License mobility
Electrical license reciprocity by state.
Reciprocity is not a universal transfer of an electrical license. Agreements are classification-specific, receiving-state rules control the application, and some states use endorsement instead of formal reciprocity.
Start with the receiving state
Three checks before relying on electrician license reciprocity
- License classification: confirm whether the other state accepts your journeyman, master or contractor credential.
- Eligibility: verify whether licensing by examination, experience documentation, current good standing, or residency conditions apply.
- Written confirmation: check the receiving board’s actual application and official guidance before practicing there.
New to licensure? Review the state-by-state apprentice requirements and types of electrical licenses. Preparing for a required examination? Start with the free electrician skills check or NEC study guide.
How to read reciprocity correctly
Reciprocity typically means a receiving state recognizes a qualifying license from a partner jurisdiction and may waive its trade examination. Endorsement is a separate path in which a state evaluates another jurisdiction’s license as substantially similar. Experience credit means prior work may count toward eligibility but does not itself create a reciprocal license.
Verify both sides of a reciprocal agreement
When planning a reciprocal application, check the receiving state first because that state decides whether your current license qualifies. TRADECAIRN links every state entry to an official authority source so users can confirm the agreement, classification, and current conditions directly.
The most important rule
A reciprocal agreement does not usually mean you can simply begin working under your existing out-of-state card. You still apply to the receiving state, meet its conditions, pay its fees, and obtain that state’s license. License class, exam history, years held, good standing, education, OJT, and continuing education can all matter.
Wyoming
Current published pathway: Journeyman: AK, AR, CO, ID, ME, MN, MT, NE, NH, NM, ND, OK, OR, SD, TX, IA, UT. Master: ID, SD, IA.
Reciprocity waives the exam only; Wyoming still requires its licensing qualifications, good standing, required experience/education, and current CE documentation.
Montana
Current published pathway: Journeyman reciprocity includes AK, AR, CO, MN, ND, NE, NH, NM, OK, SD, TX, UT, WY; Idaho has a state-to-state route. Other jurisdictions may qualify by endorsement.
Montana does not reciprocate or endorse master electrician or electrical contractor licenses. Current application materials distinguish reciprocity from endorsement.
Idaho
Current published pathway: Journeyman reciprocal pathway includes NERA states such as CO, IA, MN, MT, ND, SD, WI, WY and others; Oregon has a separate reciprocal pathway.
Applicant must hold an active license obtained by examination; Idaho verifies qualifying reciprocal-state credentials.
Colorado
Current published pathway: Multiple neighboring state agencies list Colorado as a reciprocal journeyman partner, including WY, SD, ND, NE, MN and IA.
Because receiving-state rules control whether an exam is waived, verify the current Colorado application pathway and the destination state before relying on reciprocity.
Utah
Current published pathway: Utah primarily uses licensure by endorsement for out-of-state applicants whose license has a similar scope.
Applicants must provide official license verification; endorsement eligibility depends on the equivalent-license map. Master applicants still must pass the Utah law-and-rule exam.
South Dakota
Current published pathway: Journeyman reciprocity includes CO, ID, IA, MN, MT, NE, NM, ND, WY and others. Master/electrical-contractor equivalents exist with a subset of states.
Generally the qualifying license must have been earned by exam and held active for at least one year; counterpart states may impose additional requirements.
North Dakota
Current published pathway: Journeyman: AK, AR, CO, ID, IA, ME, MN, MT, NE, NH, SD, UT, WY. Master: IA, MN, SD.
Requires a current license in good standing, licensure by written exam, one year of continuous licensure, and qualifying experience.
Nebraska
Current published pathway: Journeyman: AK, AR, CO, IA, ID, MN, MT, NM, ND, OK, SD, TX, WY. Electrical-contractor reciprocity applies only with selected states.
Applicant must have passed a state exam. Nebraska warns that reciprocity is generally a one-time pathway if the Nebraska license later lapses.
Minnesota
Current published pathway: Journeyworker: AK, AR, CO, IA, MT, NE, ND, SD, WY. Master: IA, ND, SD, NE.
Requires qualifying state-level exam history, at least one year of licensure, current good standing, and no disqualifying Minnesota exam history.
Wisconsin
Current published pathway: Journeyman reciprocity currently lists Iowa and New Hampshire.
