Solar Installer License Requirements by State
Installs and services solar PV systems. This page compares solar installer licensing requirements across all 50 US states and the District of Columbia. Every row links to the verified state page with statute citations, fees, exam scope, insurance, and renewal rules.
- Published guides
- 51
- Exam pathways recorded
- 31
- Require surety bond
- 10
- Local / scope-specific
- 15
- Avg published experience
- 3.8 yr
Comparison table — all 51 jurisdictions
Scroll horizontally on smaller screens. Use the sort control to compare low-fee states, high-bond states, or the jurisdictions with the heaviest published experience requirements. Click any state to open the verified license page.
15 of these published jurisdictions have no single statewide trade license; local and scope-specific rules may apply.
| State | License | Exam | Experience | Bond | Initial fee | Renewal | NASCLA | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama Mixed / scope-dependent | Alabama Solar Contractor Licensing Guide | Confirm with authority | 4 yr | — | $150 | 1 yr | Accepted | Timing depends on AECB approval of the experience package |
| Alaska Mixed / scope-dependent | Alaska Solar PV — Electrical Contractor and Electrical Administrator Path | Confirm with authority | — | $10,000 | — | 2 yr | — | State administrator approval/exam timing |
| Arizona Mixed / scope-dependent | Arizona C-11 Electrical Contractor with Solar Qualification (Commercial PV) | Required | 4 yr | $2,500 | $480 | 2 yr | — | Timing depends on examination completion |
| Arkansas Mixed / scope-dependent | Arkansas Solar Systems Contractor / Electrical Contractor | Depends on pathway | — | $10,000 | — | 1 yr | — | Varies by the selected contractor route |
| California State license | California Class C-46 — Solar Contractor | Depends on pathway | 4 yr | $25,000 | $200 | 2 yr | — | CSLB does not publish one fixed C-46 processing timeline |
| Colorado Local / scope-specific | Colorado Solar PV — Electrical Contractor or Photovoltaic Installer Framework | Required | — | — | — | — | — | Varies by the business path |
| Connecticut State license | Connecticut PV-1 Limited Solar Electric Contractor / PV-2 Journeyperson | Confirm with authority | 2 yr | — | $150 | 1 yr | — | — |
| Delaware State license | Delaware Solar PV — Electrical License and Contractor Business License | Required | 6 yr | — | $203 | 2 yr | — | — |
| District of Columbia State license | DC Electrical Contractor/Master Electrician Path and DOB Solar Permits | No statewide exam | — | $4,000 | $120 | 2 yr | — | — |
| Florida State license | Florida Certified or Registered Solar Contractor | Required | 4 yr | — | $145 | 2 yr | — | Timing varies with experience review |
| Georgia State license | Georgia — No Standalone Solar License (Electrical Contractor Class I or Class II Unrestricted) | Required | 3 yr | — | — | 2 yr | — | 90 – 180 days from application to wallet card |
| Hawaii Mixed / scope-dependent | Hawaii C-60 Solar Power Systems Contractor License | Confirm with authority | 4 yr | — | $260 | 2 yr | — | CLB review |
| Idaho State license | Idaho Limited Electrical Contractor — Solar Photovoltaic | Required | 2 yr | — | $125 | 1 yr | — | DOPL does not publish a standard processing time |
| Illinois State license | Illinois Commerce Commission Distributed Generation Installer Certification (Solar PV) | No statewide exam | — | — | — | 1 yr | — | — |
| Indiana Local / scope-specific | Indiana Solar — No State Solar Contractor License (Local Approval Path) | No statewide exam | — | — | — | 1 yr | — | There is no statewide solar-contractor credential |
| Iowa State license | Iowa Electrical Contractor License for Solar PV Work | Confirm with authority | — | — | $291.64 | 3 yr | — | Timing depends on the business application |
| Kansas State license | Kansas Solar Contractor Requirements — Local Electrical and Permit Framework | Confirm with authority | — | — | — | — | — | No statewide solar-license timeline applies |
| Kentucky Mixed / scope-dependent | Kentucky Solar Installation Requirements — Electrical Contractor and Local Permits | No statewide exam | — | — | — | — | — | There is no standalone solar-license timeline |
