New Jersey Low Voltage Contractor License Requirements (2026)

New Jersey does not have a separate low-voltage contractor license — it folds low-voltage into the Electrical Contractor license issued by the Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors (Division of Consumer Affairs) under N.J.S.A. 45:5A. Any installation of telephone, sound, intercom, structured cabling, or signal systems that ties into the building electrical system must be performed by a licensed Electrical Contractor or under the direct supervision of one. Burglar alarm, fire alarm, and locksmith businesses are additionally regulated by the Burglar Alarm, Fire Alarm, and Locksmith Advisory Committee under N.J.S.A. 45:5A-23 et seq. — every alarm/locksmith business needs a separate Business License and every individual installer needs an Employee Registration. Pure structured cabling work that does not connect to building line voltage is generally exempt from electrical licensing but still subject to local permits.

Regulatory Oversight

Under N.J.S.A. 56:8-136 et seq. (Contractors Registration Act); N.J.A.C. 13:45A-17, New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs (NJDCA) is the body that issues this license and enforces compliance with it. The NJ Division of Consumer Affairs registers Home Improvement Contractors and houses the professional and occupational boards that license electrical, plumbing, and HVACR contractors statewide.

Official portal: https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/
Address: 124 Halsey Street, P.O. Box 45027, Newark, NJ 07101
Phone: (973) 504-6200

Who May Apply

An applicant qualifies only after meeting the age floor of 21 and producing a valid Social Security Number. No New Jersey residency requirement.

Good moral character

The Board reviews criminal history. Felony convictions involving fraud, theft, or violence are reviewed individually under N.J.S.A. 45:1-21.

Background investigation

The Board requires criminal disclosure on the electrical contractor application. The Burglar Alarm, Fire Alarm, and Locksmith Advisory Committee additionally requires fingerprint-based State Police and FBI background checks for the qualifying individual and every employee installer.

Required Experience and Education

Eligibility requires Five years of practical experience as an electrician's apprentice under a New Jersey-licensed electrical contractor, or an equivalent combination of formal training and field experience under N.J.A.C. 13:31-1.7., documented and independently verifiable. Payroll, tax, project, and supervisor records are the usual proof the board will accept.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Board Experience Affidavit signed by each supervising New Jersey-licensed electrical contractor
W-2 statements covering the qualifying period
Approved electrical apprenticeship completion certificate (where applicable)
NICET, BICSI, or manufacturer training certificates
Burglar Alarm Committee fingerprint cards for alarm endorsement

Education substitution

Completion of an approved four-year electrical apprenticeship counts as the full experience requirement. Two-year electrical or electronics technology degrees substitute for up to one year of experience.

Examination Requirements

The licensing examination is delivered by PSI Services LLC under contract to the New Jersey Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors.. All of the following parts must be cleared prior to issuance:

PSI New Jersey Electrical Contractor Trade examination — open book, NEC and New Jersey amendments — 80 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 70%
PSI New Jersey Business and Law examination — 60 questions, 180 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $100 per exam part to PSI.

Retake policy: Failed parts may be re-taken individually after 30 days. The application file remains active for one year.

Insurance and Financial Requirements

The NJDCA requires a $1,000 contractor license surety bond to be on file before the license will issue.

General liability

The Board requires a minimum $300,000 commercial general liability and $1,000 surety bond per N.J.S.A. 45:5A-9. Most owners contractually require $1,000,000/$2,000,000.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation is mandatory under N.J.S.A. 34:15-71 for any New Jersey employer. Disability benefits coverage is also required.

Additional financial requirements

The Board does not require a financial statement.

Licensing Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$100
Examination	$200
Initial license	$100
Renewal (every 3 years)	$100

Keeping the License Current

Renewal of the New Jersey Electrical Contractor (Board of Examiners) and Burglar Alarm, Fire Alarm, and Locksmith Business License comes due every 3 years. As cited, the renewal fee stands at $100. Electrical Contractor renews every three years; Burglar Alarm Business renews every two years. Lapsed licenses expose the contractor to penalties under N.J.S.A. 45:5A-22.

Continuing education: New Jersey requires 34 hours of approved continuing education per three-year cycle for the electrical contractor license, including code update and electrical safety modules. The Burglar Alarm Committee requires continuing training set by board rule for the qualifying individual.

Downloadable Asset

2026 New Jersey Low Voltage 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 New Jersey for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
No formal bilateral reciprocity agreements identified.

New Jersey does not maintain formal reciprocity for electrical contractor or alarm licenses. Out-of-state applicants must take the PSI exams and complete fingerprint clearance.

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.

