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Electrical Board: Applications and Forms

Licensing Requirements:

Electrician Licensure by Examination or Endorsement

All practical experience must be documented on the Affidavit of Experience form provided by the Board and completed by the electrical contractor supervising the work that was performed. Journeyman electricians cannot be a signatory authority for a company.

License by Examination

Residential Wireman

     Experience Requirements

  • 4,000 hours of residential-only experience earned in no less than 2 years

Journeyman Electrician

     Experience Requirements

  • 8,000 hours of experience earned in no less than 4 years
  • 4,000 hours of which must be in commercial/industrial work

    Education Requirements

  • 288 hours of classroom education required for applicants registered as an apprentice on or after 1/1/2011
  • Must be documented with a transcript or similar statement

Master Electrician

     Experience Requirements (CHOOSE ONE)

  • Graduate electrical engineer of an accredited college or university AND 2,000 hours of construction experience earned in no less than 1 year, OR
  • Graduate of an electrical trade school or community college AND 8,000 hours of experience earned in no less than 4 years, OR
  • 2,000 hours of experience earned in no less than 1 year in addition to the JW requirements listed above
    • Some hours of which must be in planning and layout
    • Some hours of which must be supervision* while in possession of a Journeyman Electrician license

*Please note that supervision hours will not be applied to the total number of hours to prevent double credit for work done alongside supervisees

Note: It is not possible to go from Apprentice or Residential Wireman to Master if you are using experience to qualify for the Master license

License by Endorsement

     All License Types

  • Copy of license to be endorsed
    • License to be endorsed MUST be active, issued, and regulated by the state, AND gained by testing on the current National Electrical Code (NEC) in use in Colorado
  • Verification of Licensure form completed by issuing State Board for the license to be endorsed
Electrician Licensure By Reciprocity

The Colorado State Electrical Board adheres to the bylaws of the National Electrical Reciprocal Alliance (NERA). As such, Colorado has journeyman electrician reciprocal licensing agreements with the following states:

  • Alaska
  • Arkansas
  • Idaho
  • Iowa
  • Minnesota
  • Montana
  • Nebraska
  • New Hampshire
  • New Mexico
  • North Dakota
  • Oklahoma
  • South Dakota
  • Utah
  • Wyoming

In accordance with NERA bylaws, applications for a Colorado journeyman reciprocal license are required to:

  • Hold a journeyman certificate or a master electrician certificate that is current, active, and in good standing and allows the individual to work as a journeyman electrician in the licensing state
  • Have gained that certificate through a state-administered examination with a passing score from the licensing state
  • Have held the journeyman certificate or the master electrician certificate for at least 1-year in the licensing state

The Colorado Electrical Board will issue a certificate without written examination when an applicant for reciprocity has met the above requirements and paid the appropriate fees. Applicants will not be granted a reciprocal certificate where the certificate in the licensing state was granted by grandfathering without having passed a state-administered examination as stated above. 

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

Electrical Contractor Registration Requirements

To perform electrical contracting in the State of Colorado, you must be a licensed Electrical Contractor registered with the State of Colorado:

  • Hold or employ a licensed master electrician to serve as the responsible individual for the company.
    • The master electrician and company owner (if separate individuals) must sign an Acknowledgment of Responsibility Form. The selected master electrician may be the responsible party for one company only.
  • You must submit evidence that you comply with Workers' Compensation and Unemployment Compensation laws.

For local requirements, contact the city and/or county government in the area in which you work.

First-time business owners may contact the Colorado Business Assistance Center at 303-592-5920.

For information on obtaining a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN), visit the IRS website at www.irs.gov/businesses.

Applications and Forms:

Electricians

Licensure

Electrician - Original License by Examination, Endorsement, and Reciprocity (Apply Online)

Electrician - Reinstate Expired License (Apply Online)

Electrician - Reactivate Inactive License

Electrician - Change Status to Inactive

Forms

Electrical Contractors

Registration
Forms

 

Communication from the Division: The Division of Professions and Occupations' primary communication is via email. Please be sure to include your current email address on your application to receive important information about your application status and process.

License Expiration Bump Period for New Applicants: All new applicants who are issued a license within 120 days of the upcoming renewal expiration date will be issued a license with the next expiration date.

License Renewal Information: All Electrician and Electrical Contractor licenses expire on September 30, 2023, and renew every three years. View your expiration date on your online account. Please note that renewals open approximately six weeks prior to the expiration date.