| Louisiana State license | Louisiana Solar Energy Equipment Contractor License Guide | Depends on pathway | — | — | — | 1 yr | — | Timing depends on qualifying-party documentation |
| Maine Local / scope-specific | Maine Solar — No Standalone Solar License (Electrical and Local Approval Path) | Confirm with authority | — | — | — | 1 yr | — | There is no standalone solar credential |
| Maryland State license | Maryland MHIC Contractor License and State Electrician Licensing | Confirm with authority | 7 yr | — | $25 | 2 yr | — | — |
| Massachusetts Local / scope-specific | Massachusetts Solar Contractor Requirements (Electrical, HIC, CSL, and Local Permits) | Required | — | — | — | 3 yr | — | Project readiness varies by the electrical license held |
| Michigan State license | Michigan Electrical Contractor License with Master Electrician | Confirm with authority | 6 yr | — | $300 | 3 yr | — | The standard master pathway entails at least 12 |
| Minnesota Local / scope-specific | Minnesota Residential Building Contractor or Residential Remodeler License (Residential Solar PV Contracting) | Required | — | — | $500 | 2 yr | — | — |
| Mississippi State license | Mississippi Solar and Wind Construction / Residential Solar License | Depends on pathway | — | — | — | 1 yr | — | MSBOC says complete applications are processed weekly |
| Missouri Local / scope-specific | Missouri Solar Contractor Requirements — Statewide Electrical and Local Permit Path | Required | — | — | $200 | 3 yr | — | OSEC does not publish a universal processing time in the sources reviewed |
| Montana Local / scope-specific | Montana Solar Contractor Requirements — Electrical, Construction and Permit Guide | Required | — | — | $300 | 2 yr | — | Timing depends on the construction-contractor application |
| Nebraska Mixed / scope-dependent | Nebraska Solar PV — Electrical Licensing, Contractor Registration, and Interconnection | No statewide exam | 1 yr | — | $187.5 | 2 yr | — | NSED does not publish a solar-contractor timeline |
| Nevada State license | Nevada Solar Contractor License — C-2 Electrical and C-2g Photovoltaics | Depends on pathway | 4 yr | — | $600 | 2 yr | — | Allow time for document review |
| New Hampshire State license | New Hampshire Master Electrician / Electrical Business License for Solar PV | Required | — | — | — | 2 yr | — | For a new master |
| New Jersey Mixed / scope-dependent | New Jersey Electrical Contractor License and Business Permit for Solar PV | Required | 5 yr | $1,000 | $225 | 3 yr | — | At least five years for the ordinary electrical-contractor experience path |
| New Mexico State license | New Mexico Solar PV Contractor Requirements — Electrical License and CID Permits | Depends on pathway | — | — | — | — | — | There is no standalone solar credential timeline |
| New York Local / scope-specific | New York Solar Contractor — No State Solar License; Local Electrical and Permit Rules | Depends on pathway | — | — | — | — | — | No statewide solar-license timeline |
| North Carolina Local / scope-specific | North Carolina Electrical Contractor License for Solar Photovoltaic Work | Depends on pathway | — | — | $100 | 1 yr | — | Timing depends on the selected classification’s experience review |
| North Dakota State license | North Dakota Solar PV — Contracting Master Electrician and Contractor Requirements | Required | 5 yr | — | $50 | 1 yr | — | — |
| Ohio Mixed / scope-dependent | Ohio OCILB Electrical Contractor License | Required | 5 yr | — | $25 | 1 yr | — | 90 – 180 days from application to wallet card |
| Oklahoma Mixed / scope-dependent | Oklahoma Electrical Contractor License for Solar PV Work | Required | — | $5,000 | $300 | 1 yr | — | CIB does not publish a standard solar-PV timeline |
| Oregon State license | Oregon Solar Contractor Licensing — CCB plus BCD Electrical Credential | Required | 2 yr | $20,000 | $400 | 2 yr | Accepted | CCB says its completed application process may take six to eight weeks |
| Pennsylvania Local / scope-specific | Pennsylvania Solar — HIC Registration and Local Electrical Approval Path | No statewide exam | — | — | $100 | 2 yr | — | There is no statewide solar credential |
| Rhode Island State license | Rhode Island Renewable Energy Professional (REP) Certificate / Electrical License Path | Confirm with authority | — | — | $240 | 2 yr | — | DLT does not publish a universal REP processing time |
