LicensebyState

Moving to Connecticut as a journeyman electrician: every state's rule

Connecticut has reciprocity agreements with 0 states. Everyone else follows its standard out-of-state path: see below.

Connecticut journeyman electrician · “E-2 Unlimited Electrical Journeyperson”

Statewide license

Verified September 15, 2026· 4 sources

Issued by Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, Occupational and Professional Licensing (Electrical Work Examining Board)

Connecticut licenses electricians statewide through the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP); the journeyman-level license is the E-2 Unlimited Electrical Journeyperson, which allows all electrical work defined in CGS 20-330 while employed by a licensed contractor (limited journeyperson classes such as C-6, L-2, L-6, T-2 and PV-2 also exist). A new E-2 applicant qualifies through a Connecticut apprenticeship, through equivalent experience and training, or by holding an equivalent out-of-state license, and in every path must pass the PSI-administered E-2 exam (80 questions, 3.5 hours, 70%, open book on the 2020 or 2023 NEC). DCP states that Connecticut does not have reciprocal agreements with any other jurisdiction, even though CGS 20-333a would allow the Commissioner to waive the exam for licensees of states that reciprocate. The application fee is $90, the exam is $59 per portion, and the initial license fee is $120; licenses expire every September 30 and renew for $120.

Every origin state

Every state's path into Connecticut
StateMechanismNoteVerified

Getting licensed in Connecticut from scratch

No license yet, or nothing that transfers? This is how Connecticut issues a journeyman electrician license to a first-time applicant.

Verified September 23, 2026· 9 sources

E-2 Unlimited Electrical Journeyperson by examination

Connecticut issues the E-2 Unlimited Electrical Journeyperson license to applicants 18 or older who complete an electrical apprenticeship registered with the Connecticut Department of Labor and then pass the E-2 exam. The E-2 apprenticeship consists of 8,000 hours of on-the-job training and 720 classroom hours in the courses DCP lists in its Exhibit A. Applicants trained elsewhere may instead prove the same classroom and on-the-job hours under DCP's equivalent experience and training path. Once DCP approves the application, the candidate schedules the open-book E-2 exam with PSI; journeypersons take no separate business or law exam.

Apply online at elicense.ct.gov or by mail on the paper Journeyperson application; apprenticeship graduates include the original Letter of Apprenticeship Completion issued by the Department of Labor. State law requires apprentices to apply for the licensure exam within 30 days of completing the program. The E-2 exam has 80 questions in 3.5 hours and is based on the 2020 or 2023 National Electrical Code. Exam eligibility lasts one year from DCP's approval, and retakes are allowed during that year at the same fee. After passing, send the passing score report and the initial license fee to DCP. DCP does not publish an application processing time.

Trade exam
Required
Law / code exam
Not required
Exam given by
PSI
Exam format
Open book
Passing score
70%
Renewal
Every year
Continuing education
4 hours per cycle

Who can apply

  • Complete a registered apprenticeship: Completion of an electrical (E-2) apprenticeship registered with the Connecticut Department of Labor.8,000 hours of on-the-job training plus 720 classroom hours in the Exhibit A courses (Regs. Conn. State Agencies 20-332-2(b)).
  • Be at least 18 years old.
  • Eighth-grade education or its equivalent (CGS 20-333)

Other ways to qualify

Each of these replaces the requirements above. You only need one.

Equivalent experience and training: 720 classroom hours plus 8,000 hours

An applicant who did not complete a Connecticut apprenticeship may prove 720 classroom hours whose curriculum matches DCP's Exhibit A courses and 8,000 hours of on-the-job training. Classroom hours are shown by transcripts, degrees or diplomas, and on-the-job hours by notarized letters from employers giving dates of employment and a detailed description of the work; payroll records, W-2s and tax returns are not accepted. Continuing education and manufacturer certificates do not count, and work experience cannot replace classroom hours. An out-of-state apprenticeship completion certificate may be submitted with its hour records.