The applicant must hold a valid, unexpired journeyman license obtained through a state examination in the reciprocal state.
Iowa
Current published pathway: Reciprocal agreements include AK, AR, CO, MN, MT, NE, NH, ND, OK, SD, TX, WI, WY.
The qualifying license generally must have been obtained by approved state exam, held for at least one year, and remain in good standing; classification mapping differs by state.
Arizona
Current published pathway: Arizona ROC offers trade-exam waiver provisions for qualifying parties with recent comparable license history, and Arizona law includes an occupational-license recognition framework for qualifying out-of-state licensees.
This is not a blanket journeyman reciprocity agreement. Verify the specific ROC classification, qualifying-party history, and whether local electrician requirements apply.
New Mexico
Current published pathway: EE-98J reciprocity is accepted from Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming.
New Mexico states that EE-98J is the only journeyman classification covered by this reciprocal pathway and requires the qualifying out-of-state credential to meet its stated examination and experience conditions.
Nevada
Current published pathway: Nevada uses contractor licensure-by-endorsement/equivalency charts for specified state and classification combinations, while apprentice reciprocity is handled separately through State Apprenticeship Council guidance.
Identify whether you are transferring registered-apprentice status, contractor experience, or a contractor license before using a Nevada reciprocity pathway.
Kansas
Current structure: Kansas does not publish one statewide electrician license comparable to the statewide journeyman systems in neighboring states. Electrical licensing is primarily local, so reciprocity or recognition must be checked with the receiving city/county.
Missouri
Current structure: Missouri’s statewide electrical-contractor license must be recognized by political subdivisions for contracting work, but the state does not publish a blanket statewide apprentice/journeyman reciprocity list. Qualifying out-of-state exam and experience records may support a statewide contractor application.
Oklahoma
Current published journeyman reciprocity: Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming.
The reciprocal license must generally be current, in good standing for at least one year, and obtained by examination rather than grandfathering. Oklahoma still requires an application, work history, and fees.
Texas
Journeyman reciprocity: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Master reciprocity: Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, North Carolina, and Ohio.
Arkansas
Current structure: Arkansas application materials include reciprocal pathways for individual electrician licenses. Exact partner and classification requirements should be confirmed with the Board.
Louisiana
Current structure: Louisiana uses reciprocity and examination-endorsement agreements primarily for contractor classifications; applicants still complete Louisiana licensing and all non-waived requirements.
Oregon
General Journeyman reciprocity: Arkansas, Idaho, Maine, Montana, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. General Supervising Electrician reciprocity: Arkansas and Utah.
Reciprocal journeyman applicants generally must have qualified through four years/8,000 hours of supervised experience plus at least 576 classroom hours and an exam-based license.
Washington
Current direct reciprocal pathway: Oregon General Journeyman Electrician to Washington 01 General Journey Level, subject to apprenticeship, exam, license-status, and other eligibility conditions.
Alaska
Published reciprocal states: Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. Alaska also states that substantially similar U.S. jurisdictions may be evaluated even without a mutual agreement.
Applicants generally need an active exam-based license held for at least one year and must complete Alaska’s Certificate of Fitness application process.
Michigan
Current structure: Michigan does not hold electrical-license reciprocity with any other state. Out-of-state applicants must qualify for and pass the Michigan exam, although verified out-of-state experience may be reviewed for credit.
Illinois
Current structure: No single statewide general electrician reciprocity system. Municipal and county licensing authorities control most ordinary electrician-license recognition.
Indiana
Current structure: No single statewide general electrician reciprocity system; local building departments typically control recognition of apprentice, journeyman, and contractor credentials.
Ohio
Electrical-contractor reciprocity: Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia under current published OCILB information.
Ohio reciprocity applies to the statewide contractor credential, not every local apprentice or journeyman registration.
Kentucky
Current structure: Kentucky law authorizes reciprocal agreements with substantially equivalent jurisdictions. Applicants must satisfy the specific agreement, submit the out-of-state license and a letter of good standing, and complete Kentucky’s application requirements.
Tennessee
Electrical contractor trade-exam waiver partners: Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, and West Virginia under current Board guidance. The waiver does not apply to LLE or local journeyman/master licensing.
Alabama
Electrical-contractor reciprocity/exam-waiver route: Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, plus qualifying NASCLA Electrical exam credit.
