The licensing of Electrical Contractors is handled at the local-level rather than the state-level in Indiana. Electrical Contractors in the State of Indiana must refer to their local jurisdiction for licensing.
Before beginning work on an electrical project, it is important that contractors check with their city, town or municipality’s building or planning department to determine what is required. Most cities in Indiana require contractors to obtain a license or registration, pass a qualifying exam and obtain the proper forms of insurance or bonding.
Below is a brief explanation of the licensing and registration process for some of the larger cities in the State of Indiana.
Indianapolis, IN
Electrical Contractors working in the City of Indianapolis are required to hold a license if they plan to install, repair, service or replace electrical power systems. Licenses are issued by the Indianapolis Department of Code Enforcement.
The Department offers the following license types to Electrical Contractors:
- Master Electrical License
- Residential Electrical License
Download a copy of the Indianapolis license application.
As part of the licensing process, contractors are required to:
- Have at least 6 years of work experience in the field of electrical construction. 4 of those years must be practical experience working with electrical power distribution systems. Contractors must provide a signed notarized reference letter from a current/previous employer documenting their work experience. In some cases, education and apprenticeships may count toward 2 years of the work experience requirement.
- Contractors must obtain general liability insurance in the minimum amount of $500,000 in the event of bodily injury and $100,000 in the event of property damage. A combined single-limit policy worth $500,000 covering both bodily injury and property damage is also acceptable.
- Contractors are also required to carry worker’s compensation insurance if they plan to employ workers.
- Contractors must submit a surety bond or bond continuation certificate in the amount of $10,000. Bonds must be typed and not hand-written.
- Contractors must complete and submit an application along with all the required documents and fees, at least 10 business days before the Department Board meets to review applications.
- Contractors are required to appear before the Board for an interview at one of the regularly scheduled meetings.
- Once their application is accepted, contractors are required to take and pass an exam for their chosen classification, administered by Prometric Inc. Contractors must earn a score 70% or higher.
All applications must be signed and notarized. The name/names on the application must match exactly with all corresponding documentation, including bonds and insurance certificates.
If the contractor’s business is a corporation, they must register with Secretary of State. For more information about registration, please call:
317-232-6576
OR
Visit the Secretary of State’s website.
If the contractor plans to use a business name (doing business as) other than their surname, they must register their business name in the county where they plan to work. If the county does not require contractors to register their “doing business as” (DBA) name, they must submit a letter, along with the application, stating this policy.
*DBA’s in Marion County should contact the Marion County Recorder Office at 317-377-4020.
If the contractor is operating a sole proprietorship or partnership, the name on their insurance certificate should be listed as, “Sole Proprietor/Partnership DBA business name.”
The cost to obtain an Electrical Contractor license in Indianapolis varies, depending if the contractor is applying as an individual or a business. The fee is also affected by the time that the contractor is applying during the 2-year license cycle.
The fee for a business license is between $124 and $247. The fee to apply as an individual is between $189 and $377.
Once the contractor’s application has been approved they will be required to take and pass an exam, administered by Prometric Inc. For more information about the examination, please visit the Electrical Contractor Board Policies.
Electrical Contractor licenses are good for a period of 2 years, expiring on December 31st. The cost to renew a license is $247 for both individuals and businesses.
For more information about licensing requirements, insurance and bonding, please visit:
Electrical License Requirements.
For more information about the licensing process for Electrical Contractors in Indianapolis, please contact:
Indianapolis Department of Code Enforcement
1200 Madison Avenue
Suite 100
Indianapolis, IN 46225
By Phone: 317-327-1291
OR
Visit the City of Indianapolis Website
Fort Wayne, IN
Electrical Contractors in the City of Fort Wayne, Indiana are required to obtain a license from the Allen County Building Department. The Building Department protects the health and safety of the public and aims to maximize energy conservation by enforcing codes for contractors performing electrical work. All electrical work performed in Fort Wayne is also subject to inspection.
A license is needed in order to install, alter or repair electrical wiring, devices, appliances and equipment. The Building Department offers the following license types to electrical contractors:
- Master Electrician License- allows contractors to supervise and perform work on electrical projects
- Journeyman Electrician License- allows contractors to work on both commercial and residential electrical projects. All Journeymen must work under the supervision of a licensed Master Electrician.
