Utah Master Electrician License Requirements (2026)

The Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) Electricians Board licenses electricians statewide under Utah Code Title 58 Chapter 55 and Utah Admin. Code R156-55a. Utah issues three individual electrician credentials — Apprentice Electrician, Journeyman Electrician, and Master Electrician — and licenses electrical contracting businesses through the DOPL Contractors Board with a Master Electrician serving as the qualifying individual. The Journeyman path requires 8,000 hours of supervised on-the-job training plus 576 classroom hours through an approved electrical apprenticeship; the Master Electrician credential then requires two additional years of experience as a Journeyman plus a passing score on the Prometric Master Electrician examination at 70%.

The Licensing Authority

Authority over this credential rests with Utah Division of Professional Licensing — Contractors Board (DOPL), which issues and polices it under Utah Code Title 58 Chapter 55 (Utah Construction Trades Licensing Act); Utah Admin. Code R156-55a. The Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) Contractors Board licenses general contractors, electricians, plumbers, and mechanical contractors statewide, adopts the International Building Code by reference, and conducts disciplinary proceedings under Title 58 Chapter 55.

Official portal: https://dopl.utah.gov/contractor/
Address: 160 East 300 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Phone: (801) 530-6628

Baseline Eligibility

Eligibility begins with two baseline checks: the applicant must be 18 or older and must provide a valid Social Security Number. No Utah residency requirement; out-of-state applicants accepted.

Good moral character

DOPL conducts a fitness review on every applicant. Felony convictions and prior license actions are reviewed individually by the Electricians Board.

Background investigation

Mandatory criminal history disclosure on the application; DOPL may require fingerprint-based BCI/FBI background checks for applicants with disclosed convictions.

Disqualifying conditions

Construction- or electrical-fraud convictions within the prior five years
Prior electrician license revocation in any state

Experience and Education Requirements

The experience bar is four years (8,000 hours) of supervised electrical work plus 576 classroom hours to qualify as a Journeyman Electrician, then two additional years as a licensed Journeyman to qualify for the Master Electrician examination, 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

DOPL Verification of Apprenticeship Hours form signed by each licensed Master Electrician supervisor
Approved electrical apprenticeship program completion certificate (IBEW/NECA, ABC, or equivalent)
Classroom hours transcript from the approved electrical training program
W-2 statements or pay stubs covering the qualifying period

Education substitution

Accredited electrical engineering or electrical engineering technology degrees substitute for portions of the classroom hours requirement on a sliding scale set by DOPL rule. On-the-job hours are not substitutable.

The Licensing Examination

Prometric (under contract to DOPL) administers the required examination. Each part below must be passed before the license will issue:

Utah Journeyman Electrician Examination — National Electrical Code, Utah electrical rules, theory — 80 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 70%
Utah Master Electrician Examination — NEC, Utah electrical rules, business and law, advanced theory — 100 questions, 300 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $77 per Prometric exam part paid on the day of testing.

Retake policy: Failed exams may be re-taken after a 30-day waiting period by paying a new $77 fee. Each application remains open for one year.

Financial Security and Insurance

Before the license is issued, the applicant must file a $50,000 contractor license surety bond in the form prescribed by the DOPL.

General liability

General liability is mandatory at the contractor business level. Most commercial owners contractually require $1,000,000/$2,000,000.

Workers' compensation

Workers compensation is mandatory in Utah under Utah Code §34A-2-103 for any contractor with one or more employees.

Additional financial requirements

Electrical contractor business licenses require the same $50,000 contractor surety bond as general contractors. Individual Journeyman and Master Electrician credentials do not carry a bonding requirement.

Fee Schedule

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$100
Examination	$77
Initial license	$100
Renewal (every 2 years)	$64

License Renewal

The Utah Master Electrician (and Journeyman Electrician) must be renewed every 2 years. The fee to renew is presently $64. Utah Master and Journeyman Electrician credentials renew every two years on November 30 of even-numbered years.

Continuing education: 16 hours of DOPL-approved continuing education each two-year renewal cycle, including at least 8 hours on the National Electrical Code.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity Map

Utah grants no NASCLA reciprocity for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Arizona	Trade exam waived	Bilateral DOPL–Arizona ROC reciprocity for active master electricians in good standing.
Nevada	Trade exam waived	Bilateral DOPL–Nevada State Contractors Board reciprocity.
Idaho	Trade exam waived	Bilateral DOPL–Idaho Division of Building Safety reciprocity for journeyman and master electricians.
Colorado	Trade exam waived	Bilateral DOPL–Colorado State Electrical Board reciprocity.
Wyoming	Trade exam waived	Bilateral DOPL–Wyoming Department of Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety reciprocity.

