Electrician License Requirements in Ohio
| Licensing Authority | Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) |
| License Type | Electrical Commercial Contractor |
| Experience Required | 5 years of experience as an electrical tradesperson immediately prior to the date the application is filed. Experience must be continuous and verifiable. Alternatively, applicants who are currently registered engineers in Ohio with 3 years of business experience in the electrical construction industry may qualify. |
| Education Substitute | A registered engineer in Ohio with 3 years of business experience in the electrical construction industry may substitute for the 5-year tradesperson requirement. Completion of a U.S. DOL-approved apprenticeship program (typically 4 years / 8,000 hours OJT + ~900 hours classroom) counts toward the experience requirement. |
| Exam Required | Yes — Electrical Contractor Trade Exam + Business and Law Exam |
| Bond Required | No |
| Insurance | General liability: required. Workers comp: required with employees |
| Continuing Education | 8 hours 1 year |
| Processing Time | 4-8 weeks (application review + background check + exam scheduling) |
Fee Breakdown
| Application Fee | $25 |
| Exam Fee | $138 |
| Initial License Fee | $25 |
| Fingerprinting | $66 |
| PSI trade exam fee | $69 |
| PSI business & law exam fee | $69 |
| 3-year renewal option | $180 |
| BCI/FBI background check (approx.) | $66 |
| Est. Initial Total | $638 |
Renewal: $60 every 1 year
Exam Requirements
Electrical Contractor Trade Exam
100 questions240-300 minutesPass: 70%
National Electrical Code (NEC)Electrical theory and calculationsWiring methods and materialsGrounding and bondingOvercurrent protectionMotors and transformersSpecial occupancies and equipment
Business and Law Exam
50 questions120 minutesPass: 70%
Business organizationLicensing requirementsEstimating and biddingContract managementProject managementInsurance and bondingOSHA safety and record keepingPersonnel regulationsFinancial managementTax lawsLien laws
Exam provider: PSI
License Reciprocity
This state has reciprocity agreements with 1 state. You may be able to skip the trade exam if you hold a valid license from one of these states.
TennesseeTrade exam waiver agreement for electrical and HVAC contractors. Licensed Ohio contractors may qualify for exam waiver in Tennessee and vice versa.
Notes
- OCILB state license covers COMMERCIAL electrical work only — residential electrical work may require separate local licensing
- Both exams are open-book; highlighting permitted but no writing in reference materials
- Electrical CE requires at least half of hours (4 of 8) to be in electrical code courses
- For 3-year renewal: 24 hours CE required, with 12 hours in code courses and max 12 hours self-paced
- Background check (BCI/FBI) must be completed after application approval but before exam
- Exam duration reported as 4-5 hours across sources — verify with PSI at time of scheduling
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a electrician license in Ohio?
Yes, Ohio requires a statewide electrician license through the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board.
How much does a electrician license cost in Ohio?
The estimated initial cost is $254, including application, exam, and license fees.
Data last verified: 2026-04-02 | Source: OCILB