How the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners licenses electricians: apprentice registration, journeyman and master experience, the open book exam, annual fees, NEC continuing education, and the master electrician every electrical contractor needs.
Arkansas licenses electricians statewide through the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners, part of the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing. You register as an apprentice, finish a four year apprenticeship, pass the journeyman exam, then qualify for master once you have six years in construction, two of them as a licensed journeyman. One Board license is good in every city and county, and a company that contracts electrical work in Arkansas needs a licensed master electrician on staff.
At a glance Issuer: Board of Electrical Examiners of the State of Arkansas, (501) 682-4549. Journeyman: a four year approved apprenticeship, or eight years (16,000 hours) of approved experience. Master: six years of construction experience, including two years as a licensed journeyman. Exam: open book, 70 percent to pass, $80 per exam; license $25 (journeyman) or $50 (master) a year. Renewal: every year, with 8 hours of National Electrical Code continuing education each code cycle.
New to licensing in Arkansas? Start with the Arkansas contractor license requirements, and for every other state see how to get a contractor license in each state.
Who Is the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners?
The Board of Electrical Examiners of the State of Arkansas administers the electrician licensing law in Ark. Code 17-28 and sets the statewide standard for electrical work. The Director of Code Enforcement at the Department of Labor and Licensing enforces those laws.
The Board meets on the third Tuesday of every other month starting in January, and applications must reach it five business days before a meeting. Its rules list the office at 900 West Capitol, Suite 400, Little Rock, AR 72201, phone (501) 682-4549, email adll.electrical@arkansas.gov.
The license is mandatory. Under Ark. Code 17-28-304, no one may perform electrical work, or advertise that they do, without a Board license or a specific exemption, and violations carry a civil penalty of up to $1,000 per day (Ark. Code 17-28-309).
Other trades answer elsewhere: HVACR to a separate board at the same department (see our Arkansas HVAC license guide), master plumbers to the Department of Health (see our Arkansas plumbing license guide), and contractors to the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board.
Arkansas Electrician License Classes
The Board registers apprentices and issues the licenses below. The statute names six license classes; the Board's own page also lists an air conditioning electrician class, which has no fee in the statute, so ask the Board before planning around it.
| License class | What it covers | Experience to qualify | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master electrician | Plans, lays out and supervises all electrical work | Six years of construction, including two as a licensed journeyman | $50 |
| Journeyman electrician | Installs, maintains and extends conductors and equipment | Four year approved apprenticeship, or eight years (16,000 hours) | $25 |
| Residential master electrician | Plans and supervises work on one to four family dwellings | Three years of dwelling wiring, including one as a licensed residential journeyman | $50 |
| Residential journeyman electrician | Works on one to four family dwellings | Two years of dwelling wiring plus verified school hours | $25 |
| Industrial maintenance electrician | Power and control systems in industrial facilities | Two years under an engineer or licensed electrician | $25 |
| Specialist sign electrician | Electric signs, with an optional parking lot light endorsement | One year with a sign company or licensee | $25 |
| Registered apprentice | Learns the trade under a journeyman or master | Enrollment in a certified training program | $10 |
The residential classes grew from one and two family homes to fourplexes under Act 318 of 2023, in the Board's rules effective March 29, 2024. A mixed use building that needs commercial grade conductors anywhere in it is not a dwelling.
How to Get an Arkansas Electrician License, Step by Step
- Enroll and register as an apprentice. Join a program certified by the U.S. Office of Apprenticeship. Your employer registers you within 30 days of hire, and your school files the Board registration with the $10 fee.
- Log supervised hours. A journeyman or master must supervise you, with no more than three apprentices per supervisor on one job.
- Get released for test. Your program issues the "Notice of Apprenticeship Committee Action, Released for Test/Completion" form, approved by the Office of Skills Development.
- Apply to the Board. File through the exam application portal linked from the Board's page and wait for approval.
- Pass the journeyman exam. Released apprentices must test within 12 months of release.
- Take out the license within six months. Pass but wait longer than six months after the month you tested, and you must retest.
- Earn two years as a licensed journeyman, then apply for master. Meet the six year construction standard, get approved, and pass the master exam.
