Electrical Contractors in the State of Alabama are required to obtain a license from the Alabama Electrical Contractors Board. State law stipulates that anyone performing electrical work must hold a license. As part of the licensing process, contractors are required to prove that they have the required work experience to perform electrical work, and pass a qualifying exam.
License Classifications for Electrical Contractors in Alabama
The Alabama Electrical Contractor Board offers the following license classifications to Electrical Contractors:
- Journeyman Electrician License
- Electrical Contractor License
Process to Obtain an Electrical Contractor License in Alabama
- Contractors must meet the Board’s requirements for work experience for their chosen license classification
- Contractors must complete and submit an application to the Board along with the required documents and proof of work experience
- Upon approval of their application, contractors must pay the examination fee
- Contractors must take and pass a qualifying exam, based on their chosen license classification. Examinations are administered by Prov Inc.
- Contractors must pay a licensing fee based on their classification
- Contractors must complete the required number of continuing education course hours, as stipulated by the Board, over a 2-year period.
Work Experience Requirement
All contractors must prove that they meet the Board’s minimum requirements for work experience:
- Journeyman Electrician License- applicants must have at least 8,000 hours/4 years of work experience. A large portion of the contractor’s work experience must be in the commercial or industrial electrical field. Contractors must prove that they have the qualifications, training and technical knowledge to install electrical wiring apparatuses and equipment, light, heat and power. Journeyman applicants must be able to prove that they can perform work according to the plans provided; and work in compliance with the rules and standards for the electrical trade in Alabama.
- Electrical Contractor License- applicants must have at least 8,000 hours/4 years of work experience. Acceptable experiences include those working in a supervisory role in the residential, commercial and industrial electrical field. Contractors must prove that they have managerial experience in the electrical construction field, directly supervising the design, planning, lay-out and the installation of electrical components. The Board does not count maintenance experience toward the work experience requirement.
In order to prove work experiences, contractors must have their past/present employer fill out and sign the Work Affidavit form, which is included in the application packet. Contractors may not fill out their own Work Affidavit.
Persons who are able to complete and sign the Work Affidavit on the contractor’s behalf include:
- Owner/President/CEO of a company the contractor worked for
- Another Electrical Contractor/Master Electrician/Electrical Engineer/Electrical Inspector who observed the contractor’s work
- Representative within the Human Resources Department of the company the contractor worked for
All contractors are also required to complete the Business Entity Job List, found in the application packet. This document asks the contractor to submit a list of jobs that they performed for each employer listed on the Work Experience Affidavit.
All Journeyman applicants must include the name of the Master Electrician or State-Certified Electrician who supervised their work on the Business Entity Job List.
If the contractor was/is self-employed, they may not sign their own Work Affidavit. Instead, the contractor must submit a signed and notarized letter to the Board stating that they are self-employed. This letter must detail the date that the contractor went into business for themselves and explain the types of electrical experience gained during that time. The letter must also state that the self-employed applicant acted as their own supervisor for all jobs listed on the Business Entity Job List.
In some cases, education may count toward the work experience requirement, if it was earned in an approved electrical program from an accredited vocational, post-secondary or college-level program. Education may count toward the following:
- Journeyman Electrician- 1 year of education may count toward 1,000 hours of the work experience requirement, with a maximum of 2,000 hours. Education must be from an approved electrical curriculum or apprenticeship program.
- Electrical Contractor- 1 year of education may count toward ½ a year of the experience requirement, with a maximum of 2 years. Education must be from an approved electrical curriculum.
Education must be documented in order to count toward the requirement. Contractors must attach diplomas, certificates or transcripts to their application as proof. Record all education experience on the Work Affidavit.
Journeyman Electrician applicants who want to prove apprenticeship experience must submit a notarized statement from an apprenticeship program certified by the Department of Labor. The statement must be signed by the Program Director, Executive Director or responsible party in order to count.
Preparing and Submitting an Application
Before filling out the application, all contractors should read the licensing instructions provided by the Board.
Download a copy of the instructions here.
Download a copy of the Journeyman Electrician application or the Electrical Contractor application.
All contractors must submit an application in order to gain approval from the Board to take the exam.
Be sure to read and follow all instructions on the application and in the instruction packet. Submit all requested documents to avoid delays in the licensing process.
All contractors are required to attach a recent 2×2, passport-sized photo of themselves, in the indicated space on the application.
Applications must be signed by the contractor and notarized.
