How many hours to become a journeyman electrician? Hours by state

Short answer

It varies by state. Below are the experience requirements we confirmed with an official source in 31 states and territories. Last checked: 2026-10-30.

State	Experience required	Source
Alabama	8,000 hours of electrical experience; up to 2,000 may be replaced by approved education or apprenticeship (1,000 hours per year)	Official rule
Alaska	8,000 hours in commercial/industrial electrical work (max 2,000 residential, max 1,000 classroom) while holding a trainee certificate	Official rule
Arkansas	Completed 4-year US DOL apprenticeship with 8,000 hours OJT (out of state without reciprocity: 16,000 hours)	Official rule
California	General Electrician: 8,000 hours for a C-10 contractor across at least 2 work areas, or a completed approved apprenticeship	Official rule
Colorado	8,000 hours earned in no less than 4 years, plus 288 classroom hours	Official rule
Connecticut	8,000 on-the-job hours plus 576 hours of related instruction	Official rule
Delaware	A Board-approved apprenticeship certificate, or over 8,000 hours of full-time electrical work under a licensed master, master special, limited or limited special electrician	Official rule
District of Columbia	Journeyman exam: 4 years / 8,000 work hours (apprenticeship completion can waive exam)	Official rule
Florida	For a local journeyman license: a registered state-approved apprenticeship or at least 12,000 hours of on-the-job training, plus a proctored exam	Official rule
Hawaii	5 years but not less than 10,000 hours of residential or commercial wiring	Official rule
Idaho	Alternative path in statute: 8 years / 16,000 hours of on-the-job electrical installations (apprenticeship-route hours set by Board rule, not yet confirmed)	Official rule
Iowa	Class A journeyman: complete a US DOL-registered apprenticeship program and pass the exam	Official rule
Kentucky	Pass the journeyman electrical exam plus 8,000 hours in the electrical trade since age 16 (approved training or degree can replace 4,000 to 6,000 hours)	Official rule
Maine	8,000 work hours as a licensed apprentice or helper plus a 576-hour course (apprentices may test after 4,000 hours)	Official rule
Maryland	4 years holding an apprentice license under a master electrician plus exam, or a registered apprenticeship of at least 576 classroom hours and 8,000 work hours	Official rule
Michigan	8,000 hours and 4 years as an electrical apprentice, then a 75% exam score	Official rule
Minnesota	Class A journeyworker: minimum 48 months of experience in listed categories (Minn. R. 3800.3520)	Official rule
Montana	Completion of an apprenticeship with 8,000 hours of practical experience and 576 hours of related instruction	Official rule
Nebraska	At least 4 years (8,000 hours) of verifiable electrical experience	Official rule
New Mexico	EE-98J: 4 years of experience (most other electrical journeyman classes 2 years)	Official rule
North Dakota	8,000 hours over at least 3 years, registered as an apprentice, plus completed apprentice training	Official rule
Oklahoma	Unlimited journeyman: 8,000 verifiable hours as a registered apprentice (4,000 commercial/industrial; up to 2,000 from formal education). Residential: 4,000	Official rule
Rhode Island	Minimum 8,000 hours over at least 4 years plus 144 hours of related instruction per year	Official rule
South Carolina	Residential electrician: 1 year of experience under the builder, electrician or general contractor who signs the affidavit	Official rule
South Dakota	4 years (8,000 hours) as a licensed apprentice under the employment and supervision of an electrical contractor	Official rule
Texas	8,000 hours of on-the-job training under a Texas master electrician (exam allowed at 7,000)	Official rule
Utah	4-year apprenticeship education (576 classroom hours) plus 8,000 hours licensed experience, or 16,000 hours experience alone	Official rule
Virginia	Journeyman: 4 years practical experience plus 240 hours vocational training (other combos: 2-yr degree + 2 years; 5 years + 160 hrs; 6 years + 80 hrs; or 8 years)	Official rule
West Virginia	Journeyman: at least 1 year of electrical work experience (per rule definition)	Official rule
Wisconsin	Completion of a construction electrician apprenticeship of at least 3 years approved by US DOL or WI DWD, or the stated experience alternative	Official rule
Wyoming	8,000 OJT hours as an apprentice plus 4 years (576 hours) of DOL-approved apprenticeship schooling	Official rule

Not yet confirmed (see each state page for what we know): Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington.

Questions

How many hours do you need to become a journeyman electrician?

It depends on the state. We have confirmed the requirement with an official source in 31 states and territories; each one is listed on this page with its source. Many states also license at the city or county level.

Do apprentice hours count toward the journeyman electrician exam?

It depends on the state. Some states require apprentices to register before hours count. Each state page lists the confirmed rule and its official source.