Indiana Electrician License Requirements (2026)

Indiana does not issue a statewide electrician license. Like its general contractor framework, electrical licensing is granted municipally. The dominant authority is Indianapolis / Marion County, where the City-County Council issues Electrical Contractor licenses through the Department of Business and Neighborhood Services (BNS) and the Marion County Electrical Examining Board administers Journeyman and Master Electrician examinations under Chapter 871 of the Revised Code of the Consolidated City and County. Fort Wayne, Evansville, and South Bend operate parallel local programs. Some Indiana cities reciprocate Marion County credentials; others require separate examination.

The Licensing Authority

Licensing for this trade is governed by Indianapolis Department of Business and Neighborhood Services — City of Indianapolis / Marion County (BNS), the agency that issues and regulates the credential under Revised Code of the Consolidated City and County, Chapter 875 (Contractors) and Chapter 871 (Electrical). BNS issues municipal contractor, electrical, and HVAC licenses for Indianapolis and Marion County. Indiana has no state license for these trades, so BNS is the dominant licensing authority for Central Indiana.

Official portal: https://www.indy.gov/agency/department-of-business-and-neighborhood-services
Address: 1200 Madison Avenue, Suite 100, Indianapolis, IN 46225
Phone: (317) 327-8700

Baseline Eligibility

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

Good moral character

Indianapolis BNS and the Marion County Electrical Examining Board conduct fitness reviews on every applicant; felony convictions are reviewed individually.

Background investigation

Mandatory criminal history disclosure on the Indianapolis application.

Experience and Education Requirements

The experience bar is four years and 8,000 hours of practical electrical experience under a licensed Master Electrician for the Marion County Journeyman Electrician examination; an additional two years of journey-level work to qualify for the Master Electrician examination, 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

Marion County Electrical Examining Board Experience Verification Form 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

Approved electrical apprenticeship programs (IBEW, IEC, ABC) and accredited electrical trade school programs substitute for portions of the experience requirement.

The Licensing Examination

Marion County Electrical Examining Board (administered through Block Exam Services or PSI under contract) administers the required examination. Each part below must be passed before the license will issue:

Marion County Journeyman Electrician — NEC and trade theory — 100 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 75%
Marion County Master Electrician — NEC, theory, and business and law — 150 questions, 300 minutes, passing score 75%

Examination fee: $150 examination fee per part paid to the Marion County Electrical Examining Board.

Retake policy: Failed examinations may be re-taken by paying a new fee. Each application typically remains valid for one year.

Financial Security and Insurance

The applicant must secure and file a $5,000 surety bond before the BNS will release the license.

General liability

Indianapolis BNS requires $300,000 minimum general liability for Electrical Contractors. Most other Indiana cities require $300,000 minimum.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation insurance is mandatory in Indiana under IC 22-3 for any business with one or more employees.

Additional financial requirements

Indianapolis Electrical Contractor requires a $5,000 surety bond. The qualifying individual must hold a current Marion County Master Electrician credential.

Fee Schedule

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$200
Examination	$300
Initial license	$200
Renewal (every year)	$200

License Renewal

The Indiana Electrician (Municipal — No State License) must be renewed every year. The fee to renew is presently $200. Indianapolis Electrical Contractor licenses renew annually. Marion County Journeyman and Master credentials renew on the Board cycle.

Continuing education: Marion County requires periodic NEC update training when a new code cycle is adopted.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity Map

Indiana grants no NASCLA reciprocity for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Fort Wayne (Allen County)	Marion County Master Electrician	Limited municipal-to-municipal recognition for active master electricians in good standing.
Evansville (Vanderburgh County)	Marion County Master Electrician	Limited municipal recognition; verify current practice with Evansville Building Commission.

Indiana has no statewide electrical license and therefore no statewide reciprocity. Some Indiana cities recognize Marion County credentials in practice, but each jurisdiction maintains its own application and fee process.

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

Enter an approved electrical apprenticeship. IBEW, IEC, or ABC apprenticeship typically four years (8,000 hours) combining on-the-job training with classroom instruction.
Apply for the Marion County Journeyman examination. Submit experience documentation to the Marion County Electrical Examining Board with the application fee.
Pass the Journeyman exam at 75%. NEC-based 100-question examination administered by the Board.
Work two additional years as a journeyman. Document journey-level experience under a Master Electrician.
Pass the Master Electrician examination at 75%. 150-question NEC, theory, and business and law examination.
Apply for the Indianapolis Electrical Contractor license. File with BNS designating the Master Electrician as the qualifying individual, post the $5,000 bond, and provide insurance certificates.
Register in additional Indiana cities as needed. Fort Wayne, Evansville, and South Bend each require separate municipal registration; some recognize Marion County credentials.

Common Application Pitfalls

The errors below are the ones that most frequently cost Indiana Electrician applicants time, drawn from the cited board guidance.

Assuming Indiana has a state license

Indiana has no state electrician license. Electricians arriving from neighboring states often miss this and end up working unlicensed in their first Indiana city.

Skipping the journeyman step

The Master Electrician path requires the Marion County Journeyman credential as a prerequisite. Direct-entry to Master is not allowed.

Studying the wrong NEC edition

Indiana adopts the NEC on a delayed schedule. Verify which edition Marion County is currently testing on before sitting for the exam.

Confusing tradesman with contractor

The Master Electrician credential authorizes you as an individual; you still need a separate Indianapolis BNS Electrical Contractor license to operate as a business.

Working across cities without separate registration

A Marion County or Indianapolis credential does not automatically authorize work in Fort Wayne, Evansville, or South Bend.

Before Filing: A Checklist

Ahead of submission to BNS, confirm every item on this short list:

☐ Approved electrical apprenticeship completion (IBEW, IEC, or ABC)
☐ Marion County Journeyman Electrician exam pass certificate at 75%+
☐ Two additional years of documented journey-level experience
☐ Marion County Master Electrician exam pass certificate at 75%+
☐ Indianapolis BNS Electrical Contractor application with $200 fee
☐ $5,000 surety bond and $300,000 general liability certificate
☐ Workers compensation certificate for any employees

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 (current Indiana-adopted edition) — NFPA. Primary technical reference. Open-book at the test center.
Mike Holt NEC Exam Prep — Mike Holt Enterprises. Industry-standard preparation for journeyman and master electrician exams.
Indianapolis Revised Code Chapter 871 — City of Indianapolis. Local electrical contractor licensing law.

Other Indiana Trade Licenses

Looking at a different trade? CLR also publishes these Indiana licensing guides:

Answers to Common Questions

Does Indiana have a state electrician license?

No. Indiana is one of the few states without statewide electrical licensing. Authority is granted municipally. The Marion County Electrical Examining Board and Indianapolis BNS dominate Central Indiana practice.

What is the difference between a Journeyman and Master Electrician in Indianapolis?

A Journeyman Electrician may perform electrical work under the supervision of a Master Electrician. A Master Electrician may supervise journeymen and serve as the qualifying individual for an Indianapolis Electrical Contractor license.

How many hours of experience does Marion County require?

Four years and 8,000 hours under a licensed Master Electrician to qualify for the Journeyman exam, plus two additional years of journey-level work to qualify for the Master examination.

Do other Indiana cities accept Marion County credentials?

Some do in practice, but there is no statewide reciprocity. Fort Wayne, Evansville, and South Bend each have their own application and fee processes; verify current rules with the local building department.

What electrical code does Indiana use?

Indiana adopts the National Electrical Code (NEC) by reference through the Indiana Electrical Code (675 IAC 17) administered by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security Fire and Building Safety.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-05-19 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-17