Submit the application and all required documents to the address below, on or before the deadline:
Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors
2777 Zelda Road
Montgomery, AL 36106
Applications are due on or before the next scheduled Board meeting. The Board meets once per quarter to review applications. Applications received after the deadline will remain in the Board office and be reviewed at the following meeting. Contractors may view a calendar of scheduled Board meetings on the Board’s website.
*It is highly important that contractors submit their application in a quarter in which they are prepared to take the exam. Contractors will have 90 days from the time they are authorized to take the exam to take and pass the test.
Once the Board reviews and approves the application they will send the contractor a notice, asking them to pay the exam fee. Exam fees must be paid within 10 days of the Board approving the application.
Exam fees are based on the license classification the contractor is applying for:
- Journeyman Electrician- $115
- Electrical Contractor- $165
The Board accepts payments in the form of cashier’s check or money order, made payable to the “Alabama Electrical Contractors Board.” When submitting the payment, be sure to indicate the name of the contractor for whom the payment is being submitted.
Upon receiving the payment, the Board will send the contractor an authorization notice with instructions for scheduling their exam. This authorization notice is valid for a period of 90 days, in which the contractor must take and pass the exam.
*If the contractor does not take the exam within the 90 day period of authorization, they will need to submit a re-take form and pay the examination fee again.
For questions about the application or licensing process, please contact the Board at:
334-420-7232
Office hours are from 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday, except on National Holidays.
OR
The Examination Process
The Board holds a contract with Prov Inc. to administer the exam. The timed, computer-based exam is open-book and based on the contractor’s chosen license classification.
The Prov Candidate Information Bulletin contains all the information needed to prepare for and schedule the exam, including, a break-down of topics covered on each exam, a list of suggested references and study materials and sample test questions. The bulletin also includes information about the day of the exam and scheduling procedures.
Exams are scheduled one of the following ways:
- Online
OR - By Phone- call Prov toll free at 866-720-7768 between the hours of 8am and 6pm, Monday through Friday
When scheduling the exam, contractors will have the option of picking their preferred testing date and location. Tests must be scheduled at least 3 business days before the preferred test date. Advanced scheduling is recommended as spaces fill up quickly.
Testing centers are located in:
- Birmingham
- Huntsville
- Mobile
- Auburn
- Sheffield
- Montgomery
- Enterprise
- Tuscaloosa
Once the exam is scheduled, Prov will send the contractor an appointment letter with the date, time and location of their exam.
On the day of the exam, be sure to arrive at least 15 to 30 minutes before the scheduled test to allow time for check-in. Please bring a valid, government-issued photo ID.
Contractors must pass the exam with a score of at least 75%. Prov communicates the contractor’s exam scores to the Board. The Board will then send the contractor their exam scores via mail.
If the contractor passes the exam, they will receive instructions for paying the licensing fee and receiving their license. License fees are based on the contractor’s license classification:
- Journeyman Electrician- $35
- Electrical Contractor- $150
Payments are accepted in the form of a cashier’s check or money order, made payable to “Alabama Electrical Contractors Board.”
*The Board does not accept personal or company checks.
If the contractor does not successfully pass the exam on the first attempt, the Board will mail an exam re-take application. Contractors may view a copy of the Journeyman Re-take Application or the Electical Contractor Retake Application on the Board’s website.
How Long is an Alabama Electrical Contractor License Valid?
Journeyman Electrician and Electrical Contractor licenses are good for a period of 1 year in the State of Alabama. Licenses may only be renewed in the quarter in which they expire.
The Board issues renewal reminders approximately 30 days before the license is set to expire.
Renewal fees are the same as the initial licensing fee:
- Journeyman Electrician- $35
- Electrical Contractor- $150
*Late fees apply if renewing past the 30th of the month that the license expires.
The Board recently adopted a continuing education policy that states that Electrical Contractors must attend 14 hours of continuing education courses over a 2-year period in order for their license to remain valid.
Journeyman Electricians are not required to attend continuing education.
Visit the Board’s website for more information about continuing education and a list of Board-approved continuing education providers.
Table of Fees
| Fee | What is it For? | When is it Due? |
| $115 | Journeyman Electrician Exam Fee | Once the Board approves the contractor’s application |
| $165 | Electrical Contractor Exam Fee | Once the Board approves the contractor’s application |
| $35 | Journeyman Electrician License Fee | Once the contractor passes the exam |
| $150 | Electrical Contractor License Fee | Once the contractor passes the exam |
| $35 | Journeyman Electrician Renewal Fee | Every year upon renewal |
| $150 | Electrical Contractor Renewal Fee | Every year upon renewal |