Indiana has no state electrician license; cities and counties issue it. Here is what Indianapolis, Allen County, Evansville, South Bend and Lake County require, with bonds, insurance and fees.
Indiana does not issue a statewide electrician license. Your electrical license comes from the city or county where the work is done, and each one sets its own experience rule, exam, bond, insurance and fees.
The City of Indianapolis says it plainly: for electrical contractors, licensing is at the discretion of the local municipality, and there is no state license. This guide covers Indianapolis, Fort Wayne and Allen County, Evansville, South Bend and Lake County, using each department's own packets and rules.
At a glance
- Who issues it: the local building department; Indiana has no state electrician license.
- Indianapolis: 6 years of documented experience, a Board interview and an ICC exam passed at 75 percent.
- Bonds: $10,000 in Indianapolis, $25,000 in Evansville and $5,000 in South Bend.
- Insurance: Indianapolis requires $500,000 per occurrence; Evansville requires $1,000,000 for a master.
- Indianapolis fee: a new license holder filing between July 1 and December 31, 2026 pays $283.00.
New to Indiana licensing? Start with the Indiana contractor license requirements, and for every other state see how to get a contractor license in each state.
Why Indiana Has No State Electrician License
The Indiana Professional Licensing Agency licenses plumbing at the state level, through the Indiana Plumbing Commission. Many people assume it licenses electricians too; it does not.
For electrical work, the licensing authority is the city or county where the job sits. If someone tells you to "apply to the state," ask which agency and which form; the answer leads back to a local building department.
The state does set the wiring rules. The Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission adopts the Indiana Electrical Code at 675 IAC 17, currently the 2009 edition built on the 2008 National Electrical Code and readopted in a filing dated November 18, 2025. The code is statewide; the license to work under it is local. See our state vs. local contractor license guide.
Electrical Licensing by Indiana Jurisdiction
The table compares the top individual license, the exam and the company bond.
| Jurisdiction | Experience for the top license | Exam | Bond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis and Marion County | 6 years, up to 2 credited for school | ICC exam, 75 percent | $10,000 |
| Fort Wayne and Allen County | 4 years and 7,000 hours as journeyman | County sponsored exam, open book | None listed in the rules |
| Evansville and Vanderburgh County | 4 years, 3 notarized letters | Ivy Tech, 75 percent each part | $25,000 |
| South Bend and St. Joseph County | Employer letters; education if under 4 years | National master exam, 70 percent | $5,000 |
| Unincorporated Lake County | Not set in the ordinance | Oral interview and written exam | $5,000 |
Each row's source is listed at the end.
Electrical Contractor Insurance Requirements in Indiana
| Jurisdiction | General liability minimum | Workers' compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis and Marion County | $500,000 bodily injury, $100,000 property | Required, waiver if no employees |
| Evansville and Vanderburgh County | $1,000,000 for a master license | Proof or affidavit |
| Unincorporated Lake County | $500,000 per occurrence or $1,000,000 umbrella | Not stated in the ordinance |
| South Bend and St. Joseph County | Not listed on the electrical application | Required for the full term |
Insurance note
- Indianapolis: a $500,000 combined per occurrence limit also qualifies, per the Electrical Contractor License Application Packet.
Indianapolis and Marion County
Indianapolis licensing runs through the Department of Business and Neighborhood Services, Contractor Licensing, at 200 E. Washington St., Suite 107. It issues company licenses in Electrical, General, HVAC, Plumbing and Wrecking, and its reach excludes the cities of Lawrence, Beech Grove, Speedway and Southport.
Who Needs the License
Section 875-201 of the Revised Code requires a license to connect power for onsite construction, to install, alter, service or repair a system distributing electrical power, and to service equipment supplying power in a mobile home park. The Board adds that no license is needed for work below 25 volts and 50 watts, except fire detection and fire alarms, so low voltage computer, data and security camera wiring is exempt.
Getting Approved by the Board of Electrical Examiners
Indianapolis issues two individual licenses: Master, which is unrestricted, and Residential, limited to one and two family structures. The Board lists no journeyman license, so the exam an Indianapolis applicant studies for is the Master or the Residential.
The Board wants at least 6 years of electrical construction experience. It may credit up to 2 years for related college courses and up to 2 years for a completed apprenticeship, and you must show at least 12 months of industry work in the last 2 years.
