Wisconsin licenses every electrician and electrical contractor through DSPS. Here are the journeyman and master hours, the 70 percent open book exam, every state fee, renewal, reciprocity and the master's role in a company.
Wisconsin licenses electricians at the state level. The Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) issues every electrical credential, from the registered electrician who is learning the trade to the master electrician who is responsible for the work, and the electrical contractor license a business needs before it can sell electrical work. Cities and counties stopped licensing electricians on April 1, 2014, so one DSPS credential covers the whole state. For the wider picture, start with the Wisconsin contractor license requirements, and for every other state see how to get a contractor license in each state.
At a glance Issued by: the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, under Wis. Stat. 101.862 and Wis. Admin. Code ch. SPS 305. Journeyman: a 3 year approved apprenticeship, or 8,000 hours of experience over at least 48 months, then an exam. Master: 12 months as a licensed journeyman, 10,000 hours over 60 months, or an electrical engineering degree, then an exam. Exam: open book, 70 percent to pass; 100 questions for journeyman and 50 for master, 4 hours each. State fees: $35 to apply and $30 per exam; the license is $100 for a journeyman and $200 for a master.
Who Needs a Wisconsin Electrical License
Three rules in Wis. Stat. 101.862 set the frame. No person may be in the business of installing, repairing or maintaining electrical wiring without an electrical contractor license. No person may do the wiring without an electrician license or a registered electrician enrollment. And no one who is not a master electrician may do the work unless a master electrician is at all times responsible for it.
Local licensing is gone. Since April 1, 2014, municipalities may no longer impose their own registration or licensing on electricians or electrical contractors (Wis. Stat. 101.861). Permits and inspections still apply, through the inspection agency designated for each site (SPS 316.012).
The statute lists work that does not need a license. The main ones:
- A homeowner wiring the home they own and live in, unless a local ordinance requires a license.
- Equipment or systems that operate at 100 volts or less, and systems that monitor a building for an emergency, sound an alarm or summon aid.
- Replacing an existing switch or outlet with one rated at not more than 20 amperes.
- Elevator wiring, utility company work, and in house repair by a facility's own employees.
Working without the required credential carries a forfeiture of $25 to $500 for each violation, and each day counts as a separate offense (Wis. Stat. 101.88).
The Wisconsin Electrical Credentials
Wisconsin runs a full ladder with commercial, residential and industrial lanes. SPS 305.40 lists every credential that allows a person to do electrical wiring, and the DSPS professions list gives each its own page.
| Credential | Scope | Exam | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical apprentice | Enrolled in an approved apprenticeship | None | 1 year |
| Registered electrician | Works under direct supervision | None | 1 year |
| Journeyman electrician | All wiring, under a master | 100 questions | 4 years |
| Residential journeyman | Dwellings and their accessory buildings | 100 questions | 4 years |
| Industrial journeyman | The employer's own facilities | 100 questions | 4 years |
| Master electrician | All wiring, responsible for the work | 50 questions | 4 years |
| Residential master | Dwellings and their accessory buildings | 50 questions | 4 years |
| Registered master | Born on or before January 1, 1956 | None | Never expires |
| Electrical contractor | The business | None | 4 years |
Residential scope. Residential credentials are limited to dwellings and detached accessory buildings such as garages, carports, gazebos and pools (SPS 305.40(2)). Outside that scope they may work only under the direct supervision of a master or journeyman.
Industrial scope. An industrial journeyman may wire only within the facilities of the business that employs them, unless directly supervised by a master or journeyman.
Registered master electrician. This is a closed class for people born on or before January 1, 1956, with at least 15 years of wiring experience. It takes no exam and does not expire (DSPS registered master page).
Supervision Rules on the Job Site
Every rung below master works under someone. A journeyman and an electrical apprentice work under the general supervision of a licensed or registered master electrician. A registered electrician works under the direct supervision of a master or a journeyman (SPS 305.40(4)).
There is also a crew ratio. On any installation site, the number of registered electricians may not exceed twice the number of master and journeyman electricians on that site, plus two (SPS 305.40(5)). A site with one journeyman can carry four registered electricians.
Journeyman Electrician Requirements
To sit the journeyman exam, Wis. Stat. 101.87 and SPS 305.44 require one of two things:
- Completion of a construction electrician apprenticeship of at least 3 years, approved by the U.S. Department of Labor or the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.
