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New York electrician license renewal & CE requirements

When to renew, how many continuing-education hours you need, which topics are required, and where to find approved courses. Checked .

Quick answer

Renewal rules by license

Electrician license (local)

RenewalSet locally. NYC: every year (expires on your birthday). Suffolk County: every 2 years. Westchester County: every year, expiring December 31. See the local table.Source: nyc.gov · as of · Suffolk: suffolkcountyny.gov · Westchester: consumer.westchestercountyny.gov
CE hours & topicsSet locally: e.g., NYC 8 hours per renewal; Suffolk 8 hours per 2-year renewal; Westchester 4 hours per renewal. See the local table.Source: nyc.gov · as of · Suffolk: suffolkcountyny.gov · Westchester: consumer.westchestercountyny.gov
FeesSet locally / not listedSource: nyc.gov · as of · Set by each city or county; see the local table.

Local electrician licenses (by city/county)

New York State does not license electricians, so cities and counties do. Most license master electricians (who run the business and pull permits) rather than journeymen. We checked New York City and the largest counties and cities below; anywhere else, ask the local building department.

New York City

Office: NYC Department of Buildings, Licensing & Exams Unit
Licenses journeymen?No journeyman license found. DOB licenses Master Electricians (independent contractors) and Special Electricians (specific buildings)
FeesWritten exam: $585
Practical exam: $530
License: $310
Original seal: $50
Renewal (license $60 + seal $30): $90
RenewalEvery year. License term is 1 year; under the Administrative Code it expires on your birthday. Renew in DOB NOW: Licensing with a physical exam form (LIC62) done within 90 days
CE8 hours · A Department-approved course of at least 8 hours for every renewal (required since Jan. 1, 2016).
NotesYou must be an officer, partner or sole proprietor of an electrical business with a place of business in NYC, with liability, workers' comp and disability insurance. A 2024 bill to move to a 3-year term (Int. 0437-2024) was filed at the end of the session without passing.
Still openLate renewal fee ($400 on the renewal page vs. $310 in the fee table)
ContactLicensing & Exams Unit · (212) 393-2259 · licensingdob@buildings.nyc.gov (source)
Source: nyc.gov · as of · Fees and 1-year term: nyc.gov · Renewal and CE: nyc.gov · Birthday expiry (current Admin. Code text quoted in Int. 0437-2024): legistar.council.nyc.gov · Exam administrator: nycdob.cpshr.us · Exam administrator: nycdob.cpshr.us

Suffolk County

Office: Suffolk County Dept. of Labor, Licensing & Consumer Affairs (Electrical Licensing Board)
Licenses journeymen?No journeyman license found. The county licenses Master Electricians and Restricted Electricians (HVAC, oil and gas burners, signs and lighting, communications cable); only a Master may do line-voltage work
FeesMaster Electrician license (per year, billed for the 2-year term): $200
Biennial renewal: $400
RenewalEvery 2 years. Licenses expire on the last day of the 24th month after issuance
CE8 hours · Master electricians: 8 hours per 2-year renewal period (restricted licenses: 4 hours), from Board-approved providers, based on the current NEC.
Still openExam format; Whether the 2025 fee bill took effect
ContactSuffolk County Consumer Affairs · (631) 853-4600 (source)
Source: suffolkcountyny.gov · as of · County Code (official publisher, linked from the county page): ecode360.com

Westchester County

Office: Westchester County Dept. of Consumer Protection (Electrical Licensing Board)
Licenses journeymen?No journeyman electrician license found. The county gives exams for Master/Special Electrician licenses (journey-level licensing is for plumbers)
FeesExam application: $50
Master Electrician license: $500
Master renewal (per year): $500
Special Electrician license: $350
Special renewal (per year): $350
Late fee, renewal in January: $50
Late fee, renewal in February: $100
RenewalEvery year. All licenses expire December 31. Late fee $50 in January, $100 in February; from March 1 you must appear before the Board
CE4 hours · 4 hours from a Board-approved provider before you renew or shelve a license, with written proof.
ContactTrades Licensing Division · (914) 995-2657 · cp-trades@westchestercountyny.gov (source)
Source: consumer.westchestercountyny.gov · as of · Experience and exam: consumer.westchestercountyny.gov · CE: consumer.westchestercountyny.gov

Buffalo (city)

Office: City of Buffalo, Electrical (Permit & Inspection Services)
Licenses journeymen?Yes
FeesMaster Electrician application: $100
RenewalNot confirmed
CENot confirmed
NotesRequirements are from the city's journeyman and master application forms.
Still openLicense and renewal fees; Renewal cycle; CE
ContactCity of Buffalo, Electrical, 65 Niagara Square, Room 312 · 716-851-4600 (source)
Source: buffalony.gov · as of · Journeyman: buffalony.gov

Not listed? Call your city, town or county building department and ask which electrician license it requires.

Approved CE provider lists (official)

What we couldn't confirm yet

We only publish what we can tie to an official source. These items aren't published anywhere we could verify, so ask the office listed:

FAQ

How often do you renew an NYC master electrician license?

An NYC Master or Special Electrician license has a 1-year term and is renewed every year in DOB NOW: Licensing; the renewal fee is $90 ($60 license plus $30 seal).

How many CE hours does an NYC master electrician need?

Every NYC Master and Special Electrician renewal requires a Department-approved course of at least 8 hours.

What are the electrician CE rules in Suffolk and Westchester counties?

Suffolk County master electricians need 8 hours of approved CE for each 2-year renewal. Westchester County electricians need 4 hours of Board-approved CE before each yearly renewal, and all Westchester licenses expire December 31.

Not licensed yet? See how to get an electrician license in New York.

Other states

Compare every state side by side: license requirements by state · renewal & CE by state.