Utah Low Voltage Contractor License Requirements (2026)

Utah licenses low-voltage work through the Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) under Utah Code Title 58 Chapter 55 (Construction Trades Licensing) and Title 58 Chapter 55a (Electrician Licensing). Individual installers may hold the E100 Residential and Apprentice Electrician or the journey-level low-voltage credential. Contracting businesses operate under the S200 Electrical and Low Voltage Contractor classification or the more limited S211 Communications and Sound System Contractor specialty, which covers structured cabling, intercom, audio/video, and CCTV up to 91 volts. Burglar alarm and monitored security work additionally requires registration as an Alarm Company under Utah Code 58-55-302.7. Fire alarm work requires a fully-licensed S200 Electrical Contractor.

The Licensing Authority

Utah Division of Professional Licensing — Contractors Board (DOPL) is the statutory authority responsible for issuing and enforcing this license 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.

Good moral character

DOPL conducts a fitness review on every applicant under Utah Code §58-1-401.

Background investigation

Criminal history disclosure required. Alarm Company registration additionally requires fingerprint-based BCI and FBI background screening for the qualifier.

Experience and Education Requirements

At least two years (approximately 4,000 hours) of supervised low-voltage installation experience for the S211 specialty, or four years for the full S200 electrical classification has to be evidenced and confirmed. Retain payroll, tax, project, or supervisor records, since the board may audit the experience claimed.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

DOPL Experience Verification Form signed by each supervising licensee
W-2 statements, pay stubs, or 1099 records covering the qualifying period
BICSI Installer or NICET Fire Alarm Systems certificates
Approved electrical or low-voltage apprenticeship completion certificate

Education substitution

Approved electrical apprenticeships and accredited two-year electronics programs substitute for portions of the experience requirement.

The Licensing Examination

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

Prometric Utah S211 Communications and Sound Systems Trade examination — 80 questions, 180 minutes, passing score 75%
Utah Contractor Business and Law examination — 50 questions, 120 minutes, passing score 75%

Examination fee: $75 trade exam + $75 business and law exam paid to Prometric on registration.

Retake policy: Failed examinations may be re-taken after a 30-day waiting period by paying a new exam fee. Each application remains active for one year.

Financial Security and Insurance

No license surety bond is mandated statewide here under the cited sources, though project-specific or public-works bonding obligations can still attach to a given job.

General liability

DOPL requires every contractor to carry $100,000 / $300,000 / $50,000 minimum commercial general liability under Utah Code §58-55-304.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation is mandatory for any Utah employer under Utah Code §34A-2.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement required for the S211 specialty. The full S200 Electrical classification requires evidence of financial responsibility.

Fee Schedule

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$225
Examination	$150
Initial license	$225
Renewal (every 2 years)	$225

License Renewal

The Utah DOPL E100 Low-Voltage Electrician and S200 / S211 Low-Voltage Specialty Contractor must be renewed every 2 years. The fee to renew is presently $225. All DOPL contractor licenses renew on the November 30 biennial cycle (odd-numbered years).

Continuing education: Six hours of DOPL-approved continuing education each two-year cycle, including a code-update course.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Utah Low Voltage 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 waiver	DOPL bilateral agreement with Arizona ROC for active classifications.
Nevada	Trade exam waiver	DOPL bilateral agreement with NSCB.
California	Trade exam waiver	DOPL bilateral agreement with CSLB.

DOPL reciprocity covers the trade exam only. The Utah Business and Law exam is always required. Reciprocal applicants must hold the equivalent classification active and in good standing for at least one year.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares Low Voltage license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

The Licensing Roadmap

Confirm classification. S211 = communications, sound, audio/video, intercom, CCTV up to 91 V. S200 = full electrical including fire alarm. Alarm Company registration required for monitored burglar alarm.
Document two years of qualifying experience. Compile DOPL Experience Verification Forms covering 4,000 hours of supervised low-voltage installation work.
Submit the DOPL S211 application. File the application with the $225 fee, qualifier designation, and experience documentation.
Pass the Prometric S211 Trade and Business and Law examinations. Score 75% or better on each. Both exams are open-book.
File the $100,000/$300,000 general liability certificate. Submit certificate of insurance meeting Utah Code §58-55-304 minimums.
File workers compensation coverage. Submit Utah workers compensation certificate for any business with employees.
Apply for Alarm Company registration (if doing burglar alarm). File the DOPL Alarm Company application with $200 fee, fingerprints, and qualifier designation.
Receive the license and renew on the November 30 biennial cycle. DOPL issues the S211 within 30 – 60 days. All DOPL contractor licenses renew on the November 30 biennial cycle.

Before Filing: A Checklist

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

☐ Two years (4,000 hours) of supervised low-voltage experience
☐ DOPL S211 application with $225 fee
☐ Prometric Trade exam pass at 75%+
☐ Prometric Utah Business and Law exam pass at 75%+
☐ $100,000 / $300,000 / $50,000 commercial general liability certificate
☐ Workers compensation coverage certificate
☐ DOPL Alarm Company registration (if doing burglar alarm)

Common Application Pitfalls

The errors below are the ones that most frequently cost Utah Low Voltage applicants time, drawn from the cited board guidance.

Picking S211 when fire alarm is in scope

S211 does not authorize fire alarm. Any project involving fire alarm requires the full S200 Electrical Contractor classification.

Missing the Alarm Company registration

Monitored burglar alarm or CCTV requires a separate DOPL Alarm Company registration under Utah Code §58-55-302.7. The S211 alone is not sufficient.

Insufficient general liability

DOPL audits insurance certificates against the $100,000 / $300,000 / $50,000 minimum. A lapsed or under-limit certificate suspends the license automatically.

Missing the November 30 renewal date

All DOPL contractor licenses renew on the November 30 biennial cycle. Late renewal carries a $100 penalty and suspension after 60 days.

Wrong qualifier on the application

The qualifier must be a W-2 employee or owner of the firm and physically present in Utah for active supervision. DOPL audits qualifier arrangements.

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.

Utah Construction Trades Licensing Act (Title 58 Chapter 55) — State of Utah. Licensing law referenced on the Business and Law exam.
NEC Articles 725, 760, 770, 800 — NFPA. Technical reference for the S211 trade exam.
BICSI Information Technology Systems Installation Methods Manual — BICSI. Industry standard reference.

Other Utah Trade Licenses

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

Answers to Common Questions

What does the Utah S211 Communications and Sound System Contractor cover?

Structured cabling, intercom, paging, audio/video, CCTV, and sound systems operating at 91 volts or less. It excludes fire alarm and monitored burglar alarm.

Do I need the S200 Electrical license to install fire alarm?

Yes. Fire alarm installation in Utah falls under the full S200 Electrical and Low Voltage Contractor classification, not the S211 specialty.

How much insurance does DOPL require?

Minimum $100,000 bodily injury per person, $300,000 per occurrence, and $50,000 property damage commercial general liability under Utah Code §58-55-304.

Does Utah accept NICET certification toward the experience requirement?

NICET Fire Alarm Systems Level II is recognized as study credit and strengthens the application but does not replace the two years of supervised field experience or waive the trade exam.

How often does the Utah S211 license renew?

Every two years on the November 30 cycle. Renewal requires six hours of approved continuing education including a code-update course.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-06-07 · Next scheduled review 2026-09-05