- At least 8,000 hours of experience installing, repairing and maintaining electrical wiring, spread over a period of not less than 48 months.
A 2 year electrical engineering or accredited technical school electrical program counts as 12 months and 2,000 hours. Apprentices upload a completion letter from the Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards; others file Form 8168, the Trades Experience Form (DSPS journeyman application page).
| License | Experience to qualify | Education credit |
|---|---|---|
| Journeyman | 3 year apprenticeship, or 8,000 hours in 48 months | 2 year program = 2,000 hours |
| Residential journeyman | 1,000 hours a year for 3 years, residential | Up to 2,000 hours |
| Industrial journeyman | 1,000 hours a year for 5 years, industrial | Up to 2,000 hours |
Residential journeyman. For people who wire only homes, the residential journeyman license asks for at least 1,000 hours per year for at least 3 years of residential wiring work. Each full time semester in an electrical program counts as 500 hours, up to 2,000 hours and 2 years. Completing a recognized residential wiring apprenticeship earns the license without the exam (SPS 305.447).
Industrial journeyman. The industrial license asks for 1,000 hours per year for 5 years of industrial wiring work, or completion of an industrial electrical apprenticeship recognized by DWD and the U.S. Department of Labor, which also skips the exam (SPS 305.443).
Master Electrician Requirements
The master license is the top individual credential. Wis. Stat. 101.868 and SPS 305.43 accept any one of three routes to the master exam:
- A bachelor's or master's degree in electrical engineering.
- Twelve months of wiring experience while licensed as a journeyman electrician.
- At least 10,000 hours of wiring experience over a period of not less than 60 months.
A master may later trade the license down to a journeyman license and trade it back up by showing the former master license and paying the master license fee (SPS 305.43(6)).
Residential master. The residential master exam needs at least 1,000 hours per year for at least 5 years of electrical wiring work. School counts at 500 hours per full time semester, up to 3,000 hours and 3 years (SPS 305.435). For how the two tiers compare nationally, see journeyman vs master electrician.
The Wisconsin Electrician Exam
Every electrical licensing exam is open book, and a grade of 70 percent or higher on each part passes (SPS 305.09(6)). The format comes from the DSPS trades exam and fee schedule.
| Exam | Questions | Time | Passing score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Journeyman electrician | 100 | 4 hours | 70 percent |
| Residential journeyman | 100 | 4 hours | 70 percent |
| Industrial journeyman | 100 | 4 hours | 70 percent |
| Master electrician | 50 | 4 hours | 70 percent |
| Residential master | 50 | 4 hours | 70 percent |
What you may bring. One binder holding SPS 305, SPS 316 and your printed notes; the National Electrical Code or Handbook; and up to two printed, bound reference books. Loose papers, removable tabs and sticky notes are not allowed (DSPS journeyman page).
2023 NEC on exams from October 1, 2026. Wisconsin's electrical code, SPS 316, adopted the 2023 NEC effective September 1, 2026 (SPS 316.007). For exams given on or after October 1, 2026, DSPS lists the 2023 NEC as the code reference; exams given before that date used the 2017 NEC.
Where you test. Once DSPS finds you eligible, you schedule through LicensE at a DSPS site or a Pearson VUE center in Wisconsin. Pearson candidates see a score at the center or within 3 to 5 working days; DSPS sites send a result letter by mail or email within 21 calendar days. After passing, apply for the license within 3 months or you will have to test again (SPS 305.09(7)).
A Spanish language exam is available by checking the box on the application. For scheduling at a vendor center, see our guide to scheduling a contractor exam with PSI, Prov or Pearson VUE.
What It Costs to Get Licensed
DSPS publishes every trades fee on its credential fees and renewal dates page, and the same amounts sit in Table 305.02. LicensE totals them at the end of the application.
| Credential | Application | Exam (to DSPS) | License fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical apprentice | $15 | None | $15 |
| Registered electrician | $15 | None | $20 |
| Journeyman electrician | $35 | $30 | $100 |
| Residential journeyman | $35 | $30 | $100 |
| Industrial journeyman | $35 | $30 | $100 |
| Master electrician | $35 | $30 | $200 |
| Residential master | $35 | $30 | $200 |
| Registered master | $35 | None | $150 |
| Electrical contractor | $35 | None | $200 |
Pearson seat fee. Candidates who choose a Pearson VUE center pay Pearson $95 for each electrical exam, on top of the $30 exam fee to DSPS.