| South Carolina State registration | South Carolina Residential Specialty Contractor Registration — Solar | No statewide exam | — | — | — | 2 yr | — | LLR does not publish a universal processing time for RBS Solar registration. |
| South Dakota Mixed / scope-dependent | South Dakota Electrical Contractor License for Solar-PV Work | Required | 2 yr | $10,000 | $200 | 2 yr | — | — |
| Tennessee Local / scope-specific | Tennessee Contractor License — S-Solar Panel Installation / CE Electrical Work | Required | — | — | $250 | 2 yr | — | — |
| Texas Local / scope-specific | Texas — No State Solar License (TDLR Electrician + local permits) | No statewide exam | — | — | — | — | — | No standalone state solar-license timeline |
| Utah State license | Utah S202 Solar Photovoltaic Contractor — Specialty Contractor Path | No statewide exam | — | — | — | 2 yr | — | DOPL does not publish a universal S202 processing timeline |
| Vermont Local / scope-specific | Vermont Solar Electrical and Heating License Guide | Required | — | — | $150 | 3 yr | — | Timing depends on the actual electrical/heating credential |
| Virginia State license | Virginia Alternative Energy Systems (AES) Contractor Specialty | Required | 2 yr | — | $235 | 2 yr | — | DPOR does not publish a standard AES processing time |
| Washington Mixed / scope-dependent | Washington Solar Contractor Requirements (Electrical Contractor License, Construction Registration, and Local Permits) | Required | — | $4,000 | $354 | 2 yr | — | — |
| West Virginia Local / scope-specific | West Virginia Electrical Contractor and Contractor License Requirements for Solar PV | Required | — | — | — | 1 yr | — | Depends on State Fire Marshal qualification review and examination scheduling |
| Wisconsin State license | Wisconsin Solar PV — Electrical Contractor and Electrician Credentials | Required | — | — | — | 4 yr | — | Depends on the selected role |
| Wyoming Local / scope-specific | Wyoming Electrical Contractor License for Solar-PV Installation | No statewide exam | — | — | — | 1 yr | — | — |
National picture for solar installer
Of the 51 jurisdictions currently published in this dataset, 31 record required or conditional examination pathways, 10 record a positive license-bond amount, and 2 record NASCLA acceptance. Among entries with a positive numeric experience threshold, the average recorded value is 3.8 years.
The comparison above is generated at build time directly from the state license entries on this site. Every value is traceable to the regulator's published rule. If you spot a discrepancy, the state page is the source of truth and will be re-verified against the official source set.
Choosing where to license first
- Lowest barrier to entry: compare the recorded fee and examination pathway, then read the guide for local obligations and missing costs. A local-only label does not mean the work is unregulated.
- Strongest reciprocity downstream: states marked NASCLA Accepted, because the same exam can unlock multiple jurisdictions later.
- Lowest upfront cost: focus on combinations with the smallest initial fee and no bond requirement.
- Fastest path to wallet card: compare the Time column, but remember that municipal programs can still involve multiple city registrations.
Related trades
Scope of work overlaps at the edges of every classification. Contractors researching solar installer licensing often also need the comparison hub for these adjacent trades:
Related reading
Original cross-state analyses from our dataset that add context to the solar installer table above — who runs the exams, where the burden is heaviest, and what a criminal record means for eligibility.
The Contractor Licensing Atlas
What mapping 918 licenses revealed about exam providers, bonds, and where a trade needs no state license at all.
Contractor license difficulty index
Where each state ranks on exam, experience, and bond burden — hardest to easiest.
License costs ranked by state
Cheapest to most expensive states once fees, bond, and first-year insurance are counted.
Licensing with a criminal record
A 50-state look at background checks and which convictions actually block a license.
Data is sourced from the issuing boards' published rules. Latest completed source-check date represented in the dataset: 2026-09-30.