Electrician License Requirements in Rhode Island
- Training hours
- 8000 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $222
- Exam
- Journeyperson Electrician (Class B) Examination
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Issuing board
- Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, Division of Workforce Regulation and Safety — Board of Examiners of Electricians
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Be at least 18 years old. Rule 7(f) sets a minimum age of 21 for Class A/E/AF/LPC/SCF (contractor-level) licenses but only 18 for 'other licenses,' which includes the Journeyperson Class B license. No criminal-history background check requirement was found in the Board's Rules and Regulations or the official application instructions. [2]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 8000 hours of training at a state-approved program. At least 8,000 hours (4 years) of experience as a registered apprentice, verified by a notarized employer letter, plus 576 hours of related instruction approved by the Department of Labor and Training (per the Board's Rules and Regulations item 7(a) and the official Electrician Application Instructions). [1]
- 3
Journeyperson Electrician (Class B) Examination
Pass the Journeyperson Electrician (Class B) Examination (fee: $75). Written examination based on the National Electrical Code; a passing average of at least 70% is required to obtain the license (60% allows the applicant to review the exam with Board members, but not to pass). The $75 fee shown is the non-refundable application/test-processing fee listed on the official fee schedule for computer code 22 (Journeyperson Electrician B). [2]
- 4
Submit your application
Submit your application to Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, Division of Workforce Regulation and Safety — Board of Examiners of Electricians with the $75 application fee. [1]
- 5
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, Division of Workforce Regulation and Safety — Board of Examiners of Electricians issues your Journeyperson Electrician (Class B) for Rhode Island.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [1] | $75 |
| License fee [1] | $72 |
| Renewal fee [1] | $72 |
| Journeyperson Electrician (Class B) Examination [2] | $75 |
Per the Department's official fee schedule: $75 non-refundable application/processing fee, and a $72 '2-Year License Fee' for Journeyperson Electrician B (computer code 22) — the same figure is used for both initial license issuance and renewal since it is billed on a 2-year basis.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 2 years. 15 continuing education hours required per cycle.
The Journeyperson Electrician B license fee is billed as a '2-Year License Fee' per the official fee schedule. Continuing education is mandatory for Class B journeypersons; RI DLT's Board of Examiners of Electricians page lists an 'OSHA 15 Hour Electrical Trainers' program and a matching '15 Hour Certificate of Completion,' consistent with a 15-hour CE requirement tied to the code-update cycle, though DLT's page does not spell out the exact renewal-cycle CE hour count in a single explicit sentence.
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
Rhode Island does not waive its exam for out-of-state licensees, but it does provide a defined out-of-state applicant pathway (fee schedule computer code 22, same as new applicants): an out-of-state applicant who holds a contractor's license or journeyperson's license from another state is allowed to sit for the Rhode Island journeyperson's exam using that license (plus verified experience) to qualify, per Board Rule 7(b). This is endorsement-to-test rather than exam-free reciprocity, and there is no formal interstate compact for this occupation, so compacts is left [].
1 state-approved training provider in Rhode Island — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Cost calculator
- $75
- $72
- $75
Frequently asked questions
How many hours of experience are required for a Rhode Island Journeyperson Electrician license?
At least 8,000 hours (4 years) of experience as a registered apprentice, plus 576 hours of DLT-approved related instruction.
What score is needed to pass the journeyperson exam?
A passing average of at least 70%. Scoring at least 60% (but below 70%) allows the applicant to review the exam with Board members, but does not result in a license.
How much does it cost to apply and get licensed?
A $75 non-refundable application/processing fee, plus a $72 license fee billed on a 2-year basis (used for both the initial license and renewal).
Is there a minimum age?
Yes, 18 years old for the Journeyperson Class B license (21 is required only for contractor-level licenses such as Class A, E, AF, LPC, or SCF).
Can an out-of-state electrician get licensed in Rhode Island?
Out-of-state applicants who hold a contractor's or journeyperson's license from another state may use that license and their verified experience to qualify to sit for the Rhode Island journeyperson exam — the exam itself is not waived.
Sources
- [1] dlt.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur571/files/2025-07/Electrician%20App%202.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11
- [2] risos-apa-production-public.s3.amazonaws.com/DLT/7301.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11
- [3] dlt.ri.gov/regulation-and-safety/professional-regulation — accessed 2026-07-11