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Electrical Contractor Licensing in Oklahoma

Electrical Contractors in the State of Oklahoma are required to hold a license in order to engage in, offer to perform or advertise electrical work.  Licenses are issued by the Oklahoma Construction Industries Board.

As part of the licensing process, contractors are required to meet a number of years of work experience and/or education, and pass a qualifying exam.

License Types and Classifications for Electrical Contractors in Oklahoma

The Board offers the following license classifications to Electrical Contractors:

  • Limited Electrical Contractor License
  • Unlimited Electrical Contractor License
  • Unlimited Electrical Journeyman License
  • Residential Electrical Contractor License
  • Residential Electrical Journeyman License
  • Refinery Journeyman License

In order to obtain an Electrical Contractor license classification, the contractor must be an owner, officer or partner in a corporation.  All electrical firms are required to employ one full-time individual who holds an Electrical Contractor license class.  This person is responsible for supervising and controlling the business operations.

Journeyman license classifications are for individuals who want to engage in the installation, repair, maintenance or renovation of electrical facilities.  All licensed Journeyman must be employed by and work under the supervision of a licensed Electrical Contractor.

All Residential license classes limit contractors to working in a residential setting.  They may perform wiring for one and two-family dwellings as defined by National Electric Code.

Limited Electrical Contractors are prohibited from engaging in the work of an apprentice or journeyman electrician.

To obtain a Residential Electrical Contractor License the contractor must have taken and passed the Residential or Unlimited Journeyman electrical exam.

Refinery Journeyman Licenses are meant for contractors performing wiring inside refinery facilities.  Contractors are limited to working in facilities that are designed and operated to receive, unload, store, process and refine raw crude oil.  In order to obtain this license type, the contractor must hold an unlimited license with another state, that is current and in good standing.

More information about the license types and classifications offered by the Board are found inside the application packet

*The Board also offers a registration process for individuals wanting to work as an apprentice.  All electrical apprentices must work under the direct supervision of a licensed electrical contractor or journeyman.  For more information about apprentice registration, click here and scroll down to page 4.

Process to Obtain an Electrical Contractor License in Oklahoma

  1. Contractors are required to meet the requirements for work experience/education for their chosen license classification. In order to count toward the requirement, all work experiences and education must be verifiable
  2. Contractors are required to complete and submit an application to the Board along with all the required documents and fees
  3. Upon approval of their application, contractors are required to register for, take and pass an exam based on their chosen classification. Examinations are administered by PSI Services LLC
  4. In order to activate their license, contractors are required to prove that they hold the proper forms of bonding and insurance
  5. Contractors are required attend continuing education courses upon renewal.

Age, Work Experience and Education Requirement

In order to apply for a license, all contractors must be at least 18 years of age.

Contractors are also required to meet the Board’s requirements for work experience, and/or education based on the license classification that they are attempting to obtain:

  • Limited Electrical Contractor- applicants must hold a degree in Electrical Engineering from an accredited college or university. Additionally, applicants must be able to prove 8,000 hours of work experience in electrical construction, electrical estimating or project management in the commercial or industrial field.  If the contractor does not have a degree, the Board will also accept 16,000 hours of work experience in the electrical trade performing installations, estimating or project management in the commercial or industrial field.
  • Unlimited Electrical Contractor- applicants must have 12,000 verifiable hours of on-the-job experience in electrical construction. Contractors are also required to hold an Unlimited Electrical Journeyman license and prove that 4,000 of those hours were earned working as an Unlimited Journeyman.  6,000 hours of the requirement must be in the commercial or industrial electrical field, under the supervision of a licensed Electrical Contractor.  If the contractor has educational experience, they may use up to 2,000 hours of education to satisfy a portion of this requirement.
  • Unlimited Electrical Journeyman- applicants must have 8,000 hours of verifiable work experience in the electrical construction trade, working as a registered apprentice under the supervision of a licensed electrical journeyman or contractor. 4,000 hours of the requirement must be in commercial or industrial electrical work.  If the contractor has educational experience, they may use up to 2,000 hours of education to satisfy a portion of this requirement.
  • Residential Electrical Contractor- applicants must have 8,000 hours of verifiable work experience. 4,000 of those hours must be working as a licensed residential or unlimited journeyman under the direct supervision of a licensed electrical contractor.  The other 4,000 hours of the requirement must be earned as a registered electrical apprentice.  The Board also accepts 3,000 hours as a registered apprentice with 1,000 hours of formal electrical education.
  • Residential Electrical Journeyman- applicants are required to have 4,000 hours of on-the-job experience in the electrical construction trade as a registered apprentice under the direct supervision of a licensed journeyman or contractor. If the contractor has educational experience, they may use up to 1,000 hours of education to satisfy this requirement.
*Please note that military electrical installations may be used in place of educational experience in some cases. 

Please note that utility work does not satisfy the work experience requirement.

In order to count toward the requirement, all educational experiences must be formal electrical education, approved by the Board.  Formal electrical education includes attendance at a technical school or training course specializing in electrical wiring skills.

All education must be actual classroom hours to count, and verified with transcripts, grades or certificates of completion.