  • Complete at least 720 hours of classroom or related instruction.
  • You must document at least 8,000 hours of qualifying work experience.The regulation states this route as at least four years of equivalent experience and training.
  • Be at least 18 years old.
  • Eighth-grade education or its equivalent (CGS 20-333)

Military training with a Department of Labor recommendation for review

Members of the armed forces or National Guard, and veterans within two years of discharge, may ask the Connecticut Department of Labor's apprenticeship office to evaluate their military training. If the Department finds it equivalent to the electrical apprenticeship, it issues a recommendation for review, which lets the applicant sit the E-2 exam without an apprenticeship and waives the application and initial license fees. If the training is only partly equivalent, the credited hours are deducted from the apprenticeship instead.

  • Holds a Connecticut Department of Labor recommendation for review (CGS 31-22u) finding military training equivalent to the electrical apprenticeship
  • Be at least 18 years old.
  • Eighth-grade education or its equivalent (CGS 20-333)

Steps to get licensed

  1. 1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($90). Journeyperson application fee, non-refundable (CGS 20-333); waived for applicants presenting a recommendation for review.
  2. 2Other. Disclose any felony conviction on the application and attach a Criminal Conviction Worksheet; DCP may deny the license or issue it under a consent order with conditions (CGS 20-333(c)).
  3. 3Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. E-2 Unlimited Electrical Journeyperson exam administered by PSI: 80 questions, 3.5 hours, 70% to pass, open book (2020 or 2023 NEC).
  4. 4Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($59). PSI examination fee per attempt, including retakes; non-refundable.
  5. 5License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($120). Initial license fee paid to DCP after passing the exam (CGS 20-335); waived for applicants presenting a recommendation for review.

Published fees on this path total $269, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.

Keeping it active

Every year with 4 hours of continuing education per cycle and a $120 renewal fee.

Four hours each year in courses approved by the Electrical Work Examining Board, taken in person or live online and completed by June 30, three months before the license expires. No continuing education is required before the first renewal.

All electrical licenses expire September 30 each year.

Exam preparation

Most boards contract PSI, Prov, or ICC for exams. Check which code edition the exam is written to before buying a prep course.

  • Trade exam
  • Exam fee · $59

Continuing education

Renewals usually need approved CE hours, often on the latest NEC. Reciprocal licensees are rarely exempt.

  • Continuing education

Sources for this section

  1. Connecticut General Statutes § 31-22u - Military training evaluation · CGS § 31-22u · Connecticut General Assembly · Statute · verified September 23, 2026
  2. Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 393 - Occupational Licensing (Electrical, Plumbing and Piping, Heating, Cooling...) · CGS §§ 20-330, 20-333, 20-333a, 20-334a, 20-335 · Connecticut General Assembly · Statute · verified September 23, 2026
  3. Connecticut DCP - Electrical License (application paths, fees, renewal) · Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
  4. Connecticut DCP - Electrician Continuing Education · Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
  5. Connecticut DCP - Exhibit A: Required Courses for Electrical License Types (apprenticeship courses) · Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection · Other · verified September 23, 2026
  6. Connecticut DCP - Occupational Trade Journeyperson License Application (OCC-JRNY-APP) · Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection · Form · verified September 23, 2026
  7. Connecticut DCP - Electrical Journeyperson: Equivalent Experience and Training · Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
  8. Connecticut DCP Occupational Licensing - Electrical Trades Candidate Information Bulletin (PSI, updated 2/4/2026) · Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection / PSI Services LLC · Form · verified September 23, 2026
  9. Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies §§ 20-332-5, 20-332-8, 20-332-10a (heating, piping and cooling licenses; application for examination; issuance) · Regs. Conn. State Agencies §§ 20-332-5, 20-332-8, 20-332-10a · Connecticut Secretary of the State (eRegulations) · Admin Rule · verified September 23, 2026

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