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Electrician · State license

How to get an electrician license in Nebraska

State law and licensing-board sources · Last reviewed October 11, 2026

Journeyman level 8,000 hours on the job + state exam What's a journeyman?

Nebraska licenses electricians statewide through the State Electrical Board and its State Electrical Division. You start by registering as an apprentice electrician, which takes no exam, and you may only wire under a licensee on the same job. After 4 years (the division counts 8,000 hours) of experience you can take the journeyman exam, and after one more year as a journeyman you can test for an electrical contractor license. [1][2][3][4][5]

New to the trade?

Starting from zero in Nebraska

In Nebraska you can't do electrical wiring for anyone else until you register as an apprentice electrician with the State Electrical Division, and the registration needs a current employer, so your first step is to get hired by a licensed electrical contractor or accepted into an apprenticeship such as the Lincoln Electrical JATC (Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee) or the Omaha Electrical Joint Apprenticeship. Then register online with the division (no exam) before you start. Your years registered as an apprentice while working for an electrical contractor are how you show the 4 years (8,000 hours) of experience the journeyman exam requires. [1][3][4][11][24][25][34]

  • High school diploma or GED

    The State Electrical Act and the board's apprentice registration page don't list one No state rule requiring a diploma was found. Programs set their own: the Lincoln Electrical JATC (IBEW Local 265) requires a high school diploma or GED (General Educational Development test) and one full year of algebra with a passing grade. [1][24][34]

  • Minimum age

    No minimum age was found in the State Electrical Act. The Nebraska Department of Labor says registered apprentices must be at least 16. The Lincoln Electrical JATC requires you to be at least 18. [5][24][27]

  • Register before you start work

    Register with the State Electrical Board as an apprentice electrician. There is no exam. The fee is $35 for a registration issued in an even-numbered year (such as 2026) and $70 in an odd-numbered year, because all registrations expire December 31 of even-numbered years. The application must include your current employer. Apply through the division's online application or by mail. [5][11][16][21][34]

  • Helper jobs

    No one may wire for or install electrical equipment for another person without a license, except a registered apprentice. An apprentice may wire only under the direct supervision of a licensee working at the same project location, and one licensee may supervise no more than three apprentices. The division says doing electrical work without a proper license or registration is a Class IV felony. [1][6][22]

  • Aptitude test and math

    The Lincoln Electrical JATC ranks applicants with the GAN aptitude test (reading, numerical computation and reasoning, paper folding, problem solving and mechanical comprehension; no calculators), a Personal Experience Form and an optional letter of recommendation. The application fee is $50. [24]

  • Driver's license

    The Lincoln Electrical JATC requires a valid driver's license and a Social Security card to apply. [24]

  • Application windows

    As of October 2026, the Lincoln Electrical JATC says applications for its Inside and Installer Technician programs are open You have 30 days after paying the fee to finish your file, and you stay on its rank list for up to one year. [24]

  • Pay while you learn

    Lincoln JATC apprentices work full-time, year-round for an IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) Local 265 contractor and attend evening classes two nights a week from August to May. There is no tuition charge You buy books and online coursework. The Nebraska Department of Labor says registered apprentices earn wages from the start, with raises as skills grow. [24][27]

  • Credit for school or military

    State law lets the board give one year of experience credit for a board-approved two-year post-high school electrical course Board rule 8 counts at least 700 contact hours as one year, and the application asks for a copy of an associate degree in electrical technology. The division says work experience credit may be given for qualified electrical experience gained in military service. The Lincoln JATC says its program is recognized by the VA for veterans' benefits. [2][3][11][18][24]

  • Still in high school?

    The Nebraska Department of Labor says registered apprentices must be at least 16 and promotes youth Registered Apprenticeships for ages 16-24 In May 2024 it counted six high schools partnering with employers; Grand Island Senior High was the first Nebraska high school to offer paid apprenticeships to its career and technical education (CTE) students. The Nebraska Department of Education's Skilled and Technical Sciences career field covers construction and electricity/electronics classes, and its state model programs of study promote dual-credit courses. No rule was found that counts high school classes toward a Nebraska electrical license; the board's one-year credit is for a two-year post-high school course. [2][18][27][35][36][37]

Where to apply in NebraskaHow to get an apprenticeshipHelper jobs

Licensing office Nebraska State Electrical Division (State Electrical Board) · (402) 471-3550 [5][34]

