Arkansas Master Electrician License Requirements (2026)

The Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners (within the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing) licenses individual electricians statewide under Arkansas Code Title 17 Chapter 28. Arkansas issues Apprentice, Journeyman, Master, and Residential Master Electrician credentials. Licensing is based on the National Electrical Code (NEC), and all examinations are administered by PSI. A Master Electrician is required to pull electrical permits and serve as the responsible party for an electrical contracting business. Any electrical contracting business of $50,000 or more per project must also hold an Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board Electrical specialty license.

The Licensing Authority

Licensing for this trade is governed by Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board (ACLB), the agency that issues and regulates the credential under Arkansas Code Title 17 Chapter 25 (Contractors) and Title 17 Chapter 38 (Residential Building); ACLB Rules and Regulations. The Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board (ACLB) licenses Commercial Contractors, Residential Builders, and Residential Remodelers statewide, sets financial responsibility standards, administers PSI examinations, and conducts disciplinary proceedings. ACLB enforces the $50,000 single-project threshold above which contracting work requires a state license.

Official portal: https://aclb.arkansas.gov/
Address: 4100 Richards Road, North Little Rock, AR 72117
Phone: (501) 372-4661

Baseline Eligibility

The applicant must be at least 18 years of age and possess a valid Social Security Number. No Arkansas residency requirement.

Good moral character

The Board of Electrical Examiners conducts a fitness review on every applicant. Felony convictions are reviewed individually.

Background investigation

Mandatory criminal history disclosure on the application.

Experience and Education Requirements

The experience bar is 2 years of Journeyman: four years (8,000 hours) of qualifying experience under a licensed Master Electrician. Master: two additional years (4,000 hours) of experience as a licensed Journeyman Electrician before sitting for the Master exam, and it must be backed by verifiable records — typically payroll, tax, project, or supervisor documentation covering the claimed period.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners Experience Affidavit signed by each licensed Master Electrician supervisor
W-2 statements, pay stubs, or 1099 records covering the qualifying period
Approved electrical apprenticeship completion certificate (where applicable)

Education substitution

Graduation from an approved electrical trade school or accredited electrical engineering technology program may substitute for up to one year of the Journeyman experience requirement.

The Licensing Examination

PSI Services LLC (under contract to the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners) administers the required examination. Each part below must be passed before the license will issue:

PSI Arkansas Master Electrician Examination — National Electrical Code, theory, calculations, and Arkansas electrical law — 100 questions, 300 minutes, passing score 75%

Examination fee: $75 examination fee paid to PSI on the day of testing.

Retake policy: Failed examinations may be re-taken by paying a new $75 fee. Candidates must wait a minimum of 30 days between attempts.

Financial Security and Insurance

No license surety bond is mandated statewide here under the cited sources, though project-specific or public-works bonding obligations can still attach to a given job.

General liability

The Board of Electrical Examiners does not impose a state-level general liability minimum for individual electrician credentials.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation insurance is mandatory in Arkansas under A.C.A. §11-9-101 et seq. for any electrical contractor with three or more employees.

Additional financial requirements

Individual electrician credentials do not require a financial statement. Electrical contracting businesses performing work of $50,000 or more per project must obtain an ACLB Electrical specialty license, which does require a financial statement.

Fee Schedule

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$50
Examination	$75
Initial license	$80
Renewal (every year)	$80

License Renewal

The Arkansas Master Electrician / Journeyman Electrician must be renewed every year. The fee to renew is presently $80. Arkansas electrician credentials renew annually.

Continuing education: Eight hours of Board-approved continuing education each renewal cycle for Master and Journeyman Electricians, including NEC updates.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity Map

Arkansas grants no NASCLA reciprocity for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Louisiana	Master Electrician exam waived	Bilateral reciprocity for active Louisiana Master Electricians.
Mississippi	Master Electrician exam waived	Bilateral reciprocity for active Mississippi Master Electricians.
Tennessee	Master Electrician exam waived	Bilateral reciprocity for active Tennessee Contractor Electrical Limited License holders.
Oklahoma	Master Electrician exam waived	Bilateral reciprocity for active Oklahoma Electrical Contractors.

