To get a Nebraska electrician license, you need to understand the local educational and work experience requirements.
Read ahead to learn more about:
Yes, a license from the Nebraska Electrical Division is mandatory to work as an electrician. Your work scope determines the type of license you need. Here are the options:
Each license type has specific qualifications and requirements, ensuring you’re equipped for your chosen electrical work.
The Nebraska Electrical Division streamlines the process with a single application whether you are interested in how to get journeyman electrician licenses, electrical contractor licenses or apprentice licenses.
Submit your Nebraska electrician license application online or by mail. Be sure to include:
Journeyman and electrical contractor applicants must also pass an exam. The testing company, Pearson Vue, will send directions on scheduling your exam upon application approval.
The journeyman and electrical contractor exam covers topics such as:
As an electrician in Nebraska, having the right insurance is key to protecting your business and assets. Here are the types of Nebraska business insurance available for electricians.
Nebraska requires you to have workers’ compensation insurance if you have one or more employees. It covers medical expenses, lost wages, and more in case you or an employee experiences an injury on the job.
General liability insurance can help cover the costs if someone other than an employee slips or falls or if you or an employee accidentally damages someone’s property.
Electricians need specific tools and equipment to get the job done. In the case of stolen or damaged work gear, tools and equipment insurance pays for repair or replacement.
Whether you use a dedicated work vehicle or your personal vehicle on the job, commercial auto insurance can help cover costs related to accidents, such as property damage and medical expenses.
Commercial property insurance can help protect some of the most important things you need to do business, including your equipment, furniture and inventory.
Depending on the type of license you’re pursuing, you’ll need to fulfill certain education and work experience requirements.
No education or work experience requirements apply for an electrician apprenticeship. To get this license, you simply register with the Nebraska Electrical Division.
The registration fee for an electrician apprentice is $20 if issued in an even-numbered year or $40 if issued in an odd-numbered year.
You must have four years of employment by an electrical contractor to apply for a journeyman license. As an alternative, the State Electrical Board will accept three years of experience if you also have a degree in electrical technology from a post-high-school course.
The license fee for a journeyman electrician is $25 if issued in an even-numbered year or $50 if issued in an odd-numbered year.
You have three options to apply for an electrical contractor license:
The license fee for an electrical contractor is $125 if issued in an even-numbered year or $250 if issued in an odd-numbered year.
Nebraska electrical licenses expire on December 31 in even-numbered years. You’ll receive a notice to renew in October of each expiration year.
To renew your journeyman or contractor license, you must complete a minimum of 12 hours of continuing education, with at least six hours covering the National Electrical Code. Electrician apprentices do not have any continuing education requirements.
A two-year license renewal is $50 for a journeyman electrician and $250 for an electrical contractor.
Nebraska has reciprocity agreements with several states, making it easier for licensed electricians from these areas to work in Nebraska. The states included are:
For electrical contractor licenses, reciprocity is only available for Minnesota and South Dakota.
You must have held the license you want to reciprocate in good standing for at least one year. Because restrictions vary by state, contact the Nebraska Electrical Division before applying for a license via reciprocity.
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Ashley Henshaw was a contributing writer at NEXT. She specializes in small business topics, covering everything from insurance and branding to web hosting and cryptocurrency.
Her work has appeared in The Huffington Post, AOL City's Best, Citysearch, USA Today, The San Francisco Chronicle and Livestrong.
