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How to get an electrician license in Colorado

Hours, exam, fees, renewal and continuing education for Colorado, pulled from official CO sources and checked .

Quick answer
  • Licensing body: Colorado State Electrical Board (Department of Regulatory Agencies, Division of Professions and Occupations)
  • State journeyman license: Yes (The State Electrical Board licenses residential wiremen, journeyman electricians and master electricians, and registers electrical contractors and apprentices.)
  • Journeyman Electrician: 8,000 hours of experience over at least 4 years, including 2,000 hours of commercial/industrial work, plus 288 hours of classroom education (documented by transcript). Experience is documented on the Board's Affidavit of Experience, signed by the supervising electrical contractor.
  • Exam: open book, via PSI
  • Code edition: Since 8/1/2026 the PSI exams follow the 2026 National Electrical Code (the 2023 book can be requested until 12/1/2026). The Board held a rulemaking hearing on May 27, 2026 to adopt the 2026 NEC.

Requirements by license

Journeyman Electrician

Experience8,000 hours of experience over at least 4 years, including 2,000 hours of commercial/industrial work, plus 288 hours of classroom education (documented by transcript). Experience is documented on the Board's Affidavit of Experience, signed by the supervising electrical contractor.Source: dpo.colorado.gov · as of
ExamPSI. Open book. 90 scored questions in 240 minutes, 70% (63 correct) to pass, plus up to 10 unscored questions (30 more minutes). PSI provides the NEC and a formula page at the test center; you may not bring or mark any references.Source: test-takers.psiexams.com · as of · PSI bulletin updated 6/18/2026.
Fees
  • Exam (paid to PSI): $78
  • Retest: $73
  • State license fee: not listed
Source: test-takers.psiexams.com · as of · Exam fees are valid for 1 year. License fees are not listed on the Board pages we read.
RenewalEvery 3 years. All electrician licenses expire September 30 every 3 years. The current period ends 9/30/2026, and renewals are accepted through 11/30/2026. New licenses issued within 120 days of an expiration date get the next expiration date.Source: dpo.colorado.gov · as of · Current dates: dpo.colorado.gov Renewal fee not listed on these pages; see "What we couldn't confirm yet".
CE to renew24 hours per 3-year license period
  • At least 4 hours on National Electrical Code changes
  • No more than 4 hours on safety
  • All hours in the core areas: grounding and bonding, NEC changes, wiring methods, theory and calculations, safety
Take courses only from a provider on the Board's attested provider list. Not required for the first renewal after you were licensed by exam. Keep records for 7 years. One set of hours for your most advanced license covers lesser licenses.
Source: dpo.colorado.gov · as of

Master Electrician

ExperienceOne of: 10,000 hours over at least 5 years; a bachelor's in electrical engineering plus 2,000 hours of construction experience over at least 1 year; an electrical trade school or community college graduate plus 8,000 hours over at least 4 years; or 2,000 hours over at least 1 year on top of the journeyman requirements. Some hours must be in planning and layout and some in supervision while holding a journeyman license.Source: dpo.colorado.gov · as of
ExamPSI. Open book. 90 scored questions in 240 minutes, 70% (63 correct) to pass. PSI provides the NEC and a formula page.Source: test-takers.psiexams.com · as of
Fees
  • Exam (paid to PSI): $78
  • Retest: $73
  • State license fee: not listed
Source: test-takers.psiexams.com · as of
RenewalEvery 3 years. All electrician licenses expire September 30 every 3 years. The current period ends 9/30/2026, and renewals are accepted through 11/30/2026. New licenses issued within 120 days of an expiration date get the next expiration date.Source: dpo.colorado.gov · as of · Current dates: dpo.colorado.gov Renewal fee not listed on these pages; see "What we couldn't confirm yet".
CE to renew24 hours per 3-year license period
  • At least 4 hours on National Electrical Code changes
  • No more than 4 hours on safety
  • All hours in the core areas: grounding and bonding, NEC changes, wiring methods, theory and calculations, safety
Take courses only from a provider on the Board's attested provider list. Not required for the first renewal after you were licensed by exam. Keep records for 7 years. One set of hours for your most advanced license covers lesser licenses.
Source: dpo.colorado.gov · as of

Residential Wireman

Experience4,000 hours of residential-only experience over at least 2 years. Residential wiremen may work unsupervised on 1- to 4-family dwellings only.Source: dpo.colorado.gov · as of · Scope: dpo.colorado.gov
ExamPSI. Open book. 90 scored questions in 240 minutes, 70% (63 correct) to pass, plus up to 7 unscored questions.Source: test-takers.psiexams.com · as of
Fees
  • Exam (paid to PSI): $78
  • Retest: $73
Source: test-takers.psiexams.com · as of
RenewalEvery 3 years. All electrician licenses expire September 30 every 3 years. The current period ends 9/30/2026, and renewals are accepted through 11/30/2026. New licenses issued within 120 days of an expiration date get the next expiration date.Source: dpo.colorado.gov · as of · Current dates: dpo.colorado.gov Renewal fee not listed on these pages; see "What we couldn't confirm yet".
CE to renew24 hours per 3-year license period
  • At least 4 hours on National Electrical Code changes
  • No more than 4 hours on safety
  • All hours in the core areas: grounding and bonding, NEC changes, wiring methods, theory and calculations, safety
Take courses only from a provider on the Board's attested provider list. Not required for the first renewal after you were licensed by exam. Keep records for 7 years. One set of hours for your most advanced license covers lesser licenses.
Source: dpo.colorado.gov · as of

License types in Colorado

  • Electrical Apprentice (registration)
  • Residential Wireman
  • Journeyman Electrician
  • Master Electrician
  • Electrical Contractor (registration; needs a master electrician)
Source: dpo.colorado.gov · as of

Reciprocity (licensed in another state?)

Colorado follows the National Electrical Reciprocal Alliance (NERA) and has journeyman reciprocity with Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming: the license must come from a state exam and have been held at least 1 year. Licenses from other states may qualify by endorsement if earned by testing on the NEC edition in use in Colorado.Source: dpo.colorado.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 Colorado have a state journeyman electrician license?

Yes. The Colorado State Electrical Board licenses journeyman electricians; you need 8,000 hours over at least 4 years, including 2,000 hours of commercial or industrial work, plus 288 hours of classroom education.

Is the Colorado journeyman electrician exam open book?

PSI provides the NEC and a formula page at the test center, but you may not bring or mark any references. The exam has 90 scored questions in 240 minutes and takes 70% to pass.

How do you become a master electrician in Colorado?

The usual route is 10,000 hours over at least 5 years, including planning and layout and supervision as a journeyman, then the PSI master exam.

Does Colorado have electrician license reciprocity?

Yes. Through the National Electrical Reciprocal Alliance, Colorado has journeyman reciprocity with states including Utah, Minnesota, New Mexico and Wyoming, for licenses earned by state exam and held at least 1 year.

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

Other states

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