How to Become an Electrician in Arkansas

To be an electrician in Arkansas one must have a government granted license. There are various electrician license options in Arkansas:

Check Electrician Schools in Arkansas, AR

Electrician Training in Arkansas, AR

Arkansas Air Conditioning Electrician License

Definition of Air Conditioning Electrician by Arkansas Department of Labor:

“an individual who is limited to a license classification possessing the necessary qualifications, training, and technical knowledge for the installation, maintenance, and extension of electrical conductors and equipment solely for the purpose of supplying heating and air conditioning and refrigeration units”

There is a very detailed document which provides all the information you will need to proceed with acquiring your license. We will highlight (by quoting and sourcing) the most important information you will need, but we suggest you read the document too.

In order to apply for an air conditioning electrician license, you have to fill the following requirements:

– Two years experience in wiring HVACR (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration) equipment or any combination of experience and training as the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners may approve as being equivalent to that.

The experience required may be demonstrated by having held for two years:

a HVACR electrician’s license issued by an Arkansas municipality

a HVACR Class A or Class B license issued by the state HVACR Licensing

– Examinations take place at least once per 6 months.

– Fill in the application form and submit it to the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners through the contact information given at the end of this page (just above the links section).

– Before you take the test, you will have to contact the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners. Only when your application is approved you will be eligible to take the exam.

– You will have to pay $100.00 fee to take the exam for the license of air conditioning electrician. If you don’t pass, you will have to pay the same amount, in order to participate again.

– The test is open book style, consists of 60 questions and lasts 3 hours. The book you will have to study for this test is NFPA 70: National Electrical Code . Every aspect of the examination process can be viewed here (at page 10 you can find the requirements of your test).

– Upon passing the test, you will have to pay $25.00 for the air conditioning electrician license.

– After the passage of 1 year, you will have to renew your license each year for the price of $25.00 per year. You have the option to pay in advance for 2 or 3 years, for the same amount ($25.00) each year. If you fail to renew it on time, you will have to pay an additional $10.00.

You can contact with the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners here (they don’t have a website):

Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners
Arkansas Department of Labor
10421 West Markham Street
Little Rock, AR 72205
(501) 682-4548

Useful Links

Application details
Application form
All the information you will need for the exam
NFPA 70: National Electrical Code
Arkansas Department of Labor (for electricians)
FAQ

Arkansas Electrical Apprentice License

Definition of Air Conditioning Electrician by Arkansas Department of Labor:

“a person whose principal occupation is the learning of and assisting in the installation of electrical work under the direct supervision of a licensed journeyman electrician or master electrician”

– Before applying and paying the fee of $10.00 (annually) for an electrical apprentice, you will have to be enrolled in an appropriate school or training course certified by the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training of the United States Department of Labor. Quote from the document: “Notwithstanding the provisions above, an apprentice who has successfully completed a certified school or training program and has been released for testing may continue to renew his or her apprentice registration card, if otherwise qualified, without enrolling in a school or training program” .

– This application shows which apprentice programs are accepted by the Board.

You can contact with the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners here (they don’t have a website):

Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners
Arkansas Department of Labor
10421 West Markham Street
Little Rock, AR 72205
(501) 682-4548

Useful Links

In this document you can find more details about becoming an electrical apprentice
Acceptable forms of apprenticeship can be found in this application
Arkansas Department of Labor (for electricians)
FAQ

Arkansas Electrical Contractor License

Definition of electrical contractor by Arkansas Department of Labor :

“a person, member, or employee of a firm, partnership, or corporation engaged in the business of installing, erecting, repairing, or contracting to install, erect, or repair electrical wires or conductors to be used for the transmission of electric light, heat, power, or signaling purposes, or to install or repair moulding, ducts, raceways, or conduits, for the reception or protection of such wires or conduits, or any electrical machinery, apparatus, or systems to be used for electrical light, heat, power, or signaling purposes”

In order to apply for an electrical contractor license, you have to fill the following requirements:

– You can apply as a person, member, employee of a firm, partnership or corporation. You will have to satisfy the Board of Electrical Examiners of the State of Arkansas (by proving to them) that you either are a master electrician, or that you employ a master electrician while you are the superintendent or manager.

– You will have to fill a form which is approved by the Board of Electrical Examiners of the State of Arkansas and submit it. You can find their contact information at the end of this page, just above the “Links” section.

