Electrical Contractors in the State of New Jersey are required to hold a license from the New Jersey Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors. The Board ensures that all applicants have the experience and/or education needed to safely perform electrical work within the state.
As part of the licensing process, contractors are required to obtain a business permit, meet the Board’s requirements for age, education and work experience, and pass a qualifying examination.
*The Board also registers qualified journeyman electricians and grants license exemptions to anyone engaged in telecommunications wiring. For more information, call the Board at:
973-504-6410
Process to Obtain an Electrical Contractor License in New Jersey
- Contractors must be at least 21 years of age
- Contractors must hold a high school diploma or equivalency
- Contractors must have 5 years of verifiable, hands-on work experience in the field of electrical contracting. In some cases education and training may count toward a portion of the work experience requirement.
- Contractors must apply for a business permit, prove that they hold general liability and workers compensation insurance, and obtain the proper bonding.
- Contractors must complete and submit an application for examination to the Board, along with all the required documents and fees.
- Upon renewal, all contractors are required to complete 34 credit hours of Board-approved continuing education courses.
Age, Education and Work Experience Requirement
In order to qualify to take the examination, contractors must:
- Be at least 21 years old
- Hold a high school diploma or equivalency. A copy of the contractor’s high school diploma/ equivalency must be submitted with the examination application.
- Prove at least 5 years of hands-on work experience prior to submitting the application for examination. Acceptable experiences include working with tools and installing, altering or repairing wiring for electric, lights, heat or power. All work experiences must be in compliance with National Electric Code to count. The contractor’s employer/former employers must fill out the work experience certification form, found inside the exam application. It is important to provide as many details as possible about the contractor’s employer, employment dates and the duties performed. Managerial and supervising experiences do not count as practical hands-on experience to meet the requirement.
*In some cases, education and training may count toward a portion of the work experience requirement. For example, the Board accepts the completion of a 4 year, Federally-approved and certified apprenticeship program along with 1 year of practical hands-on experience; OR proof of a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering along with 2 years of practical, hands-on experience.
More information about the applicant qualifications is available from the NJ Consumer Affairs website.
Applying for a Business Permit
All contractors are required to apply for a business permit from the Board. Contractors may download a copy of the Business Permit Application from the NJ Consumer Affairs Website.
Business permit applications are due 10 days before the next scheduled Board meeting.
Be sure to follow all instructions when filling out the application. Along with the business permit application, contractors must submit:
- Proof of general liability insurance in the minimum amount of $300,000 or a bank letter of credit in the same amount.
- Proof of worker’s compensation insurance if the business plans to have employees
- Provide a federal tax identification number
- Submit a completed pressure seal application along with the $25 fee. All electrical contractors must also hold a pocket pressure seal. This seal will be pressed upon all electrical inspection applications for each of the contractor’s projects.
- All businesses must provide a copy of their incorporation papers from the New Jersey Division of Revenue/ Commercial Recording. Sole Proprietors are required to submit a copy of their trade name certificate from the County Court House, in the county where they plan to conduct business. For more information, call the New Jersey Division of Revenue/ Commercial Recording at:
609-633-8296 - All contractors are also required to post a surety bond in the proper business or firm name. All bonds must be good through March 31st of the three-year business permit phase.
The cost to obtain a business permit is between $25 and $75 depending on the issuance date. Submit the payment along with the application. The Board accepts payments in the form of a certified check or money order made payable to the “State of New Jersey.”
Mail the completed application to:
Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors
P.O. Box 45006
Newark, NJ 07101
Business permits are renewed every 3 years and expire on March 31st
For more information about obtaining a business permit, call the Board at:
973-504-6410
Preparing and Submitting an Application for Examination
Download a copy of the exam application
Be sure to read and follow all instructions on the application. Fill out the application in its entirety and be sure to attach all required documents to avoid delays in the review process.
Applications must be neatly printed or typed. All applications must be signed and notarized. If additional room is needed, attach a separate typed sheet of paper.