- Get a notarized employer letter on letterhead documenting 6 years, with dates and duties; if none exists, three letters from supply houses or builders, which W-2s or other tax records may support.
- Add three signed customer reference letters, a copy of your driver's license and any trade certificates.
- Deliver the packet at least 10 business days before a meeting; the Board meets the second Thursday of each month at 1:30 p.m.
- Interview with the Board; if approved, schedule the International Code Council exam.
- Pass the 2023 NEC exam at 75 percent, then return to the Board for orientation.
- Submit the bond, insurance, workers' compensation proof, fees and license applications.
If you have not passed within six months of approval, the Board imposes a one year wait from approval before orientation. After passing, you have two years to attend orientation or you face a new oral interview.
The Company License and the Craft License Holder
Indianapolis licenses the business and the individual separately, and you need both. The company application asks for proof of business registration, a certificate of insurance (policy declarations are not accepted), the bond, everyone with a financial interest, and the authorized agents who may pull permits; five agents are free and each extra agent is $63.00.
The individual is the craft license holder. Each business must have at least one electrical license holder who passed the required exam, and each holder must be connected to a business license. Per Section 875-215-(1) of the Revised Code, a license holder cannot be connected to more than one partnership, LLC or corporation.
By signing, the holder agrees "to provide direction, supervision, and control, including specifying work processes" over the craft work "for which they are the licensed, qualified individual." Indianapolis calls that person the company's qualified individual.
Insurance, Workers' Compensation and the Bond
The insurance certificate must name the "Consolidated City of Indianapolis and Marion County" or the Department as Certificate Holder and as Additional Insured, as grantor of the license, with no contract language. Operations must read "Electrical Contractor" or "Electrical Contracting," with no limit to one job or scope, and the Department needs at least 15 days' notice before cancellation.
Workers' compensation is required for workers employed in Marion County. Sole proprietors, partnerships and LLCs with no employees may sign the waiver on the application, while corporations, including Sub S corporations, must carry coverage at least for the owner or principal.
The surety bond must be $10,000.00, typewritten, with "The Consolidated City of Indianapolis and/or an Unknown Third Party" as Obligee and the full legal business name as Principal. Continuous bonds are not accepted; the current packet requires an expiration date of 12/31/2027 and proof the surety may do business in Indiana.
Fees and Renewal
Indianapolis electrical licenses expire December 31 of odd numbered years and renew every two years. New license fees are prorated by filing date; these are the figures in force for filings made July 1 to December 31, 2026.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| New license holder | $283.00 |
| New business license | $185.00 |
| Business renewal | $247.00 |
| License holder renewal | $247.00 |
| Each authorized agent over five | $63.00 |
Fee notes
- Filing in 2027: the application packet lists the prorated figure for filings from January 1, 2027.
- Sole proprietors: no business license fee; only the license holder fee applies.
- Fee waiver: new license holders who are active duty or veterans (or their spouses), on federal public assistance, or at or below 185 percent of the poverty guideline may get a full or 50 percent reduction.
Partial packets are not accepted, and the business name must read exactly the same on the application, insurance certificate, bond, workers' compensation papers and registration.
Fort Wayne and Allen County
Electrical contractors in Fort Wayne license through the Allen County Building Department, 200 East Berry Street, Suite 180. Every contractor and subcontractor must be licensed in Allen County, either by reciprocity or by county sponsorship to sit an exam.
The rules split the company and the person. A business doing electrical contracting needs an Electrical Contractors Business Registration, and it must employ an Electrical Supervisors Licensee who is available at all times to consult with county building officials.
| License | Requirement | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical contractor registration | Must employ an Electrical Supervisor | $90.00 |
| Electrical Supervisor (master) | 4 years and 7,000 hours as journeyman | $25.00 |
| Electrical Journeyman | 4 years and 7,000 hours as apprentice | $15.00 |
| Apprentice registration | Direct supervision on the job | $10.00 |
Allen County notes
- Supervisor is the master: the rules say a Supervisors License holder "shall be considered a master electrician and may qualify an entity."
- School credit: approved apprentice schooling can count for 1,000 hours, allowing the journeyman test at 3 years and 6,000 hours.
- Other route: 8 years and 14,000 hours of documented experience meets the supervisor rule after 30 days as a licensed journeyman.