More information about the work experience/education requirements for each license classification is found inside the application packet

Additional information about the requirements of each classification is found in the Electrical Industry Regulations.

For questions about the work experience or education requirement, contact the Construction Industries Board at:

405-521-6550

Preparing and Submitting an Application

Contractors are required to complete and submit an application, along with the required documents and fees, in order to gain approval to take the exam.

Contractors may download a copy of the license application packet.

The Board recommends that all contractors also read and become familiar with the Oklahoma Electrical License Act, as well as the Rules and Laws that apply to Electrical Contractors and Journeyman working within the state.

For more information, please visit the Rules and Laws page of the State’s website.

Complete the application using black ink.  Attach all pages using paper clips, not staples.  If extra room or additional documents are needed, please submit them on an 8 ½ x 11 sheet of paper.

To avoid delays in the licensing process, be sure to complete the entire application and provide all requested documents.  The Board does not review applications until they are complete.

Be sure to sign and notarize the Affidavit of Lawful Presence.

All contractors are required to complete the work history portion of the application.  The experience affidavit must be signed by a current/former employer.

In some cases, the contractor may be required  to submit tax records or social security earnings to verify their work experience if the hours completed were irregular.

Contractors are required to submit a license and processing fee in the following amounts:

  • Electrical Contractor Classifications- $330
  • Electrical Journeyman Classifications- $75

The Board accepts payments in the form of check or money order made payable to “Construction Industries Board.” 

Submit the completed application, documents and fees to:

Construction Industries Board
2401 NW 23rd , Suite 2F
Oklahoma City, OK 73107

Once the Board reviews the application and determines that the contractor is eligible to sit for the exam, they will forward the contractor’s information to the testing provider, PSI Services.  PSI will then notify the contractor that they are approved to take the exam.

For more information about the application or licensing process, contact the Board at:

405-521-6550

The Examination Process

All applicants are required to take and pass the Oklahoma Electrical Exam, based on their license classification.  The Board holds a contract with PSI Services LLC to administer the exam.

PSI’s Candidate Information Bulletin contains all the information needed to register for and prepare for the exam, including the exam registration form, suggested references and study materials, and sample test-questions.

The 2-part, computer-based exam covers:

  1. Business & Law
  2. Trade-Related Materials

All Electrical Contractor applicants are required to take and pass both portions of the exam.  Electrical Journeyman license classifications are only required to take the trade portion of the exam.

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

The cost to take the exam is $100.

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:

  • Oklahoma City
  • Tulsa
  • McAlester
  • Woodward
  • Lawton

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:

  1. A government issued photo id with the examinee’s signature; such as a driver’s license or passport
  2. 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 score of at least 75%.  Scores are issued same-day, before the contractor leaves the testing center.

If the contractor does not pass the exam on the first attempt, they must wait 30 days before they may schedule a re-take.  Afterward, contractors must wait 90 days between each failed attempt.

Examination fees are valid for a period of one year.

Once the contractor passes the exam, PSI will notify the Board, at which time they will issue a license.

In order to active the license, contractors are required to obtain the proper forms of bonding and insurance, including:

  • Contractors must post a bond in the amount of $5,000 to the Bond and Insurance Unit. This helps to protect clients in the event of loss or injury as the result of the contractor’s work.
  • Contractors are required to carry general liability insurance in the minimum amount of $50,000. General liability policies must be a combined, single-limit policy, covering both bodily injury and property damage.
  • All contractors must prove that they are in compliance with the state’s workers compensation laws. If employing workers, the contractor must carry worker’s compensation insurance.

For more information about bonds and insurance, please visit the State’s Website.

Once the contractor begins working, they are required to display their license number on all company vehicles, advertising and promotions, as well as contracts and bids associated with their business.

How Long is an Oklahoma Electrical Contractor License Valid?

All Electrical Contractor and Electrical Journeyman license classifications are good for a period of 1 year in the State of Oklahoma.  Licenses expire on the last day of the contractor’s birth month.

Contractors are required to pay the following renewal fees:

  • Electrical Contractor classifications- $200
  • Electrical Journeyman classifications- $75

Upon renewal all contractors are also required to attend 6 hours of Board-approved continuing education courses.Continuing education courses must cover electrical codes and revisions, as well as other trade-related subjects.

After the first continuing education is completed, contractors are required to attend 6 hours every 3 years to remain current in their profession.

For more information about continuing education, please visit the continuing education page of the State’s website.

For more information about the renewal process, please contact the Board at:

405-521-6550

Table of Fees

Fee What is it For? When it is Due?
$330 Application and License Fee for an Electrical Contractor License Classification Upon submitting the license application to the Board
$75 Application and License Fee for an Electrical Journeyman License Classification Upon submitting the license application to the Board
$100 Examination Fee Upon registering for the exam with PSI Services
$100 Cost to Re-take the Exam Upon registering for an exam re-take
$200 License Renewal Fee for an Electrical Contractor License Classification Every year upon renewal
$75 License Renewal Fee for an Electrical Journeyman License Classification Every year upon renewal