Solar Installer License Requirements by State
Installs and services solar PV systems. This page currently compares 49 of 51 jurisdictions published jurisdictions for solar installer while the remaining states are still being researched and drafted. Every row links to the verified state page with statute citations, fees, exam scope, insurance, and renewal rules.
- Published guides
- 49
- Require trade exam
- 49
- Require surety bond
- 14
- Local / municipal
- 13
- Avg published experience
- 4.7 yr
Comparison table — 49 of 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.
13 of these published jurisdictions rely on local or municipal licensing instead of a single statewide credential.
| State | License | Exam | Experience | Bond | Initial fee | Renewal | NASCLA | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Alabama Electrical Contractor License (AECB) | Yes | 4 yr | — | $200 | 1 yr | — | 90 – 180 days from application to wallet card |
| Alaska | Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing Electrical Administrator License | Yes | 8 yr | $25,000 | $225 | 2 yr | — | 8+ years to complete the Electrical Administrator experience |
| Arizona | Arizona ROC CR-11 / CC-11 Solar Contractor | Yes | 4 yr | $9,000 | $200 | 2 yr | — | 90 – 180 days from application to wallet card |
| Arkansas | Arkansas Electrical Contractor License + Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board Solar/Electrical Classification | Yes | 4 yr | — | $100 | 1 yr | Accepted | 6+ years to complete the Master Electrician experience |
| California | California Class C-46 — Solar Contractor (with C-10 Electrical and C-36 Plumbing alternates) | Yes | 4 yr | $25,000 | $200 | 2 yr | — | 90 – 180 days from application to wallet card |
| Colorado Local / municipal | Colorado DORA Electrical Contractor License (with Master Electrician) | Yes | 4 yr | — | $165 | 3 yr | — | 5+ years to complete the Master Electrician path |
| Connecticut | Connecticut PV-1 Solar Photovoltaic Contractor / PV-2 Solar Photovoltaic Journeyperson (and HIC Registration) | Yes | 2 yr | — | $150 | 1 yr | — | 2+ years from PV-2 to PV-1 |
| Delaware | Delaware Board of Electrical Examiners Master Electrician License | Yes | 7 yr | — | $130 | 2 yr | — | 6+ years to complete the Master Electrician path |
| District of Columbia | DC DLCP Master Electrician License and Basic Business License | Yes | 7 yr | $25,000 | $200 | 2 yr | — | 7+ years to complete the Master Electrician path |
| Florida Local / municipal | Florida Certified or Registered Solar Contractor | Yes | 4 yr | — | $209 | 2 yr | — | 120 – 240 days from application to wallet card |
| Georgia | Georgia — No Standalone Solar License (Electrical Contractor Class I or Class II Unrestricted) | Yes | 4 yr | — | $75 | 2 yr | — | 90 – 180 days from application to wallet card |
| Hawaii | Hawaii Contractors License Board C-60 Solar Power Systems Contractor | Yes | 4 yr | — | $200 | 2 yr | — | 120 – 240 days from application to wallet card |
| Idaho | Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses Electrical Contractor License | Yes | 6 yr | — | $120 | 3 yr | — | 6+ years to complete the Master Electrician path |
| Indiana Local / municipal | Indiana — No State Solar or Electrician License (Local Electrical Contractor Required) | Yes | 4 yr | $5,000 | $200 | 2 yr | — | 90 – 180 days from application to issuance |
| Iowa | Iowa Electrical Contractor License (with Master Electrician) | Yes | 5 yr | — | $150 | 3 yr | — | 5+ years to complete the Master Electrician path |
| Kansas Local / municipal | Kansas — No State Solar or Electrician License (Local Electrical Contractor Required) | Yes | 4 yr | $5,000 | $200 | 2 yr | — | 90 – 180 days from application to issuance |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Electrical Contractor License + Master Electrician | Yes | 6 yr | — | $250 | 1 yr | — | 6+ years to complete the Master Electrician path |
| Louisiana | Louisiana LSLBC Electrical Work Classification (7-09) and Solar Energy Equipment Specialty | Yes | — | — | $100 | 1 yr | Accepted | 90 – 180 days from application to wallet card |
| Maine | Maine Electricians Examining Board Master Electrician License | Yes | 6 yr | — | $100 | 2 yr | — | 6+ years to complete the Master Electrician path |
| Maryland Local / municipal | Maryland Master Electrician License (State Board of Master Electricians) | Yes | 7 yr | — | $25 | 2 yr | — | 7+ years to complete the experience requirement |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts Master Electrician (Class A) License | Yes | 4 yr | — | $192 | 3 yr | — | 5+ years to complete the Master Electrician path |
| Michigan | Michigan Electrical Contractor License (with Master Electrician) | Yes | 6 yr | — | $175 | 3 yr | — | 6+ years to complete the Master Electrician path |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Master Electrician + Electrical Contractor License | Yes | 5 yr | $25,000 | $100 | 2 yr | — | 5+ years to complete the Master Electrician path |
| Mississippi | Mississippi State Board of Contractors Electrical Classification | Yes | 3 yr | — | $200 | 1 yr | Accepted | 90 – 180 days from application to wallet card |
| Missouri Local / municipal | Missouri — No State Solar or Electrician License (Local Electrical Contractor Required) | Yes | 4 yr | $5,000 | $200 | 2 yr | — | 90 – 180 days from application to issuance |
| Montana | Montana State Electrical Board Electrical Contractor License | Yes | 6 yr | — | $110 | 2 yr | — | 6+ years to complete the Master Electrician path |
| Nebraska Local / municipal | Nebraska State Electrical Division Electrical Contractor License | Yes | 4 yr | — | $125 | 3 yr | — | 5+ years to complete the Class A experience |
