Do I have to take the Connecticut master electrician exam if I'm licensed in Alabama?

Yes. Connecticut requires the trade exam on this path, plus a law or code exam.

What does it cost to get a Connecticut master electrician license from Alabama?

Published fees on this path total $418, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.

Do my Alabama work hours count in Connecticut?

Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward Connecticut's eligibility requirements.

Does it work the other way, from Connecticut to Alabama?

Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from Connecticut to Alabama, the mechanism is experience credit.

Alabama to Connecticut: master electrician license reciprocity

Endorsement· Board reviewVerified September 15, 2026· 6 sources

Connecticut has no reciprocity agreement with Alabama. A Alabama master electrician applies by endorsement.

Reference only, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the licensing board before you apply. Full disclaimer.

Contractor (E-1) by equivalent out-of-state license (all states)

The board reviews your out-of-state credentials case by case. Some exam is usually still required, often only a law or code exam.

A master electrician or electrical contractor licensed in any other state applies under DCP's 'Electrical Contractor - Equivalent Out of State License' path. DCP reviews a single out-of-state license for equivalency to the E-1: it must have required 720 classroom hours with a curriculum matching Exhibit A, 8,000 apprentice OJT hours and two years (4,000 hours) of licensed OJT, 12,000 hours in total. The applicant submits a copy of the license, an official license verification, the laws and regulations that set the requirements met to obtain it, and the scope of work for that license, with the non-refundable $150 application fee. If approved, the applicant must pass both the E-1 trade exam and the Business and Law exam through PSI ($59 per portion) and then pay the $150 initial license fee; the out-of-state license does not waive either exam because Connecticut has no reciprocal agreements. An applicant whose license is not found equivalent must document the classroom and OJT hours directly under the equivalent experience and training path.

The out-of-state license page does not restate the exam requirement; it follows from the Electrical License page, CGS 20-333 and the PSI bulletin, which states that all contractors must pass a Business and Law examination and a trade examination. CGS 20-333a allows licensure without examination only where the other state reciprocates for Connecticut licensees, and DCP states no such agreements exist. Whether DCP treats an out-of-state 'master' license (rather than a contractor license) as the E-1 equivalent depends on the hour and curriculum comparison; DCP publishes no list of accepted titles.

At a glance

Trade exam: Required
Law / code exam: Required
Out-of-state hours: Count toward eligibility

What you must already have

Your Alabama license must be active and in good standing.
The out-of-state license must be equivalent: it required 720 classroom hours matching Exhibit A, 8,000 apprentice OJT hours and 4,000 licensed OJT hours (12,000 total)Only one out-of-state license is reviewed for equivalency.
You must document at least 12,000 hours of qualifying work experience.8,000 hours as an apprentice plus 2 years (4,000 hours) working as a licensed journeyperson.

What you'll do to get licensed in Connecticut

1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($150). Contractor application fee, non-refundable (CGS 20-333).
2Other. Copy of the out-of-state license, official license verification, the laws/regulations listing the requirements met to obtain it, and the scope of work for that license.
3Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. E-1 Unlimited Electrical Contractor trade exam administered by PSI: 100 questions, 4 hours, 70% to pass, open book (2020 or 2023 NEC).
4Law / code exam. Pass a law, rules, or code exam. Connecticut Business and Law exam (PSI): 50 questions, 2 hours, 70% to pass, based on the NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, Connecticut 6th edition.
5Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($59). PSI fee for the trade portion (same fee for retakes).
6Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($59). PSI fee for the Business and Law portion (same fee for retakes).
7License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($150). Initial license fee for a contractor's license after passing both exams (CGS 20-335); renews annually for $150.

Published fees on this path total $418, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.

What you'll need to buy or arrange

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
Law / code exam
Exam fee · $59
Exam fee · $59

How Connecticut licenses master electricians

Connecticut master electrician · “E-1 Unlimited Electrical Contractor”

Statewide license

Verified September 15, 2026· 5 sources

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

Connecticut has no license titled 'master electrician'; the top-tier personal license is the E-1 Unlimited Electrical Contractor, issued by DCP to an individual (DCP licenses individuals, not companies) and permitting all electrical work under CGS 20-330, pulling permits and contracting with the public. A new E-1 applicant needs 720 classroom hours matching DCP's Exhibit A curriculum and 12,000 OJT hours (8,000 as an apprentice plus 4,000 hours, two years, working as a licensed journeyperson), reachable through two years as a Connecticut journeyperson, equivalent experience and training, or an equivalent out-of-state license, and must pass both the PSI E-1 trade exam (100 questions, 4 hours, 70%) and the Business and Law exam (50 questions, 2 hours, 70%). DCP states that Connecticut does not have reciprocal agreements with any other jurisdiction. Fees are a $150 application fee, $59 per exam portion and a $150 initial license fee; licenses expire every September 30 and renew for $150.

Moving to Connecticut Leaving Connecticut

Common questions

Do I have to take the Connecticut master electrician exam if I'm licensed in Alabama?: Yes. Connecticut requires the trade exam on this path, plus a law or code exam.
What does it cost to get a Connecticut master electrician license from Alabama?: Published fees on this path total $418, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
Do my Alabama work hours count in Connecticut?: Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward Connecticut's eligibility requirements.
Does it work the other way, from Connecticut to Alabama?: Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from Connecticut to Alabama, the mechanism is experience credit.

Sources

Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 393 - Occupational Licensing (Electrical, Plumbing and Piping, Heating, