A Wichita electrical license is a trade certificate from the Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department (MABCD), and one certificate covers both the City of Wichita and Sedgwick County. Journeymen document 2 years of field work (or 1 year plus 1 year of electrical trade school) and score 75% on ICC's KGH. Masters add 2 years as a certified journeyman and 75% on KGD. Both tests are graded on the 2017 NEC, while Wichita inspectors have worked from the 2023 NEC since January 1, 2025. JCR's Kansas electrician exam guide covers test-day rules, and the free Kansas practice test shows how KGH questions read.
| At a glance | MABCD (Wichita and Sedgwick County) |
|---|---|
| Office | MABCD, 271 W. 3rd St. N., Wichita. Licensing questions: 316-660-1840. |
| Journeyman test | KGH (or the older 558), 75% or better |
| Residential-only journeyman | KGX (or the older 565) |
| Master test | KGD, 554, F16, G16 or T16 |
| Certificate fee | $35, new or renewal |
| Expiration | December 31 of each odd-numbered year |
| Continuing education | 12 hours per 2-year certificate, 6 of them on code for your trade |
| Field code | 2023 NEC with local amendments (exams still use the 2017) |
KGH and KGD are scored on the 2017 NEC, not the 2023 book on Wichita job sites. JCR's Kansas package is built on the 2017 edition: 100 video lessons, a printed 152-page study manual and permanent tabs for your 2017 code book.
Not ready to buy? Try 25 free 2017 NEC questions with instant feedback.
Wichita electrical license requirements: journeyman vs. master
| MABCD certificate | Experience | Tests MABCD accepts |
|---|---|---|
| Journeyman | 2 years in the field, or 1 year in the field plus 1 year of electrical trade school | KGH or 558 |
| Journeyman, residential only | Same as journeyman | KGX or 565 |
| Master | A journeyman certificate plus 2 years of field work as a certified journeyman | KGD, 554, F16, G16 or T16 |
MABCD's page is blunt: it "does not reciprocate with state testing," and only the exams on its list count. Hours go on company letterhead with a detailed description of the work, and trade school counts only with transcripts. Exam details below come from ICC's Kansas bulletin (October 12, 2026). To see how Wichita's rules line up with other Kansas cities, read JCR's Kansas electrical license guide.
The December 1, 2026 switch: book KGH or KGD, not 558 or 554
MABCD's list still names the 2014 NEC exams, but ICC's bulletin says 554, 558 and 565 can't be newly registered at Pearson VUE from December 1, 2026. Existing bookings will still be given. The same day, ICC's national 2020 NEC exams start carrying their passing score in the exam ID; the master version is T16-N-75%. Here is what that means for a Wichita applicant:
| Exam | Format | Code and price | Counts in Wichita for |
|---|---|---|---|
| KGH Kansas Standard Journeyman | 80 questions, 4 hours, open book | 2017 NEC, $115 | Journeyman |
| KGX Kansas Standard Residential | 60 questions, 3 hours, open book | 2017 NEC, $115 | Residential-only journeyman |
| KGD Kansas Standard Master | 100 questions, 5 hours, open book | 2017 NEC, $115 | Master |
| T16 National Master (T16-N-75%) | 100 questions, 5 hours, open book | 2020 NEC, $120 | Master |
No T17 for Wichita journeymen. T16 is on MABCD's master list, but ICC's T17 national journeyman exam isn't on its journeyman list. Journeymen should plan on KGH. Masters who choose T16 study the 2020 NEC instead; JCR's master electrician exam guide covers that path.
Applying to MABCD, step by step
- Register with Pearson VUE at pearsonvue.com/icc or 1-877-234-6082. MABCD no longer sponsors exams.
- Score 75% or better. MABCD wants an official letter of passing that names the exam. Pearson VUE results can be verified online.
- File Form #19A, the Trade Certificate application, and pay $35. Book an in-person appointment first, or call 316-660-1840.
Wichita wires to the 2023 NEC; KGH and KGD grade the 2017
Sedgwick County approved the 2023 NEC with amendments on May 1, 2024, and Wichita followed on May 14, 2024, with enforcement from January 1, 2025 (MABCD electrical division). Your exam book is two editions older. The numbers most likely to trip a Wichita electrician:
| Lookup | 2017 NEC (graded) | 2020 NEC and later |
|---|---|---|
| Ampacity table | Table 310.15(B)(16) | Table 310.16 |
| Ambient correction | Table 310.15(B)(2)(a) | Table 310.15(B)(1) |
| 4 or more current-carrying conductors | Table 310.15(B)(3)(a) | Table 310.15(C)(1) |
Three KGH questions Wichita electricians miss
Question 1
Under the 2017 NEC, which table gives the allowable ampacity of insulated conductors rated 0 to 2000 volts, not more than three current-carrying conductors in a raceway, at 30°C?
- Table 310.16
- Table 310.15(B)(16)
- Table 310.15(B)(17)
- Table 310.104(A)
Question 2
Four current-carrying #6 THW copper conductors share a raceway where the ambient temperature is 120°F. What is the adjusted ampacity?