Application Process, Step by Step

Confirm scope. Low-voltage tied to building line voltage = Electrical Contractor license. Pure cabling = generally exempt from state licensing (local permit may apply). Burglar/fire alarm = Burglar Alarm Committee Business License + State Police fingerprint clearance.
Document five years of supervised experience. Compile Board Experience Affidavits signed by New Jersey-licensed electrical contractors covering five years of supervised work or completion of an approved apprenticeship.
Pass the PSI Electrical Contractor Trade and Business and Law examinations. Score 70% on each. Trade is 80 questions in 240 minutes; Business and Law is 60 questions in 180 minutes.
Submit the Board application. File the application with the $100 fee, exam pass certificates, $1,000 surety bond, and $300,000 general liability certificate.
Receive the Electrical Contractor license. The Board issues the license at the next quarterly meeting after document review.
Apply for the Burglar Alarm, Fire Alarm, and Locksmith Business License (if applicable). File the Committee application with the $300 fee, qualifying individual designation, fingerprint cards for the qualifier and every installer, and $300,000 liability certificate.
Register every alarm installer with the Committee. Each employee installer must hold an individual Employee Registration and pass State Police and FBI fingerprint clearance.
Renew on schedule. Electrical Contractor renews every three years; Burglar Alarm Business renews every two years.

Frequent Application Errors

Working from the cited board instructions, here are the snags most likely to trip up a New Jersey Low Voltage filing.

Skipping the Electrical Contractor license

New Jersey has no separate low-voltage classification. Any low-voltage work tied to building line voltage requires the Electrical Contractor license. Operating without it is unlicensed contracting under N.J.S.A. 45:5A-22.

Forgetting the Burglar Alarm Business License

Electrical Contractor licensing alone does not authorize burglar or fire alarm contracting. The Committee requires a separate Business License plus fingerprint clearance for every employee.

Missing fingerprint clearance

Every alarm employee installer must clear State Police and FBI fingerprint background checks before starting work. Hiring an unregistered installer voids the Business License.

Underestimating the apprenticeship requirement

New Jersey requires five years of practical apprentice experience or completion of an approved four-year apprenticeship. Self-taught or hobbyist experience is rejected.

Letting workers comp or disability lapse

New Jersey requires both workers comp and disability benefits for employers. Either lapse triggers an automatic license suspension and stops work statewide.

Recommended References

These are the preparation and reference materials tied to this credential — cited by the regulator or widely used by applicants. CLR earns nothing from listing them.

National Electrical Code (NFPA 70), New Jersey-adopted edition — NFPA. Primary technical reference. Open book at the PSI exam.
New Jersey Electrical Contractor PSI Candidate Information Bulletin — PSI. Official content outline for both the Trade and Business and Law exams.
NFPA 72 — National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code — NFPA. Required reference for the fire alarm portion of the Trade exam and for Burglar Alarm Committee fire alarm work.

Document Checklist

The items below are the ones worth confirming before the application is filed with NJDCA:

☐ Five years of supervised electrical experience or approved apprenticeship
☐ PSI Electrical Contractor Trade exam pass at 70%
☐ PSI New Jersey Business and Law exam pass at 70%
☐ Board application with $100 fee
☐ $1,000 surety bond and $300,000 general liability certificate
☐ Workers comp and disability benefits certificates
☐ Burglar Alarm Business License application (if applicable)
☐ State Police / FBI fingerprint cards for qualifier and every installer

Other New Jersey Trade Licenses

Should the Low Voltage path not apply, these other New Jersey trade guides from CLR may help:

Questions Applicants Ask

Does New Jersey have a separate low-voltage contractor license?

No. Low-voltage work that ties into the building electrical system is performed under the New Jersey Electrical Contractor license. Burglar alarm, fire alarm, and locksmith businesses additionally need a separate Business License from the Burglar Alarm, Fire Alarm, and Locksmith Advisory Committee.

How much experience does the Board require?

Five years of practical experience as an electrician's apprentice under a New Jersey-licensed electrical contractor, or completion of an approved four-year electrical apprenticeship.

Who licenses burglar and fire alarm businesses?

The Burglar Alarm, Fire Alarm, and Locksmith Advisory Committee within the Division of Consumer Affairs under N.J.S.A. 45:5A-23 et seq. State Police and FBI fingerprint clearance is required for every employee installer.

Does NICET certification waive the New Jersey license?

No. NICET Fire Alarm Systems Level II is widely recognized for fire alarm acceptance testing but does not substitute for the Electrical Contractor license or the Burglar Alarm Business License.

How often does the Electrical Contractor license renew?

Every three years. The Burglar Alarm Business License renews every two years.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-05-15 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-13