Registering as an Electrical Apprentice
Under Ark. Code 17-28-308, the Board registers any applicant who proves enrollment in an electrical apprentice school or training course certified by the U.S. Office of Apprenticeship. The school files the registration and renewals and documents your hours when it releases you for testing.
Registration costs $10 a year and expires on the last day of the month, one year after it was issued. The apprentice must start school by the first full semester after hire.
On one to four family dwellings, a new apprentice works under continuous supervision for the first 90 days, then has work checked every two to three hours through year two. The responsible master electrician answers for everything an apprentice installs.
Journeyman Electrician Requirements
The standard route is a four year electrical construction apprenticeship approved by the U.S. Department of Labor. A registered Arkansas program listed on the state's JobLink site runs 576 classroom hours and 8,000 hours of on the job training over four years. You prove completion with the Released for Test form, or with certification from the apprenticeship agency if you finished in another state.
Without an approved apprenticeship, the Board requires eight years (16,000 hours) of approved electrical construction experience, credited at no more than 2,000 hours a year. Military experience can count; unlicensed work in violation of state law does not. Employer letters must be dated within six months of applying.
If your work is limited to homes, the residential journeyman license needs two years of experience wiring dwellings up to a fourplex and a signed school letter verifying your hours.
Master Electrician Requirements
The master electrician license is the top individual credential and the one a contracting company needs. Under 17 CAR 210-604(d), you qualify with one of three paths:
- A degree in electrical engineering plus two years of construction related experience.
- Six years of construction experience, residential and commercial, including two years as a licensed journeyman electrician.
- A Board approved combination of apprenticeship, on the job training and construction experience found equivalent.
The residential master license needs three years of dwelling wiring experience, including one year as a licensed residential journeyman.
The Arkansas Electrician Exam
The Board must offer exams at least every six months. Its testing vendor's candidate bulletin says every exam is open book and timed, with a 70 percent cut score.
| Exam | Questions | Time allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Journeyman electrician | 60 | 3 hours |
| Master electrician | 60 | 3 hours |
| Residential master electrician | 60 | 3 hours |
| Residential journeyman electrician | 40 | 2 hours |
| Industrial maintenance electrician | 50 | 2 hours |
The rule sets the exam fee at $80 per class, or $50 for industrial maintenance (17 CAR 210-603), and the statute caps it at $100, or $50 for industrial maintenance (Ark. Code 17-28-203). After approval you have one year of eligibility to schedule. Bring your own tabbed code book. An applicant who fails without having finished an apprenticeship can be required to complete up to two years of one before retesting.
Fees and Renewal
Arkansas licenses renew every year and expire on the last day of the month, one year after issue. Statute sets these amounts (Ark. Code 17-28-301):
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Apprentice registration | $10 a year | Filed by the school |
| Journeyman, residential journeyman, industrial maintenance, specialist sign | $25 a year | Initial and renewal |
| Master, residential master | $50 a year | Initial and renewal |
| Late renewal | One year of fees plus $10 a month | Within 36 months of expiration |
| Reinstatement after 36 months | Fees plus a $1,000 penalty | Exam must be retaken |
Continuing Education and the National Electrical Code
Journeyman and master licensees, residential included, must complete at least eight hours of continuing education on the current National Electrical Code cycle, in the first year of each new code cycle, before renewing (Ark. Code 17-28-311). Each cycle begins on January 1 of the edition's publication year, and only Board approved courses count (17 CAR 210-1202 and 210-1203). Miss the hours and you cannot renew until they are done and all fees are paid.
The 2020 NEC became the state standard effective July 31, 2022. In March 2026 the Board noticed a rule update moving to the 2026 NEC, held its public hearing on April 21, 2026, and the amended rules took effect on September 3, 2026 (Ark. R. 2026-108). Today 17 CAR 210-601 makes the 2026 NEC the statewide standard for electrical work, with Arkansas amendments on AFCI and GFCI protection and on island and peninsula receptacles. The 2026 code cycle began January 1, 2026, so the eight CE hours for this cycle are due in its first year, before you renew, and they must come from a Board approved 2026 NEC course.
