Oklahoma Electrician License Requirements (2026)

The Oklahoma Construction Industries Board (CIB) licenses electricians statewide under Oklahoma Statutes Title 59 §1680 (the Electrical License Act). Oklahoma issues three credentials: Apprentice Electrician (registration only), Journeyman Electrician (4 years and 8,000 hours of qualifying experience plus a PSI exam at 75%), and Electrical Contractor (Unlimited or Limited, requiring an active Journeyman as the qualifying party plus a business license, bond, and insurance). Oklahoma City and Tulsa accept the CIB credential — there is no separate municipal electrician exam.

Regulatory Body Profile

Oklahoma Construction Industries Board (CIB) is the statutory authority responsible for issuing and enforcing this license under Oklahoma Statutes Title 59 §1000 et seq. (plumbing) and §1680 et seq. (electrical and mechanical/HVAC). The Oklahoma Construction Industries Board licenses individual journeymen and contractors for the electrical, plumbing, and mechanical (HVAC/refrigeration) trades statewide, administers PSI examinations, and conducts disciplinary proceedings. Oklahoma has no statewide general contractor license — general contracting is regulated by individual cities.

Official portal: https://oklahoma.gov/cib.html
Address: 2401 NW 23rd Street, Suite 2F, Oklahoma City, OK 73107
Phone: (405) 521-6550

The Eligibility Audit

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

Good moral character

CIB conducts a fitness review on every applicant. Felony convictions are reviewed individually under Title 59 rules.

Background investigation

Mandatory criminal history disclosure on the application; CIB may request additional documentation.

Experience and Education Standards

The experience bar is four years and 8,000 hours of qualifying electrical experience as a registered Apprentice Electrician under the supervision of a Journeyman Electrician or Electrical Contractor, 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

CIB Experience Affidavit signed by each supervising Journeyman or Electrical Contractor
W-2 statements, pay stubs, or 1099 records covering the qualifying period
Approved electrical apprenticeship completion certificate (where applicable)
Oklahoma Apprentice Electrician registration history

Education substitution

Up to 1,000 hours may be substituted with accredited electrical trade school or community college coursework. Approved DOL apprenticeship program completion satisfies the experience requirement in full.

The Exam Syllabus

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

Oklahoma Journeyman Electrician Examination — National Electrical Code, Oklahoma electrical rules — 80 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 75%
Oklahoma Electrical Contractor Examination — business and law (contractor applicants only) — 50 questions, 120 minutes, passing score 75%

Examination fee: $87 per PSI exam part paid on the day of testing.

Retake policy: Failed parts may be re-taken individually by paying a new $87 fee. CIB allows unlimited retakes within the one-year application validity.

Bonding, Insurance & Financial Security

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

General liability

Electrical Contractors must carry general liability insurance with minimum coverage of $50,000 property damage and $100,000 bodily injury per occurrence under Title 59 §1680.10. Most commercial owners contractually require $1,000,000/$2,000,000.

Workers' compensation

Workers compensation insurance is mandatory in Oklahoma for any business with employees under the Oklahoma Workers' Compensation Act.

Additional financial requirements

Electrical Contractors must post a $5,000 surety bond with the CIB. No separate financial statement is required for the journeyman credential.

Schedule of Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$100
Examination	$87
Initial license — sole owner	$150
Initial license — non-sole owner	$300
Renewal (every 3 years)	$150

Renewal and Continuing Obligations

The Oklahoma Journeyman Electrician and Unlimited Electrical Contractor runs on a 3 years renewal cycle. The current renewal fee is $150. Oklahoma electrician credentials renew every three years. Renewal requires current bond and insurance for contractors.

Continuing education: Sixteen hours of CIB-approved continuing education each three-year renewal cycle, including current National Electrical Code update training.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Out-of-State Reciprocity

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

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Texas	Trade exam waived	Bilateral CIB–TDLR reciprocity for active Journeyman and Master Electricians in good standing.
Arkansas	Trade exam waived	Bilateral CIB–Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners reciprocity for active electricians.
Kansas	Trade exam waived	Bilateral CIB–Kansas reciprocity through participating local jurisdictions.
New Mexico	Trade exam waived	Bilateral CIB–New Mexico Construction Industries Division reciprocity for active electricians.

