Electrical License Reciprocity by State (2026): Who Accepts Yours

Electrician reciprocity lets you skip another state's trade exam because you already passed one at home. It is not automatic. You still apply, pay fees and prove your license is in good standing, and many states still make you pass their business and law exam. Each state decides whose licenses it accepts, and the deal is often one-way. The table below lists what each state accepts today, checked against each state's official rules (for example, Texas, Minnesota and North Carolina) on October 12, 2026.

Three ways states accept out-of-state licenses

• Agreements. Two state boards sign a deal for named license levels. Example: Minnesota accepts Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota master licenses.
• NERA. The National Electrical Reciprocal Alliance is a group of 19 state boards that promote mutual recognition of journeyman licenses. Being a member doesn't mean a state accepts every other member, so check the table.
• Endorsement or universal recognition. Some states accept a similar license from any state. Examples: Utah, Vermont, Louisiana and Virginia's universal license route. A few, like West Virginia, offer this only to people who move there.

Reciprocity by state

Each row is what that state accepts. Find the state you want to work in. The state name links to its official source.

Licensed in North Carolina, or moving there? See the North Carolina reciprocity guide for every state that takes an NC license and every license NC accepts.

NERA member states

The 19 NERA members are Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Wisconsin and Wyoming. NERA covers journeyman licenses. The typical bar is a state journeyman exam passed with 70%+, 8,000 apprenticeship hours, and the license held 1 year. Each member still keeps its own list. Wisconsin, for example, accepts only Iowa and New Hampshire.

How to apply

1. Find the state you want to work in in the table. Its list decides, not your home state's.
2. Check your license level matches. Many states take journeyman licenses only, or turn a master into a journeyman.
3. Confirm your license was earned by exam and has been active at least 1 year. Licenses from grandfathering, and most licenses from reciprocity, don't count.
4. Ask the board in the state where you tested for an official verification or letter of good standing. Most states won't accept a copy of your card.
5. Apply, pay the fee and send any insurance or bond proof.
6. Pass the business and law exam if that state requires one. North Carolina's comes with the application.

If your state isn't on the list

You'll take that state's exam. Most electrical exams are open book and built on the NEC, so the work is learning to find answers fast. Check the NEC edition first on JCR's state requirements page. Plan on 6–8 weeks, about an hour a night.

Common questions

Is electrician reciprocity two-way?

Not always. Each state keeps its own list. Iowa and Wisconsin accept each other's journeyman licenses, but Georgia stopped accepting anyone while some states still list Georgia.

Which states have no electrician reciprocity?

Georgia, Hawaii, New Jersey and Rhode Island accept no out-of-state licenses. Connecticut has no reciprocal agreements, so every applicant takes its PSI exam. Michigan reviews each applicant instead of keeping a list. Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, New York and Pennsylvania have no state electrician license, so cities and counties set the rules.

Which state has the most electrical license reciprocity?

Alaska's journeyman list is the longest in the table, at 32 states, and Utah's journeyman map lists 32 jurisdictions. Utah, Virginia and Vermont also accept a similar license from any state if you meet their terms, such as holding it 1 year (Utah, Virginia) or 3 years (Vermont).

Does reciprocity waive the business and law exam?

Often not. Alabama, Arizona, California, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee still require their business, law or rules exam. Ohio (for most states), Texas and most journeyman reciprocity skip it.

Does NERA give me a license in every member state?

No. NERA members promote mutual recognition, but each state decides which members it accepts and at what level. Most NERA deals cover journeyman licenses only.

Can I use a license I got by reciprocity in a third state?

Usually not. Arkansas, Nebraska, Ohio and others accept only a license you earned by exam in the issuing state.

Related guides: Electrical license requirements by state · NASCLA electrical contractor exam · NEC adoption by state