Reciprocity and Temporary Licenses
Arkansas grants a license by reciprocity only to applicants from a state with an agreement to recognize Arkansas licenses (Ark. Code 17-28-306; 17 CAR 210-710). A journeyman applying this way needs the other state to certify a license in good standing, held for one year, earned by examination.
Texas announced on December 30, 2025 a master electrician reciprocity agreement: a master licensed in good standing in either state for at least one year can apply for a license by reciprocity in the other, and Texas lists Arkansas among its journeyman agreements too. Iowa also lists Arkansas. Confirm your state with the Board first.
For industry projects, the Board can issue a temporary master or journeyman license for six months, at $50 for a master or $25 for a journeyman. Masters or journeymen aged 65 with 12 years of Arkansas licensure may apply for a restricted lifetime license for $50.
Local Permits, Exemptions and License Lookup
A Board licensed electrician cannot be made to take a city or county exam or hold a local license (Ark. Code 17-28-305). Cities and counties can still require permits and inspections, and where no local permit applies, the job site sign must show the company name and the license number of the responsible master electrician.
The statute exempts utilities, nonresidential farm buildings and a homeowner working on their own primary residence unless a local rule says otherwise. An HVACR license holder may run line voltage wiring to an outdoor unit within 75 feet of the equipment.
To check a license, use the Electricians roster on the Department of Labor and Licensing's roster search page, or call the Board at (501) 682-4549.
Contracting in Arkansas: Where the Master Electrician Comes In
In Arkansas the electrician license belongs to the person, and the rules tie contracting to a master. A journeyman cannot contract with the public to plan, lay out or supervise electrical work without employing at least one full time master electrician (17 CAR 210-101(a)(2)(B)). No Board license can be assigned or transferred (Ark. Code 17-28-303).
Contracting also brings in the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board. Commercial projects of $50,000 or more in labor and materials need a contractor license, and residential or home improvement work over $2,000 falls under its residential committee. On the commercial application, the Electrical classification carries a double asterisk meaning it requires an Arkansas trade license, which the rule names as the Arkansas master electrician license (17 CAR 255-307).
A contractor holding the electrical classification must also keep a proper facility, financial ability and at least one full time employee holding a master electrician license (17 CAR 255-208(d)). The electrical classification carries a $20,000 minimum business net worth, and a restricted commercial license covers single projects under $1,500,000. Our national electrical contractor licensing guide walks the business layer state by state.
When Your Company Has No Master Electrician: The Qualifying Agent
Most growing electrical companies hit this wall long before the owner has 8,000 plus hours and a passed master exam. The owner may be a strong operator or an investor, not a licensed master, and the company still cannot hold out as an electrical contractor without one.
This is the exact problem a qualifying agent solves. A qualifying agent is a licensed master electrician who qualifies the company as a genuine full time W-2 employee, the electrician of record who actually supervises the work. It is never a paper name on a form or a 1099 side arrangement.
Arkansas is explicit. The Contractors Licensing Board application asks for the person who took the Business and Law exam, how long that person has been with the company, and offers three positions: Sole Owner, Full time paid employee, or Officer, member, or partner actively involved in day to day operations. The form defines "You/Your" to include "the qualifier of this company."
If a qualifier leaves, the company must notify the board within 15 days and have a fully qualified replacement within 30 days (17 CAR 255-201(b)(3)). We break it down in Arkansas Contractor License Qualifier: The Three Boxes on the Form.
Marshall Schofield and Jeremiah Jaskulski built The Licensing Company around that rule: licensed masters placed as real employees who run the electrical work. Learn what a qualifying agent is, or go straight to hiring a qualifying agent to move from "we can't legally bid this" to licensed and working. Compare the journeyman and master credentials or see every state we cover.
How Much Does an Arkansas Electrician License Cost?
Government fees are modest: $10 a year for apprentice registration, $80 per exam, then $25 a year for a journeyman license or $50 a year for a master, plus Board approved CE each code cycle.
The bigger cost is time: four years to reach journeyman, then two more before master. For a company that needs a master electrician as its qualifier, we build a consultation package around what the business needs.