*The Department also offers registration to Electrical Apprentices. Electrical Apprentices, however, are not required to obtain a license. All Electrical Apprentices must work under the direct supervision of a licensed Journeyman or Master Electrician.
In order to obtain a license, contractors must meet the following requirements:
- Master Electrician applicants must have 8 years of work experience in the electrical field. 4 of those years must be as a Journeyman.
- Journeyman Electrician applicants must have 4 years of work experience, totaling 8,000 hours in the electrical field.
- All contractors must take and pass the Master or Journeyman Electrical exam, administered by Prometric Inc or the Inernation Code Council (ICC).
- All Electrical Contractors must hold or employ someone who holds a Master Electrician license.
- Contractors must obtain the proper permits for their projects and undergo inspections.
The cost to obtain an Electrical Contractor license in Allen County is $90. There is an additional $25 fee for Master applicants and $15 for Journeyman applicants.
For additional information about licensing requirements and fees, please read theAllen County Building Department Rules and Regulations document.
For more information about the licensing process for Electrical Contractors in the City of Fort Wayne, please contact:
Allen County Building Department
200 East Berry Street
Suite 180
Fort Wayne, IN 46802-1811
By Phone: 260-449-7131
OR
Visit the Building Department website
For information about electrical inspections, contact James Krauhs at:
260-449-7614
South Bend, IN
The City of South Bend’s Building Department requires all Electrical Contractors and subcontractors to hold a license when working in city limits or within St. Joseph County. The Building Department offers the following license classifications to Electrical Contractors:
- Class A- Electrical Contractor License
- Class B- Industrial Electrical License
Contractors are required to submit an application to the Department, proving that they meet the requirements. All applications are due 10 business days before the scheduled Board meeting.
Once the Board approves the contractor’s application, they are required to pass a qualifying exam, administered by Prometric Inc., with a score of at least 70%.
In order to qualify to take the exam contractors must:
- Be at least 21 years old
- Have 4 years of work experience, or equivalent, performing electrical work. In order to prove work experience, contractors are required to submit a resume of experience and letters of reference. In some cases an apprenticeship may count toward the work experience requirement.
- Along with their application, contractors must also submit a photo ID, such as a copy of a driver’s license, as well as a statement from the local police department stating if the contractor has ever been convicted of a crime.
There is a non-refundable $50 application fee, in addition to a $100 licensing fee.
Contractors applying for a Class A license are also required to submit a surety bond for the term of 1 year in the amount of $5,000.
Download a copy of the South Bend application and licensing exam instructions.
For more information about the licensing process in the City of South Bend, please contact:
City of South Bend/St. Joseph County Building Department
125 South Lafayette Blvd
Suite 100
South Bend, IN 46601
By Phone: 574-235-9554
OR
Vist the Contractor Registration page of the City of South Bend
Evansville, IN
The City of Evansville and Vanderburgh County, IN ensures that all electrical work in the area is performed by capable professionals. Electrical Contractors are required to obtain a license and pass a qualifying exam.
The City offers the following license classifications to Electrical Contractors:
- Master Electrician License
- Journeyman Electrician License
- Apprentice Electrician License
All contractors must complete and submit an application in order to gain approval to take the examination. In order to gain approval to take the exam, contractors must:
- Provide 3 notarized letters of references proving that the contractor has at least 4 years of work experience.
- Prove that they carry general liability insurance in the minimum amount of $1 million.
- Additionally, contractors must carry workers compensation insurance, or submit an affidavit stating that they do not plan to hire workers.
- Contractors must post a surety bond in the minimum amount of $15,000
Download a copy of the Evansville license application.
Along with application, contractors must also submit the appropriate fee:
- Master Electrician Applicants- $250
- Journeyman Electrician Applicants- $30
- Apprentice Electrician Applicants- $20
Once the Board approves the contractor’s application, they will receive a phone call or email with instructions for registering for the exam. The exam is administered by Ivy Tech.
For more information about the examination, please call Ivy Tech at:
812-429-9852
For a copy of the Master Electrician exam study guide, please visit the Evansville city website.
For a copy of the Journeyman exam study guide, please visit the Evansville city website.
For questions about the licensing process for Electrical Contractors in the City of Evansville, please call:
812-436-7880
OR
Visit the City of Evansville’s website for: