Alabama Solar Contractor License Requirements (2026)

Alabama issues no standalone solar license. Solar PV is regulated as electrical work under Ala. Code §34-36 by the Alabama Electrical Contractors Board (AECB), which requires an Electrical Contractor license held by a Qualifying Agent who passed the AECB exam. Per the Home Builders Licensure Board (HBLB) advisory opinion, residential rooftop solar installs costing more than $2,500 — or any residential solar work over $10,000 — also require an HBLB unlimited Home Builder license. Solar thermal hot water remains plumbing work under an Alabama Master Plumber license. NABCEP PV Installation Professional is voluntary.

Regulatory Oversight

This license is issued and enforced by Alabama Electrical Contractors Board (AECB) pursuant to Code of Alabama Title 34 Chapter 36 (Electrical Contractors). AECB licenses Master Electricians, Journeyman Electricians, and Electrical Contractor businesses statewide, administers the Block exam, and adopts the National Electrical Code by reference.

Official portal: https://aecb.alabama.gov/
Address: 2777 Zelda Road, Montgomery, AL 36106
Phone: (334) 420-7232

Who May Apply

To qualify, an applicant must have reached age 19 and hold a valid Social Security Number. No Alabama residency requirement.

Good moral character

AECB reviews criminal history under Ala. Code §34-36-12.

Background investigation

Mandatory criminal history disclosure on the application.

Required Experience and Education

Plan to substantiate four years of practical electrical experience under a licensed electrical contractor or registered electrical engineer with hard records. Payroll, tax, project logs, and supervisor verification are what the board relies on when it reviews the claim.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

AECB experience affidavits signed by Alabama Electrical Contractors
Certified payroll covering the qualifying period
NABCEP PV Installation Professional certification (counts toward experience)

Education substitution

Electrical engineering or technology degree counts toward two years of experience.

Examination Requirements

Examinations are administered by PSI Services LLC (under contract to AECB). The applicant must pass the following examination parts before the license can issue:

Alabama Electrical Contractor Examination — NEC, business and law — 100 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $110 examination fee.

Retake policy: Failed exams may be retaken after 30 days.

Insurance and Financial Requirements

This credential carries no state-level surety bond requirement under the cited sources. Individual jobs may still trigger a permit or public-works bond, which should be verified before bidding.

General liability

AECB requires $50,000 commercial general liability minimum.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation insurance is mandatory under Ala. Code §25-5 for any business with five or more employees.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement required.

Licensing Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$200
Examination	$110
Initial license	$200
Renewal (every year)	$200

Keeping the License Current

Renewal of the Alabama Electrical Contractor License (AECB) comes due every year. As cited, the renewal fee stands at $200. AECB licenses renew annually; CE is tracked on a rolling 24-month window.

Continuing education: Fourteen hours of AECB-approved CE during the 24 months immediately preceding renewal.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Alabama Solar License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and License Transfer

The NASCLA Accredited Examination is not accepted by Alabama for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Georgia	Trade exam waived	Limited AECB–GA reciprocity (verify with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare).
Tennessee	Trade exam waived	Limited AECB–TBLC reciprocity (verify with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare).
Mississippi	Trade exam waived	Limited AECB–MS reciprocity (verify with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare).

AECB maintains limited electrical reciprocity (electrical only; solar-specific reciprocity is rare) with several southeastern states.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares Solar license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

Application Process, Step by Step

Document four years of electrical experience. Compile experience affidavits and payroll records.
Submit the AECB application. File with the application fee.
Pass the AECB Electrical Contractor exam at 70%. PSI administers the exam.
File the certificate of insurance. $50K CGL minimum.
Receive the Electrical Contractor license. AECB issues the credential after exam pass.
Apply for HBLB Home Builder license for residential jobs. HBLB requires an unlimited Home Builder license on residential rooftop solar over $2,500 or any residential solar over $10,000.
Pull local building and electrical permits per project. Each Alabama jurisdiction requires local permits.

Recommended References

The references below are either cited by the board, used during the application, or standard preparation for the trade. They are listed purely for convenience — CLR earns no commission on any of them.

NEC Article 690 — Solar Photovoltaic Systems — NFPA. Primary technical reference.
Ala. Code §34-36 — State of Alabama. Statutory framework.
PSI Alabama Electrical Contractor Candidate Information Bulletin — PSI. Free PDF outlining exam content.

Frequent Application Errors

Drawn from the board instructions and sources cited on this page, the pitfalls below are the ones most likely to slow down or sink a Alabama Solar application.

Skipping the HBLB Home Builder license on residential

HBLB advisory opinion: rooftop residential solar over $2,500 (or any residential solar over $10,000) needs the unlimited Home Builder license alongside AECB.

Missing the 14-hour CE window

AECB requires 14 CE hours over the 24 months preceding renewal — not a calendar-year cycle.

Letting workers compensation lapse

Mandatory for any business with five or more employees.

Forgetting solar thermal is plumbing

Solar hot water requires the Master Plumber license.

Skipping local permits

State licensure does not exempt you from city/county permits.

Document Checklist

The most critical documents or confirmations the applicant should have in hand before filing with AECB:

☐ Four years of documented electrical experience
☐ AECB Electrical Contractor application
☐ Pass AECB exam at 70%+
☐ $50K commercial general liability insurance minimum
☐ Workers' compensation coverage
☐ Alabama General Contractor license (for projects over $50K)
☐ Local building and electrical permits per project

Other Alabama Trade Licenses

Should the Solar path not apply, these other Alabama trade guides from CLR may help:

Questions Applicants Ask

Does Alabama have a solar license?

No. Solar PV is regulated as electrical work under the AECB Electrical Contractor license.

Is NABCEP required?

No. NABCEP is voluntary in Alabama.

Do I need a Home Builders license?

Yes for residential. The HBLB advisory opinion requires an unlimited Home Builder license on residential rooftop solar over $2,500 or any residential solar over $10,000.

What about solar thermal?

Solar hot water requires an Alabama Master Plumber license.

Does Alabama reciprocate?

Yes. AECB maintains limited reciprocity (verify directly with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare) with Georgia, Tennessee, and Mississippi.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-05-06 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-04