How to get an electrician license in Alabama: the official requirements
The Journeyman Electrician license, the experience and training it takes, the exam and how to apply, from the Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors.
In Alabama, the state electrical license for individual electricians is issued by the Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors. The statewide Journeyman Electrician license, issued by examination by the Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors. A journeyman installs electrical wiring, apparatus and equipment for lighting, heating, power or control, works under a master or state certified electrical contractor, and works to the plans and specifications furnished. Experience and training: At least 8,000 hours of documented experience, shown by notarized employer affidavits that you worked in the electrical contracting industry for at least four years within the past eight years (with your W-2 or 1099 forms), or by a notarized Work Affidavit from a Department of Labor Registered Apprentice program. One year of an approved electrical curriculum or apprenticeship program may replace 1,000 hours, up to 2,000 hours. Licensing exam: The Electrical Journeyman exam (the Alabama exam through Prov, or the NASCLA Portable J exam). Once the Board approves your examination application, you are emailed scheduling information. How to apply: First submit the Journeyman Electrician examination application (on paper by mail or email, or online) with your work affidavits. After you pass, apply for the license with Form EC-1, or online by logging back into your examination application.
Alabama electrician license requirements
| Requirement | Alabama |
|---|---|
| License you apply for | The statewide Journeyman Electrician license, issued by examination by the Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors. A journeyman installs electrical wiring, apparatus and equipment for lighting, heating, power or control, works under a master or state certified electrical contractor, and works to the plans and specifications furnished. |
| Apprentice or trainee registration | Not stated in the official source we read. Check with the Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors. |
| Experience and training | At least 8,000 hours of documented experience, shown by notarized employer affidavits that you worked in the electrical contracting industry for at least four years within the past eight years (with your W-2 or 1099 forms), or by a notarized Work Affidavit from a Department of Labor Registered Apprentice program. One year of an approved electrical curriculum or apprenticeship program may replace 1,000 hours, up to 2,000 hours. |
| Classroom hours | Education may count toward the experience: one year of an approved electrical curriculum or apprenticeship program for 1,000 hours, up to 2,000 hours; a long certificate from an Alabama public two-year or community college is awarded 2,000 hours. |
| Licensing exam | The Electrical Journeyman exam (the Alabama exam through Prov, or the NASCLA Portable J exam). Once the Board approves your examination application, you are emailed scheduling information. |
| How to apply | First submit the Journeyman Electrician examination application (on paper by mail or email, or online) with your work affidavits. After you pass, apply for the license with Form EC-1, or online by logging back into your examination application. |
| Background check | The license application asks whether you have been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a felony; if yes, you explain it for Board review. |
| State fees | Journeyman examination fee: $115.00, paid to the Board. Journeyman Electrician license: $35.00. Annual journeyman renewal: $35.00. All fees are non-refundable. |
| License term | One year; the license is renewed annually, and Journeyman Electrician licenses cannot be renewed late. |
| Continuing education | Not stated in the official source we read. Check with the Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors. |
Where the official source we read does not state something, the table says so rather than guessing. Fees shown are the licensing authority's own. Fees charged by exam vendors, schools, apprenticeship programs, fingerprint vendors and application portals are not included.
This page covers the electrical license issued by the state. Cities and counties can have their own registration, permit or license rules; ask the local building department where you will work.
How to get licensed in Alabama
- Build at least 8,000 hours of documented electrical experience (approved education or apprenticeship can cover up to 2,000).
- Get notarized Affidavits of Employment from your employers, or a Work Affidavit from your DOL Registered Apprentice program.
- Submit the Journeyman Electrician examination application with the $115.00 fee.
- When approved, schedule and pass the journeyman exam.
- Apply for the license with Form EC-1 (or online) and pay the $35.00 license fee.
- Renew the license every year on time; journeyman licenses cannot be renewed late.
Go further
Requirements state by state.
Open →CareerHow to become an electricianThe career path, nationally.
Open →PayElectrician salary in AlabamaWhat electricians earn.
Open →CareerElectrician career guideThe job, skills and outlook.
Open →ResumeElectrician resumeHow to present your hours and licenses.
Open →InterviewElectrician interview questionsWhat hiring managers ask.
Open →Disclosure: TryHired makes HIRED, a paid job-search program, so we have a conflict of interest when we mention it. Everything on this page is free to use without buying anything.
Questions people ask
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How this page is built
Each fact on this page comes from the Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors (sources named below), read on the dates shown, with the exact wording we relied on kept on file. Requirements and fees change; the Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors's current instructions govern. We re-read each state's sources every six months (next review by May 10, 2027).
- Not legal advice.
- Licensing rules can change. Verify current requirements with the issuing agency.
- Fees shown are the licensing authority's own. Fees charged by exam vendors, schools, apprenticeship programs, fingerprint vendors and application portals are not included.
- This page covers the electrical license issued by the state. Cities and counties can have their own registration, permit or license rules; ask the local building department where you will work.
- This page covers the individual license named above. Master, contractor, specialty, sign, residential, limited and out-of-state (reciprocity) licenses have their own rules.
- Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors, How to Get Licensed, official source, read Nov 9, 2026.
- Alabama Electrical Contractors Board, Form JCE-1 Electrical Journeyman Examination Application, official source, read Nov 9, 2026.
- Alabama Electrical Contractors Board, Form EC-1 Application for Licensure, official source, read Nov 9, 2026.
- Alabama Electrical Contractors Board, Annual Renewal Form, official source, read Nov 9, 2026.