Electrical Contractors in the State of Colorado are required to hold a license or registration from the Department of Regulatory Agencies. Licenses are issued by the Department’s Electrical Board. Licensing and registration is part of Colorado’s Mandatory Practice Act, which states that no person or business entity may perform electrical work within the state without a license.
As part of the licensing process, contractors are required to prove a number of years of work experience and pass a qualifying examination. Contractors who register with the Board must choose a responsible party to oversee all work performed by their business entity.
License Types and Classification for Electrical Contractors in Colorado
The Board offers the following license/registration types to Electrical Contractors:
- Electrician License
- Electrical Contractor Registration
As part of the Electrician License category, the Board offers the following classifications, for which the contractor must take and pass an exam:
- Residential Wireman
- Journeyman Electrician
- Master Electrician
Those who choose Electrical Contractor Registration with the Board for their business, are required at all times to employ a Master Electrician to oversee their work.
*The Board also offers a registration process for contractors who want to work and earn experience as an Electrical Apprentice. Electrical Apprentices must work under the supervision of a licensed Electrician at all times. For more information about registering as an Electrical Apprentice, please visit the Division of Professions and Occupations Online Services.
Process to Obtain an Electrical Contractor License in Colorado
- Contractors must decide if they want to obtain a license; or if they want to obtain registration through the Board
- Contractors who opt for licensing must choose a license classification and meet the minimum number of hours of work experience required for that classification
- Contractors who opt for registration must choose a licensed Master Electrician to act as a responsible party and oversee all work the contractor performs
- Contractors must submit an application to the Board, including all the required documents and fees
- Those applying for a license must take and pass a qualifying exam, based on their license classification. Examinations are administered by PSI Services
- Licensed contractors must attend Continuing Competency courses upon renewal.
Work Experience and Responsible Party Requirement
Contractors applying for an Electrician License are required to meet the minimum work experience requirement for their license classification:
- Residential Wireman- must have 4,000 hours of work experience, earned over a period of 2 years. Acceptable experiences include working with construction wiring, lights, heat and power.
- Journeyman Electrician- must have 8,000 hours of work experience, earned over a period of 4 years. Acceptable experiences include working with construction wiring, lights, heat and power. At least 4,000 hours and 2 years of the requirement must be spent in commercial and/or industrial electrical work.
- Master Electrician- must meet the same work experience requirement as a Journeyman Electrician; with an additional 2,000 hours, earned over a 1 year period, working on planning, lay-out and supervising the installation of wiring apparatuses and equipment for electrical light, heat and power.
For more information about the work experience requirement, please view the Board’s licensing requirements.
In order to prove work experiences, contractors must have their current/previous employer fill out the Affidavit of Experience form, located in the application packet.
The Affidavit of Experience Form asks that contractors provide a break-down of all applicable work experiences, including the contractor’s duties and responsibilities. The form must be signed by a representative from the contractor’s current/previous company.
Contractors are also required to provide any information about education or trade- related experiences.
Contractors applying for Electrical Contractor Registration are required to choose a licensed Master Electrician to act as a responsible party for their work.
The responsible party is in charge of overseeing all the contractor’s projects to ensure that the electrical work performed is in compliance with codes, laws and standards in the State of Colorado.
Once the contractor has chosen their Master Electrician, they must sign the Acknowledgement of Responsibility form located in the application packet.
*Master Electricians may only act as the responsible party for one company/business at a time.
For questions about the requirements for Electricians or Electrical Contractors, contact the Board:
By Phone: 303-894-2310
OR
Preparing and Submitting an Application
Download a copy of the Electrician License application or the Electrical Contractor Registration application.
Be sure to read and follow all instructions included in the application packet. Answer all questions and be sure to provide all requested documentation to avoid delays in the licensing process. The Board recommends that contractors keep copies of all documents for their records.
The Board often communicates via email. Contractors must ensure that they provide a valid, working email address on their application.
All contractors are required to provide their Social Security Number on the application. Applications without SSNs will be considered incomplete and will not be processed.
The applications also provide the option for contractors to obtain a 30-day work permit, if they need to begin working on an electrical project immediately while they wait for their license to process.
Work permits are good for 30 days only. If the contractor has not received their license by the time the work permit expires, they must stop work on all electrical projects until the time that they have received a license.
The Electrician License application asks that contractors fill out and include the following with their submitted application:
- Affidavit of Eligibility- which verifies citizenship, basic information about the contractor, employment and education information
- Affidavit of Experience- which verifies the contractor’s work experience and details the contractor’s employment, including dates, total hours worked, months worked, duties and responsibilities
- Non-refundable Fee- based on the contractor’s chosen classification. The Board accepts payments in the form of check or money order made payable to, “State of Colorado”:
- Residential Wireman- $100
- Journeyman Electrician- $120
- Master Electrician- $140
The Electrical Contractor Registration application asks the contractor to submit the following and complete the following steps:
- Contact the Colorado Business Assistance Center- if the contractor is a first-time business-owner in the State of Colorado. Please call:
303-592-5920
- All contractors must choose a Master Electrician- to act as the responsible party for their business. The responsible party and the contractor must complete, sign and submit the Acknowledgement of Responsibility form, found in the application packet
- Contractors must prove that they are in compliance with the state’s workers compensation and unemployment insurance laws. For more information, please contact:
- Office of Unemployment Insurance
By Phone: 303-318-9100 or toll free: 800-480-8299ORVisit their website - Division of Worker’s Compensation
By Phone: 303-318-8700 or toll free: 888-390-7936ORVisit their website
- Office of Unemployment Insurance
- Corporations, Limited Liability Companies and Limited Liability Partnerships are required to register with the Colorado Secretary of State. For more information, please call the Secretary of State’s Office at:
303-894-2200 - Contractors must obtain the appropriate tax identification numbers- including a Federal Employee Identification Number. For more information, please visit the IRS website
- Some counties in Colorado also have local requirements for contractors performing electrical work. To determine if there are any local requirements, contact the city or county government in the area in which the contractor plans to conduct business.