Other rules. Fees are not refundable, and a first license issued for less than a full term is prorated by month (SPS 305.02). DSPS charges $15.00 to replace a lost or destroyed credential and $200.00 for a petition for variance, or $400.00 for priority review.
The Licensing Steps in Order
- Get into the trade legally on day one: enroll as an electrical apprentice if you have an apprenticeship contract recognized under ch. 106, or as a registered electrician if you do not.
- Create an individual account in LicensE, the DSPS online licensing system; DSPS forms are hosted on AccessGov.
- Log your hours under a master or journeyman, and complete the 24 hours of CE each year that keeps a registered electrician enrollment active.
- When you finish a 3 year approved apprenticeship or reach 8,000 hours over 48 months, apply for the journeyman exam with Form 8168 or your apprenticeship letter.
- Pass the open book journeyman exam at 70 percent, then apply for the license within 3 months.
- Work 12 months on the journeyman license, then apply for and pass the master exam.
- If you will run the business, apply for the electrical contractor license through a separate organization account.
- Name the responsible master, with license number, on every electrical permit application, and renew by June 30 of each renewal year.
Renewal and Continuing Education
DSPS opens renewal about four weeks before expiration, and LicensE will not accept it until your course provider has entered your CE hours (DSPS registered electrician page).
| Credential | Renews | CE hours | Renewal fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master electrician | June 30, every 4 years | 24 | $200 |
| Residential master | June 30, every 4 years | 18 | $200 |
| Journeyman electrician | June 30, every 4 years | 24 | $100 |
| Residential journeyman | June 30, every 4 years | 18 | $100 |
| Industrial journeyman | June 30, every 4 years | 18 | $100 |
| Registered electrician | Yearly, on date of issuance | 24 | $20 |
| Electrical apprentice | Yearly, on date of issuance | None | $15 |
| Electrical contractor | June 30, every 4 years | None | $200 |
Late CE. You may renew up to one full term after expiration. CE finished after the expiration date is filed with a $25.00 processing fee (SPS 305.07(2)(b)).
Reinstatement. Renewing more than one term after expiration takes a $200.00 administrative fee plus the application and license fees, and DSPS may require an exam or proof of experience (SPS 305.07(2)(c)).
Registered master. The registered master electrician credential never expires and has no CE requirement.
Reciprocity With Other States
Wisconsin may sign reciprocal agreements only with states whose education, experience and exam standards are at least equal to its own (Wis. Stat. 101.874). DSPS lists these routes, none of which requires the Wisconsin exam.
| Your license | Issued by | Wisconsin license | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Journeyman, by state exam | Iowa | Journeyman electrician | Held 1 year straight |
| Journeyman, by state exam | New Hampshire | Journeyman electrician | Held 1 year straight |
| Master, by state exam | Iowa | Master electrician | Held 1 year straight |
Iowa licenses are verified through an online portal; New Hampshire must complete a verification form confirming the exam was taken and passed (DSPS journeyman reciprocity page, DSPS master reciprocity page).
The Electrical Contractor License
The contractor license belongs to the business, and it is not a trade test. DSPS issues it to an organization account with no exam and no CE, and the applicant must be the owner, a partner applying for the partnership, or the chairman or chief executive officer applying for the corporation (SPS 305.41, DSPS electrical contractor page).
The application carries a statement of compliance with worker's compensation under ch. 102 and unemployment insurance under ch. 108. Once licensed, the contractor must use appropriately licensed or registered people for all wiring, must not start work that needs a uniform building permit until the permit issues, and must print its license number on every bid and contract.
Where the Master Electrician Fits in a Company
The business license takes no exam; the people behind it take years. The statute says no one below master may do electrical work unless a master electrician is at all times responsible for it (Wis. Stat. 101.862(3)). Every electrical permit application must name the master electrician, residential master or registered master responsible for the installation, with a license number (SPS 316.012(2)).
That makes the master the company's qualifier in practice. A contractor with a full crew of journeymen still cannot name a master on its permits or meet the supervision rules without a master responsible for its work, and a master takes years to grow: an apprenticeship or 8,000 hours, a journeyman exam, a year on the license and a second exam.
