- The under $7,000 repair exemption does not cover electrical systems. Electrical system work on those jobs must be done by a licensed electrical contractor, and component work like an outlet or switch by a licensed journeyman electrician or contractor.
- Master Electrician: 8,000 hours as a licensed Journeyman. Other paths: an EAC/ABET electrical engineering degree plus 2,000 hours as a licensed apprentice, or an associate degree from an electrical trade program plus 4,000 hours as a licensed journeyman.
- Plan for a trade exam and a business and law exam.
- Contractor licenses expire on November 30 of odd years. You need 6 continuing education hours, 3 of them taught live, and an active liability insurance certificate to renew.
Do you need a state license in Utah?
Utah licenses electrical work at the state level through the Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL), Contracting. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
The under $7,000 repair exemption does not cover electrical systems. Electrical system work on those jobs must be done by a licensed electrical contractor, and component work like an outlet or switch by a licensed journeyman electrician or contractor.
Besides the state license, you only need a business license from the city or county where your main place of business is.
Utah license types for electrical work
Utah 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 |
|---|---|
| E200 | General electrical contractor. Qualifier holds an active Utah Master Electrician license |
| E201 | Residential electrical contractor. Qualifier holds an active Utah Residential Master Electrician license |
| Master Electrician | Individual license needed to qualify an E200 contractor |
| Journeyman Electrician | Individual license. Can do component work such as outlets and switches on small jobs |
Steps to get licensed in Utah
- Earn your Journeyman Electrician license and log 8,000 hours as a licensed journeyman.
- Pass the Utah Master Electrician Law and Rule exam (and the practical exam if you have not passed it) to get your Master Electrician license.
- Take the 30-hour pre-licensure course and pass the Contractor Business and Law exam.
- Buy general liability insurance of $1,000,000 per incident and $2,000,000 total, and set up workers comp or a waiver.
- Register your business entity and get a federal EIN.
- Apply to DOPL for the E200 or E201 classification and pay the $175 fee.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Master Electrician: 8,000 hours as a licensed Journeyman. Other paths: an EAC/ABET electrical engineering degree plus 2,000 hours as a licensed apprentice, or an associate degree from an electrical trade program plus 4,000 hours as a licensed journeyman.
The license to apply for. E200 General Electrical Contractor (or E201 Residential Electrical Contractor), qualified by a Master Electrician.
Utah electrical exams
Trade exam. Yes. Pass the Utah Master Electrician Law and Rule exam and the Utah Electrician Practical exam. The practical is not needed if you passed it as a journeyman.
Business and law exam. Yes. E200 and E201 require the Utah Contractor Business and Law Exam.
What it costs in Utah
The board lists 4 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 | $175 |
| Electrical contractor renewal | $128 |
| Electrician license application (all classifications) | $110 |
| Electrician license renewal | $78 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. General liability of at least $1,000,000 per incident and $2,000,000 total, with DOPL as certificate holder. If you have employees you need workers comp; if not, a workers comp coverage waiver from the Utah Labor Commission.
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Contractor licenses expire on November 30 of odd years. You need 6 continuing education hours, 3 of them taught live, and an active liability insurance certificate to renew.
Reciprocity. Licensure by endorsement is possible if your state shows an equivalent license on DOPL's Master Electrician endorsement map. All applicants still pass the Utah Master Electrician Law and Rule exam.
Good to know in Utah
- Electrical contractors take a 30-hour pre-licensure course.
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 Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL), Contracting 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.