Indiana Low Voltage Contractor License Requirements (2026)

Indiana has no statewide electrical or low-voltage contractor license. Licensing is handled at the municipal level through city electrical examining boards — Indianapolis (Marion County) issues a Class I, II, III, or IV Electrical Contractor license through the Department of Business and Neighborhood Services, and most second-class cities (Fort Wayne, Evansville, Gary, South Bend) maintain their own examining boards. The Indiana State Fire Marshal regulates fire alarm system installation under 675 IAC 22 and IC 22-11-14, requiring contractors to register and submit plans for review on every commercial fire alarm project. Burglar alarm contractors must register as a Security Alarm System Installation Company under IC 25-30.5 with the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (IPLA).

The Licensing Authority

Indianapolis Department of Business and Neighborhood Services — City of Indianapolis / Marion County (BNS) is the statutory authority responsible for issuing and enforcing this license 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

Eligibility begins with two baseline checks: the applicant must be 18 or older and must provide a valid Social Security Number. No Indiana residency requirement.

Good moral character

Local examining boards conduct fitness reviews. IPLA reviews criminal history for the Security Alarm Installation Company registration.

Background investigation

Criminal history disclosure required at the local level. IPLA Security Alarm registration requires fingerprint-based ISP and FBI background screening.

Experience and Education Requirements

A minimum of four years (approximately 8,000 hours) of supervised low-voltage installation experience under a licensed Indiana electrical contractor for the local supervising electrician credential must be documented and verified. Unless the board publishes a different lookback period, applicants should keep payroll, tax, project, or supervisor records that support the claimed experience.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Local examining board experience verification form signed by each supervising contractor
W-2 statements, pay stubs, or 1099 records covering the qualifying period
NICET Fire Alarm Systems Level II / III certificate
IBEW or independent apprenticeship completion certificate

Education substitution

Approved electrical apprenticeships and accredited two-year electronics programs substitute for portions of the local experience requirement.

The Licensing Examination

Testing is handled by ICC (International Code Council) for most Indiana cities; Indianapolis administers its own exam. The applicant has to pass each part listed here before the credential is granted:

Indianapolis Class I Electrical Contractor Examination — NEC, Indiana Electrical Code, business and law — 100 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 75%

Examination fee: $150 – $250 examination fee paid to the local examining board.

Retake policy: Failed examinations may be re-taken after a 30-day waiting period by paying a new exam fee. Each application typically remains valid for one year.

Financial Security and Insurance

Before the license is issued, the applicant must file a $5,000 contractor license surety bond in the form prescribed by the BNS.

General liability

Indianapolis requires $300,000 minimum general liability for Class I Electrical Contractors. Most other Indiana cities require $300,000 – $500,000.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation is mandatory for any Indiana employer under IC 22-3.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement required at the city level for low-voltage classes.

Fee Schedule

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$250
Examination	$200
Initial license	$250
Renewal (every year)	$250

License Renewal

The Indiana Local Electrical Contractor Registration and State Fire Marshal Fire Alarm Permit must be renewed every year. The fee to renew is presently $250. Indianapolis Class I renews annually on December 31. State Fire Marshal renewal is annual. IPLA Security Alarm renewal is biennial.

Continuing education: Indianapolis requires twelve hours of approved continuing education each annual cycle, including a code-update course.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Indiana Low Voltage 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
No formal bilateral reciprocity agreements identified.

Indiana has no statewide license to reciprocate. Municipal licenses do not reciprocate with each other. NICET Fire Alarm Systems Level II is recognized by the State Fire Marshal toward fire alarm registration.

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

The Licensing Roadmap

Identify target municipalities. No statewide license. Identify each Indiana city where you will work and obtain its electrical contractor or low-voltage credential.
Document four years of supervised experience. Compile experience verification forms covering 8,000 hours of supervised low-voltage installation under a licensed contractor.
Apply to the Indianapolis Department of Business and Neighborhood Services (or other city). File the local Class I Electrical Contractor application with the $250 fee, supervising electrician designation, and insurance certificate.
Pass the local supervising electrician examination. Score 75% or better on the Indianapolis or local examining board exam covering NEC and Indiana Electrical Code.
Register with the Indiana State Fire Marshal for fire alarm work. File the OSFM fire alarm contractor registration with the $200 fee and NICET Fire Alarm Level II evidence.
Apply for the IPLA Security Alarm Installation Company registration (if doing burglar alarm). File the IPLA application with $250 fee, fingerprints, and qualifying agent designation.
File workers compensation. Submit Indiana workers compensation certificate for any business with employees.
Renew on each authority's cycle. Indianapolis Class I renews annually. State Fire Marshal renewal is annual. IPLA Security Alarm registration renews every two years.

Preparation Resources

The list below collects the board's cited references and the materials applicants typically study from. CLR is not paid to recommend any of them.

Indiana Electrical Code (675 IAC 17) — State of Indiana. Indiana adoption of NEC.
675 IAC 22 — Fire Alarm Systems — Indiana State Fire Marshal. OSFM fire alarm rules.
NEC Articles 725, 760, 770, 800 — NFPA. Technical reference for the trade exam.
NFPA 72 — NFPA. Required for fire alarm work.

Before Filing: A Checklist

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

☐ Four years of supervised low-voltage experience
☐ Local Indianapolis or city electrical contractor application
☐ ICC or local supervising electrician exam pass at 75%+
☐ $300,000 commercial general liability certificate
☐ Indiana State Fire Marshal fire alarm registration
☐ NICET Fire Alarm Systems Level II certificate
☐ IPLA Security Alarm Installation Company registration (if doing burglar alarm)
☐ Workers compensation coverage certificate

Common Application Pitfalls

These are the recurring mistakes that most often delay or reject a Indiana Low Voltage application, based on the official instructions cited here.

Assuming one license covers the whole state

Indiana licenses electrical work municipally. Working in a city without its specific credential is unlicensed activity even if you hold a license elsewhere in Indiana.

Skipping the State Fire Marshal registration

The OSFM fire alarm registration is mandatory for any commercial fire alarm installation, separate from the local electrical license. Plans must be submitted for review before installation.

Confusing IPLA Security Alarm with the electrical license

IPLA registration covers burglar alarm and CCTV; it does not authorize fire alarm or premises wiring. Local electrical contractor registration is still required.

Inadequate experience documentation

Indianapolis examining board rejects vague experience verification. Each form must list specific projects, dates, and the supervising contractor's license number.

Letting the local license lapse

Indianapolis Class I renews annually on December 31. Late renewal carries a 25% penalty and stops permit issuance until reinstated.

Other Indiana Trade Licenses

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

Answers to Common Questions

Does Indiana have a statewide low-voltage license?

No. Electrical and low-voltage licensing is handled at the municipal level. Indianapolis (Marion County) issues Class I – IV Electrical Contractor licenses; other cities have separate examining boards.

Who licenses fire alarm contractors in Indiana?

The Indiana State Fire Marshal under 675 IAC 22 and IC 22-11-14. Contractors must register with OSFM and submit plans for review on every commercial fire alarm project. NICET Fire Alarm Level II is the practical prerequisite.

Who licenses burglar alarm installation companies?

The Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (IPLA) Security and Polygraph Committee under IC 25-30.5. Registration requires a $250 fee, fingerprints, and a qualifying agent.

How much experience does Indianapolis require for the Class I Electrical Contractor?

Four years (approximately 8,000 hours) of supervised electrical or low-voltage installation experience under a licensed Indiana contractor.

How often does the Indianapolis Class I license renew?

Annually on December 31. Renewal requires twelve hours of approved continuing education including a code-update course.

Primary Sources

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

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