. The electrical equipment itself may have a height that is less than that, but, if it is mounted so the top of the equipment is higher than 6½ feet, the minimum working space height shall be the equipment height.

Typically, licensing requirements are relatively steady, Noren said. He noted that depending on the license type (journeyman, master or inspector, for instance), these requirements may vary.

Also, each state handles licensing differently, he said. For example, Illinois requires local municipal licensing. For those working throughout the entire state, they may need to be licensed in more than 20 municipalities.

Many states either have their own exams for electrical contractors and master electricians or they will use a third party.

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