Electrician License Requirements in Alaska
- Training hours
- 8000 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $250
- Exam
- Electrician Journeyman Examination
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Issuing board
- Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Labor Standards and Safety Division, Mechanical Inspection Section
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Meet the eligibility requirements set by the issuing board. AS 18.62.020(a) requires the application to state the applicant's age and citizenship, but neither the statute nor 8 AAC 90.160 sets a minimum age or a criminal-background-check requirement for the Electrician Journeyman certificate. An applicant must also provide a Social Security number (8 AAC 90.110). [1]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 8000 hours of training at a state-approved program. 8,000 hours of work experience subject to the National Electrical Code, earned through a U.S. DOL Registered Apprenticeship Program (as an Electrician Trainee certificate holder) is the standard path. No more than 2,000 of the 8,000 hours may be residential electrical work; up to 1,000 classroom hours from a registered apprenticeship/accredited program and up to 1,000 hours of power-lineman experience may substitute for work-experience hours; maintenance-electrician experience does not qualify (8 AAC 90.160). Alaska has no separate 'Master Electrician' license — a Journeyman COF is the highest individual code-work credential; a separate Electrical Administrator license (Dept. of Commerce) covers supervisory sign-off but not hands-on code work. [1]
- 3
Electrician Journeyman Examination
Pass the Electrician Journeyman Examination. No exam fee separate from the $50 nonrefundable application fee (AS 18.62.030(a)), which covers scheduling/administering the exam. Minimum passing score is 70%; an applicant who fails may retake the exam 30 days after the failed attempt (8 AAC 90.115). [1]
- 4
Submit your application
Submit your application to Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Labor Standards and Safety Division, Mechanical Inspection Section with the $50 application fee. [1]
- 5
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Labor Standards and Safety Division, Mechanical Inspection Section issues your Electrician Journeyman Certificate of Fitness for Alaska.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [1] | $50 |
| License fee [1] | $200 |
| Renewal fee [1] | $200 |
| Electrician Journeyman Examination [1] | None specified |
| Duplicate certificate fee [1] | $25 |
AS 18.62.030: $50 nonrefundable application fee plus $200 for issuance of a journeyman-level certificate (prorated if issued for less than 2 years); renewal is also $200 for the 2-year term.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 2 years. 16 continuing education hours required per cycle.
AS 18.62.020(a): a journeyman-level certificate and renewal certificate is valid for 2 years. 8 AAC 90.192(b): renewal requires at least 16 hours of continuing education completed in the preceding 24 months, at least 8 of which must cover significant changes/updates to the National Electrical Code (no more than 8 hours may be general industry-related). Renewal may be requested up to 90 days before expiration; a certificate not renewed within 2 years of its expiration becomes invalid for performing code work.
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
No interstate compact covers electricians. As of 2025-08-08, Alaska accepts reciprocal Electrician Journeyman COF applications from any U.S. jurisdiction the department determines has 'substantially similar' requirements (8 AAC 90.111), without needing a prior mutual agreement. A provisional certificate (valid up to 1 year) is available to holders of a current out-of-state journeyman certificate/license held for at least 1 year, for a $50 application fee plus a $100 certificate fee (8 AAC 90.112). A separate 'Reciprocal Electrician Journeyman License' page lists Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming as states with an active reciprocity pathway; applicants must hold an active license from one of these states for at least 1 year and must have tested for that license.
Cost calculator
- $50
- $200
Frequently asked questions
How many hours of experience does Alaska require for an Electrician Journeyman certificate?
8,000 hours of qualifying work experience, most commonly earned as a registered apprentice (Electrician Trainee COF) under a sponsoring employer. No more than 2,000 of those hours can be residential work, and up to 1,000 classroom hours plus up to 1,000 power-lineman-experience hours can substitute for work hours.
Who administers the Alaska electrician journeyman exam, and what does it cost?
The Department of Labor's Mechanical Inspection Section administers the exam directly (by appointment in Anchorage, Fairbanks, or Juneau). There's no separate exam fee — it's covered by the $50 nonrefundable application fee. A passing score is 70% or higher.
How often does an Alaska Electrician Journeyman Certificate of Fitness need to be renewed?
Every 2 years. Renewal requires proof of at least 16 hours of continuing education completed in the prior 24 months, with at least 8 of those hours covering National Electrical Code updates.
Can an out-of-state journeyman electrician transfer their license to Alaska?
Yes. Since August 8, 2025, Alaska accepts reciprocal Electrician Journeyman applications from any U.S. jurisdiction it finds has substantially similar requirements. Applicants with a valid out-of-state journeyman certificate held for at least a year can also get a 1-year provisional certificate for a $50 application fee plus a $100 certificate fee while their full reciprocal application is processed.
Sources
- [1] labor.alaska.gov/lss/forms/cof-regs.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11
- [2] labor.alaska.gov/lss/rejl.htm — accessed 2026-07-11