– If you are not a master electrician, you will have to provide a statement from the master electrician you employ, under oath, which will make known any other affiliation (if any) your master electrician has with other electrical contractors and verifying that the master electrician is employed as the superintendent or manager of the applicant contractor.

– You will have to pay $100.00 for the license.

– You will have to renew it annually, paying $100.00 each year.

– You are allowed to work as an electrical contractor in any municipality within the state of Arkansas without further examination.

You can contact with the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners here (they don’t have a website):

Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners
Arkansas Department of Labor
10421 West Markham Street
Little Rock, AR 72205
(501) 682-4548

Useful Links

Application details
Application form
All the information you will need for the exam
NFPA 70: National Electrical Code
Arkansas Department of Labor (for electricians)
FAQ

Arkansas Industrial Maintenance Electrician License

Definition of Industrial Maintenance Electrician by Arkansas Department of Labor:

“an individual who possesses the necessary qualifications, training, and technical knowledge to maintain and extend electrical conductors and equipment for electrical power and control systems on or within industrial, manufacturing, or similar type facilities. He or she shall be capable of doing such work in accordance with standard rules governing that
work”

In order to apply for an industrial maintenance electrician license, you have to fill the following requirements:

– Four years experience of working under a supervisor. The supervisor can be a master electrician, engineer, journeyman electrician or industrial maintenance electrician in the maintenance of electrical conductors and equipment.

– Quote from document : “any combination of training and experience as the Board may approve, such as formal apprenticeship programs approved by the Board, on-the-job training specifically approved by the Board, public or private electrical training programs, such as those conducted by the armed forces, colleges, or vocational-technical schools, specifically approved by the Board, or a combination of training and electrical maintenance experience that is determined by the Board to be equivalent to that as specified in paragraph above ”.

– You can find more information on the acceptable apprenticeship programs at the application form .

– Examinations take place at least once per 6 months.

– Fill in the application form and submit it to the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners through the contact information given at the end of this page (just above the links section).

– Before you take the test, you will have to contact the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners. Only when your application is approved you will be eligible to take the exam.

– You will have to pay $50.00 fee to take the exam for the license of industrial maintenance electrician. If you don’t pass, you will have to pay the same amount, in order to participate again.

– The test is open book style, consists of 50 questions and lasts 2 hours. Every aspect of the examination process can be viewed here (at page 10 you can find the requirements and references of your test).

– Upon passing the test, you will have to pay $25.00 for the license.

You can contact with the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners here (they don’t have a website):

Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners
Arkansas Department of Labor
10421 West Markham Street
Little Rock, AR 72205
(501) 682-4548

Useful Links

Application details
Application form
All the information you will need for the exam
Arkansas Department of Labor (for electricians)
FAQ

Arkansas Journeyman Electrician License

Definition of Journeyman Electrician by Arkansas Department of Labor:

“an individual who possesses the necessary qualifications, training, and technical knowledge to install, maintain, and extend electrical conductors and equipment. He or she shall be capable of doing such work in accordance with plans and specifications furnished him or her in accordance with standard rules governing the work”

In order to apply for a journeyman electrician license, you have to fill the following requirements (quote from document ):

– Applicants who completed an apprenticeship program : Applicants who have completed a 4-year electrical construction apprenticeship program approved by the U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training shall have:

“Notice of Apprenticeship Committee Action – Released for Test/Completion” form from the applicant’s training program and approved by the Arkansas Department of Workforce Education; or
if the applicant completed an apprenticeship program in another state, certification from the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training or the state agency responsible for oversight of apprenticeship programs of completion.
The Board may approve an applicant without a Released for Test form in extenuating circumstances.

– Applicants who seek reciprocity : Applicants who seek reciprocity shall have certification from the sister state that:

the applicant is currently licensed as a journeyman and in good standing;
the applicant has held his/her license in the sister state for a period of one (1) year; and
the applicant was tested in the sister state.

– Applicants who have not completed an apprenticeship program : Applicants who have not completed a 4-year electrical construction apprenticeship program approved by the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training shall have 8 years (16,000 hours) of electrical construction experience or training as may be approved by the Board. This training or experience may include electrical experience gained in the military. See Regulation 010.13-012(I) for experience that does not qualify.” Regulation 010.13-012(I) can be found at the document .

– Take the examinations that take place at least once per 6 months.

– Fill in the application form and submit it to the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners through the contact information given at the end of this page (just above the links section).

