- You must document your hands-on electrical installation work with work experience certifications from people who supervised you. Check with the board for the hours and years needed.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- A $1,000 surety bond in favor of the State of New Jersey.
- Every three years for the business permit. License renewal needs 34 hours of continuing education, including a 10-hour course on the latest National Electrical Code.
Do you need a state license in New Jersey?
New Jersey licenses electrical work at the state level through the New Jersey Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
New Jersey license types for electrical work
New Jersey 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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical Contractor | License held by the qualifying contractor; needed for a business permit |
| Class A Journeyman | Licensed journeyman electrician |
| Class A Electrical Apprentice | Apprentice electrician |
| Class B Wireman | Entry level wireman license |
Steps to get licensed in New Jersey
- Gather work experience certifications from your supervisors.
- Apply online for the electrical contractor exam.
- Pass all three exams, then wait for board approval.
- Apply for the business permit with the fee, surety bond and $300,000 liability insurance certificate.
- Renew every three years with your continuing education done.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. You must document your hands-on electrical installation work with work experience certifications from people who supervised you. Check with the board for the hours and years needed.
The license to apply for. Electrical Contractor License plus Business Permit.
New Jersey electrical exams
Trade exam. Yes. Contractor exam applicants must pass all three exams before the board approves the license.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in New Jersey
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 |
|---|---|
| Initial business permit, first year of the three-year cycle | $150 |
| Initial business permit, second year | $100 |
| Initial business permit, third year | $50 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. General liability insurance of at least $300,000, or a bank letter of credit of at least $300,000. The Board must be the certificate holder.
Bond. A $1,000 surety bond in favor of the State of New Jersey.
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every three years for the business permit. License renewal needs 34 hours of continuing education, including a 10-hour course on the latest National Electrical Code.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in New Jersey
- Starting December 31, 2027, anyone working in electrical contracting must hold one of four licenses: Class B Wireman, Class A Electrical Apprentice, Class A Journeyman or Electrical Contractor.
- Business permits currently run until March 31, 2027.
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 New Jersey Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors 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.