Licensing Requirements

•  Submit a completed Colorado State Electrical Board Application for Original License by Examination.
• Submit the application processing fee (non-refundable).
• Provide the Affidavit of Experience Forms of electrical experience obtained.

RESIDENTIAL WIREMAN
Applicants for a Colorado residential wireman's license are required to verify four thousand hours earned in no less than two years of electrical construction wiring experience, for lights, heat, and power.

JOURNEYMAN ELECTRICIAN
Applicants for a Colorado journeyman electrician's license are required to verify eight thousand hours earned in no less than four years of electrical construction wiring experience, for lights, heat, and power; with a minimum of four thousand hours earned in no less than two years of that time being commercial and/or industrial work. Verification of experience must state the hours and months of the time spent performing residential and commercial/industrial wiring.

MASTER ELECTRICIAN
Applicants for a Colorado master electrician's license are required to verify at least two thousand hours earned in no less than one year of planning, laying-out, and supervising the installation of wiring, apparatus, and equipment for electrical light, heat, and power in addition to the experience requirements for the journeyman's license.

VERIFICATION OF EXPERIENCE FORM
The application must verify electrical experience by submitting Affidavit of Experience Forms from current and former employers (electrical contractors).

Exam Information
The electrical licensing examination is administered in English only through a private testing agency, PSI. Once the application has been approved by the State Electrical Board, a letter of acceptance and information on how to contact PSI to obtain a candidate handbook will be provided. The handbook will provide information on who to contact, how to schedule for the written examination, the testing locations, the required fee, and other important information.

The examination is in a multiple-choice format.  Questions are based on the currently adopted National Electrical Code.  A few of the categories covered in the exam are: grounding and bonding, wiring methods and theory and calculations.  Your pass or fail results will be provided at the testing site.

NOTE: Positive photo identification must be presented at the time of admission to the electrical examination.

Temporary Work Permit
If a temporary work permit is required, a request should be made at the time the original application is submitted. Only one 30-day temporary work permit can be issued. If the temporary work permit expires and the applicant has failed to qualify for licensure, the applicant shall discontinue working as a master, journeyman, or residential wireman in Colorado. If the applicant is not currently licensed as an electrician in another category, the applicant must register as an apprentice and work with supervision.

FYI: Electrical Contractors can manage their electrical apprentice registration needs online by using Online Services.

Please be advised that in accordance with the Colorado Electrical Law, any individual employed in the electrical trade is considered an apprentice and must be registered until such time as the individual has actually obtained a Colorado electrician's license.

The electrical contractor is responsible for compliance with the law regarding licensing and registration of their employees.

The application processing fee must accompany your application. Fees are non-refundable and are subject to change every year on July 1.

Electricians licensed in another state may qualify for licensure by endorsement if the applicant has substantially equivalent credentials and qualifications to those required in Colorado for licensure by examination. In addition, applicants are required to:

• Submit a completed Colorado State Electrical Board Application for License by Endorsement.
• Submit the application processing fee (non-refundable).
• Provide Affidavit of Experience Forms of electrical experience obtained.
• Submit a letter from the state licensing agency that issued your license, which must:
  • Verify that you hold a comparable and state issued license.
  • Verify that your license was obtained by examination.
  • A list of the categories covered on the exam which includes:
    • A breakdown of percentages for each category covered in the specific examination you took
    • The edition of the N.E.C. used for the examination. (Your original license examination must have been based on the current edition of the N.E.C. in effect at the time of application).
  • A list of the experience requirements for the license, and verification that these requirements were met.

JOURNEYMAN RECIPROCAL AGREEMENTS: Colorado has journeyman electrician reciprocal licensing agreements with the following states: : Alaska, Arkansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.

Applicants for a Colorado journeyman reciprocal license are required to submit a completed State of Colorado Application for License by Endorsement, the application processing fee*, and a copy of their qualifying license.  Licensing applications are available on the Electrical Professionals tab.

• Fees are non-refundable and are subject to change every year on July 1.

Applicants must have obtained a journeyman electrician certificate of competency or license by passing a mandatory examination after completing either a four-year apprenticeship program; or four years of equivalent experience as determined by the licensing state.

Applicants must hold a journeyman electrician license or certificate or higher classification from a participating state. The license or certificate must be current, active, and in good standing.

Colorado electricians applying for a reciprocal license in a participating state must contact that state for specific requirements and fees.