- At least one year, acceptable to the board, as a licensed journeyman electrician. A four year electrical engineering graduate also needs one year as a licensed journeyman.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- Licenses expire December 31 of even numbered years. To renew you need 12 hours of approved continuing education, at least 6 on the National Electrical Code.
Do you need a state license in Nebraska?
Nebraska licenses electrical work at the state level through the Nebraska State Electrical Division and State Electrical Board. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
Nebraska license types for electrical work
Nebraska splits the work into 5 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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical Contractor | Plans, lays out, installs and supervises electrical wiring and equipment |
| Class A Master Electrician | Plans, lays out and supervises electrical installations |
| Class B Electrical Contractor | Systems up to 400 amps in homes up to four-family, in towns under 100,000 people |
| Journeyman Electrician | Does the wiring while employed by a licensed contractor |
| Residential Wireman | Residential license |
Steps to get licensed in Nebraska
- Get a journeyman electrician license and work at least one year as a licensed journeyman.
- Apply for the electrical contractor exam online or by mail with the $180 application fee and the citizenship attestation form.
- After approval, schedule and pass the PSI exam.
- Pay the license fee and keep public liability insurance in force.
- Register as a contractor with the Nebraska Department of Labor.
- Renew by December 31 of each even numbered year with 12 hours of continuing education.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. At least one year, acceptable to the board, as a licensed journeyman electrician. A four year electrical engineering graduate also needs one year as a licensed journeyman.
The license to apply for. Electrical Contractor License.
Nebraska electrical exams
Trade exam. State exam given by PSI after the board approves you. It covers the 2023 National Electrical Code, basic electrical theory, the Nebraska State Electrical Act, and emergency and fire alarm circuits.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in Nebraska
The board lists 3 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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical contractor application fee | $180 |
| License fee if issued in an even numbered year | $187.50 |
| License fee if issued in an odd numbered year | $375 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. Electrical contractors and master electricians must keep public liability insurance in force as the board requires.
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Licenses expire December 31 of even numbered years. To renew you need 12 hours of approved continuing education, at least 6 on the National Electrical Code.
Reciprocity. Nebraska has electrical contractor reciprocity with Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota and Texas. You must have scored 75 percent or more on that state's exam.
Good to know in Nebraska
- Doing electrical work in Nebraska without a proper license or registration is a Class IV felony.
- Passing the exam gives you 6 hours of continuing education credit.
- All contractors and subcontractors working in Nebraska must also register with the Nebraska Department of Labor.
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 Nebraska State Electrical Division and State Electrical Board 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.