– Before you take the test, you will have to contact the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners. Only when your application is approved you will be eligible to take the exam.

– You will have to pay $100.00 fee to take the exam for the license of journeyman electrician. If you don’t pass, you will have to pay the same amount, in order to participate again.

– Upon passing the test, you will have to pay $25.00 for the license.

– There is a Continuing education requirement for licenses of master and journeyman level (quote from document): “No journeyman electrician license or master electrician license shall be renewed unless the licensee completes at least eight (8) hours of continuing education for each National Electric Code cycle.” You can find more at paragraph 17-28-311 of the document. This is the list with the approved CEU providers .

The state of Arkansas has a reciprocity agreement (for journeyman) with the following states:

Alaska
New Mexico
Minnesota
Montana
Nebraska
New Hampshire
Oklahoma
Oregon
South Dakota
Texas
Utah
Colorado

You can contact with the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners here (they don’t have a website):

Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners
Arkansas Department of Labor
10421 West Markham Street
Little Rock, AR 72205

Arkansas Master Electrician License

Definition of Master Electrician by Arkansas Department of Labor:

“an individual who possesses the necessary qualifications, training, and technical knowledge to plan, layout, and supervise the installation, maintenance, and extension of electrical conductors and equipment”

In order to apply for a master electrician license, you have to fill the following requirements:

– You must have acquired a degree in electrical engineering.

– You will need at least two year constructor experience.

– You must have at least six years of experience in the construction industry and two of them must be as a licensed journeyman electrician. The experience needed in the construction industry must be both commercial and residential. Regarding the above, a quote from the document: “any combination of training and experience as the Board may approve, such as formal electrical apprenticeship programs specifically approved by the board, on-the-job training specifically approved by the Board, or a combination of training and construction experience that is determined by the Board to be equivalent to that as specified in paragraph 010.13-012(B)(1) or (2) above” . This paragraph can be found at the document .

– Take the examinations that take place at least once per 6 months.

– Fill in the application form and submit it to the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners through the contact information given at the end of this page (just above the links section).

– Before you take the test, you will have to contact the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners. Only when your application is approved you will be eligible to take the exam.

– You will have to pay $100.00 fee to take the exam for the license of master electrician. If you don’t pass, you will have to pay the same amount, in order to participate again.

– Upon passing the test, you will have to pay $50.00 for the license.

– After the passage of 1 year, you will have to renew your license each year for the price of $50.00 per year. You have the option to pay in advance for 2 or 3 years, for the same amount ($50.00) each year. If you fail to renew it on time, you will have to pay an additional $20.00.

Check the FAQ and the document for more information on Lifetime license (if you are interested).

The state of Arkansas has a reciprocity agreement only with Oregon (for master electricians).

You can contact with the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners here (they don’t have a website):

Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners
Arkansas Department of Labor
10421 West Markham Street
Little Rock, AR 72205

Arkansas Residential Journeyman Electrician License

Definition of Residential Journeyman Electrician license by Arkansas Department of Labor:

“the classification by which the licenses and electrical work of journeyman electricians may be limited to the installation, alteration, repair, maintenance or renovation of electrical facilities for one and two-family dwellings”

In order to apply for a residential journeyman electrician license, you have to fill the following requirements (quote from document ):

– “two (2) years experience in the wiring of one (1) or two (2) family dwellings”.

– “a two-year combination of training and experience as the Board may approve, such as formal apprenticeship programs approved by the Board.” Note: Board = The Board of Electrical Examiners of the State of Arkansas.

“a signed letter from the applicant’s school verifying the applicant’s hours”. You can’t sign and verify your own hours of experience.

– Take the examinations take place at least once per 6 months.

– Fill in the application form and submit it to the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners through the contact information given at the end of this page (just above the links section).

– Before you take the test, you will have to contact the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners. Only when your application is approved you will be eligible to take the exam.

– You will have to pay $100.00 fee to take the exam for the license of residential journeyman electrician. If you don’t pass, you will have to pay the same amount, in order to participate again.

– The test is open book style, consists of 40 questions and lasts 2 hours. The book you will have to study for this test is NFPA 70: National Electrical Code . Every aspect of the examination process can be viewed here (at page 12 you can find the requirements of your test).

– Upon passing the test, you will have to pay $25.00 for the license.