Nebraska electrician license at a glance

Who issues licenses
State Electrical Board, through the Nebraska State Electrical Division [5][34]
Apprentice registration
Required to work as an apprentice No exam; $35 if issued in an even-numbered year, $70 in an odd-numbered year [1][34]
Journeyman experience
4 years of experience in the electrical trade The division counts 8,000 hours [2][3][4]
Journeyman exam
PSI (a testing company), based on the 2023 NEC (National Electrical Code), basic theory and the State Electrical Act Open code book; 75% to pass under board rules [13][16][17][18]
Contractor experience
1 year as a licensed journeyman State law also accepts graduation from a four-year college electrical course (board rule 8 and the application still add a year as a journeyman to that route) [4][10][18]
Fees
Journeyman: $90 application, license $37.50 or $75 Contractor: $180 application, license $187.50 or $375 (even- or odd-year issue) [3][11]
Renewal + CE
All licenses expire December 31 of even-numbered years 12 hours of approved CE (continuing education), at least 6 on the NEC [22][23]
Reciprocity
Journeyman agreements with 13 states Electrical contractor agreements with a few of them [28]
On this page
  1. At a glance
  2. Starting from zero
  3. The license pathway
  4. Who needs a license in Nebraska
  5. The license ladder: apprentice to contractor
  6. The exam
  7. Fees, renewal and continuing education
  8. Union and open-shop apprenticeships in Nebraska
  9. If you're licensed in another state
  10. Recent changes
  11. Steps to get licensed
  12. Where to get the hours
  13. Licensed in another state?
  14. Questions people ask

The license pathway in Nebraska

  1. 1

    Apprentice electrician (registration)

    • On-the-job and related classroom training as approved by the board
    • $35 (even-year issue) or $70 (odd-year issue)
    • Expires December 31 of even-numbered years; CE optional but affects exam timing

    Lets you assist a licensee as an employee, wiring only under direct supervision at the same project location (up to three apprentices per licensee). If you renew without 12 hours of CE, the board can add up to six months to the experience you need before the exam. [1][21][23][34]

  2. 2

    Residential journeyman electrician (Type RW)

    • 6,000 hours on the job
    • 3 years of experience
    • Yes: PSI residential wireman exam
    • $90 application; license $37.50 or $75
    • Every 2 years; 12 hours CE

    Valid only for residential installations: one- and two-family homes and multi-family buildings up to three stories. Needs 3 years of experience (the division counts 6,000 hours), or 2 years plus an associate degree in electrical technology. [2][4][11][12][13]

  3. 3

    Journeyman electrician

    • 8,000 hours on the job
    • 4 years of experience
    • Yes: PSI journeyman exam, 2023 NEC, open code book; 75% to pass
    • $90 application; license $37.50 or $75
    • Every 2 years; 12 hours CE

    Lets you install electrical wiring and equipment anywhere in Nebraska and supervise apprentices, while employed by a licensed electrical contractor. Registration as an apprentice for those years counts as evidence of your experience. [2][3][4][6][11][13][18]

  4. 4

    Electrical contractor

    • 2,000 hours on the job
    • 1 year of experience
    • Yes: PSI electrical contractor exam
    • $180 application; license $187.50 or $375
    • Every 2 years; 12 hours CE

    Lets you bid, plan, lay out, install and supervise electrical work anywhere in Nebraska. You need 1 year (2,000 hours) as a licensed journeyman. A contractor running a firm must carry liability insurance. [4][10][11][13][18]

Who needs a license in Nebraska

The State Electrical Act says no person may, for another, wire for or install electrical wiring, apparatus or equipment unless licensed by the board. A journeyman or residential journeyman must also be employed by a licensed electrical contractor. The one way in without a license is to register as an apprentice electrician, and then you may wire only under a licensee's direct supervision.

Exceptions include employees of utilities, public power districts, railroads and industrial companies working for their own employer; owners working on their own single-family home or farm property (not commercial or public buildings); and holders of a valid city license working only inside that city if the city license meets the act's requirements.

In Omaha, the city also registers electricians, but its journeyman and contractor registrations require a current Nebraska state license. An Omaha apprentice registers with the city for $10 a year plus a tech fee. Lincoln's Building and Safety Department says all electrical licenses there are handled by the State Electrical Division. [1][6][7][8][9]

The license ladder: apprentice to contractor

Nebraska stopped issuing Class A master, Class B contractor and Class B journeyman licenses in 1993; existing ones may still be renewed. A fire alarm installer license takes 2 years (4,000 hours) of fire alarm work. If less than 4,000 hours of your journeyman experience is in Nebraska, the division says you get a "Restricted" license that can't reciprocate with other states.

See journeyman vs. master for what the levels mean in general. [1][2][3][4][5][10][11][12]

The exam

PSI has given Nebraska's electrical contractor, journeyman and residential wireman exams since October 1, 2023. You apply to the State Electrical Division first; once you're approved, the division sends your eligibility to PSI, and PSI emails you a link to schedule and pay. There's no at-home testing.