To test, file an exam sponsorship application with a $25 fee paid by check or money order. All exams are open book with a 4 hour limit, and the testing facility sets its own fee. Allen County reciprocates only licenses earned through a national ICC or Prometric exam, not NASCLA, PSI or Prov.
Evansville and Vanderburgh County
The Evansville and Vanderburgh County Building Commission licenses master, journeyman and apprentice electricians. Its Master Electrician definition covers any person, firm or corporation in the business of installing or repairing wiring, so the master license is the license to run the business. A journeyman must be employed by a licensed master.
- File the application with three letters of recommendation proving four years of experience; electrical letters must be on letterhead and notarized.
- After board approval, call Ivy Tech at 812-429-9852 to schedule and pay for the exam.
- Pass: electrical masters need 75 percent on each part, other exams 70 percent.
- Deliver the $25,000 surety bond, liability insurance and workers' compensation proof, the last within six months of passing.
- The Licensing and Disciplinary Board reviews scores on the fourth Thursday of the month.
| Evansville fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Master license, new | $300.00 |
| Master license, annual renewal | $125.00 |
| Master license, 2 year renewal | $225.00 |
| Journeyman license, new | $35.00 |
| Journeyman license, renewal | $25.00 |
A $25.00 late fee applies after January 31 of the license year, per the License Fee Schedule, and the Commission requires continuing education to keep a license.
South Bend and St. Joseph County
South Bend and St. Joseph County share one Building Department, and every contractor, including subcontractors, must be registered or licensed with it. Electrical registration comes as Class A for general contracting or Class B for industrial work on specific premises.
- Age and background: photo ID showing you are at least 21, and a police background statement.
- Exam: at least 70 percent on the National Master Electrician exam (F16-N) through Pearson VUE or Prometric, or a Board approved equivalent.
- Experience: employer letters; with less than 4 years, you list your education.
- Bond: $5,000, labeled "ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR," naming the City of South Bend/St. Joseph County as obligee, for a one year term.
- Fee: a registration expired over a year pays every missed annual fee, listed at $125 per year.
Lake County, Clark County and Other Jurisdictions
In unincorporated Lake County, the Contractors Board of Licensing created by Ordinance No. 1628 licenses contractors through the Plan Commission. Applicants pass an oral interview and a written exam, and two straight failures mean a one year wait. A job inside Gary, Valparaiso or another incorporated city falls outside the ordinance, so check with that city.
In Clark County, Clarksville and Jeffersonville each appear by name on the Indianapolis reciprocity list, along with more than a dozen other Indiana cities and counties.
The Licensing Steps in Order
- Confirm which building department covers the job address, including excluded cities.
- Document experience the way that department asks: notarized letters, hours, references or tax records.
- Get board approval or county sponsorship before you book a test where the department requires it.
- Pass the named exam: ICC in Indianapolis, Ivy Tech in Evansville, the F16-N in South Bend.
- Register an LLC, LP, LLP or corporation with the Indiana Secretary of State.
- Buy the bond and insurance in the exact amount and wording required.
- File the company license with the individual license holder attached, then calendar the renewal.
Reciprocity Between Indiana Cities
A license from one Indiana jurisdiction does not by itself let you work in another, so a company working several cities generally needs a license in each. Indianapolis may reciprocate a valid license from a jurisdiction on its agreement list when you passed a Prometric exam there at 75 percent or better.
What the License Means for an Electrical Company
Every one of these programs ties the company license to a licensed individual. Indianapolis requires a craft license holder connected to only one company; Allen County lets a supervisor qualify only one entity per license unless the supervisor owns the others; Evansville's master license is the business license itself.
When that person leaves, the company feels it at once. Allen County's rules say no further permits may issue until a new licensee is designated, and South Bend treats a holder who changes companies as a new registration.
That is the seat a qualifying agent fills: a licensed individual your company employs as a full time W-2 employee, who actually directs and supervises the work the way these ordinances describe. See what a qualifying agent is and how hiring a qualifying agent works, or read our guide to getting a contractor license without the experience and the electrical contractor qualifying agent guide.
The Rest of Indiana Contractor Licensing
Plumbing is licensed by the state. The Indiana Plumbing Commission registers apprentice plumbers and licenses journeyman plumbers and plumbing contractors under IC 25-28.5-1, and IC 25-28.5-1-33 bars any political subdivision from requiring a state licensee "to submit to any other form of licensing." Cities may require registration and a reasonable fee. See the Indiana plumbing license guide.