Typical Timeline
| Stage | Typical time | What unlocks it |
|---|---|---|
| Apprentice registration | Within 30 days of hire | Enrollment in a certified program |
| Journeyman | About four years, 8,000 hours | Released for Test form, Board approval, passed exam |
| Master | About two more years | Two years as a licensed journeyman within six years of construction |
| Contracting | After a master is in place | Contractors Licensing Board license with the Electrical classification |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners? The state board, within the Department of Labor and Licensing, that licenses electricians, registers apprentices and adopts the state electrical code. Reach it at (501) 682-4549 or adll.electrical@arkansas.gov.
Does Arkansas have a statewide electrician license? Yes. Board licenses are valid statewide, and cities and counties cannot require their own electrician exam or license. They can still require permits and inspections.
How many hours do I need for a journeyman license in Arkansas? A completed four year approved apprenticeship, which in a registered Arkansas program means 8,000 hours on the job plus 576 classroom hours. Without one, the Board requires eight years, or 16,000 hours, of approved experience.
How do I apply for a master electrician license? Show six years of construction experience including two years as a licensed journeyman, or an electrical engineering degree plus two years of construction experience. Apply through the portal on the Board's page, then pass the 60 question master exam.
What is the passing score on the Arkansas electrician exam? 70%. The journeyman, master and residential master exams have 60 open book questions in three hours; residential journeyman has 40 in two hours.
How do I look up an Arkansas electrician license? Use the Electricians roster on the Department of Labor and Licensing roster search page, or call the Board.
Can my company be an electrical contractor if the owner is not a master electrician? Only with a licensed master in the business: both the Board's rules and the Contractors Licensing Board require at least one full time master. When no owner holds that license, the standard solution is a master electrician placed as a W-2 qualifying agent.
Talk With Our Team
If you own a company that needs an Arkansas electrical credential and has no master on staff, that gap is what we solve. Call 615-219-2110 to talk it through, or start with hiring a qualifying agent.
Figures here come from the Board of Electrical Examiners statutes and its rules as amended effective September 3, 2026, the Contractors Licensing Board law revised April 2026 and its forms effective January 2025. Confirm current details with the Board before you apply. Last reviewed September 2026.
Sources
- Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing, Electrical Inspection and Licensing, retrieved 2026-09-26
- Board of Electrical Examiners of the State of Arkansas, Arkansas.gov, retrieved 2026-09-26
- Board of Electrical Examiner Statutes, Ark. Code 17-28 (2025), retrieved 2026-09-26
- Code of Arkansas Rules, 17 CAR Part 210, Rules of the Board of Electrical Examiners (Ark. R. 2026-108, effective September 3, 2026), retrieved 2026-09-26
- Board of Electrical Examiners rules text as posted by the Department, 17 CAR Part 210, retrieved 2026-09-26
- Board of Electrical Examiners rules effective March 29, 2024, with rule history, retrieved 2026-09-26
- Board of Electrical Examiners public hearing notice, March 21, 2026, retrieved 2026-09-26
- Department of Labor and Licensing rulemaking report, June 1, 2026, retrieved 2026-09-26
- Prov candidate information bulletin, Arkansas electrical exams, retrieved 2026-09-26
- Arkansas JobLink, electrical apprenticeship training program, retrieved 2026-09-26
- Arkansas Commercial Contractors Licensing Law and Rules, revised April 2026, retrieved 2026-09-26
- Arkansas Residential Contractors Licensing Law, revised April 2026, retrieved 2026-09-26
- Contractors Licensing Board commercial application, effective January 2025, retrieved 2026-09-26
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, electrician reciprocity with Arkansas, retrieved 2026-09-26
- Iowa Electrical Examining Board, reciprocal licensing agreements, retrieved 2026-09-26
- Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing roster searches, retrieved 2026-09-26
- Arkansas Department of Health, Plumbing and Natural Gas, retrieved 2026-09-26
Disclaimer: This article is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, licensing guidance, or an offer of services. Licensing requirements vary by jurisdiction. For specific compliance questions, contact The Licensing Company for a confidential consultation.