| Nevada Local / municipal | Nevada NSCB C-2 Electrical Contractor with Solar Subclass (C-2g Photovoltaic) | Yes | 4 yr | $10,000 | $600 | 2 yr | — | 90 – 180 days from application to wallet card |
| New Hampshire Local / municipal | New Hampshire Master Electrician License | Yes | 6 yr | — | $150 | 3 yr | — | 6+ years to complete the Master Electrician path |
| New Jersey | New Jersey Electrical Contractor License (Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors) | Yes | 5 yr | $1,000 | $200 | 2 yr | — | 6+ years to complete the experience requirement |
| New Mexico | New Mexico CID GS-3 Solar Installation Contractor License | Yes | 4 yr | — | $150 | 3 yr | — | 90 – 180 days from application to wallet card |
| New York Local / municipal | New York — No State Solar License (Local Master Electrician + NYSERDA Eligible Installer) | Yes | 7 yr | $25,000 | $100 | 3 yr | — | 8+ years to complete the NYC Master Electrician path |
| North Carolina | North Carolina Limited / Intermediate / Unlimited Electrical Contractor with SP-PV (Photovoltaic) Special Restricted Classification | Yes | 4 yr | — | $100 | 1 yr | — | 90 – 180 days from application to wallet card |
| North Dakota | North Dakota State Electrical Board Electrical Contractor License | Yes | 5 yr | — | $175 | 1 yr | — | 5+ years to complete the Master Electrician path |
| Ohio Local / municipal | Ohio OCILB Electrical Contractor License | Yes | 5 yr | — | $25 | 1 yr | — | 90 – 180 days from application to wallet card |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma CIB Electrical Contractor License | Yes | 4 yr | $5,000 | $250 | 1 yr | — | 90 – 180 days from application to wallet card |
| Oregon | Oregon CCB Residential/Commercial Contractor + BCD Limited Renewable Energy Technician (LRT) | Yes | 2 yr | $20,000 | $250 | 2 yr | — | 120 – 240 days from start to LRT issuance |
| Pennsylvania Local / municipal | Pennsylvania — No State Solar or Electrician License (PA HIC Registration + Local Electrician) | Yes | — | — | $50 | 2 yr | — | 60 – 120 days from start to HIC issuance |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island Division of Professional Regulation Electrical Contractor License (A) | Yes | 6 yr | — | $120 | 2 yr | — | 6+ years to complete the Master Electrician path |
| South Carolina | South Carolina Electrical Contractor License (with Master Electrician) | Yes | 4 yr | — | $215 | 2 yr | — | 90 – 180 days from application to wallet card |
| South Dakota | South Dakota Electrical Commission Electrical Contractor License | Yes | 4 yr | — | $100 | 1 yr | — | 90 – 180 days from application to wallet card |
| Tennessee | Tennessee BC-A (Solar Energy) Limited Specialty Contractor or CE Electrical Contractor | Yes | 3 yr | — | $250 | 2 yr | Accepted | 90 – 180 days from application to wallet card |
| Texas Local / municipal | Texas — No State Solar License (TDLR Electrician + local permits) | Yes | 4 yr | — | $115 | 1 yr | — | 6+ years to complete the Master Electrician path |
| Utah | Utah DOPL S202 Solar Photovoltaic Contractor (or E200 Electrical Contractor) | Yes | 4 yr | — | $240 | 2 yr | — | 90 – 180 days from application to wallet card |
| Vermont | Vermont Electricians Licensing Board Master Electrician License | Yes | 6 yr | — | $125 | 3 yr | — | 6+ years to complete the Master Electrician path |
| Virginia | Virginia DPOR Class A/B/C Contractor with ELE Electrical or PLB Plumbing Specialty (Solar PV / Solar Thermal) | Yes | 4 yr | — | $385 | 2 yr | — | 6+ years to complete the Master Electrician path |
| Washington | Washington L&I Electrical Contractor (06 General) + Specialty 06A Residential and 06B Commercial | Yes | 4 yr | $4,000 | $365 | 1 yr | — | 6+ years for the Master Electrician path |
| West Virginia | West Virginia Electrical Contractor License + Contractor Licensing Board Electrical Classification | Yes | 4 yr | — | $100 | 1 yr | — | 90 – 180 days from application to wallet card |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin Master Electrician License + Electrical Contractor Registration | Yes | 5 yr | — | $145 | 4 yr | — | 5+ years to complete the Master Electrician path |
National picture for solar installer
Of the 49 jurisdictions currently published in this dataset, 49 require a trade examination administered by PSI, Prometric, NASCLA, Pearson VUE, ICC, or the state board directly. 14 require an explicit surety bond filed with the regulator before the license issues, and 4 accept the NASCLA Accredited Examination as a path toward reciprocal licensure for this line of work. Where the regulator publishes a numeric threshold, the average documented experience requirement is 4.7 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: sort by initial fee and look closely at rows where Exam = No or the state is marked Local / municipal.
- 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 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.
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The Contractor Licensing Atlas
What mapping 586 licenses revealed about exam providers, bonds, and where a trade needs no state license at all.
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Contractor license difficulty index
Where each state ranks on exam, experience, and bond burden — hardest to easiest.
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License costs ranked by state
Cheapest to most expensive states once fees, bond, and first-year insurance are counted.
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Licensing with a criminal record
A 50-state look at background checks and which convictions actually block a license.
All data verified from the issuing state board's published rules. Last full pass: 2026-Q2.