Do you need a Kentucky electrical license to work?
Yes. You need a license to be an electrician in Kentucky. The Kentucky Department of Housing, Building and Construction (DHBC) awards and oversees licensure.
There are different levels of electrical license: apprentice, journeyman, master electrician and electrical contractor. You progress to each stage as you get more experience and knowledge.
Insurance requirements for a Kentucky electrical license
Your Kentucky business insurance needs may vary. It all depends on whether you are self-employed, have employees, and other work situations. Here are some of the most common electrician insurance needs.
Workers’ Compensation insurance
If you plan to employ others, you will need workers’ compensation insurance — Kentucky law mandates this coverage for businesses with one or more employees. Workers’ comp can help cover injuries related to work for employees. That can include things like lost wages and medical expenses. The contractor’s license requires this coverage.
Learn more about workers’ compensation for contractors.
General Liability insurance
The state of Kentucky requires licensed electrical contractors to hold general liability insurance. This form of coverage pays for work-related injuries and damage to clients’ properties. It can also help protect against personal and advertising injurie
Learn more about general liability insurance for contractors.
Commercial Property insurance
If you have property you own or rent, commercial property insurance can help protect the workspace against mishaps such as fire or theft. This coverage can include your building structure, products and inventory, furniture and equipment you use for work.
Business Owner’s Policy
A business owner’s policy, or BOP insurance, combines coverage from general liability and commercial property policies in a cost-efficient bundle. It helps cover damage that you or your employees may inadvertently cause to another person’s property and helps protect your business inventory in the event of a fire or other covered event.
Tools and Equipment insurance
Work gear and tools can be covered with tools and equipment insurance, which helps cover theft, damage and loss.
Commercial Auto insurance
You need commercial auto insurance if you have a vehicle you use for work-related purposes. It helps cover costs related to accidents, such as repairs and towing.
Kentucky’s auto coverage minimums include:
- $25,000 of bodily injury per person or $50,000 per accident.
- $10,000 of injury to or destruction of property per accident.
How to get an electrician license in Kentucky
The application process for the journeyman and master electrician licenses is similar; both include applications and work experience documentation, but specific requirements var
For a journeyman electrician, you need 8,000 documented work experience hours. You need double this amount for a master electrician — 16,000.
Journeyman electrician license
There are several requirements for obtaining your license as a journeyman. They are as follows:
- Must pass the journeyman electrical exam and submit results
- Submit 8,000 documented experience hours
- Provide a notarized letter verifying work experience
- Submit the last page of the 1040 tax form, completed as an electrician
- Send proof of two years (of four) of work experience documentation completed as an electrician apprentice
- Complete 576 classroom hours of educational training or proof of associate’s degree
- Completed license application
- Passport-sized photo
- Copy of driver’s license or birth certificate
To gain experience for a journeyman license, individuals can attend a trade or technical school, join an apprenticeship program or perform electrical work under the supervision of a licensed electrician. For instance, the Electrical Training Alliance (formerly the JATC) has union-based apprenticeship programs in Louisville, Paducah and Owensboro.
Applicants can take the exam from Prov, a third-party exam administrator. The journeyman exam has 80 questions based on recent National Electrical Code (NEC) and Ugly’s Electrical References editions. All exams are open-book and timed. You must pass with a score of 70% or better.
Master electrician license requirements
Becoming a master electrician is similar, but additional work experience requirements exist. Here are the requirements:
- Must pass the master electrician’s exam and send a copy of results
- Show proof of 16,000 hours of electrical trade experience
- Provide a notarized letter from an employer verifying work experience
- Submit the last page of the completed 1040 tax form
- Proof of completion of a training program with 576 hours or associate’s degree proof
- Completed license application
- Passport photo
- Copy of driver’s license or birth certificate
Similar to the journeyman exam, the master electrician exam is given by Prov. It is also open-book and timed, but with 100 questions. You must pass with a score of 70% or better.
Electrical contractor requirements
If you want to grow your business and hire employees, you will need an electrical contractor license. Here are the requirements:
Once again, you’ll need to test with Prov. The electrical contractor exam covers business practices, law and project management under Kentucky electrical licensing law. The exam has 40 questions, and you must pass with at least 70%.
License reciprocity for Kentucky electricians
If you have a license in another state, you may have reciprocity in another state. The Commonwealth of Kentucky has reciprocity agreements with Louisiana, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia. Here are the requirements for obtaining a reciprocal license:
- Reciprocity application
- Copy of existing license
- Proof of liability and workers’ compensation
- Application fee
- Passport photo
- Copy of driver’s license
Kentucky license renewal requirements
It’s always better to keep your license up-to-date rather than letting it go to an inactive status. Here are the Kentucky license renewal requirements:
- Complete a renewal application
- Show proof of continuing education (6 hours for each license)
- Provide proof of general liability and workers’ comp
- Pay fees ($50)
