Is Your Electrical License Accepted by Other States?

Expecting a successful career as an electrician without a license is like trying to drive without keys — you’ll get nowhere fast. Customers are more likely to hire someone who is licensed and insured, and many states have severe penalties for anyone who solicits unlicensed electrical work.

If you’re considering starting the journey to becoming a licensed electrician, there’s one more important benefit to consider: license reciprocity.

Reciprocity map

License Reciprocity and Its Benefits

Reciprocity is an agreement between states that allows an electrician licensed in one state to get an equivalent license in another with fewer or no additional requirements.

For example, licensed electricians from Iowa or New Hampshire can become licensed in Wisconsin by filling out a reciprocity application instead of going through the entire licensing process again.

This is a popular way for electricians and electrical contractors to explore different job opportunities without spending more time and money on additional training and exam fees.

If these benefits inspire you to pursue an electrician license, there are plenty of study tools available to help you pass the exam and get licensed.

How to Get Licensed in Another State

A reciprocity agreement doesn’t mean a licensed electrician can automatically start working in another state. An important first step when considering reciprocity is to check your state’s certification authority. Reciprocity agreements vary by state, and some don’t offer reciprocity at all.

States that offer reciprocity can also have different requirements for license level (Journeyman or Master) or the number of experience hours needed.

Generally, states that offer reciprocity have an application — either a general application with a reciprocity “checkbox” or a unique application — that licensed electricians must fill out. Many applications are online and require creating an account. States usually require proof of an electrician’s current active license and sometimes a copy of a photo ID for identity verification. Application fees range from $10 to over $100, but keep in mind applying for a reciprocal license means there are no additional exam fees or costs associated with initial licensure.

Next Steps

Ready to pursue a career as an electrician? Before you take your licensing exam, remember to check out our comprehensive Electrical Exam Preparation program. It offers you access to a practice test so you can pass the exam on your first try and get licensed. Just choose your state to get started!

State Reciprocity:
Alabama No Reciprocity Agreements
Alaska Journeyman: Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Master: Oregon

Arizona No Reciprocity Agreements
Arkansas Alaska, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota. Colorado, Oregon, Texas, Utah is for master license only.
California No Reciprocity Agreements
Colorado Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming
Connecticut No Reciprocity Agreements
Delaware Approved on a case by case basis. Must be licensed in a jurisdiction that has substantially similar license requirements to Delaware.
Florida No Reciprocity Agreements
Georgia No Reciprocity Agreements
Hawaii No Reciprocity Agreements
Idaho Colorado, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wyoming
Illinois No Reciprocity Agreements
Indiana No Reciprocity Agreements
Iowa Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin
Kansas No Reciprocity Agreements
Kentucky Louisiana, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia
Louisiana Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah
Maine New Hampshire, Vermont
Maryland Delaware, Virginia, Washington, D.C., West Virginia
Massachusetts New Hampshire
Michigan No Reciprocity Agreements
Minnesota Journeyman: Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming

Master: Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska

Mississippi No Reciprocity Agreements
Missouri No Reciprocity Agreements
Montana Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon (state to state only), South Dakota, Texas, Wyoming
Nebraska Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Wyoming
Nevada No Reciprocity Agreements
New Hampshire Journeyman: Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Master: Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont

New Jersey No Reciprocity Agreements
New Mexico Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wyoming
New York No Reciprocity Agreements
North Carolina No Reciprocity Agreements
North Dakota Journeyman: Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Utah, Wyoming

Master: Minnesota, South Dakota

Ohio No Reciprocity Agreements
Oklahoma Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, Texas, Wyoming
Oregon Arkansas, Idaho, Maine, Montana, Utah, Washington, Wyoming
Pennsylvania No Reciprocity Agreements
Rhode Island No Reciprocity Agreements
South Carolina No Reciprocity Agreements
South Dakota Journeyman: Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Wyoming

Master: Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Montana, New Hampshire, Texas, Utah

Tennessee No Reciprocity Agreements
Texas Journeyman: Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wyoming

Master: Louisiana, North Carolina

Utah Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, South Dakota, Delaware, New Hampshire, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, New Jersey, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Vermont Maine, New Hampshire
Virginia Alabama, Maryland, North Carolina, West Virginia
Washington Oregon
West Virgina North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee
Wisconsin Iowa
Wyoming Journeyman: Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas

Master: Idaho, Iowa, South Dakota

As of 1/1/2024. We recommend contacting your state certification authority’s website for the latest information.