How to Get a Missouri Electrical Contractor License

Missouri doesn't license individual electricians. Cities and counties do. The state offers one license, for electrical contractors, and it's optional. Hold it, and any Missouri city or county that requires a contractor license has to accept yours instead of its own.

Get it if you contract in more than one licensing city or county. If you only work in one, that city's license is enough. To qualify, you need 12,000 hours of experience (fewer with an apprenticeship or degree), $500,000 of liability insurance and a passing score on an approved exam. Missouri gives the NASCLA Electrical Contractor exam through PSI, and you choose the 2020 or 2023 NEC.

Do you need the state license?

Only if you contract in more than one licensing city or county. Under Section 324.920.4, RSMo, you can keep working without it where you already hold a local license or where no license is required.

Cities and counties that license contractors must accept it in place of their own contractor license for contracting work and permits. They can't make a state licensee pass a local exam. They can still require a business license, local bonds and permits, and inspect your work.

Licenses for individual electricians are issued locally. Kansas City uses a business license, a Certificate of Qualification and a contractor license. St. Louis City tests applicants through its Committee of Electrical Examiners. St. Louis County uses Prov exams.

Qualify, apply and schedule

Experience: Show one of these under 20 CSR 2117-2.010:

• 12,000 hours installing equipment and wiring
• 10,000 hours plus a journeyman certificate from a U.S. Department of Labor-approved apprenticeship
• 8,000 hours plus an associate's degree
• 4,000 hours supervising installations plus a four-year electrical engineering degree
• A Missouri local contractor or master license held 6 of the last 8 years that required an NEC-based exam

Apply: Send OSEC your application or apply through MOPRO. Include the $200 fee, proof of hours, a $500,000 liability insurance certificate and proof of any local bonds. You have 24 months to finish the application. The license holder must work for the company at a supervisory level and can represent only one company.

Test: Once OSEC approves you for the exam, you'll get instructions to pay and schedule with PSI at a center in Missouri or Kansas. You stay eligible for 2 years and can retest as many times as needed during that window.

Already passed an exam? OSEC's approved list accepts contractor, master and journeyman exams you passed for another state board through NASCLA, ICC, Prov, PSI or Prometric. It also approves some ICC and Prov exams for new candidates, so check the list before you buy one.

The NASCLA exam

The PSI Missouri bulletin lets you choose the 2020 or 2023 NEC or NEC Handbook. Studying with JCR's 2020 NEC course? It's based on the 2020 NEC, so that's the edition to carry in.

Questions by topic: wiring and protection 17, general code requirements 17, wiring methods 16, equipment 13, theory 11, safety 9, special occupancies 8, project design and management 8, and communications 1. A blueprint packet is handed out at the test center. OSEC also accepts the NASCLA Journeyman exam.

Under the NASCLA bulletin, you can highlight, underline and add permanent tabs to your books. You can't write in them, add loose papers or use sticky tabs. Passing scores go into NASCLA's National Examination Database, so you can send a transcript to other states that accept the exam.

Reciprocity and renewal

Missouri has no formal reciprocity. A verified license from another state or city can prove your exam and hours if it required an approved exam and similar experience. Use OSEC's Verification of Licensure form.

All licenses expire September 30 every third year. The next deadline is September 30, 2029. Renewal is $200. OSEC doesn't require continuing education now, though the law allows it to add a rule.

Related: All state license guides · NASCLA exam guide · Tennessee