– There is a Continuing education requirement for licenses of master and journeyman level (quote from document ):

– “No journeyman electrician license or master electrician license shall be renewed unless the licensee completes at least eight (8) hours of continuing education for each National Electric Code cycle.” You can find more at paragraph 17-28-311 of the document. This is the list with the approved CEU providers .

The state of Arkansas has a reciprocity agreement (for journeyman) with the following states:

Alaska
New Mexico
Minnesota
Montana
Nebraska
New Hampshire
Oklahoma
Oregon
South Dakota
Texas
Utah
Colorado

You can contact with the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners here (they don’t have a website):

Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners
Arkansas Department of Labor
10421 West Markham Street
Little Rock, AR 72205

Arkansas Residential Master Electrician License

Definition of Residential Master Electrician by Arkansas Department of Labor:

“the classification by which the licenses and electrical work of master electricians may be limited to planning and supervising the installation, maintenance and extension of electrical facilities for one and two family dwellings”

In order to apply for a master electrician license, you have to fill the following requirements (quote from :

– “Three (3) years experience in the wiring of one (1) or two (2) family dwellings including one (1) year experience as a licensed residential journeyman

– Any combination of training and experience as the Board may approve as being equivalent to” that specified above.

– Take the examinations that take place at least once per 6 months.

– Fill in the application form and submit it to the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners through the contact information given at the end of this page (just above the links section).

– Before you take the test, you will have to contact the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners. Only when your application is approved you will be eligible to take the exam.

– You will have to pay $100.00 fee to take the exam for the license of master electrician. If you don’t pass, you will have to pay the same amount, in order to participate again.

– Upon passing the test, you will have to pay $50.00 for the license.

– There is a Continuing education requirement for licenses of master and journeyman level (quote from document): “No journeyman electrician license or master electrician license shall be renewed unless the licensee completes at least eight (8) hours of continuing education for each National Electric Code cycle.” You can find more at paragraph 17-28-311 of the document . This is the list with the approved CEU providers .

Check the FAQ and the document for more information on Lifetime license (if you are interested).

The state of Arkansas has a reciprocity agreement only with Oregon (for master electricians).

You can contact with the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners here (they don’t have a website):

Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners
Arkansas Department of Labor
10421 West Markham Street
Little Rock, AR 72205

Arkansas Specialist Sign Electrician License

Definition of Specialist Sign Electrician by Arkansas Department of Labor:

“an individual who is limited to a license classification possessing the necessary qualifications, training, and technical knowledge for:
(A) Installing, maintaining, and repairing electrically illuminated or electrically operated signs and gaseous tubing for illumination; and
(B) Making all connections to an approved outlet of sufficient capacity within twenty-five (25) feet of the sign to be connected.”

In order to apply for a specialist sign electrician license, you have to fill the following requirements (quotes from document ):

– “Two (2) years experience working for a electrical sign company or a licensed electrical licensee performing the work of installing, maintaining and repairing electrically illuminated or operated signs and gaseous tubing for illumination, making all connection to an approved outlet of sufficient capacity within twenty-five (25) feet of the sign to be connected;

any combination of training and experience as the Board may approve as being equivalent to that” above.

– “This license shall not be required of any Board licensee currently qualified to perform the type of work described” above.

– “All licensed specialist sign electricians shall submit to the Department a list of any employees performing work as described in Regulation 010.13-012(H) (check document ). All such work shall be performed under direct supervision of a licensed sign electrician or other electrical licensee authorized to perform this type of work”.

(There is an option to avoid being examined for the license, upon fulfillment of some pre-conditions. Please check the paragraph 010.13-012(H) of the document ).

– Take the examinations that take place at least once per 6 months.

– Fill in the application form and submit it to the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners through the contact information given at the end of this page (just above the links section).

– Before you take the test, you will have to contact the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners. Only when your application is approved you will be eligible to take the exam.

– You will have to pay $100.00 fee to take the exam for the license of specialist sign electrician. If you don’t pass, you will have to pay the same amount, in order to participate again.

– Upon passing the test, you will have to pay $25.00 for the license.

You can contact with the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners here (they don’t have a website):

Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners
Arkansas Department of Labor
10421 West Markham Street
Little Rock, AR 72205

Useful Links

Application details
Application form
All the information you will need for the exam
NFPA 70: National Electrical Code
Arkansas Department of Labor (for electricians)
FAQ

how to become an electrician