Reciprocal applicants must still pass the Oklahoma business and law portion if applying for an Electrical Contractor license. Reciprocity does not waive the bond, insurance, or business registration requirements.

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 Application Roadmap

Register as an Apprentice Electrician. File the CIB Apprentice Registration form before performing any electrical work. Apprentice registration must be renewed annually.
Accumulate 4 years and 8,000 hours of supervised experience. Work under a Journeyman Electrician or Electrical Contractor and document hours on the CIB experience affidavit.
Submit the CIB Journeyman application. File the Journeyman Electrician application with the experience affidavit, fee, and identity documents.
Pass the PSI Journeyman exam at 75%. Score 75% or better on the 80-question PSI exam covering the National Electrical Code and Oklahoma rules.
Receive the Journeyman Electrician credential. CIB issues the journeyman credential after the exam is passed. The credential renews every three years.
Apply for the Electrical Contractor license (optional). Submit the Electrical Contractor application designating an active Journeyman as the qualifying party. Pass the business and law exam at 75%.
Post the bond and file insurance. Post a $5,000 surety bond with the CIB and file proof of general liability and workers compensation insurance to activate the contractor license.

Where Applications Stall

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

Working without apprentice registration

Performing electrical work in Oklahoma without an active Apprentice Electrician registration is a violation of Title 59 §1680 and disqualifies the hours from counting toward journeyman experience.

Underestimating the 75% passing score

Oklahoma requires 75% to pass — five points higher than many neighboring states. Prep accordingly.

Confusing Journeyman with Electrical Contractor

The Journeyman credential authorizes you as an individual; you still need a separate Electrical Contractor license, bond, and insurance to operate as a business.

Skipping the business and law exam

Electrical Contractor applicants must pass both the trade exam and the business and law exam at 75%. The trade-only journeyman exam does not satisfy the contractor exam requirement.

Missing CE for renewal

Sixteen hours of CIB-approved CE every three years is mandatory, including current NEC update training. Missing CE blocks renewal and triggers monthly late fees.

Pre-Application Checklist

Have each of the following squared away before the packet goes to CIB:

☐ CIB Apprentice Electrician registration
☐ Experience affidavit covering 4 years and 8,000 hours of supervised work
☐ CIB Journeyman Electrician application with $100 fee
☐ PSI Journeyman exam pass certificate at 75%+
☐ PSI business and law exam pass certificate (Electrical Contractor only)
☐ $5,000 surety bond on file with CIB (Electrical Contractor only)
☐ General liability and workers compensation insurance certificates

Recommended Study Materials

The following references are cited by the regulator, used in the application process, or commonly used to prepare for the trade scope. Listed for reader convenience; CLR receives no compensation for these recommendations.

National Electrical Code (NFPA 70), Oklahoma-adopted edition — National Fire Protection Association. Primary technical reference. Open-book at the PSI test center.
Oklahoma Statutes Title 59 §1680 (Electrical License Act) — State of Oklahoma. Licensing law for electricians.
Tom Henry Journeyman Electrician Exam Prep — Tom Henry Books. Widely used by Oklahoma applicants for NEC calculation problems.

Other Oklahoma Trade Licenses

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

Common Questions

Who licenses electricians in Oklahoma?

The Oklahoma Construction Industries Board (CIB) licenses electricians statewide under Title 59 §1680. Oklahoma City and Tulsa accept the CIB credential — there is no separate municipal electrician license.

How many hours of experience does Oklahoma require for a Journeyman Electrician?

Four years and 8,000 hours of qualifying experience as a registered Apprentice Electrician under the supervision of a licensed Journeyman or Electrical Contractor.

What is the passing score on the Oklahoma electrician exam?

75 percent. PSI administers the exam under contract to CIB. The Journeyman exam is 80 questions covering the National Electrical Code and Oklahoma electrical rules.

Does Oklahoma reciprocate with other states?

Yes. Oklahoma has bilateral reciprocity with Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, and New Mexico for active Journeyman and Master Electricians. Reciprocal applicants must still pass the Oklahoma business and law portion to obtain a contractor license.

Do I need a bond as an Oklahoma Electrical Contractor?

Yes. Electrical Contractors must post a $5,000 surety bond with the CIB and file proof of general liability and workers compensation insurance before the contractor license becomes active.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-06-13 · Next scheduled review 2026-09-11