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How to get an electrician license in Alabama

Hours, exam, fees, renewal and continuing education for Alabama, pulled from official AL sources and checked .

Quick answer
  • Licensing body: Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors
  • State journeyman license: Yes (The Board issues statewide journeyman electrician licenses by exam; a journeyman works under a master or state-certified electrical contractor.)
  • Journeyman Electrician: 8,000 hours of documented electrical installation experience (commercial, industrial or residential), shown with notarized employer affidavits and W-2s or 1099s, or a registered apprenticeship work affidavit. Approved electrical schooling or apprenticeship can replace 1,000 hours per year, up to 2,000 hours; a long certificate from an Alabama public 2-year college counts for 2,000 hours.
  • Exam: open book, via Prov
  • Code edition: The Prov journeyman and contractor exams (bulletin effective October 24, 2026) use NFPA 70, the National Electrical Code, 2023 edition.

Requirements by license

Journeyman Electrician

Experience8,000 hours of documented electrical installation experience (commercial, industrial or residential), shown with notarized employer affidavits and W-2s or 1099s, or a registered apprenticeship work affidavit. Approved electrical schooling or apprenticeship can replace 1,000 hours per year, up to 2,000 hours; a long certificate from an Alabama public 2-year college counts for 2,000 hours.Source: aecb.alabama.gov · as of · Rule 303-X-3-.03: admincode.legislature.state.al.us
ExamProv. Open book. 80 questions, 240 minutes, 75% to pass. Open-book references: NFPA 70 (NEC) 2023 and the American Electrician's Handbook, 17th edition. Exam approval expires 2 years after the Board approves you.Source: new.provexam.com · as of · Approval period: rule 303-X-3-.03 (admincode.legislature.state.al.us).
Fees
  • Exam (paid to the Board): $115
  • Journeyman license: $35
Source: aecb.alabama.gov · as of · A 4% service fee applies to card payments. Rule 303-X-3-.10, effective February 14, 2026: admincode.legislature.state.al.us
RenewalEvery year. Renew before the last day of the quarter in which the license was issued. A journeyman license cannot be renewed late; it expires at 11:59 pm on the expiration date. $35 to renew.Source: admincode.legislature.state.al.us · as of · Late renewal: aecb.alabama.gov
CE to renewNot confirmed. The Board rules require CE for electrical contractors (14 hours every 2 years) and list none for journeymen; ask the Board.Not confirmedSource: admincode.legislature.state.al.us · as of

Electrical Contractor (Master Electrician)

Experience8,000 hours of experience in the design, planning, layout and direct supervision of electrical construction, or 8,000 hours as a journeyman electrician in charge of jobs. College electrical courses or an apprenticeship can replace 1,000 hours per year, up to 2,000 hours. An Alabama-licensed professional electrical engineer also qualifies to sit for the exam.Source: admincode.legislature.state.al.us · as of · Rule 303-X-3-.02.
ExamProv. Open book. Alabama Electrical Contractor exam: 110 questions, 300 minutes, 75% to pass, NEC 2023. Reciprocity applicants instead take the Business & Law exam (40 questions, 120 minutes, 75%, $86 paid to Prov).Source: new.provexam.com · as of
Fees
  • Exam (paid to the Board): $165
  • Contractor license: $150
  • Restoration renewal (per year expired): $50
  • Reciprocal license application: $315
Source: admincode.legislature.state.al.us · as of · Rule 303-X-3-.10, effective February 14, 2026. Application by mail or email: aecb.alabama.gov
RenewalEvery year. Renew before the last day of the quarter in which the license was issued. A $50 late fee applies after the last day of the renewal month. $150 to renew.Source: admincode.legislature.state.al.us · as of · Late fee: aecb.alabama.gov
CE to renew14 hours per 2 years
  • Courses from a Board-approved provider
2027 is a CE year: contractors need 14 hours before renewing in 2027 for 2028. Since May 2026 providers report hours through the Board portal; the Board no longer accepts certificates from contractors.
Source: admincode.legislature.state.al.us · as of · CE year and reporting: aecb.alabama.gov

License types in Alabama

  • Journeyman Electrician
  • Electrical Contractor (also called Master Electrician)
  • Provisional Electrician
Source: aecb.alabama.gov · as of · Provisional renewal: aecb.alabama.gov

Reciprocity (licensed in another state?)

Alabama grants reciprocity for exam-earned licenses: contractor licenses from Mississippi, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Ohio, Louisiana and Texas, and journeyman licenses from Texas. The NASCLA contractor exam also qualifies. Reciprocity with Georgia has ended.Source: aecb.alabama.gov · as of

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

Does Alabama have a state journeyman electrician license?

Yes. The Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors issues statewide journeyman licenses by exam; you need 8,000 hours of documented electrical experience, and schooling can replace up to 2,000 hours.

Is the Alabama journeyman electrician exam open book?

Yes. The Prov journeyman exam is open book with the 2023 NEC, and it has 80 questions in 240 minutes with 75% needed to pass.

How much does an Alabama journeyman electrician license cost?

The journeyman exam costs $115 and the license costs $35.

Does Alabama have electrician license reciprocity?

Alabama accepts exam-earned contractor licenses from states including Mississippi, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana and Texas, and journeyman licenses from Texas.

Already licensed? See Alabama electrician license renewal & CE requirements.

Other states

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