Indiana · electrician licensing · verified July 2026
Indiana electrician license requirements
The short answer
As of July 2026, Indiana has no state electrician license of any kind, the official Indianapolis Board of Electrical Examiners packet states plainly that 'Licensing is at the discretion of the local municipality in the state of Indiana. There is not a state electrical license,' and the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency's professions list includes plumbing but no electrical trade. Electricians and electrical contractors are licensed by individual cities and counties, with requirements varying by jurisdiction. In Indianapolis/Marion County, applicants document 6 years of experience, appear before the Board of Electrical Examiners, and pass a Prometric exam with 75% or higher.
Do you need a license to work as an electrician in Indiana?
Indiana has no statewide license for electricians. Cities and counties license the trade, so the requirement depends on where you work.
Indianapolis licenses Master (unrestricted) and Residential classes and separately licenses electrical contractors (bond and insurance required after exam passage); work under 25 volts/50 watts (except fire alarm) is exempt from its electrical contractor licensing. Indianapolis grants reciprocal licenses to holders of licenses from jurisdictions that required the same Prometric-lineage exam.
What licenses does Indiana issue?
No credential for this trade is issued at state level in Indiana; the classes below are issued by cities or counties, and the exact set depends on which one you work in.
Hours are what each class asks for on its own terms. Where a senior class shows fewer than a journeyman, the board is counting time served after the earlier license rather than from the start; the prerequisite column says which.
| License | On-the-job hours | Classroom hours | Exam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Electrical - Unrestricted (Indianapolis/Marion County - municipal example) | not published | not published | Yes |
| Residential Electrical (Indianapolis/Marion County - municipal example) | not published | not published | Yes |
Source: the governing statute (in.gov). Verified July 2026.
What exam does Indiana require?
Indianapolis electrical examination (Master or Residential), 75% passing score required. Administered by Prometric (for the Indianapolis Board of Electrical Examiners; board approval required before testing).
How often do you renew, and what continuing education is required?
Renewal period: No state license; renewal terms are set by each municipality
Continuing education: None at the state level; continuing-education requirements, if any, are set by each municipality.
How does the apprenticeship route work?
There is no state license for apprenticeship hours to credit toward; apprenticeships are registered with the U.S. Department of Labor. In Indianapolis, the Board of Electrical Examiners may assign up to 2 of the required 6 years of experience for successful completion of related college courses or a related apprenticeship. Other municipalities set their own credit rules.
Which states does Indiana have license reciprocity with?
Indiana does not license this trade at state level, so there is no state agreement to publish. Whether an out-of-state license helps is decided by the city, county or contractor board that issues the credential where you intend to work.
How does Indiana compare to neighboring states?
Requirements stop at the state line, which matters if you live near one or expect to move. Here is what the neighboring states ask of the same trade.
| State | Journeyman hours | Licensing model |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana | not published | City or county |
| Kentucky | 8,000 | Statewide |
| Michigan | 8,000 | Statewide |
| Ohio | not published | Contractor level only |
Source: state licensing boards. Verified July 2026.
Sources and verification
Every fact on this page traces to one of these
- Indiana Professional Licensing Agency - Professions list (no electrician licensing)
- Electrical Exam Information - Consolidated City of Indianapolis Board of Electrical Examiners (official indy.gov document)
- indy.gov - Contractor Licenses (Department of Business and Neighborhood Services)
Last verified July 2026. Found an error? Report it and it will be corrected and logged on the corrections page.
Other states with published requirements for this trade: Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Montana.
Price the whole path with the license cost estimator, or weigh earning against paying for school with the apprenticeship comparison. Back to electricians overview.
Licensing requirements change between our verification sweeps. This page is informational only, so confirm current requirements with your city or county building department before making decisions. Not legal advice.