How to get an electrician license in Michigan: the official requirements
The Electrical Journeyman license, the experience and training it takes, the exam and how to apply, from the Michigan Bureau of Construction Codes, Licensing Section.
In Michigan, the state electrical license for individual electricians is issued by the Michigan Bureau of Construction Codes, Licensing Section. The Electrical Journeyman license, issued by the State of Michigan. The City of Detroit issues its own electrical licenses and registrations locally. Apprentice or trainee registration: Register as an electrical apprentice: you must be employed by a Master Electrician and an Electrical Contractor and enrolled in a related technical instruction (RTI) program. You renew the registration every year, and you cannot be on the job site without an active apprentice registration. Experience and training: 8,000 hours and 4 years as an electrical apprentice, in electrical construction or the maintenance of buildings or electrical wiring or equipment, supervised by someone holding a Michigan Electrical Journeyman or Master Electrician license. Some credit may be available for a recognized training or educational program. Licensing exam: The electrical journey exam, given by PSI; a score of at least 75 percent passes. Once the Licensing Section approves you to test, you schedule with PSI and pay the exam fee to PSI. How to apply: Apply to the Licensing Section with the Application for Journeyman, Master Electrician Examination and the Experience Statement required by the Skilled Trades Regulation Act; you must be at least 20 years old.
Michigan electrician license requirements
| Requirement | Michigan |
|---|---|
| License you apply for | The Electrical Journeyman license, issued by the State of Michigan. The City of Detroit issues its own electrical licenses and registrations locally. |
| Apprentice or trainee registration | Register as an electrical apprentice: you must be employed by a Master Electrician and an Electrical Contractor and enrolled in a related technical instruction (RTI) program. You renew the registration every year, and you cannot be on the job site without an active apprentice registration. |
| Experience and training | 8,000 hours and 4 years as an electrical apprentice, in electrical construction or the maintenance of buildings or electrical wiring or equipment, supervised by someone holding a Michigan Electrical Journeyman or Master Electrician license. Some credit may be available for a recognized training or educational program. |
| Classroom hours | Apprentices stay enrolled in a related technical instruction program and continue the course work throughout the apprenticeship. |
| Licensing exam | The electrical journey exam, given by PSI; a score of at least 75 percent passes. Once the Licensing Section approves you to test, you schedule with PSI and pay the exam fee to PSI. |
| How to apply | Apply to the Licensing Section with the Application for Journeyman, Master Electrician Examination and the Experience Statement required by the Skilled Trades Regulation Act; you must be at least 20 years old. |
| Background check | Not stated in the official source we read. Check with the Michigan Bureau of Construction Codes, Licensing Section. |
| State fees | Not stated in the official source we read. Check with the Michigan Bureau of Construction Codes, Licensing Section. |
| License term | Not stated in the official source we read. Check with the Michigan Bureau of Construction Codes, Licensing Section. |
| Continuing education | Not stated in the official source we read. Check with the Michigan Bureau of Construction Codes, Licensing Section. |
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 Michigan
- Get a job with a Master Electrician and Electrical Contractor, enroll in a related technical instruction program and register as an electrical apprentice.
- Renew the apprentice registration every year while you train.
- Complete 8,000 hours and 4 years as an electrical apprentice under a Michigan-licensed journeyman or master electrician.
- Apply to the Licensing Section for the journeyman examination (you must be at least 20).
- When approved to test, schedule with PSI and pass the electrical journey exam with at least 75 percent.
Go further
Requirements state by state.
Open →CareerHow to become an electricianThe career path, nationally.
Open →PayElectrician salary in MichiganWhat 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 Michigan Bureau of Construction Codes, Licensing Section (sources named below), read on the dates shown, with the exact wording we relied on kept on file. Requirements and fees change; the Michigan Bureau of Construction Codes, Licensing Section'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.
- Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Construction Codes, Electrical Examination, Licensing/Registration & Application Information (read in Chrome), official source, read Nov 9, 2026.