How to get an electrical contractor license in Alabama (2026)
Checked against the Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors' applications, fee schedule and the Prov candidate bulletin. Guide facts verified September 2026 and re-checked in our October 9, 2026 sweep.
Alabama runs a dual system: a state license from the Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors is valid statewide (with local permits), or you can hold a county or city license that is valid only there. This page covers the state contractor and journeyman licenses.
Alabama at a glance
| Board | Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors, Montgomery |
|---|---|
| License types | Electrical Contractor (contract work statewide) and Journeyman (works under a contractor). |
| Experience | Contractor: 4 years / 8,000 hours in design, planning, lay-out and direct supervision. Journeyman: 8,000 hours within the past 8 years. Approved education can count for up to 2,000 hours. |
| Application (exam) fee | $165 contractor / $115 journeyman, paid to the Board. |
| Exam | Prov (not PSI). Contractor: 110 questions, 5 hours. Journeyman: 80 questions, 4 hours. Open book, pass 75%, 2023 NEC (2026 NEC from January 1, 2027). |
| License fee | $150 contractor / $35 journeyman after passing; renews every year at the same amount. |
| Continuing education | Contractors: 14 hours per two-year cycle. Journeymen: none currently. |
| Reciprocity | MS, TN, NC, SC, VA, OH, LA, TX: trade exam waived, Alabama Business & Law exam still required, $315 reciprocal fee. NASCLA accepted. Georgia was dropped. |
| Alabama to Texas | Contractor license earned by exam (plus an Alabama journeyman license held 1 year): Texas master route, $45. Journeyman license (held 1 year, 8,000 hours): Texas journeyman route, $30. |
Fees and rules change. Confirm current figures with the Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors before you file.
How the process works
- Pick contractor or journeymanIf you can document supervisory experience and will contract in your own name, go straight for the contractor license. The journeyman card doesn't reduce the contractor requirements later.
- Document your 8,000 hoursAlabama wants a notarized experience affidavit from each employer on the Board's own form, backed by matching W-2s or 1099s (registered apprentices use the apprenticeship form instead).
- File before a quarterly Board meetingThe Board approves exam applications at quarterly meetings. Miss a filing deadline and you wait about three months. Use the current forms; old versions are rejected.
- Pass the Prov exam, then claim the licenseApproval opens a 90-day window to test. Passing doesn't issue the license: you file a short licensure application with the $150 (or $35) fee.
Want the whole Alabama path on paper?
The Alabama Electrical Roadmap is a 9-page PDF that goes past this summary:
- The quarterly Board calendar and how to time your filing
- Which forms to use (old versions are rejected)
- The full reciprocity packet, form by form
- Printable application checklist and a dated sources page
Instant download · free updated edition for 12 months · 30-day money-back guarantee
Already licensed in another state?
Alabama waives the trade exam for electrical contractors currently licensed by exam in Mississippi, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Ohio, Louisiana and Texas. You still pass the Alabama Business & Law exam (40 questions, 2 hours, open book, $86 at Prov) and pay the $315 reciprocal application fee. Texas is the only state the Board lists as "EC or Journeyman", but its reciprocity application covers the electrical contractor license only, so a Texas journeyman should call the Board at (334) 679-1020 before applying. Georgia is no longer on the list; Georgia licensees can use the NASCLA electrical exam, which Alabama accepts. An Alabama license earned by exam is also a strong anchor going the other way: TN, NC, SC and MS waive their trade exams for it. Texas accepts Alabama licensees at both levels: the Alabama contractor license (earned by exam, with an Alabama journeyman license held 1 year) for a Texas master electrician license ($45), and the Alabama journeyman license (held 1 year, 8,000 hours) for a Texas journeyman license ($30).
Reciprocity lists change often. See every Southeast state side by side in the Southeast electrical reciprocity overview.
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Alabama electrical license FAQ
How much experience do I need for an Alabama electrical contractor license?
Four years (8,000 hours) of experience in the design, planning, lay-out and direct supervision of electrical work. Approved education can substitute for up to 2,000 hours.
Who gives the Alabama electrical exam?
Prov, not PSI. The contractor exam is 110 questions in 5 hours and the journeyman exam is 80 questions in 4 hours, both open book with a 75% passing score, based on the 2023 NEC until the move to the 2026 NEC on January 1, 2027.
Which states have electrical reciprocity with Alabama?
Mississippi, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Ohio, Louisiana and Texas, for contractor licenses earned by exam. Reciprocity waives the trade exam only; the Alabama Business & Law exam and the $315 reciprocal fee still apply. Georgia was dropped from the list.
Can an Alabama electrical license transfer to Texas?
Yes, at two levels. Texas lists Alabama for master electrician reciprocity; since Alabama has no master card, the counterpart is the Alabama Electrical Contractor license earned by exam, and TDLR also wants an Alabama journeyman license held at least 1 year ($45 application). An Alabama journeyman license held 1 year, with 8,000 hours, qualifies for a Texas journeyman license ($30). Confirm the exact documents with TDLR before filing.
How much does an Alabama electrical contractor license cost?
$165 for the exam application and $150 for the license after you pass, then $150 a year to renew. The reciprocity route costs $315 plus the $86 Business & Law exam.
Ready to file in Alabama?
Every step in filing order, a printable checklist, and every figure dated and cited to the board. Built by a contractor who holds licenses in 30+ states.
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Informational only, not legal advice. LicenseFootprint is not affiliated with any state agency. The board's current published requirements always control.