Michigan Low Voltage Contractor License Requirements (2026)

Michigan regulates low-voltage work through the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) Bureau of Construction Codes Electrical Division under the Skilled Trades Regulation Act, P.A. 407 of 2016 (MCL 339.5101 et seq.). Michigan issues a Fire Alarm Specialty Technician license — the primary credential for fire alarm installation — and the standalone Electrical Contractor license required for any electrical contracting business including low-voltage installation tied to building systems. Michigan does not separately license structured cabling at the state level, but Detroit and several other municipalities maintain their own registration. Burglar alarm contractors must register with the Michigan Department of State Police Private Security Business Division under MCL 338.1051 et seq.

Regulatory Body Profile

Michigan LARA — Electrical Administrative Board (LARA Electrical Board) is the statutory authority responsible for issuing and enforcing this license under Skilled Trades Regulation Act, MCL 339.5101 et seq.; Electrical Administrative Act, MCL 338.881 et seq.. The Electrical Administrative Board licenses apprentice, journeyman, master, sign specialist, and fire alarm specialty technicians, and electrical contractors statewide. The board adopts the Michigan Electrical Code based on the NEC.

Official portal: https://www.michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/bcc/divisions/electrical
Address: P.O. Box 30254, Lansing, MI 48909
Phone: (517) 241-9320

The Eligibility Audit

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

Good moral character

LARA conducts a fitness review under MCL 339.604.

Background investigation

Criminal history disclosure required. State Police Private Security Business registration requires fingerprint-based MSP and FBI background screening.

Experience and Education Standards

At least 4 years of 8,000 hours of supervised fire alarm or low-voltage installation experience under a licensed Michigan Fire Alarm Specialty Technician or Electrical Contractor for the Fire Alarm Specialty Technician credential has to be evidenced and confirmed. Retain payroll, tax, project, or supervisor records, since the board may audit the experience claimed.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

LARA Experience Affidavit signed by each supervising licensee
W-2 statements, pay stubs, or 1099 records covering the qualifying period
NICET Fire Alarm Systems Level II / III certificate
Approved Michigan electrical apprenticeship completion certificate

Education substitution

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

The Exam Syllabus

The exam, administered by PSI Services LLC under contract to LARA., breaks into the parts shown below — all must be passed before licensure:

PSI Michigan Fire Alarm Specialty Technician Examination — NEC, NFPA 72, Michigan electrical code — 80 questions, 180 minutes, passing score 75%

Examination fee: $110 examination fee paid to PSI on registration.

Retake policy: Failed examinations may be re-taken by paying a new $110 fee. Each application remains active for one year.

Bonding, Insurance & Financial Security

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

LARA does not impose a state minimum general liability for the Fire Alarm Specialty Technician credential. State Police Private Security Business registration requires $1,000,000 minimum.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation is mandatory for any Michigan employer with three or more employees under MCL 418.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement required at the state level.

Schedule of Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$40
Examination	$110
Initial license	$100
Renewal (every 3 years)	$100

Renewal and Continuing Obligations

The Michigan Fire Alarm Specialty Technician License (LARA Bureau of Construction Codes) and Electrical Contractor License runs on a 3 years renewal cycle. The current renewal fee is $100. LARA Fire Alarm Specialty Technician licenses renew every three years on the licensee's anniversary date.

Continuing education: Fifteen hours of LARA-approved continuing education each three-year cycle, including a code-update course.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Michigan Low Voltage License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Out-of-State Reciprocity

For this classification, Michigan does not recognize the NASCLA Accredited Examination.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Ohio	Trade exam waiver	LARA bilateral reciprocity with Ohio OCILB.
Wisconsin	Trade exam waiver	LARA bilateral reciprocity with Wisconsin DSPS.

LARA maintains limited bilateral reciprocity. Reciprocal applicants must hold the equivalent classification active and in good standing.

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 Application Roadmap

Document 8,000 hours of qualifying experience. Compile LARA Experience Affidavits covering 8,000 hours of supervised fire alarm or low-voltage installation under a licensed Michigan contractor.
Submit the LARA Fire Alarm Specialty Technician application. File the application with the $40 fee and experience documentation.
Pass the PSI Fire Alarm Specialty Technician examination at 75%. Score 75% or better on the 80-question exam covering NEC, NFPA 72, and Michigan electrical code.
Apply for the Electrical Contractor business license. File the contractor application with the $300 fee and qualifier designation. Required for any electrical contracting business.
File workers compensation. Submit Michigan workers compensation certificate for any business with three or more employees.
Apply for State Police Private Security Business registration (if doing burglar alarm). File the State Police application with $750 fee, fingerprints, $1,000,000 liability, and qualifying officer designation.
Renew Fire Alarm Specialty Technician on the three-year cycle. LARA Fire Alarm Specialty Technician licenses renew every three years.

Where Applications Stall

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

Working with only the Fire Alarm Specialty Technician credential

The individual technician credential does not authorize a contracting business. The Michigan Electrical Contractor license is also required.

Skipping State Police registration

Burglar alarm and CCTV monitoring businesses must register with the State Police Private Security Business Division. The LARA credentials do not cover monitored security.

Missing fire alarm acceptance testing

Michigan adopts NFPA 72 by reference. Failing to schedule the AHJ acceptance test stops occupancy on commercial projects.

Insufficient experience documentation

LARA rejects vague experience verification. Each affidavit must list specific projects, dates, and the supervising licensee's license number.

Letting the credential lapse

A lapsed Fire Alarm Specialty Technician license may be reinstated within sixty days by paying back fees plus a 10% penalty. After sixty days the applicant may be required to re-test.

Pre-Application Checklist

Before submitting to LARA Electrical Board, the applicant should have each of the following ready:

☐ 8,000 hours of supervised fire alarm / low-voltage experience
☐ LARA Fire Alarm Specialty Technician application with $40 fee
☐ PSI Fire Alarm Specialty Technician exam pass at 75%+
☐ Michigan Electrical Contractor business application
☐ Workers compensation coverage (3+ employees)
☐ State Police Private Security Business registration (if doing burglar alarm)
☐ NICET Fire Alarm Systems Level II (recommended)

Recommended Study Materials

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.

Skilled Trades Regulation Act P.A. 407 of 2016 (MCL 339.5101 et seq.) — State of Michigan. Licensing statute.
NEC Articles 725, 760, 770, 800 — NFPA. Technical reference for the Fire Alarm Specialty Technician exam.
NFPA 72 — National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code — NFPA. Required reference for fire alarm work.

Other Michigan Trade Licenses

CLR maintains guides for additional Michigan trades; the published ones are listed here:

Common Questions

Does Michigan license structured cabling separately?

No. Michigan does not issue a separate structured cabling license at the state level. Cabling tied to building electrical systems falls under the Electrical Contractor license. Detroit and several other cities maintain local registration.

Who licenses fire alarm installers in Michigan?

LARA Bureau of Construction Codes under MCL 339.5101 et seq. The Fire Alarm Specialty Technician license requires 8,000 hours of qualifying experience and passing the PSI examination.

Who licenses burglar alarm businesses?

The Michigan Department of State Police Private Security Business Division under MCL 338.1051 et seq. Registration requires $1,000,000 liability, fingerprints, and a $750 fee.

How much experience does Michigan require for the Fire Alarm Specialty Technician?

Eight thousand hours (approximately four years) of supervised fire alarm or low-voltage installation experience under a licensed Michigan contractor.

How often does the Michigan Fire Alarm Specialty Technician renew?

Every three years. Renewal requires fifteen 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 2026-04-16 · Next scheduled review 2026-07-15