Kansas has no statewide electrician license. Cities and counties issue journeyman, master and residential licenses, and state law (K.S.A. 12-1526) sets their minimum rules. Wichita/Sedgwick County and Johnson County use ICC's Kansas Standard exams through Pearson VUE: KGD Master, KGH Journeyman and KGX Residential. All three are open book on the 2017 NEC, cost $115 and need 75% to pass (ICC Kansas bulletin). Pass one and meet the experience rules, and other Kansas cities that license electricians must accept it without another exam.
| Quick look | Kansas electrical licensing |
|---|---|
| Who licenses | Cities and counties, such as Wichita/Sedgwick County, Johnson County, Kansas City and Topeka |
| Exams | ICC KGD Master, KGH Journeyman, KGX Residential (ICC bulletin) |
| Code book | 2017 NEC, open book. Ugly's Electrical Reference (any edition) is also allowed. |
| Passing score | 75% on every exam (K.S.A. 12-1526) |
| Experience | Journeyman or residential: 2 years. Master: 2 years holding a journeyman certificate. |
| Continuing education | 12 hours every 2 years, 6 of them on the code |
| Old 2014 NEC exams | 554, 558 and 565 can't be booked starting December 1, 2026. Exams already scheduled still run |
Taking KGD, KGH or KGX? Kansas Standard exams test the 2017 NEC. JCR's $495 2017 NEC self-study package includes a study manual with a six-week plan, step-by-step videos, a mock exam booklet and digital practice exams. Videos and practice exams open right after you order.
How Kansas electrical licensing works
Kansas leaves licensing to local governments. A city or county that licenses electricians has to follow state law (K.S.A. 12-1525 to 12-1527):
- Approved exams. It uses a standard exam from ICC, IAPMO or Prometric and can't add its own questions.
- 75% to pass. The same score everywhere.
- Accepted statewide. A certificate earned on a standard exam is valid proof of competency in every Kansas city or county that licenses electricians, with no new exam. You still apply and pay each city's fee.
- Local-only exams. A city can give its own exam instead, but that license works only in that city unless cities sign a reciprocal agreement.
- Continuing education. 12 hours every 2 years, 6 of them on the code.
In 2026, the Kansas House passed HB 2588, which would have moved electrician licensing to the State Fire Marshal. It died in the Senate, so local licensing continues (HB 2588).
Kansas electrician exams (2017 NEC)
| Exam | Questions and time | Experience before the license |
|---|---|---|
| KGH Kansas Standard Journeyman | 80 questions, 4 hours | 2 years of field experience. Up to 1 year can be trade school (930 hours or more) |
| KGX Kansas Standard Residential | 60 questions, 3 hours | Same as journeyman |
| KGD Kansas Standard Master | 100 questions, 5 hours | 2 years holding a journeyman certificate |
Experience minimums come from K.S.A. 12-1526. Cities can ask for more. Exam details are from the ICC Kansas bulletin (October 12, 2026):
- Books: the 2017 NEC and Ugly's Electrical Reference (any edition). The exams are open book.
- Fee: $115 per exam, paid to Pearson VUE. Book at pearsonvue.com/icc or 1-877-234-6082.
- Retakes: wait 10 days after a fail.
- Biggest topics on KGD and KGH: wiring methods and materials (26%), branch circuits and conductors (19%), equipment and devices (13%).
- Biggest topics on KGX: branch circuits (25%), services (22%), feeders (13%) and wiring methods (13%).
The bulletin also lists ICC's national T16, T17 and T18 exams on the 2020 NEC ($120 each). Wichita already accepts T16 for master. A city decides which exams it accepts, so check before you book one of those.
