Electrical Contractors in the State of Nebraska are required to hold a license from the Nebraska Electrical Division’s State Electrical Board. A license allows contractors to perform electrical work anywhere within the state.
As part of the licensing process, contractors are required to prove that they meet the Board’s requirements for work experience and education, in addition to passing a qualifying exam.
*In addition to holding a state license, all contractors are required to hold a license from the local municipality in which they choose to work. For more information, contact the Division at:
402-471-3550
License Classifications for Electrical Contractors in Nebraska
The Division offers the following license classifications to Electrical Contractors:
- Electrical Contractor License- allows contractors to bid, plan, layout, install and supervise work on electrical wiring, apparatuses and equipment.
- Journeyman Electrician License- allows contractors to install electrical wiring, equipment and apparatuses. Journeyman may also supervise Apprentice Electricians.
- Residential Journeyman Electrician License- allows contractors to perform the same scope of work as a Journeyman Electrician, in a residential setting for one and two-family residences, as well as multi-family dwellings under 3 stories in height.
- Fire Alarm Installer License- allows contractors to plan, layout and install electrical wiring, apparatuses and equipment for fire alarm systems and components that operate 50 volts or less.
- Apprentice Electrician Registration- allows contractors to learn and gain on-the-job training, performing electrical wiring, under the direct supervision of a licensed, on-the-job supervisor.
*No more than 3 Apprentice Electricians may work for a licensee at any given time.
Process to Obtain an Electrical Contractor License in Nebraska
- Contractors must meet the work experience and education requirement for their chosen license classification
- Contractors must complete and submit an application, along with all the required documents and fees, in order to gain approval to take the exam
- Contractors must take and pass the exam in their municipality
- Upon passing the exam, contractors will receive their license, allowing them to work anywhere within the state
- Contractors are required to attend 12 hours of continuing education courses in order to renew their license
Education and Work Experience Requirement
In order to gain approval to take the exam, contractors are required to meet the Board’s requirements for education and work experience, based on their chosen license classification:
- Electrical Contractor Applicants- must have 4 years of electrical education, with 1 year of work experience as a journeyman; OR have 1 year of experience as a licensed journeyman electrician; OR have 5 years of work experience working specifically with the installation, planning and layout of electrical wiring, apparatuses and equipment for light, heat and power
- Journeyman Electrician Applicants- must have 4 years of verifiable work experience that the Board finds acceptable; OR 3 years of work experience that the Board finds acceptable, along with the successful completion of a post-high school course in electrical wiring with a degree in Electrical Technology
- Residential Journeyman Electrician Applicants- must have 3 years of verifiable work experience that the Board finds acceptable; OR 2 years of work experience that the Board finds acceptable, along with the completion of a post-high school course in electrical wiring with a degree in Electrical Technology
- Fire Alarm Installer Applicants- must have 3 years of verifiable work experience that the Board finds acceptable; OR 2 years of work experience that the Board finds acceptable, along with the completion of a post-high school course in electrical wiring with a degree in Electrical Technology
*Applicants applying for Apprentice Registration do not have to meet requirements for work experience and education as they are not required to take an exam.
In order to prove work experience, contractors are required to provide the complete mailing address of the current/previous employer on the license application.
For all work experience claimed, the contractor’s current/previous employer is also required to provide a letter on official company letterhead, verifying the contractor’s experience.
All Journeyman, Residential Journeyman and Fire Alarm Installer applicants are required to provide a copy of their Associates Degree in Electrical Technology for verification purposes, if they are claiming educational experience.
For more information about the work experience and education requirement, please contact the Division at:
402-471-3550
Preparing and Submitting an Application
All contractors are required to submit a license application in order to gain approval to take the exam.
Download a copy of the license application.
Be sure to read the application thoroughly and follow all instructions. Type or use an ink pen to complete the application. Be sure to answer all questions. Please note that the Board does not accept incomplete applications. All incomplete applications will be returned.
Provide all information requested concerning the contractors education and work experience. All applications must be signed and notarized.
Along with the application, contractors are required to enclose the appropriate fees. All license and exam fees are non-refundable. Refer to the chart below to determine the fees needed for each license classification:
| License Classification | Examination Fee | License/Registration Issuance Fee |
| Electrical Contractor | $125 | $125 when issued on an even-numbered year; $250 when issued on an odd-numbered year |
| Journeyman Electrician | $60 | $25 when issued on an even-numbered year; $50 when issued on an odd-numbered year |
| Residential Journeyman Electrician | $60 | $25 when issued on an even-numbered year; $50 when issued on an odd-numbered year |
| Fire Alarm Installer | $60 | $25 when issued on an even-numbered year; $50 when issued on an odd-numbered year |
| Apprentice Registration | N/A | $20 when issued on an even-numbered year; $40 when issued on an odd-numbered year |
All applications must be received by the Board within 20 days before the next scheduled examination. Contractors may view the exam schedule on the Board’s website.