[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]

Fees, renewal and continuing education

Fees from the division's 2026 application form:

Every license and registration expires December 31 of the even-numbered year. Renewal opens October 1; renewing in December adds a 10% late fee. To renew a license you need 12 contact hours of board-approved continuing education (CE, classes you take while licensed), with at least 6 hours on the NEC. Apprentices don't need CE to renew, but without it the board can add up to six months to the experience they need for the exam. The division says the holder of an expired license must apply to take the exam to get a new license (state law ties the retest to not renewing by April 1 after expiration); an expired apprentice registration needs only a new application, with no exam. [1][11][17][21][22][23]

Union and open-shop apprenticeships in Nebraska

More: electrician apprenticeships and union vs. non-union. [24][25][26][27]

If you're licensed in another state

Nebraska has reciprocal journeyman agreements with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming. You need 75% or better on that state's exam and at least 1 year licensed in good standing, and the other state must have a record of your exam. The division warns that reciprocation is one-time: if you let the license lapse, you must take the exam to get it back. For electrical contractor licenses, the division's page marks Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota and Texas, while its July 2026 State Electrical Act booklet lists only Minnesota and South Dakota, so check with the division.

A 2024 law (LB16) added a second route in section 81-2120: the board must issue a license to someone who has held a similar-scope credential for at least a year from a state with a reciprocal agreement, a military occupational specialty, or a license that required a registered apprenticeship, provided there's no disqualifying criminal record or pending complaint. Nebraska's general universal-recognition law (section 84-950) doesn't apply to occupations regulated by the State Electrical Board (section 84-946.01).

From a non-reciprocal state, Policy 36 lets you take the exam for the same license type you already hold, but the license is then issued as non-reciprocal. See Iowa and the reciprocity guide. [4][5][28][29][30][31]

Recent changes

[5][13][15][19][29][30][32][33]

Steps to get licensed in Nebraska

  1. Get hired and register as an apprentice

    Get hired by a licensed electrical contractor or accepted into an apprenticeship, then register with the State Electrical Division (no exam; $35 or $70). Your registration lists your current employer. [1][11][34]

  2. Build 4 years (8,000 hours) of experience

    Work under a licensee on the same project. Take 12 hours of approved CE each two-year cycle as an apprentice, or the board can add up to six months to your required experience. [1][2][3][4][23]

  3. Apply for the journeyman exam

    Submit an exam application with the $90 fee and employer verification letters on company letterhead. You need a new application for every attempt. [11][14]

  4. Pass the PSI exam

    Once approved, PSI emails you a link to schedule and pay at a test center (Nebraska sites include Omaha, Lincoln, Grand Island, Norfolk, North Platte, Scottsbluff and Sidney). You have 90 days to test; after three attempts you must wait 90 days. [13][14][19]

  5. Get licensed and keep it current

    Pay the license fee, then renew by December 31 of each even-numbered year with 12 hours of approved CE (6 on the NEC). Passing an exam earns 6 CE hours. [16][22][23]

Where to get the hours

Programs that train electricians in or for Nebraska, from their own official pages. Listed by type, not ranked.

Licensed in another state?

  • Journeyman electrician: AK, AR, CO, IA, ID, MN, MT, NM, ND, OK, SD, TX, WY

    You need a 75% or higher score on the other state's exam and must have held that license in good standing for at least 1 year. Nebraska licensees going the other way must have been registered 4 years and worked 8,000 hours in Nebraska. [3][28]

  • Electrical contractor: IA, MN, SD, TX

    The division's reciprocity page marks these four states for electrical contractor licenses; the July 2026 State Electrical Act booklet names only Minnesota and South Dakota. Check with the division before applying. [5][28]

  • Any license (2024 law)

    Since LB16 (2024), the board must issue a license to an applicant who has held, for at least 1 year, a credential from a state with a reciprocal agreement, a military occupational specialty, or a license that required a Department of Labor registered apprenticeship, if the scope of practice is similar and other conditions are met. [29][30]

Also listed by: Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wyoming (their own boards list Nebraska as a partner; check both sides before you move).

Open the reciprocity map · How reciprocity works

AlaskaAK MaineME VermontVT New HampshireNH WashingtonWA IdahoID MontanaMT North DakotaND MinnesotaMN IllinoisIL WisconsinWI MichiganMI New YorkNY Rhode IslandRI MassachusettsMA OregonOR NevadaNV WyomingWY South DakotaSD IowaIA IndianaIN OhioOH PennsylvaniaPA New JerseyNJ ConnecticutCT CaliforniaCA UtahUT ColoradoCO NebraskaNE MissouriMO KentuckyKY West VirginiaWV VirginiaVA MarylandMD DelawareDE ArizonaAZ New MexicoNM KansasKS ArkansasAR TennesseeTN North CarolinaNC South CarolinaSC District of ColumbiaDC OklahomaOK LouisianaLA MississippiMS AlabamaAL GeorgiaGA HawaiiHI TexasTX FloridaFL
NE Listed here (agreement or endorsement) Lists NE

Questions people ask

How many hours do I need to become a journeyman electrician in Nebraska?

