513-542-0400
 

Electrical Licensing in Cincinnati, OH

 
Electricians want the best training available to make them competitive in this crucial market. But where can they find it? The IEC of Greater Cincinnati’s mission is to provide the highest quality training for electricians and over the years we have built a modern training center in Cincinnati.

As a BICSI Ohio member training station, we offer informative and hands-on electrician classes, as well as continuing education courses. All of our continuing education courses are approved for Ohio and Kentucky continuing education credit hours.

Find the Training You Need at the IEC with the Following Courses:

  • Pre-Apprentice Training
  • NFPA 70E Arc Flash Training
  • OSHA
  • Ohio Fire Alarm Exam Prep
  • Journeyman Exam Prep
  • Drug Free Safety Program
  • Specialized skills upgrade classes and continuing education courses

Click here to see our class catalog and register.

Electrical licensing varies from state to state.

Ohio:

In Ohio, a license is required if you are:
  •  An electrical contractor doing work in the State of Ohio
  • Working in the City of Middletown or Hamilton
  • Working on fire alarm systems

For more information about the Ohio Contractor license including the application process, the test application packet, maintaining your license or to look up your continuing education credit hours, click here.

In order to maintain your license in Ohio, you must complete 10 hours (at least 5 must be in code) of continuing education per year and complete the renewal application.

City of Middletown or Hamilton

The cities of Middletown and Hamilton require all journeyman electricians to be licensed. The two cities reciprocate on licensing therefore, a passing test score in either city allows the journeyman to purchase the license to work in each city.

  • Middletown License

The Middletown journeyman licensing exam is offered by IEC once per year. For upcoming exam dates at IEC, visit our schedule of continuing education courses or contact Kevin Collins, training director, (513) 542-0400, ext. 13

For information about additional testing times, dates and locations, contact the City of Middletown at (513) 425-7973.

Application information for the Middletown Electrical exam.

  • Hamilton License

For testing information for the Hamilton journeyman license, contact the City of Hamilton at (513) 785-7353.

  • Ohio Fire Alarm

Journeyman electricians that work on fire alarm systems in Ohio are required to be licensed.

The Ohio fire alarm exam is offered by IEC twice each year. For upcoming exam dates at IEC, visit our schedule of continuing education courses or contact Kevin Collins, training director, (513) 542-0400, ext. 13.

For more information on the Fire Alarm Exam, please click here.

Kentucky:

In Kentucky, a license is required if you are:
  • An electrical contractor doing work in the State of Kentucky
  • A journeyman electrician

There are three Kentucky license classifications:

Electrical Contractor (CE)

Electrical Contractor

As a professional electrical contractor in Kentucky you must have an electrical permit to work on public electrical work. However, before you get an electrical permit you need an electrical contractor (CE) license. CE license requirements include:

  • $200 application fee
  • Completed application
  • Passport sized photo
  • Proof of Worker’s Compensation insurance
  • Proof of $500,000 General liability insurance
  • Pass International Code Council exam
  • Proof of two years of experience as an electrical contractor in Kentucky.

Master Electrician (ME)

Master Electrician

A master electrician supervises all electrical work and is responsible for electricians working under them. An electrical contractor must have at least one master electrician. To become a master electrician you must have a master electrician (ME) license. ME License requirements include:

    • $100 application fee
    • Completed application form
    • Passport sized photo
    • Pass the required International Code Council exam
    • Six years verifiable experience as an electrician in Kentucky

Electrician (EE)

All electrical work must be performed by, or under the supervision of, a licensed electrician or master electrician. In order to work unsupervised, an electrician must be licensed.  To qualify for the license you need:

 

        • Four years verifiable experience as an electrician in Kentucky
        • Completed application form
        • $50 application fee
        • Passport sized photo
        • Pass the required International Code Council exam

In order to contract with the public and obtain permits, someone in the company must have a CE license. The company must employ at least one master electrician. Therefore, if you have a one-person business, you must obtain both an electrical contractor (CE) and a master electrician (ME) license.

Electrician’s fees: $200 to apply for the contractor license, $100 for the master license and $50 for the electrician license.

Online application and testing forms.
Frequently asked questions about Kentucky electrical licensing

Exams are administered by Pearson VUE.  Contact 1-877-234-6082 to register or visit their website www.pearsonvue.com/icc

Department of Housing, Buildings, & Construction

Division of Fire Protection

Electrical Licensing

101 Sea Hero Drive, Ste 100

Frankfort, Kentucky 40601

(502) 573-0364

http://ohbc.ky.gov/fp/els/

To maintain an electrical license, the Kentucky Division of Building Codes Enforcement requires completion of 6 hours of continuing education each year.

For master electricians (ME) and journeyman electricians (EE), all 6 hours can be related to the NEC code. For electrical contractors (CE), all 6 of the hours can be related to business. You may substitute up to 2 hours in any license with safety.

License Renewal Credit Hours

  • Kentucky Electrician 6 hours of code per year, up to 2 hours may be substituted in safety
  • Kentucky Master 6 hours of code per year, up to 2 hours may be substituted in safety
  • Kentucky Contractor 6 hours of business per year, up to 2 hours may be substituted in safety
  • Ohio Contractor 10 hours (at least 5 must be in code) per year
  • Ohio Inspector 30 hours of code every 3 years

NOTE: You may not use the credit hours earned from one class to satisfy more than one KY license.