Kentucky electricians and electrical contractors are licensed by the Electrical Licensing Division of the Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction. Examinations are developed and administered on the Department's behalf by Prov, Inc.

Kentucky issues Journeyman Electrician, Master Electrician, and Electrical Contractor licenses. A Master Electrician license is required to hold, or be employed by, an Electrical Contractor.

Applicants generally must document 8,000 hours of qualifying electrical trade experience since their sixteenth birthday, in addition to passing the Journeyman Electrician examination.

Applicants generally must document 16,000 hours of qualifying electrical trade experience since their sixteenth birthday, in addition to passing the Master Electrician examination.

Yes. Completion of an approved apprenticeship program, an associate's degree in electrical technology from a Kentucky Community and Technical College or accredited college, or qualifying teaching experience at an accredited college may each substitute for a portion of the required experience hours.

• Journeyman Electrician: 80 questions, 3-hour time limit
• Master Electrician: 100 questions, 4-hour time limit
• Electrical Contractor Business and Law: 40 questions, 1.5-hour time limit

Kentucky's Journeyman, Master Electrician, and Business and Law examinations are all scored against a 70% passing cut score.

Each computer-based examination administered by Prov costs $80.

Yes. Kentucky electrical examinations are open book. Approved reference materials may be highlighted in pen and marked with permanent tabs, but movable tabs, sticky notes, and photocopied materials are not permitted unless specifically authorized for that exam.

Trade examination questions are written to comply with the 2017, 2020, and 2023 editions of the NEC, and candidates may bring whichever of those editions they prefer into the exam.

Yes. To operate an electrical contracting business, bid projects, and pull permits, you need an Electrical Contractor license. This requires holding a Kentucky Master Electrician license yourself, or employing one, passing the Business and Law exam, and providing proof of liability and workers' compensation insurance.

Yes, but a Journeyman license only authorizes hands-on electrical work performed under a licensed master electrician or electrical contractor. It does not authorize operating an independent contracting business.

Kentucky offers reciprocal licensing arrangements for candidates holding an active license from Ohio (Electrical Contractor and Master Electrician) or from Virginia or West Virginia (Master Electrician or Journeyman Electrician), subject to submitting the required application, insurance, and fee.

Kentucky electrical licenses are renewed annually, with the renewal due by the last day of your birth month each year.

License holders must complete 6 hours of continuing education each year covering job safety and electrical codes, from a DHBC-approved provider, with no more than 2 of those hours applied toward safety topics.

Yes. There is no waiting period between attempts, and you may retake a failed exam as often as needed. Retake fees are the same as the original exam fee.

Yes. Depending on the exam, available options may include course-only, bookset-only, tabset-only, individual books, regular combos, and pre-highlighted and tabbed combos.

No. Passing the required examination is only part of the licensing process. Applicants must also satisfy experience, application, insurance (for contractors), documentation, and fee requirements set by the Department.