That is the gap a qualifying agent fills. The Licensing Company places a licensed master electrician as a full time W-2 employee of your company, a real member of the team who supervises the work and answers for it on every permit. Start with what a qualifying agent is, read how the role works in our electrical contractor qualifying agent explainer, or go straight to hire a qualifying agent.
Still building your own hours? See getting licensed without the years of experience and the national electrical contractor license guide.
Other Wisconsin Trades and the Residential Permit Rule
Electrical is only one of Wisconsin's DSPS ladders, and each one puts a different credentialed person behind the business.
- Plumbing is the strictest. Wis. Stat. 145.06(2) requires a licensed master plumber to be in charge at all times of any plumbing installation and issues plumbing licenses only to individuals, never to a firm. Full ladder in our Wisconsin plumbing license guide.
- HVAC runs on a mandatory DSPS contractor registration plus a voluntary HVAC Qualifier certification, and a city or county may not require a certified person to get a local HVAC license (Wis. Stat. 101.178). See the Wisconsin HVAC guide.
- Residential general contracting is handled at the permit counter. To pull a permit for a one or two family dwelling, a contractor needs a Dwelling Contractor certification and must hold, or engage as an employee, a certified Dwelling Contractor Qualifier (SPS 305.31).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Wisconsin have a statewide electrician license? Yes. DSPS issues every electrician and electrical contractor credential, and local licensing ordinances stopped applying on April 1, 2014. Permits and inspections still come from the inspection agency designated for the site.
How long does it take to become a journeyman electrician in Wisconsin? At least 3 years through an approved construction electrician apprenticeship, or at least 48 months with 8,000 hours of experience. A 2 year electrical program can count for 12 months and 2,000 hours of that time.
What is the passing score on the Wisconsin electrician exam? Seventy percent. The exams are open book: the journeyman exam has 100 questions and the master exam 50, with 4 hours for each.
How do I become a master electrician in Wisconsin? Hold a journeyman license for 12 months while working in the trade, show 10,000 hours of experience over at least 60 months, or hold an electrical engineering degree. Then pass the 50 question master exam and pay the $200 license fee.
Does Wisconsin accept an electrician license from another state? Only from Iowa and New Hampshire for journeymen, and from Iowa for masters. The license must come from a state exam and must have been held continuously for at least one year.
Can a company hold a Wisconsin electrical contractor license without a master electrician? The owner can get the license itself without an exam. But no one below master may do the work unless a master is at all times responsible, and permits must name that master, so the company needs a master responsible for its regulated jobs.
Your Next Step
Wisconsin's ladder is clear, and the master electrician at the top is the person every electrical company needs. If your company needs a licensed master on staff to run its jobs and pull its permits, call The Licensing Company at 615-219-2110 or start at hire a qualifying agent.
This article explains the Wisconsin electrician licensing process only and is not exam preparation. Requirements and fees are set by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services; confirm them in LicensE or with DSPS at (608) 266-2112 before you apply.
Sources
- Wis. Stat. 101.861, 101.862, 101.868, 101.87, 101.874, 101.88 and 101.178 (Chapter 101, updated through September 4, 2026), Wisconsin State Legislature, retrieved 2026-09-29
- Wis. Stat. 145.06, Wisconsin State Legislature, retrieved 2026-09-29
- Wis. Admin. Code ch. SPS 305, Licenses, Certifications and Registrations (Register August 2025 No. 836), Wisconsin State Legislature, retrieved 2026-09-29
- Wis. Admin. Code ch. SPS 316, Electrical (Register August 2026 No. 848), Wisconsin State Legislature, retrieved 2026-09-29
- DSPS Credential Fees and Renewal Dates, retrieved 2026-09-29
- DSPS Trades Exam Information and Fee Schedule, retrieved 2026-09-29
- DSPS Journeyman Electrician, Licensure by Examination and Reciprocity, retrieved 2026-09-29
- DSPS Residential Journeyman Electrician and Industrial Journeyman Electrician, retrieved 2026-09-29
- DSPS Master Electrician, Licensure by Examination, Reciprocity and Residential Master Electrician, retrieved 2026-09-29
- DSPS Registered Master Electrician, retrieved 2026-09-29
- DSPS Electrician, Registered and Electrical Apprentice, retrieved 2026-09-29
- DSPS Electrical Contractor and Licensure by Examination, 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.