What the biggest Kansas jurisdictions require
| Jurisdiction | What it issues | Exams and rules |
|---|---|---|
| Wichita and Sedgwick County (MABCD) | Journeyman, residential and master certificates ($35) and contractor licenses | Journeyman: KGH or 558. Residential: KGX or 565. Master: KGD, 554, F16, G16 or T16. Certificates expire December 31 of odd years (certificates, electrical division). |
| Johnson County (Overland Park, Olathe, Lenexa, Shawnee, 11 other cities and unincorporated Johnson County) | Class DE electrical contractor license for the company | The company's qualifying individual passes KGD (or the older 554) at 75% or better. $100 application plus $225 per license type, $1 million liability insurance, 8 hours of CE a year (license types, instructions). |
| Kansas City, KS | Master electrician and master residential electrician licenses. Employee electricians register | Master: 4 years of experience, age 21 or older, 75% on the exam. Contractors post a $5,000 bond (Unified Government code). |
| Topeka | Journeyman and master licenses, renewed every 2 years | 75% on the trade exam. Experience follows state law (Topeka code). |
Lawrence also certifies master and journeyman electricians (City of Lawrence). Smaller cities set their own rules, so call the building department before you book an exam.
Your city's code vs. the exam's code
Kansas cities adopt their own NEC edition. Wichita and Sedgwick County have enforced the 2023 NEC since January 1, 2025 (MABCD), and Topeka adopted the 2023 (Topeka code). The Kansas Standard exams still test the 2017 NEC. Study and bring the 2017 NEC, even if you work under the 2023.
How to get a Kansas electrical license
- Pick your jurisdiction. Find out which license and exam the city or county where you'll work requires.
- Document your experience. Keep letters on company letterhead showing your hours and the work you did. Wichita asks for this format (MABCD).
- Book the exam. Register for KGH, KGX or KGD at Pearson VUE and bring the 2017 NEC.
- Apply to the city or county. Send your pass letter, experience proof and fee. Pass a standard exam once and meet the experience rules, and other Kansas licensing jurisdictions must accept it.
- Keep up your CE. State law requires 12 hours every 2 years, and some jurisdictions add more.
Kansas electrical license questions
Does Kansas have a state electrician license?
No. Kansas cities and counties license electricians. State law sets the minimum rules for any city or county that does: approved exams, a 75% passing score, experience and continuing education.
What exam do Kansas electricians take?
Wichita/Sedgwick County and Johnson County use ICC's Kansas Standard exams through Pearson VUE: KGD Master, KGH Journeyman and KGX Residential. All three are open book on the 2017 NEC, cost $115 and need 75% to pass.
How much experience do I need for a Kansas journeyman license?
State law sets a minimum of 2 years of field experience under a licensed electrician. Up to 1 year can come from trade school of at least 930 hours. Some cities ask for more.
Is a Kansas journeyman license good in other Kansas cities?
If you earned it by passing a state-designated exam, such as KGH, other Kansas cities that license electricians must accept it without another exam, as long as you meet the experience rules. You still apply to each city.
What happens to the old 2014 NEC Kansas exams?
ICC's bulletin says the 554 Master, 558 Journeyman and 565 Residential exams can't be booked through Pearson starting December 1, 2026, though exams already scheduled still run. The KGD, KGH and KGX exams on the 2017 NEC stay available.
Pass KGH, KGX or KGD the first time
Kansas Standard exams are timed NEC lookups and calculations on the 2017 edition. JCR's 2017 NEC package drills them. Try the free 2017 NEC practice test, then plan on 6–8 weeks, about an hour a night.
Related: Missouri electrical contractor license · Reciprocity by state
More Kansas guides
Official sources JCR checked
- ICC: State of Kansas bulletin (October 12, 2026)
- K.S.A. 12-1525
- K.S.A. 12-1526
- K.S.A. 12-1527
- Kansas Legislature: HB 2588
- MABCD: Trade certificates
- MABCD: Electrical division
- Johnson County: License types
- Johnson County: Application instructions (January 2026)
- Unified Government of Wyandotte County/KCK: Electrician code
- Topeka Municipal Code 5.63
- City of Lawrence: Contractor licensing
JCR checked these facts against state law, ICC's bulletin and each jurisdiction's pages on October 21, 2026.