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How to get an electrician license in Alaska

Hours, exam, fees, renewal and continuing education for Alaska, pulled from official AK sources and checked .

Quick answer
  • Licensing body: Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development — Mechanical Inspection (Certificates of Fitness)
  • State journeyman license: Yes (Electrician Journeyman Certificate of Fitness (8 AAC 90.160) is the statewide journeyman credential.)
  • Electrician Journeyman Certificate of Fitness: 8,000 hours of work experience in commercial/industrial electrical construction while holding an Alaska Trainee COF. A maximum of 2,000 hours may be residential; up to 1,000 classroom; up to 1,000 power lineman; up to 4,000 military/vocational per 8 AAC 90.890(b). No maintenance hours. Alaska hours without a valid Trainee COF do not count; out-of-state hours must have been worked legally there.
  • Exam: open book, via Alaska Mechanical Inspection (DOLWD)
  • Code edition: Electrician Journeyman exams are open book on the National Electrical Code 2020.

Requirements by license

Electrician Journeyman Certificate of Fitness

Experience8,000 hours of work experience in commercial/industrial electrical construction while holding an Alaska Trainee COF. A maximum of 2,000 hours may be residential; up to 1,000 classroom; up to 1,000 power lineman; up to 4,000 military/vocational per 8 AAC 90.890(b). No maintenance hours. Alaska hours without a valid Trainee COF do not count; out-of-state hours must have been worked legally there.Source: labor.alaska.gov · as of
ExamAlaska Mechanical Inspection (DOLWD). Open book. Open book, National Electrical Code 2020. Maximum 4 hours. 70% to pass. Wait 30 days to retest after a fail.Source: labor.alaska.gov · as of · License page: labor.alaska.gov
Fees
  • Application (non-refundable): $50
  • Certificate (upon issue): $200
Source: labor.alaska.gov · as of
RenewalEvery 2 years. Renew with the $200 certificate fee. Application fee is waived if you renew within 90 days of expiration; after 90 days add the $50 application fee. Renewals more than two years after expiration require retesting.Source: labor.alaska.gov · as of · Renewal form: labor.alaska.gov
CE to renew16 hours per preceding 24 months
  • Significant changes or updates to the National Electrical Code (at least 8 hours)
No more than 8 hours may be industry-related. Attach course certificates to the renewal application.
Source: labor.alaska.gov · as of · Renewal form: labor.alaska.gov

License types in Alaska

  • Electrician Journeyman COF
  • Residential Wireman COF
  • Power Lineman Journeyman COF
  • Electrician / Power Lineman Trainee COF
  • Reciprocal and Provisional Electrician Journeyman
Source: labor.alaska.gov · as of

Reciprocity (licensed in another state?)

Alaska reciprocates Electrician Journeyman COFs with jurisdictions that have substantially similar requirements (about 4 years / 8,000 hours and an exam). You must have held the origin license for a full year. No exam for reciprocity. Fees are $50 application + $200 certificate. The Mechanical Inspection reciprocity list currently marks Yes for 33 states including Washington, Oregon, Texas, Minnesota and Wyoming (see the MI Reciprocity page for the full table and accepted license names).Source: labor.alaska.gov · as of · License page: labor.alaska.gov

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 Alaska have a state journeyman electrician credential?

Yes. The Electrician Journeyman Certificate of Fitness requires 8,000 hours while holding an Alaska Trainee COF, then an open-book exam.

Is the Alaska electrician exam open book?

Yes. It uses the 2020 NEC, lasts up to 4 hours, and you need 70% to pass.

How much does an Alaska electrician COF cost?

The application fee is $50, and the certificate fee is $200.

Does Alaska have electrician reciprocity?

Yes. Mechanical Inspection reciprocates with many states that have similar 8,000-hour and exam requirements if you have held that license for a full year.

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

Other states

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