- Master: a degree in electrical engineering plus two years of construction experience, or six years in residential and commercial construction including two years as a licensed journeyman, or a board-approved mix of training and experience.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- Every year. Master and journeyman licensees complete at least 8 hours of continuing education in the first year of each new National Electrical Code cycle.
Do you need a state license in Arkansas?
Arkansas licenses electrical work at the state level through the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners, Department of Labor and Licensing. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
Arkansas license types for electrical work
Arkansas splits the work into 4 licenses. Pick the one that matches the jobs you take, since working outside its scope is the same as working without one.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Master Electrician | Plans, lays out and supervises electrical installations |
| Residential Master Electrician | Master work limited to one- to four-family dwellings |
| Journeyman and Residential Journeyman Electrician | Install wiring and equipment |
| Electrical Apprentice | Registered learner who must be supervised by a master or journeyman |
Steps to get licensed in Arkansas
- Register as an electrical apprentice and work under a master or journeyman.
- Qualify for and pass the journeyman exam.
- Work at least two years as a licensed journeyman within six years of construction experience.
- Apply for and pass the master electrician exam.
- Pay the license fee and renew every year with code-cycle continuing education.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Master: a degree in electrical engineering plus two years of construction experience, or six years in residential and commercial construction including two years as a licensed journeyman, or a board-approved mix of training and experience.
The license to apply for. Master Electrician license.
Arkansas electrical exams
Trade exam. Yes. A state exam for each license class.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in Arkansas
The board lists 6 fees along the way. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Master electrician exam | $80 |
| Master electrician license | $50 |
| Master electrician renewal, yearly | $50 |
| Journeyman electrician exam | $80 |
| Journeyman electrician license | $25 |
| Apprentice registration, yearly | $10 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every year. Master and journeyman licensees complete at least 8 hours of continuing education in the first year of each new National Electrical Code cycle.
Reciprocity. Arkansas has journeyman and master reciprocal agreements with listed states. It only reciprocates an original license, and most master licenses from the list convert to a journeyman license, except Oregon and North Dakota.
Good to know in Arkansas
- A commercial contractor license from the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board is needed for commercial projects of $50,000 or more.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for an electrician near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners, Department of Labor and Licensing and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how electrical contractors run on Koira.