Rhode Island Electrician License Requirements (2026)

The Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (DLT) Division of Professional Regulation licenses electricians statewide under R.I. General Laws Title 5 Chapter 6. Rhode Island issues tiered licenses: Class B (limited/lower voltage) and Class A (unlimited) at both Journeyperson and Master levels. A Class A Master Electrician is the highest individual credential and is required to operate as an electrical contracting business. The National Electrical Code (NEC) as adopted by Rhode Island is the primary technical reference and is tested on the state examination.

Regulatory Body Profile

Rhode Island Contractors Registration and Licensing Board / Department of Labor and Training Professional Regulation (CRLB / DLT) is the statutory authority responsible for issuing and enforcing this license under R.I. General Laws Title 5 Chapter 65 (Contractors Registration); Title 5 Chapter 6 (Electricians); Title 5 Chapter 20 (Plumbers); Title 28 Chapter 27 (Pipefitters and Refrigeration). The Contractors Registration and Licensing Board (CRLB) registers residential contractors and licenses commercial roofers. The Department of Labor and Training (DLT) Division of Professional Regulation licenses electricians, plumbers, pipefitters, refrigeration technicians, and sheet metal workers — the trade licenses required for HVAC work in Rhode Island.

Official portal: https://www.crb.ri.gov/
Address: Contractors Registration and Licensing Board, 1511 Pontiac Avenue, Cranston, RI 02920
Phone: (401) 921-1500

The Eligibility Audit

The threshold requirements are straightforward: age 18 or above, plus a valid Social Security Number. No Rhode Island residency requirement.

Good moral character

DLT reviews prior discipline and criminal history for each applicant.

Background investigation

Criminal history disclosure required on the application.

Experience and Education Standards

The experience bar is four years (8,000 hours) of documented electrical work as a registered apprentice under a licensed Class A electrician for the Class A Journeyperson exam, plus two additional years as a Journeyperson to qualify for Master; Class B requires a reduced experience track, 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

DLT apprentice registration records
Employer affidavits listing hours worked under licensed supervision
W-2 statements or payroll records covering the qualifying period
Approved apprenticeship program completion certificate (where applicable)

Education substitution

Completion of a DLT-approved electrical apprenticeship program satisfies the experience requirement for the Journeyperson examination.

The Exam Syllabus

Testing is handled by Rhode Island DLT Division of Professional Regulation (state-administered). The applicant has to pass each part listed here before the credential is granted:

Rhode Island Class A Journeyperson or Master Electrician Examination — NEC, Rhode Island electrical rules, theory and calculations — 100 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 75%

Examination fee: $75 examination fee per attempt.

Retake policy: Failed exams may be retaken by submitting a new exam fee. Each application remains valid for one year.

Bonding, Insurance & Financial Security

No statewide contractor license surety bond is required for this credential in the cited sources. Project-specific, permit, or public-works bonds may still apply, so confirm bonding before bidding a given job.

General liability

DLT does not impose a state-level general liability minimum on individual licensees. Electrical contracting businesses typically carry $500,000 – $1,000,000 minimums for local permitting.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation is mandatory for any business with employees under Rhode Island law.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement requirement for electrician licensing.

Schedule of Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$120
Examination	$75
Initial license	$120
Renewal (every year)	$120

Renewal and Continuing Obligations

The Rhode Island Electrician License (Class A/B Journeyperson and Master) runs on a year renewal cycle. The current renewal fee is $120. Rhode Island electrician licenses renew annually.

Continuing education: DLT-approved continuing education hours required each renewal cycle; confirm current hour count with DLT Professional Regulation.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Rhode Island 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, Rhode Island does not recognize the NASCLA Accredited Examination.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Massachusetts	Case-by-case review	Rhode Island reviews Massachusetts master electrician credentials on a case-by-case basis but does not operate a formal waiver.
Connecticut	Case-by-case review	Case-by-case credential review for active Connecticut E-1 contractors.

Rhode Island does not maintain formal statutory reciprocity. Out-of-state applicants must generally sit for the Rhode Island examination.

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 a DLT apprentice. Enroll in a DLT-approved apprenticeship program or register as an apprentice working under a Class A electrician.
Complete four years (8,000 hours) of qualifying work. Document hours under licensed supervision toward the Class A Journeyperson eligibility requirement.
Apply for the Journeyperson examination. Submit the DLT application with experience documentation and fee.
Pass the Journeyperson examination. Score 75% or better on the NEC-based examination.
Work two additional years as a Journeyperson. Accumulate two years of licensed Journeyperson experience to qualify for the Master examination.
Apply for and pass the Master Electrician examination. Master exam covers advanced NEC, calculations, and business and law.
Renew annually. Rhode Island electrician licenses renew every year with continuing education.

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.

National Electrical Code (NFPA 70), Rhode Island-adopted edition — National Fire Protection Association. Primary technical reference.
R.I. General Laws Title 5 Chapter 6 — State of Rhode Island. Electrician licensing statute.
Tom Henry Journeyman and Master Electrician Exam Prep — Tom Henry Books. Common prep for NEC calculation problems.

Pre-Application Checklist

Before submitting to CRLB / DLT, the applicant should have each of the following ready:

☐ DLT apprentice registration (at the start of the path)
☐ Documented 8,000 hours under a licensed Class A electrician
☐ DLT Journeyperson application with $120 fee
☐ Passing score (75%+) on the Journeyperson examination
☐ Two years of Journeyperson experience before Master application
☐ Passing score on the Master examination (for Master applicants)
☐ Workers compensation certificate (for business employers)

Where Applications Stall

The following pitfalls summarize the issues most likely to delay, return, or derail a Rhode Island Electrician application based on the published board instructions and source materials cited on this page.

Skipping apprentice registration

Hours worked without a registered DLT apprentice status may not count toward the experience requirement.

Confusing Class A and Class B scopes

Class B is limited — performing unlimited-scope work on a Class B license is an enforcement violation.

Studying the wrong NEC edition

Rhode Island adopts the NEC on its own cycle. Confirm the current adopted edition before testing.

Missing the Journeyperson-to-Master waiting period

Two years of Journeyperson experience is required before the Master exam.

Missing the annual renewal

Rhode Island renews annually, not biennially like many neighboring states.

Other Rhode Island Trade Licenses

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

Common Questions

What is the difference between Class A and Class B in Rhode Island?

Class A authorizes unlimited electrical work. Class B is limited (lower voltage, specific scopes) and has reduced experience and exam requirements.

How many hours of experience does Rhode Island require?

Four years and 8,000 hours of documented apprentice-level work under a licensed Class A electrician to sit for the Journeyperson exam, plus two more years as a Journeyperson before the Master exam.

What code does Rhode Island test?

The National Electrical Code (NFPA 70) as adopted by Rhode Island, plus Rhode Island amendments and DLT rules.

Does Rhode Island reciprocate electrician licenses?

No formal statutory reciprocity. Out-of-state applicants generally must sit for the Rhode Island examination.

How often does the license renew?

Every year. Renewal requires continuing education under DLT rules.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-06-01 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-30