State law requires at least four years of experience acceptable to the board. The State Electrical Division and its Policy 36 count that as 8,000 hours while registered as an apprentice and employed by an electrical contractor. [2][3][4]

Do apprentice electricians need a license in Nebraska?

They need a registration. You register with the State Electrical Board as an apprentice electrician (no exam; $35 or $70) and may wire only under a licensee's direct supervision. [1][34]

Is the Nebraska journeyman electrician exam open book?

For code questions, yes: state law lets you refer to an open copy of the National Electrical Code. Exams use the 2023 NEC, and board rules set 75% as the passing score. [15][17][18]

Which states have electrical reciprocity with Nebraska?

For journeyman licenses: Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming. You need 75% or better on that state's exam and 1 year licensed. [28]

Do I need a high school diploma to become an electrician apprentice in Nebraska?

The State Electrical Act doesn't list one for apprentice registration. Programs can: the Lincoln Electrical JATC requires a diploma or GED and a year of algebra. [1][24]

Sources (37)
  1. Neb. Rev. Stat. 81-2113, Apprentice electrician; registration; supervision, Nebraska Legislature. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  2. Neb. Rev. Stat. 81-2109, Journeyman electrician license; qualifications, Nebraska Legislature. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  3. Journeyman Electrician, Nebraska State Electrical Division. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  4. Policy Number 36: Exam applications approval requirements (11/8/2019), Nebraska State Electrical Division. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  5. State Electrical Act and State Electrical Board Rules (July 2026 booklet), Nebraska State Electrical Division. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  6. Neb. Rev. Stat. 81-2108, Wiring or installing; license required, Nebraska Legislature. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  7. Neb. Rev. Stat. 81-2121, Act; not applicable to certain situations, Nebraska Legislature. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  8. Licensing Information, City of Omaha Planning Department. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  9. What it Takes to Become a Licensed Trade Professional, City of Lincoln Building and Safety Department. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  10. Neb. Rev. Stat. 81-2107, Electrical contractor license; qualifications, Nebraska Legislature. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  11. Application for State Electrical License (updated 3/2026), Nebraska State Electrical Division. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  12. Residential Journeyman Wireman, Nebraska State Electrical Division. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  13. PSI Exams, Nebraska State Electrical Division. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  14. Exam Scheduling, Nebraska State Electrical Division. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  15. Licensing (2023 NEC adoption notice), Nebraska State Electrical Division. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  16. Exam Information and Licensing Applications, Nebraska State Electrical Division. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  17. Neb. Rev. Stat. 81-2115, License; written examination, Nebraska Legislature. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  18. State Electrical Board Rules (April 2024), Nebraska State Electrical Division. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  19. Policy Number 37: Exam testing requirements (July 11, 2025), Nebraska State Electrical Division. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  20. Pre-Exam Review, Nebraska State Electrical Division. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  21. 2025-2026 License & Registration Fees, Nebraska State Electrical Division. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  22. License Renewal, Nebraska State Electrical Division. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  23. Neb. Rev. Stat. 81-2117.01, License or registration renewal; continuing education, Nebraska Legislature. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  24. Apprenticeship (programs, application process, FAQ), Lincoln Electrical JATC (IBEW Local 265). Accessed October 11, 2026.
  25. Locate a Training Center: Inside Wireman, electrical training ALLIANCE (IBEW and NECA). Accessed October 11, 2026.
  26. Apprenticeship Finder, U.S. Department of Labor. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  27. Registered Apprenticeship, Nebraska Department of Labor. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  28. Reciprocal Information, Nebraska State Electrical Division. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  29. Neb. Rev. Stat. 81-2120, Licenses issued without examination; reciprocity; credentialing, Nebraska Legislature. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  30. LB16 (2024), final reading text, Nebraska Legislature. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  31. Neb. Rev. Stat. 84-946.01, Applicability of sections (Occupational Board Reform Act), Nebraska Legislature. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  32. LB889 (2026), slip law, Nebraska Legislature. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  33. Neb. Rev. Stat. 81-2118, Licenses and registrations; expiration; renewal; fees, Nebraska Legislature. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  34. Apprentice Electrician, Nebraska State Electrical Division. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  35. Nebraska Businesses Encouraged to Offer Youth Apprenticeship Programs (May 16, 2024), Nebraska Department of Labor. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  36. Skilled and Technical Sciences, Nebraska Department of Education. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  37. State Model Programs of Study, Nebraska Department of Education. Accessed October 11, 2026.