Commercial Electrical Contractors in the State of Ohio are required to hold a license from the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB). A license from the state is needed to perform commercial electrical work of any kind in Ohio. As part of the licensing process, contractors must meet all the OCILB’s requirements and pass a 2-part exam.
*Please note that all Residential Electrical Contractors are licensed at the local-level in Ohio. All contractors must contact their local jurisdiction to determine what is required to perform work as a Residential Electrical Contractor.
Process to Obtain a Commercial Electrical Contractor License in Ohio
- Contractors must be at least 18 years of age
- Contractors must be a citizen or legal resident of the United States
- Contractors must have at least 5 years work experience within their trade, underneath a licensed electrical contractor. In some cases, 3 years business experience working as a contractor within the state will count toward the experience requirement.
- Contractors must complete and submit an application, along with all the required documents and fees, to the OCILB to gain authorization to take the exam
- Contractors must take and pass a 2-part examination, administered by PROV Inc.
- Contractors must pay a licensing fee, submit passing exam scores and provide proof of liability insurance to the OCILB.
- Contractors must complete 10 hours of OCILB-approved continuing education courses prior to their license expiration.
Age, Work Experience, Background Investigations and Insurance Requirements
In order to qualify to take the exam, all contractors must meet the following OCILB requirements:
- All contractors must be at least 18 years old, and a citizen or legal resident of the U.S.
- All contractors must have at least 5 consecutive years of work experience working for a licensed electrical contractor in the State of Ohio leading up to the submission of their application. In some cases 3 years of business experience as a contractor may count toward the work experience requirement. In order to prove work experience, contractors are required to submit W2s and project permits for all 5 years of their experiences. It is important that contractors be as specific as possible when claiming work experience and provide specific details about the nature of their work and duties performed on the job. Include any additional credentials, registrations or employment verifications that may be relevant.
- Once the contractor’s application is approved by the OCILB, they will be asked to undergo a background investigation, prior to sitting for the examination. Background checks must be on both the State and Federal levels. Once the background investigation is complete, the contractor will then have one year to take and pass the exam.
- Upon passing the exam, contractors are required to pay the licensing fee and prove that they hold liability insurance in the minimum amount of $500,000.
Preparing and Submitting an Application for Examination
All contractors must submit an application to OCILB in order to gain approval to take the exam. Copies of the application are found at the link below:
Apply to Be a Licensed Electrical Contractor in Ohio
Be sure to read and fill out the application in its entirety to avoid delays in the licensing process. Provide a valid email address in the event that the OCILB needs to correspond for further information. Don’t forget to sign the application and have it notarized.
The OCILB requests that all applicants black out or redact any Social Security Numbers listed on any supporting documents of work experience or other documents that accompany the application.
There is a $25 application fee. Submit payment in the form of a check or money order made payable to, “Treasurer, State of Ohio.”
Mail the completed application, along with all the required documents and fees to:
Division of Industrial Compliance
Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board
6606 Tussing Road, P.O. Box 4009
Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068-9009
The OCILB will review the contractor’s application and determine if they are eligible to sit for the exam. If the contractor’s application is accepted, they will receive an approval letter, along with the Candidate Information Bulletin, which contains all the information needed to schedule an exam.
Before the contractor schedules their test, they are responsible for undergoing a background check on both the State and Federal levels. For more information about background investigations, please visit:
Background Check- Webcheck Locations
For questions about the licensing or application process, contact the OCILB at:
614-644-3493
The Examination Process
All contractors are responsible for taking and passing a 2-part, computer-based examination:
- Contractor’s Business and Law Exam
- Electrical Trade Exam
The OCILB holds a contract with PROV Inc. to administer the exam. The PROV Candidate Information Bulletin is provided to all contractors along with their application approval letter. This bulletin contains all the information needed to prepare for and schedule an exam.
To view a copy of the Candidate Information Bulletin, please visit:
PROV- Candidate Information Bulletin
Inside the PROV Candidate Information Bulletin are instructions for scheduling an exam. Applicants may schedule their exam ONE of the following ways:
- Online- go to the PROV website: PROV Exams
- By Phone- call: 866-720-7768 Monday through Friday from 8am to 6pm
- Fax- 386-581-6419
There is a $75 non-refundable fee to take the exam, which must be paid upon scheduling a test. PROV accepts payments in the form of:
- Money Order
- Cashier’s Check
- Certified Check
- Credit Card- Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover
Testing Centers are located in:
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Westerville
- Dublin
- Portsmouth
- Akron
- Cincinnati
- Toledo
- Lima
- Marietta
- Youngstown
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 a government issued photo ID with the examinee’s signature; such as a driver’s license, passport or military ID.
A minimum score of 70% is needed to pass each portion of the exam. Scores are issued at the completion of the test, before the contractor leaves the testing center.
Final Licensing Steps
Upon passing the exam, contractors are required to submit the following information to the OCILB in order to receive their license:
- Copy of their passing exam scores
- $25 licensing fee, in the form of check or money order, made payable to, “Treasurer, State of Ohio.”
- Proof of liability insurance, in the minimum amount of $500,000
Once the contractor receives their Commercial Electrical Contractor license, they are required to print their license number on all:
- Vehicles
- Business Cards
- Advertisements
- Contracts and Proposals
- Promotional Materials associated with the business
It is the contractor’s responsibility to notify the OCILB immediately if there are any changes in their business during the time that they hold a license.
How Long is an Ohio Commercial Electrical Contractors License Valid?
Commercial Electrical Contractors licenses are good for a period of 1 year in the State of Ohio. All licenses must be renewed prior to the expiration date printed on the license. The OCILB offers online renewal.
Along with submitting the proper renewal forms, contractors are required to pay a renewal fee and complete 10 hours of approved continuing education courses prior to their license expiration. Contractors are also required to submit proof of current, up-to-date liability insurance.
For more information about the renewal process, continuing education, online renewals and fees contact the OCILB at:
614-644-3493
Table of Fees
| Fee | What is it For? | When is it Due? |
| $25 | Application fee for the examination application | Upon submitting the application for examination |
| $75 | Examination fee | Upon submitting the exam registration form to PSI |
| $25 | Licensing fee | Upon passing both portions of the exam |