Along with the application, contractors must submit the following:
- Copy of their high school diploma or equivalency
- Any degrees or training certificates that the contractor is using toward the work experience requirement
- Work experience certification forms, filled out by as many employers as needed to prove 5 years of hands-on work experience. All work experience forms must be signed and sealed by the contractor’s employer/ former employers.
- Attach a clear 2×2 passport-style photograph of the contractor. Do not staple the photo to the application.
There is a non-refundable $100 application fee. Contractors must submit this fee along with the application, in the form of a check or money order, made payable to the “State of New Jersey.”
Mail or hand-deliver the completed application, fee and all required documents to:
Division of Consumer Affairs
Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors
124 Halsey Street, 6th Floor
P.O. Box 45006
Newark, New Jersey 07101
Once the Board reviews and approves the application, contractors will be issued an approval notice to take the exam. The Board will also send a copy of the Candidate Information Bulletin, which contains all the information needed to prepare and register for the exam.
Applicants have 2 years from the time their application is approved to take and pass the exam.
For more information or questions about the exam application, call the Board at:
973-504-6410
OR
Visit the Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors Instruction page
The Examination Process
The Board holds a contract with PSI Services LLC to administer the exam. The PSI Candidate Information Bulletin contains the exam registration form, as well as a list of suggested references, study materials and sample test questions to help the contractor prepare for the computer-based exam.
The exam consists of 3 sections:
- Electrical Contractor Exam
- Business and Law Exam
- Alarm Systems Exam
Contractors must pass each section of the exam with a score of 70% or more.
The cost to take each section of the exam is as follows:
- Electrical Contractor- $78
- Business and Law- $43
- Alarm Systems- $43
PSI accepts payments in the form of:
- Cashier’s Check or Money Order may payable to“PSI.”
- Visa or Mastercard when registering online or by phone or fax
Applicants 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
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:
- Brick
- Cherry Hill
- Hamilton Square
- New Providence
- North Brunswick
- Northfield (Linwood)
- Paramus
- Parsippany
- Secaucus
On the day of the exam, contractors should arrive at least 30 minutes before their scheduled test to allow time for check-in. They must also bring along a government-issued photo ID that contains their name, date of birth and signature, such as:
- Driver’s License
- Passport
- State ID
Exam scores are issued same-day before the contractor leaves the testing center. If the contractor fails one or more sections of the exam, they must wait 6 months before they may re-take the failed portion.
Contractors have 3 attempts to take and pass all three sections of the exam. If the contractor does not pass on the third attempt, they must take all 3 sections of the exam over again.
Once the contractor passes the exam, the Board will issue their license. During the license period, contractors are responsible for making sure their name and license number appear on all company vehicles, correspondence and promotional materials associated with their business.
How Long is a New Jersey Electrical Contractor License Valid?
Electrical Contractor licenses are good for a period of 3 years in the State of New Jersey. The Board issues renewal notices approximately 60 days before the license is set to expire.
Be sure to complete the renewal application and pay the renewal fee with plenty of time for processing to avoid penalties and fees.
The cost to renew an Electrical Contractor license is $150.
Prior to renewal all contractors are also responsible for completing continuing education courses. All contractors must complete 34 credit hours of continuing education. Courses must be approved by the Board to count toward the requirement.
More information about continuing education may be found in the Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors Regulations.
For more information about license renewal, call the Board at:
973-504-6410
Table of Fees
| Fee | What is it For? | When is it Due? |
| $25-$75 | Cost to obtain a Business Permit from the Board | Upon submitting the Initial Business Permit Application, and every 3 years upon renewal |
| $25 | Cost to obtain a pressure seal from the Board | Upon submitting the Business Permit application |
| $100 | Examination Application Fee | Upon submitting the application for examination |
| $78 | Cost to take the Electrical Contractor portion of the exam | Upon submitting the exam registration form |
| $43 | Cost to take the Business and Law portion of the exam | Upon submitting the exam registration form |
| $43 | Cost to take the Alarm Systems portion of the exam | Upon submitting the exam registration form |
| $150 | Cost to renew an Electrical Contractor License | Every 3 years upon submitting the renewal application |