- 52 amps
- 48.75 amps
- 42.6 amps
- 39 amps
Question 3
Which 2017 NEC section requires at least 8 feet of a ground rod to be in contact with the soil?
- 250.52(A)(5)
- 250.53(G)
- 250.53(A)(4)
- 250.66(A)
Show answer 1Hide answer 1
1. B, Table 310.15(B)(16)
That is the 2017 number. The 2020 edition renamed it Table 310.16, and the 2023 code Wichita enforces kept the new name. ICC scores KGH against the 2017 book.
Show answer 2Hide answer 2
2. D, 39 amps
THW is rated 75°C, so #6 copper starts at 65 amps. The 114–122°F row of Table 310.15(B)(2)(a) gives 0.75 in the 75°C column, and four current-carrying conductors take 80% from Table 310.15(B)(3)(a). 65 × 0.75 = 48.75, and 48.75 × 0.80 = 39 amps. Choice C used 0.82, which belongs to the 90°C column.
Show answer 3Hide answer 3
3. B, 250.53(G)
The 8-foot soil-contact rule sits in 250.53(G) in the 2017 NEC and moved to 250.53(A)(4) in 2020. 250.52(A)(5) describes the rod electrode itself.
Electrical trade contractor license through MABCD
A certificate lets you work. To pull permits as a business, the company also needs an electrical trade contractor license (MABCD contractor licensing):
- Forms #45A and #45B, signed by the qualified person and every owner, partner or officer.
- The master's trade certificate and a Kansas Standard ICC exam at 75% or better. Tested outside Kansas? Add ICC's release form.
- Insurance: at least $300,000 general liability with MABCD as certificate holder, plus workers' comp and auto certificates or notarized waivers (Forms #72 and #73).
- Fee: $360 for the 2-year electrical license. Both MABCD's current Form #45A application and its fee Table A list that amount.
Add a Kansas certificate of good standing unless you're a sole proprietor. Reviews can take up to two weeks, and these licenses expire December 31 of odd-numbered years.
Renewing a Wichita certificate
- Window: the last cycle opened September 1, 2025, through MABCD's online portal. Certificates are good for 2 years and expire December 31 of odd years.
- Hours: 12 per cycle: 3 trade-specific and 3 general hours each year. MABCD accepts classes approved by the Kansas Electrical Education Review Committee, and you bring the original certificates.
- Late: no penalty January 1 to March 31. Then you owe extra hours: 1.5 from April 1, 3 from July 1 and 4.5 from September 1.
How Wichita's hours compare with Topeka's and Johnson County's is in JCR's Kansas continuing education guide.
Licensed somewhere else in Kansas?
MABCD says it doesn't reciprocate. State law adds a wrinkle: under K.S.A. 12-1526(b), a certificate earned on a standard exam such as KGH, plus documented experience, is valid proof of competency in any Kansas city or county that licenses electricians. You still apply to MABCD with your result and experience and pay the fee. Details are in Kansas electrical license reciprocity.
Wichita journeyman and master license FAQ
How do I get a journeyman electrician license in Wichita, KS?
Document 2 years of field work, or 1 year plus 1 year of electrical trade school, and score 75% or better on ICC's KGH exam (80 questions, 4 hours, 2017 NEC). Then file MABCD Form #19A with your result and the $35 fee.
What does a Wichita master electrician certificate require?
An MABCD journeyman certificate, 2 years of field work as a certified journeyman and 75% or better on KGD, 554, F16, G16 or T16. KGD is 100 questions in 5 hours on the 2017 NEC.
Can I use the T16 or T17 exam for MABCD?
T16, ICC's national master exam on the 2020 NEC, is on MABCD's master list. T17 is not on its journeyman list, so Wichita journeymen should take KGH.
Which code book do I bring to the Wichita electrical test?
A 2017 NEC with permanent tabs, plus Ugly's Electrical Reference if you want it. Wichita enforces the 2023 NEC in the field, but KGH, KGX and KGD are graded on the 2017 edition.
How much does a Wichita electrical license cost?
MABCD charges $35 per trade certificate, new or renewal. KGH or KGD costs $115 at Pearson VUE. An electrical trade contractor license adds $360 for 2 years. Fees change, so check before you apply.
Your MABCD certificate starts at a Pearson VUE desk
KGH allows 3 minutes a question, and many go to finding 2017 tables you haven't opened since Wichita moved to the 2023 code. JCR's 2017 NEC package drills those lookups and the derating math, then ends with a full timed mock.
Start the free 2017 NEC mock (25 questions)
Order the Kansas self-study package for KGH and KGD ($495). Video and online access starts at checkout; the printed manual and tabs ship.
Sources
- MABCD: Master and journeyman trade certificates
- MABCD: Contractor licensing
- MABCD: Electrical and alarm division (2023 NEC)
- MABCD: Fees
- MABCD: License fee Table A
- ICC: State of Kansas bulletin (October 12, 2026)
- Pearson VUE: ICC exams
- K.S.A. 12-1526
Reviewed November 6, 2026. License details follow the linked official sources, accessed November 6, 2026. NEC references are to the 2017 edition.
