How to get an electrician license in Colorado: the official requirements
The Journeyman Electrician license, the experience and training it takes, the exam and how to apply, from the Colorado State Electrical Board.
In Colorado, the state electrical license for individual electricians is issued by the Colorado State Electrical Board. The Journeyman Electrician license, issued by the Colorado State Electrical Board, by examination (or by endorsement or reciprocity for electricians licensed elsewhere). A journeyman cannot be the signatory authority for a company. Apprentice or trainee registration: Electrical apprentices are registered with the Board: the employer must register an apprentice within 30 days of employment, and registration is applied for online through DPO Online Services. Experience and training: 8,000 hours of experience earned over no less than 4 years, of which 2,000 hours must be commercial/industrial work. All practical experience is documented on the Board's Affidavit of Experience form, completed by the supervising electrical contractor. Licensing exam: The state electrical licensing exam; the experience above is the minimum required to sit for it. You must show photo ID to be admitted, and results are given in writing as pass or fail. How to apply: Apply online through DPO Online Services, using the Electrical - Initial License by Examination application.
Colorado electrician license requirements
| Requirement | Colorado |
|---|---|
| License you apply for | The Journeyman Electrician license, issued by the Colorado State Electrical Board, by examination (or by endorsement or reciprocity for electricians licensed elsewhere). A journeyman cannot be the signatory authority for a company. |
| Apprentice or trainee registration | Electrical apprentices are registered with the Board: the employer must register an apprentice within 30 days of employment, and registration is applied for online through DPO Online Services. |
| Experience and training | 8,000 hours of experience earned over no less than 4 years, of which 2,000 hours must be commercial/industrial work. All practical experience is documented on the Board's Affidavit of Experience form, completed by the supervising electrical contractor. |
| Classroom hours | 288 hours of classroom education, documented with a transcript or similar statement. |
| Licensing exam | The state electrical licensing exam; the experience above is the minimum required to sit for it. You must show photo ID to be admitted, and results are given in writing as pass or fail. |
| How to apply | Apply online through DPO Online Services, using the Electrical - Initial License by Examination application. |
| Background check | Not stated in the official source we read. Check with the Colorado State Electrical Board. |
| State fees | Not stated in the official source we read. Check with the Colorado State Electrical Board. |
| License term | Three years; all electrician licenses expire on September 30 every 3 years and must be renewed. |
| Continuing education | At least 24 hours of continuing education in each three-year license period, from a CE provider that has attested to the Board; at least four hours must cover National Electrical Code changes. This does not apply to the first renewal of a license won by passing the licensing exam. |
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 Colorado
- Get hired as an electrical apprentice; your employer registers you with the Board within 30 days.
- Complete 288 hours of classroom education.
- Earn 8,000 hours of experience over at least 4 years, including 2,000 commercial/industrial hours.
- Have your supervising electrical contractor complete the Board's Affidavit of Experience.
- Apply online through DPO Online Services for the initial license by examination.
- Take the state electrical exam; results come in writing as pass or fail.
- Renew every 3 years, completing 24 hours of continuing education each license period.
Go further
Requirements state by state.
Open →CareerHow to become an electricianThe career path, nationally.
Open →PayElectrician salary in ColoradoWhat 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 Colorado State Electrical Board and the rules it publishes (sources named below), read on the dates shown, with the exact wording we relied on kept on file. Requirements and fees change; the Colorado State Electrical Board'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.
- Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations, State Electrical Board: Colorado Electrical Applications and Forms, official source, read Nov 9, 2026.
- Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations, State Electrical Board: Colorado Electrical CE, official source, read Nov 9, 2026.
- Code of Colorado Regulations, 3 CCR 710-1 State Electrical Board Rules and Regulations (Colorado Secretary of State; current version effective 09/22/2026), official source, read Nov 9, 2026.