Though this is representative of the process in most jurisdictions, there are a number of exceptions to these rules: Master Electrician License: A master electrician license is achieved after working for two years (about 4,000 hours) as a journeyman electrician and passing the Master Electrician Exam.Įlectrical Contractor License: The electrical contractor license is an optional business license reserved for master electricians that operate an electrical contracting business, or companies that employ at least one master electrician.Journeyman License: A journeyman license in achieved after successfully completing the required apprenticeship program and passing the Electrical Journeyman exam.Apprenticeship: An electrical apprenticeship involves supervised on-the-job experience that lasts about four years (about 8,000 hours) in addition to several hundred classroom hours spent learning electrical science and theory.Even though exam requirements and specific training and classroom hour requirements differ from one jurisdiction to the next, the general licensing process for electricians almost always follows these three steps: