Southeast electrical license reciprocity, state by state (2026)
Each board's own published list, re-checked in our October 9, 2026 sweep. Lists change often: confirm with the board before you file.
Reciprocity in the electrical trade is narrower than most people think. It usually waives only the trade exam, it usually follows only a license you earned by exam, and the business and law exam almost always still applies. Here is what each board publishes, state by state.
Which licenses transfer, by destination state
| Going to | License that transfers | Accepts licensees from | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | Master electrician (person level) | AL, AR, IA, LA, NE, NC, OH, TN | Journeyman held 1 yr (AL, IA, NE, OH, TN) or 2 yrs (AR, LA, NC); $45. From AL, the AL contractor license earned by exam counts. LA requires LA residency. Separate journeyman list ($30) includes AL. The contractor license never transfers. |
| Alabama | Electrical contractor | LA, MS, NC, OH, SC, TN, TX, VA | Trade exam waived; AL Business & Law exam (Prov, $86) + $315 reciprocal fee. NASCLA accepted. Georgia dropped. TX is listed as "EC or Journeyman", but the reciprocity form covers contractors only. |
| North Carolina | Electrical contractor (L / I / U) | AL, FL, GA, MS, OH, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV | Technical exam waived for licenses earned by exam; 25-question NC Laws & Rules exam. NASCLA accepted. LA not listed. |
| South Carolina | Mechanical contractor, EL classification | AL, GA (unrestricted), MS, NC (L/I/U), OH, TN | Board-to-board waiver form; Business & Law never waived. NASCLA and a master electrician certification by exam (MASC to 2025, Carolinas AGC from 2026) accepted. |
| Tennessee | CE electrical contractor | AL, LA, MS, NC, OH, SC, WV, TX (master) | Trade exam waived; TN Business & Law always required. NASCLA accepted. Texas masters added by the October 2026 agreement (not yet on TN's form). Georgia not on the list. |
| Virginia | Master electrician (tradesman) + firm license | AL (master), DC, KY, MD (master), OH (master), WV; NC at contractor level | Transfers file the $171.75 tradesman application; the firm license follows the normal Class A/B/C route. |
| Florida | Certified electrical contractor (EC) | No reciprocity | Certification by endorsement instead ($492): equivalent exam, equivalent state, or 10+ years licensed elsewhere. |
| Georgia | Class I / II electrical contractor | None (ended May 2026) | Everyone applies by exam; NASCLA electrical not accepted. |
Three rules that trip people up
- Most waivers follow a license you earned by exam.A license you got through another state's reciprocity usually doesn't carry. The board traces it back to where you tested.
- Business and law exams are almost never waived.Alabama, South Carolina and Tennessee all waive the trade exam but still require their own business and law exam; North Carolina asks a 25-question law exam.
- The lists move.Texas added five states to its master list in about ten months (Tennessee on October 6, 2026), while Georgia dropped reciprocity entirely in May 2026, and Alabama and Tennessee have dropped Georgia.
Picking an anchor license
If you plan to work in several Southeast states, the first license you earn by exam matters. An NC Unlimited, Alabama contractor or Tennessee CE license is accepted by most of its neighbors, and both Tennessee and North Carolina licenses also open the Texas master route. Georgia and Florida don't receive waivers, so plan to test there directly. Where no reciprocity exists, one NASCLA electrical pass is accepted by AL, NC, SC and TN.
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Reciprocity FAQ
Do electrical licenses transfer between states?
Sometimes, and usually only partly. Most Southeast boards waive the trade (technical) exam for a license you earned by exam in a partner state, but you still file a full application, pay the fees, and pass that state's business and law exam.
Which Southeast state has the most electrical reciprocity?
North Carolina accepts licensees from ten states (AL, FL, GA, MS, OH, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV) and asks only a 25-question law exam, and an NC Unlimited license earned by exam is accepted by AL, SC, TN and Texas (master level) in return.
Does Georgia have electrical reciprocity?
No. Georgia discontinued licensure by reciprocity effective May 2026, and it does not accept the NASCLA electrical exam. South Carolina and North Carolina still accept Georgia licensees going the other way.
Does Florida have electrical license reciprocity?
No. Florida offers certification by endorsement ($492) instead, for applicants who passed a substantially equivalent exam, come from a state with equivalent criteria, or have been licensed elsewhere for at least 10 years.
Is the NASCLA electrical exam accepted in the Southeast?
Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee accept the NASCLA Electrical Contractor exam in place of their own trade exam. Georgia and Florida do not.
Need the full application path for one state?
Each state roadmap (9-page PDF, $39) covers the reciprocity packet form by form, plus fees, exams, insurance and a printable checklist. The Southeast bundle covers GA, AL, NC, SC and TN for $99.
See the state roadmapsState pages
Informational only, not legal advice. LicenseFootprint is not affiliated with any state agency. Each board's current published requirements always control.