- There is a non-refundable $210 fee to apply for an Electrical Contractor Registration. The Board accepts payments in the form of check or money order, made payable to, “State of Colorado.”
All License and Registration Applications are to submitted, in-person or by mail to:
Division of Professions and Occupations
Office of Licensing- Electrical
1560 Broadway, Suite 1350
Denver, CO 80202
*Please note that the Board does not accept payments in the form of cash, even when submitting a license application in-person.
The Board provides a website where contractors may check and track the status of their application.
The Board keeps all applications on-file for a period of one year from the date that they are received. During that time, contractors must provide all the required/requested documentation for their application, and pass the exam (license applicants only).
Once the Board approves the application, those applying for an Electrician License will be notified of their eligibility to take the exam. They will receive a letter with instructions on how to register for the examination.
Upon passing the exam, or being approved for an Electrical Contractor Registration, contractors will receive an approval notice along with to instruction for printing out a wallet card. Contractors must carry their wallet card on them at all times when conducting business. For more information, please visit the Board’s website.
For questions about the application process, please contact the Board at:
303-894-2310
OR
Email: dora_electricalboard@state.co.us
The Examination Process
Anyone applying for a Residential Wireman, Journeyman Electrician or Master Electrician license is required to take and pass an examination for their classification. The Electrical Board holds a contract with PSI Services to administer the exam.
The PSI Candidate Information Bulletin contains all the information needed to prepare for and register for the exam, including the exam registration form, a list of suggested study materials and references, sample test questions and a break-down of the topics covered on each classification’s exam.
Contractors will be sent a copy of the bulletin once their application is approved by the Board.
The exam covers information related to:
- National Electrical Code
- Grounding, bonding and wiring methods
- Electrical theory and calculations
Contractors may register for the exam ONE of the following ways:
- Online– follow the link for new user registration
- By Phone- call PSI and use their automated system 24 hours a day. Representative are standing by to assist callers during regular business hours:
(800) 733-9267 - Fax- when registering by fax, allow 4 business days for processing. Fax the registration form and payment information to:
(702) 932-2666. - By mail: allow approximately 2 weeks for processing when submitting the exam registration form by mail. Complete the exam registration form from the Candidate Information Bulletin. Mail the registration form and payment to:
PSI Licensure: Certification
3210 E Tropicana
Las Vegas, NV 89121
The cost to take the exam, for all license classifications, is $75.
PSI accepts payments in the form of:
- Cashier’s Check or Money Order may payable to “PSI.”
- Visa or Mastercard when applying online or by phone or fax
Once PSI accepts the exam registration form, it is the applicant’s responsibility to call PSI to schedule their exam. To schedule an exam, call PSI at: (800) 733-9267
Testing Centers are located in:
- Denver (Centennial)
- Denver (Wheat Ridge)
- Fort Collins
- Pueblo
- Colorado Springs
- Grand Junction
- Durango
On the day of the test, examinees should arrive at least 30 minutes for before their scheduled test to allow time for check-in. They are also required to bring 2 forms of identification, including:
- A government issued photo id with the examinee’s signature; such as a driver’s license or passport
- Another form of identification with the examinee’s name and signature; such as a credit card or debit card.
Contractors are required to pass the exam with a minimum score of 70%. Scores are issued same-day, before the contractor leaves the testing center. Upon passing the exam, contractors will receive instructions for obtaining and printing out their license.
If the contractor does not successfully pass the exam, they are allowed an unlimited number of re-takes during the one-year period that the Board keeps their application on-file. The cost to re-take the examination is $70.
How Long is a Colorado Electrical Contractor License Valid?
All Electrician license classifications and Electrical Contractor registrations are good for a period of 3 years in the State of Colorado. Licenses and registrations expire on September 30th of the expiration year. Licenses must be renewed in order for the contractor to continue working.
The window for renewal begins approximately 6 weeks before the expiration date, generally beginning in August and remaining open through November. The renewal period also coincides with updates of National Electric Code.
Upon renewal, contractors must comply with the Board’s requirements for Continuing Competency (CC). The contractors who must attend CC include:
- Residential Wireman
- Journeyman Electricians
- Master Electricians
Continuing Competency is a program designed to assess the contractor’s professional work and identify areas where growth is needed. CC also helps contractors to remain current in the profession of electrical contracting.
Contractors are required to earn 24 Professional Development Units (PDUs) of Continuing Competency in order to renew.
For more information about the CC requirement, please visit the Board’s continuing competency web page and frequently asked questions.
The Board offers online license renewal for all contractors. For more information, please visit their website.
For more information about license renewal, please contact the Board at:
303-894-2310
OR
Email: dora_electicalboard@state.co.us
Table of Fees
| Fee | What is it For? | When is it Due? |
| $100 | Cost to apply for a Residential Wireman License | Upon submitting the license application |
| $120 | Cost to apply for a Journeyman Electrician License | Upon submitting the license application |
| $140 | Cost to apply for a Master Electrician License | Upon submitting the license application |
| $210 | Cost to apply for an Electrical Contractor License | Upon submitting the license application |
| $75 | Cost to take the examination | Upon registering for the exam |
| $70 | Cost to re-take the exam if the contractor does not pass. | Upon re-registering for the exam. |