State Licensing Practice Tests
State-specific electrician licensing exam prep for all 50 states.
How State Electrician Licensing Works
There is no national electrician license in the United States. Every state runs its own licensing program with its own exam, experience requirements, and fees. Some states have city or county licensing on top of the state license. Before you sit for any exam, go directly to your state electrical licensing board website to get the official requirements — they change, and these tests are no substitute for the official exam outline.
Most states offer these license levels:
- Apprentice / Wireman: Works under a journeyman. Usually no exam, just registration.
- Journeyman: Can work without direct supervision. In most states permits are pulled by a master electrician or licensed contractor, not a journeyman. Usually requires about 8,000 hours (4 years) of experience plus a written exam.
- Master: Can design systems, supervise, and run a contracting business. Requires journeyman license + 2–4 years experience + harder exam.
- Electrical Contractor: Business license to operate an electrical contracting company. Some states combine this with the master license; others issue it separately.
Which NEC Edition Does Your State Use?
States adopt NEC editions on their own schedule — most lag 1–3 years behind the current published edition. As of 2026, many states are on NEC 2023. Some are beginning to adopt NEC 2026. A few states are still on NEC 2020.
| State | NEC Edition (approx. 2025–2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | NEC 2023 | TDLR licenses electricians — check tdlr.texas.gov |
| Florida | NEC 2020 | Adopted through the Florida Building Code; the 9th edition moves to NEC 2023 on Dec 31, 2026 |
| California | NEC 2023 (California Electrical Code) | Title 24, Part 3 — the NEC with California amendments |
| Georgia | NEC 2023 | Effective Jan 1, 2025, with Georgia amendments |
| North Carolina | NEC 2020 | The 2023 adoption has been delayed — check the NC Office of State Fire Marshal |
| New York | Varies by jurisdiction | NYC has its own electrical code; rest of state varies |
| Illinois | Varies by jurisdiction | No statewide electrical code or electrician license; cities set their own, and Chicago has its own code |
These are approximate. Always verify at your state licensing board before exam day.
To become a licensed journeyman electrician in Florida, candidates take an exam administered by PSI Exams. The exam has 100 questions, 5-hour time limit, 75% passing score. The exam is closed-book, so you'll need to know the material from memory rather than looking answers up during the test.
Our free Florida full-length practice exam is built to match this format — same question count, same time limit, same passing score — so you walk in already used to the real pacing, not just the material.
Two-part exam: 100-question open-book technical/safety section (5 hrs) + 50-question closed-book business/law section (2.5 hrs), 75% required on each. One source reports a newer format (80 questions, all open-book, 3 hrs) as of a recent change — conflicting reports, verify directly with Florida DBPR before relying on this.
SourceTexas Electrician License — Key Facts
Texas is administered by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). The licensing path is: Apprentice → Journeyman (85-question exam in two parts, 59 code questions and 26 calculation questions, NEC 2023, 70% on each part) → Master → Electrical Contractor. Testing is through PSI Exams at testing centers around the state. You can bring a tabbed NEC codebook and a calculator.
Texas requires 4 years as a licensed apprentice (8,000 hours documented) before sitting for the journeyman exam. Master requires 2 additional years as a licensed journeyman.
Florida Electrician License — Key Facts
Florida licenses electrical contractors at the state level through DBPR. A Certified contractor license is valid statewide, and a Registered license is valid only in the local jurisdiction that issued it. Journeyman licenses are issued by counties and cities, and each one sets its own exam and experience rules.
Florida adopts the NEC through the Florida Building Code. The current 8th edition uses NEC 2020, and the 9th edition moves to NEC 2023 on December 31, 2026.
California Electrician License — Key Facts
Electricians who work for C-10 contractors in California must be state certified by the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR). The General Electrician certification exam has 100 questions, needs 70% to pass, and requires 8,000 hours of experience. Contractors hold the C-10 Electrical Contractor license from the Contractors State License Board (CSLB), which requires a law and business exam, a trade exam, and 4 years of experience. California uses the California Electrical Code (Title 24, Part 3), which is the NEC with California-specific amendments.
Reciprocity Between States
Some states honor electrician licenses from other states through reciprocity agreements. If you move to a new state, you may be able to get a license by endorsement rather than retaking the full exam. Contact the receiving state's licensing board for current reciprocity agreements — they change.
State Licensing — FAQ
Can I work in multiple states with one license?
No, unless the states have a reciprocity agreement. You need to apply separately in each state. Some states offer a faster endorsement process for active licensees from other states, but you still need to apply and pay fees.
If I move to a new state, do I have to retake the exam?
Sometimes. Many states offer reciprocal endorsement for active licenses from other states — you submit your license and experience records instead of retaking the full exam. Check with the receiving state's licensing board.
Do I need a state license to do electrical work on my own home?
In most states, homeowners can do electrical work on their own primary residence without a license. But you usually still need a permit and inspection. Rules vary by state and municipality — confirm with your local building department.
How often must I renew my electrician license?
Most states require renewal every 1–3 years with continuing education (CE) hours. Common CE topics required: NEC code changes, workplace safety, and state law updates. NEC 2026 adoption is a common CE topic right now as states update their code editions.
What happens if I do electrical work without a license?
Working without a required license is illegal in most states. Penalties include fines, stop-work orders, and in some states criminal charges. More importantly, uninspected work can create fire and shock hazards and may make your homeowner's insurance void in the event of a claim.