Applicants still must meet Alabama conditions and pass Alabama Business & Law.
Mississippi
Electrical exam-credit pathways: current MSBOC reciprocity materials recognize qualifying electrical exam credit from Alabama Electrical, North Carolina Electrical, Ohio, South Carolina, and Tennessee under specified conditions.
Reciprocity waives the trade exam only; applicants still need the Mississippi license and Business & Law exam.
North Carolina
Electrical-contractor reciprocity: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia under current Board agreements.
Reciprocity is classification-specific and waives the written exam only when the agreement applies.
South Carolina
Current structure: South Carolina uses technical exam waivers/reciprocity for qualifying residential and commercial credentials. Residential electrician technical-exam waiver states currently include North Carolina and Mississippi.
Georgia
Current status: The Georgia Board FAQ states that Georgia does not currently offer licensure by reciprocity, effective May 2026. Older application pages may still display a reciprocity application option.
Florida
Current structure: Florida has no reciprocal licensing agreements for electrical contractors. It instead offers endorsement based on substantially similar exams or qualifying long-term out-of-state licensure.
Virginia
Current electrical agreements include: DC journeyman/master, Kentucky electrician/master, Maryland master, West Virginia journeyman/master, plus selected Alabama, North Carolina, and Ohio contractor/master examination agreements.
West Virginia
Current structure: West Virginia law and State Fire Marshal rules allow qualifying reciprocal/equivalent electrician pathways. Virginia currently lists West Virginia journeyman and master electrical tradesman credentials in its reciprocal agreements.
Maryland
Master reciprocity: Virginia, West Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Delaware. Journeyperson reciprocity: Virginia, Delaware, and D.C., subject to origin-license conditions.
Delaware
Current structure: Delaware offers reciprocity when another jurisdiction’s standards are substantially similar or the applicant satisfies the Board’s alternate reciprocity conditions. Maryland currently recognizes Delaware Master and Journeyperson credentials under its published agreements.
Pennsylvania
Current structure: no single statewide general-electrician reciprocity program because ordinary electrician licensing is largely municipal. Contact the receiving municipality for recognition rules.
New Jersey
Current structure: New Jersey does not publish a broad automatic electrician reciprocity list. Applicants should use the Board’s current Class A apprentice, Class A journeyman, and contractor application procedures and document qualifying experience/apprenticeship history.
Massachusetts
Current reciprocity: Massachusetts states that electrician reciprocity is only with New Hampshire.
Connecticut
Current structure: Connecticut evaluates equivalent out-of-state electrical licenses based on matching classroom curriculum and OJT requirements. For an E-2 equivalent license, DCP currently requires the out-of-state path to have included 8,000 OJT hours and the required equivalent classroom curriculum.
Rhode Island
Current structure: Out-of-state licensed electricians may apply for Rhode Island examination but must provide official license verification and satisfy Rhode Island experience and examination requirements.
Vermont
Published reciprocity: Vermont electrical rules identify reciprocal agreements with New Hampshire and Maine for qualifying master/journeyman licenses.
New Hampshire
Current reciprocal materials: Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont for master/journeyman applicants; additional journeyman-only reciprocal states include Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and Iowa.
Maine
Journeyman reciprocity: New Hampshire, Vermont, North Dakota, Idaho, Oregon, and Wyoming.
New York
Current structure: New York does not use a single statewide general-electrician reciprocity program because licensing is local. Recognition must be checked with the local licensing authority, such as New York City DOB where applicable.
California
Current structure: California does not publish broad electrician reciprocity. Another-state license may be used as proof of experience, but California certification still requires the applicable state examination and classification requirements.
Hawaii
Current structure: Hawaii does not reciprocate with any jurisdiction. Applicants must qualify through Hawaii’s experience/coursework rules and pass the state examination.
District of Columbia
Current reciprocity: qualifying Maryland and Virginia Journeyman and Master Electricians can obtain DC licensure by reciprocity when the origin license was obtained by examination and remains active and in good standing.
Calculations, code references, licensing summaries, and field guidance are educational aids and must be verified against the controlling code edition, AHJ/utility requirements, manufacturer instructions, project documents, and qualified professional judgment. TRADECAIRN does not guarantee that a result is code-compliant or suitable for every installation.