Utah maintains bilateral electrician reciprocity with Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, Colorado, and Wyoming. Reciprocal applicants still must pass the Utah-specific portion covering state amendments to the NEC.

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 Licensing Roadmap

Register as an Apprentice Electrician. File the Apprentice Electrician registration with DOPL and enroll in an approved electrical apprenticeship program.
Complete 8,000 hours of supervised experience and 576 classroom hours. Four years of on-the-job training under a licensed Master Electrician plus 576 classroom hours through the approved program.
Pass the Prometric Journeyman Electrician examination at 70%. Score 70% or better on the 80-question exam covering the NEC, Utah electrical rules, and theory.
Work as a licensed Journeyman for two additional years. Document two years of journey-level electrical work after receiving the Journeyman credential.
Pass the Prometric Master Electrician examination at 70%. Score 70% or better on the 100-question exam covering the NEC, Utah rules, business and law, and advanced theory.
Receive the Master Electrician credential. DOPL issues the credential after the exam is passed. The credential renews every two years.
Obtain the Electrical Contractor (E100) business license (if self-employed). File a separate Contractors Board application designating the Master Electrician as the qualifying individual, with the $50,000 bond and required insurance.

Before Filing: A Checklist

Ahead of submission to DOPL, confirm every item on this short list:

☐ Apprentice Electrician registration with DOPL
☐ Documentation of 8,000 supervised hours and 576 classroom hours
☐ Prometric Journeyman Electrician exam pass certificate at 70%+
☐ Two years of additional experience as a licensed Journeyman
☐ Prometric Master Electrician exam pass certificate at 70%+
☐ DOPL Master Electrician application with $100 fee
☐ E100 Electrical Contractor business license with $50,000 bond (if self-employed)

Common Application Pitfalls

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

Logging unsupervised hours

Only hours worked under direct supervision of a licensed Master Electrician count toward the 8,000-hour requirement. Solo or unsupervised work is rejected by DOPL.

Missing classroom hours

The 576 classroom hours are mandatory and cannot be substituted by additional on-the-job hours. Apprenticeship programs must be DOPL-approved.

Studying the wrong NEC edition

Utah adopts the NEC on a delayed cycle and adds state-specific amendments. Confirm the current Utah-adopted edition before purchasing study materials.

Confusing tradesman with contractor

The Master Electrician credential authorizes you as an individual; you still need a separate E100 Electrical Contractor business license with the $50,000 bond to operate as a business.

Letting CE lapse

16 hours of DOPL-approved CE every two years (8 hours minimum on the NEC) is mandatory. Missing CE blocks renewal and may force re-examination after lapse.

Preparation Resources

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), Utah-adopted edition — National Fire Protection Association. Primary technical reference. Open-book at the Prometric test center.
Tom Henry Master Electrician Exam Prep — Tom Henry Books. Widely used by Utah applicants for NEC calculation problems and motor sizing.
Utah Code Title 58 Chapter 55 and Utah Admin. Code R156-55a — State of Utah. Licensing law and Utah-specific NEC amendments.

Other Utah Trade Licenses

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

Answers to Common Questions

How long does it take to become a Master Electrician in Utah?

Minimum six years: four years (8,000 hours) of supervised apprenticeship plus 576 classroom hours to reach Journeyman, then two additional years as a licensed Journeyman before sitting for the Master Electrician exam.

What is the difference between a Utah Journeyman and Master Electrician?

A Journeyman Electrician may perform electrical work under the general supervision of a Master Electrician. A Master Electrician may design electrical systems, supervise journeymen and apprentices, and serve as the qualifying individual for an electrical contracting business.

Does Utah reciprocate electrician credentials?

Yes. DOPL maintains bilateral electrician reciprocity with Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, Colorado, and Wyoming. Reciprocal applicants must still pass the Utah-specific portion covering state amendments to the NEC.

Do I need both a Master Electrician credential and a contractor license?

Yes if you operate a self-employed electrical contracting business. The Master credential authorizes you as an individual; the E100 Electrical Contractor business license authorizes the business to bid and contract and requires the $50,000 surety bond.

How often does the Utah Master Electrician credential renew?

Every two years on November 30 of even-numbered years. Renewal requires 16 hours of DOPL-approved continuing education with at least eight hours covering the National Electrical Code.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-06-09 · Next scheduled review 2026-09-07