Electrician License Requirements in New Jersey
- Training hours
- 8000 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $40
- Exam
- —
- Renewal cycle
- Every 3 years
- Issuing board
- New Jersey Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Meet the eligibility requirements set by the issuing board. No minimum age is stated for the Registered Qualified Journeyman Electrician registration (the separate Electrical Contractor license does require age 21+ and a high school diploma/equivalent). No criminal history background check requirement is documented on the Board's journeyman application materials as of the research date. [1]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 8000 hours of training at a state-approved program. 8,000 hours of practical experience installing/altering/repairing wiring for electrical light, heat and power, plus a minimum of 576 classroom hours of related instruction; at least 4,000 of the 8,000 practical hours must fall within 5 years of application (N.J.S.A. 45:5A-18(k); N.J.A.C. 13:31-3.4). A separate exam-based Class A Journeyman Electrician License pathway also exists (4-year DOL-registered apprenticeship + 1 additional journeyman year, per N.J.A.C. 13:31-5.1/45:5A-9), distinct from this registration. Source PDF is Incapsula-blocked on direct fetch; verified via archive snapshot 2024-05-18. [1]
- 3
Submit your application
Submit your application to New Jersey Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors with the $40 application fee. [1]
- 4
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, New Jersey Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors issues your Registered Qualified Journeyman Electrician for New Jersey.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [1] | $40 |
| License fee [1] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [1] | $90 |
| Late renewal fee (within 30 days of expiration) [1] | $50 |
Non-refundable Registered Journeyman application fee is $40; no separate license-issuance fee is listed beyond the application fee. Renewal fee is listed as $90 (page notes this may change). Source PDF is Incapsula-blocked on direct fetch; verified via archive snapshot 2024-05-18.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 3 years.
Licenses/registrations are valid for 3 years with a triennial expiration date. The Board's FAQ documents a 34-hour continuing education requirement (including 9 hours of Code and 1 hour of NJ law) specifically for electrical contractor license renewal; it is not clearly stated whether this CE requirement also applies to the Registered Qualified Journeyman Electrician registration, so ceHours is left null here rather than assumed.
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
Two official NJ sources disagree: the Board's FAQ states flatly 'New Jersey does not have reciprocity with any other state.' However, N.J.A.C. 13:31-5.8 sets out a conditional endorsement path for a Class A journeyman electrician license, available only from a jurisdiction that provides 'equal reciprocity' to NJ-licensed Class A journeymen, requiring 2 of the last 5 years of active practice, no disqualifying discipline, a 15-hour NEC course, and a Board finding that the other jurisdiction's qualifications are 'substantially equivalent.' Per PROMPT.md source rule to prefer statute over board prose where they disagree, endorsementAvailable is set true but treated as narrow/case-by-case, not general reciprocity. No formal interstate compact exists for this occupation.
12 state-approved training providers in New Jersey — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Cost calculator
- $40
Frequently asked questions
When do I need to register with the Board as a qualified journeyman electrician?
A person must register as a qualified journeyman electrician to engage in the activities set forth in N.J.S.A. 45:5A-18(k) and (l), and, if not already a licensee, to supervise electrical work under N.J.A.C. 13:31-3.4.
How many hours of experience and classroom instruction are required?
8,000 hours of practical hands-on experience installing, altering, or repairing electrical wiring, plus a minimum of 576 classroom hours of related instruction; at least 4,000 of the practical hours must have been completed within the 5 years before applying.
Does New Jersey have reciprocity agreements with other states?
The Board's FAQ states New Jersey does not have reciprocity with any other state, though a narrow endorsement path for a Class A journeyman license exists under N.J.A.C. 13:31-5.8 for applicants from states that grant equal reciprocity to New Jersey licensees and whose requirements are found substantially equivalent.
How much does it cost to apply?
The non-refundable application fee for a Registered Journeyman is $40. The renewal fee is currently listed as $90, and a $50 late fee applies if renewal is submitted within 30 days after expiration.
How long is the registration valid, and does it require continuing education?
Registrations/licenses run on a 3-year (triennial) cycle. The Board documents a 34-hour continuing education requirement for electrical contractor license renewal; it is not clearly documented whether that CE requirement extends to the journeyman registration.
Sources
- [1] njconsumeraffairs.gov/Documents/licenseprocess/Electrical-Application-Process-Overview.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11
- [2] njconsumeraffairs.gov/elec/pages/faq.aspx — accessed 2026-07-11
- [3] law.cornell.edu/regulations/new-jersey/N-J-A-C-13-31-5-8 — accessed 2026-07-11