HVAC is licensed locally, like electrical. Indianapolis says there is no state heating and cooling license and wants five years of experience, a Board interview, a Prov exam, a $5,000 bond and $500,000/$100,000 insurance. Allen County will not reciprocate a Prov based license, and Evansville requires a $25,000 bond and $1,000,000 in liability for a master; see the Indiana HVAC license guide.
For a plumbing company, Indiana writes the qualifier into statute. Under IC 25-28.5-1-13, a corporation may not be licensed as a plumbing contractor unless one of its officers or employees holds a valid plumbing contractor license, designated in the application and named in the license. More in Indiana's plumbing corporation license and the qualifier requirement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Indiana require an electrician license? Not at the state level. Cities and counties license electricians, and each sets its own rules, so check with the building department where the work will be done.
How many years do I need to become a master electrician in Indianapolis? At least 6 years of documented electrical construction experience. The Board may credit up to 2 years for related college courses and up to 2 years for a completed apprenticeship.
What exam does Indianapolis use? An International Code Council exam on the 2023 NEC, passed at 75 percent. Most applicants sit it after the Board approves them at an interview; a passing ICC score earned earlier can go in with the packet for Board review.
How much insurance does an electrical contractor need in Indiana? It depends on the city. Indianapolis requires $500,000 per occurrence for bodily injury and $100,000 for property damage, or $500,000 combined, and Evansville requires $1,000,000 for a master license.
What insurance does a Fort Wayne electrician need? Allen County's rules set no liability figure for electrical registration. Call the licensing specialist at 260-449-7131 to confirm what the county needs on file.
Does an Indianapolis electrical license work in Fort Wayne? Not automatically. Allen County reciprocates only licenses earned through a national ICC or Prometric exam, and it asks you to confirm reciprocity by email first.
How much does an Indianapolis electrical license cost? For a filing between July 1 and December 31, 2026, the new license holder fee is $283.00 and the new business license fee is $185.00. Add the premium on the $10,000 bond, insurance and the exam fee.
Talk to Us About Your Indiana Electrical Company
The numbers change at every Indiana city line, but the structure does not: a licensed individual stands behind the business, and that individual stands behind one business at a time. If that is the seat you need filled, call 615-219-2110 or start at hire a qualifying agent.
Already hold an Indiana master or craft license? See becoming a qualifying agent. For the wider picture, read our guide to getting an electrical contractor license, journeyman vs. master electrician, the guides for Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin, or all state licensing guides.
Sources
- City of Indianapolis, Contractor Licenses, retrieved 2026-09-29
- Indianapolis Electrical Contractor License Application Packet, retrieved 2026-09-29
- Indianapolis 2026 Board of Electrical Examiners Application, retrieved 2026-09-29
- Indianapolis HVAC License Application Packet, retrieved 2026-09-29
- Indianapolis 2026 Board of Heating and Cooling Examiners Exam Application, retrieved 2026-09-29
- Allen County Building Department, Contractor Licensing, retrieved 2026-09-29
- Allen County Rules and Regulations, Nineteenth Edition, retrieved 2026-09-29
- Allen County Examinations, retrieved 2026-09-29
- Allen County Reciprocation, retrieved 2026-09-29
- Allen County Code Title 6, Article 10 Fee Schedule, retrieved 2026-09-29
- Evansville Building Commission, Insurance and Bonds, retrieved 2026-09-29
- Evansville Building Commission, License Process, retrieved 2026-09-29
- Evansville Building Commission, License Fee Schedule, retrieved 2026-09-29
- Evansville Building Commission, License Categories and Definitions, retrieved 2026-09-29
- Evansville Building Commission, License Education, retrieved 2026-09-29
- South Bend Building Department, Building Permits and Contractor Registrations, retrieved 2026-09-29
- South Bend Application for Electrical Contractor Registration, retrieved 2026-09-29
- Lake County Plan Commission, Contractor Licenses, retrieved 2026-09-29
- Lake County Contractor Licensing Ordinance No. 1628, retrieved 2026-09-29
- Indiana Code 25-28.5-1, 2026 edition, retrieved 2026-09-29
- Indiana Administrative Code 675 IAC 17, Electrical Codes, retrieved 2026-09-29
- Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, Plumbing, retrieved 2026-09-29
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.