Submit the completed application, along with all the required documents and fees to:
State of Nebraska
State Electrical Division
P.O. Box 95066
Lincoln, NE 68508-2707
Once the Board approves the contractor’s application, they will be given approval to take the exam. Upon passing the exam, the Board will issue the contractor’s license.
*Please note that all contractors must undergo the proper inspections before beginning work on an electrical project in the State of Nebraska.
For questions about the application or the application process, please contact the Division at:
402-471-3550
The Examination Process
In order to obtain a license, contractors are required to pass a qualifying exam. Nebraska offers 3 different municipal exam programs. Contractors must pass the exam in one of these municipalities in order to obtain a license:
- Fremont
- Hastings
- Lincoln
View a schedule of exam locations, dates and times.
Contractors are required to appear for the exam within 3 consecutive scheduled tests after their application is accepted. Otherwise, the contractor’s application will be considered void.
On the day of the exam, the Board also offers optional training sessions, prior to the test for anyone who would like attend. The cost to register for a training session is $40.
Attending a training session helps contractors earn credit hours toward the continuing education requirement that they are required to complete upon renewal.
To register for a training session, contractors will need to provide their name, address and phone number.
Click here to register online.
Contractors are allotted a total of 3 hours to take the licensing exam. The examination is primarily based on the most current National Electric Code; however it also includes the following topics:
- Basic Electricity
- Blueprint Reading
- Emergency Circuits-including Fire Alarm Circuits
- Nebraska State Electrical Act
For more information about the exam content, please visit the Board’s website.
*Contractors are allowed to use the National Electric Code Book or the National Electric Code Handbook as a reference in the testing center on the day of the exam.
Be sure to arrive to the testing center early on the day of the exam to allow time for check-in. All examinees are required to bring a photo ID to the exam.
*If the contractor needs to cancel their exam appearance for any reason, they must notify the Board within 7 days of the scheduled test.
Contractors are required to pass the exam with a score of at least 76%. Exam results are forwarded within 7 days of the contractor taking the test.
If the contractor does not pass the exam, they must submit a new application and pay the appropriate fees in order to re-take the test.
Upon passing the exam the Division will issue the contractor’s license, allowing them to work anywhere within the State of Nebraska.
For more information about the examination or the examination process, please call the Board at:
402-471-3550
OR
How Long is a Nebraska Electrical Contractor License Valid?
All electrical license classifications are good for a period of 2 years in the State of Nebraska. All licenses expire on December 31st of the even-numbered year.
As a courtesy, the Board mails out renewal reminders on October 15th of the year the license is set to expire.
The cost to renew a license is:
- Electrical Contractor License- $125
- Journeyman Electrician License- $25
- Residential Journeyman Electrician License- $25
- Fire Alarm Installer License- $25
- Apprentice Registration- $25
Prior to renewal, all contractors are required to complete 12 contact hours of continuing education courses. As part of the renewal process, contractors are required to submit a certificate stating that they have completed the continuing education requirement.
*Continuing Education is not required to renew an Apprentice Registration.
All continuing education hours must be completed by January 1st of the odd-numbered year. Courses must be approved by the Board in order to count toward the requirement. Approved courses also include training programs and seminars through both public and private schools.
For a list of approved courses and course providers, please visit the list of course providers and the list of approved classes.
The Board requires that contractors break up their continuing education courses hours as follows:
- 6 hours focused on the study of the most current National Electric Code
- 6 hours focused on the study of:
- blueprint reading
- circuit theory
- electrical circuits and devices
- control systems
- transformer and motor theory
- programmable controllers
- microcomputers
- other electrical-related info
For more information about the license renewal process or continuing, please call the Division at:
402-471-3550
OR
Visit the Board’s License Renewal web page and continuing education notice.
Table of Fees
| Fee | What is it For? | When is it Due? |
| $125 | Examination Fee for Electrical Contractors | Upon submitting the license application |
| $60 | Examination Fee for Journeyman Electricians; Residential Journeyman Electricians; Fire Alarm Installers | Upon submitting the license application |
| $125/$250 | License Issuance Fee for an Electrical Contractor for issuing a license on an even-numbered/odd numbered year | Upon submitting the license application |
| $25/$50 | License Issuance Fee for a Journeyman Electrician; Residential Journeyman or Fire Alarm Installer license when the license is issued on an even-number/ odd-numbered year | Upon submitting the license application |
| $20/$40 | Apprentice Registration Fee when a registration is issued on an even-numbered/odd-numbered year | Upon submitting the license application |
| $40 | Registration Fee to attend a training course on the day of the exam | Prior to the exam, upon registering for the training course |
| $125 | Renewal Fee for Electrical Contractors | Every other year, on the even-numbered year, upon renewal |
| $25 | Renewal Fee for Journeyman Electricians; Residential Journeyman Electricians; Fire Alarm Installers; Apprentices | Every other year, on the even-numbered year, upon renewal |