Arkansas maintains bilateral master electrician reciprocity agreements with most neighboring states. Reciprocal applicants must hold a current license in the originating state and apply directly to the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners.

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

The Licensing Roadmap

Register as an Apprentice Electrician. File an Apprentice registration with the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners before beginning on-the-job training.
Log 8,000 hours as an Apprentice. Four years of qualifying experience under a licensed Master Electrician, or completion of an approved electrical apprenticeship.
Pass the PSI Journeyman Electrician exam. Score 75% or better on the NEC-based Journeyman examination.
Work 4,000 hours as a licensed Journeyman. Two additional years of journey-level experience before sitting for the Master exam.
Submit the Master Electrician application. File with the Board of Electrical Examiners including the experience affidavit and exam fee.
Pass the PSI Master Electrician exam at 75%. Covers the NEC, theory, calculations, and Arkansas electrical law.
Obtain the ACLB Electrical specialty license (if self-employed). File a separate ACLB application if you plan to contract electrical work of $50,000 or more per project.

Before Filing: A Checklist

Before submitting to ACLB, the applicant should have each of the following ready:

☐ Arkansas Apprentice Electrician registration
☐ 8,000 hours of documented apprentice experience
☐ Arkansas Journeyman Electrician credential (prerequisite for Master)
☐ 4,000 hours of journey-level experience
☐ Board of Electrical Examiners Master application with fee
☐ PSI Master Electrician exam pass certificate at 75%+
☐ ACLB Electrical specialty license (if self-employed and projects $50,000+)

Common Application Pitfalls

The following pitfalls summarize the issues most likely to delay, return, or derail a Arkansas Electrician application based on the published board instructions and source materials cited on this page.

Skipping Apprentice registration

Hours worked before Apprentice registration do not count toward the Journeyman experience requirement. Register before your first day on the job.

Studying the wrong NEC edition

Arkansas adopts the NEC on a delayed cycle. Confirm the currently adopted edition with the Board before buying study materials.

Confusing individual credential with contractor license

The Master Electrician credential authorizes you as an individual. Operating a contracting business for projects of $50,000 or more also requires an ACLB Electrical specialty license.

Missing continuing education

Eight hours of Board-approved CE per year is mandatory. Missing CE blocks renewal.

Letting the credential lapse

A lapsed Master Electrician credential can trigger suspension of any dependent ACLB specialty license and may require re-examination if lapsed for more than one year.

Preparation Resources

These materials are drawn from the regulator's own citations and the references applicants commonly use to prepare. CLR receives no compensation for listing them.

National Electrical Code (NFPA 70), Arkansas-adopted edition — National Fire Protection Association. Primary technical reference. Open-book at the PSI test center.
Mike Holt Master Electrician Exam Prep — Mike Holt Enterprises. Widely used by Arkansas candidates for NEC calculations.
Arkansas Code Title 17 Chapter 28 and Board of Electrical Examiners Rules — State of Arkansas. Licensing law and rules.

Other Arkansas Trade Licenses

For a different Arkansas credential, see these companion guides published by CLR:

Answers to Common Questions

What is the difference between an Arkansas Journeyman and Master Electrician?

A Journeyman Electrician performs electrical work under the supervision of a Master Electrician. A Master Electrician pulls permits, supervises journeymen and apprentices, and serves as the responsible party for an electrical contracting business.

How many hours of experience does Arkansas require for a Master Electrician?

8,000 hours (four years) as an Apprentice to reach the Journeyman level, plus 4,000 additional hours (two years) as a licensed Journeyman before sitting for the Master exam.

Does Arkansas use the National Electrical Code?

Yes. Arkansas adopts the NEC by reference. Confirm the current adopted edition with the Board before studying.

Do I need both a Master Electrician credential and an ACLB license?

Yes if you operate a self-employed electrical contracting business with projects of $50,000 or more. The credential authorizes you as an individual; the ACLB Electrical specialty license authorizes the business.

How often does the Arkansas Master Electrician credential renew?

Annually. Renewal requires payment of the renewal fee and completion of Board-approved continuing education.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-05-28 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-26