- Plan for a trade exam.
- Every two years, on your birthday, at the license fee. Class A and Class B license holders need 15 hours of continuing education to renew.
Do you need a state license in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island licenses electrical work at the state level through the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, Professional Regulation. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
Rhode Island license types for electrical work
Rhode Island splits the work into 3 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 |
|---|---|
| Class A Electrical Contractor | Conduct business as an electrical contractor; does not let the holder do the work personally |
| Class B Journeyperson Electrician | Does electrical work |
| Class D Limited Maintenance | Limited maintenance license |
Steps to get licensed in Rhode Island
- Train and pass the exam for your journeyperson (Class B) license.
- Apply for the Class A contractor exam with the $75 fee.
- Pass the exam and pay the $240 Class A license fee.
- Renew every two years on your birthday with 15 hours of continuing education.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
The license to apply for. Electrical Contractor license, Class A.
Rhode Island electrical exams
Trade exam. Yes. The state gives written and practical licensing exams.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in Rhode Island
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 |
|---|---|
| Exam application | $75 |
| Class A contractor license | $240 |
| Class B journeyperson license | $72 |
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 two years, on your birthday, at the license fee. Class A and Class B license holders need 15 hours of continuing education to renew.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in Rhode Island
- Put your contractor license number on ads, contracts, bids and permits.
- Owner occupied single family homes are exempt from the rule that permit work be done by a licensee.
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 Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, Professional Regulation 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.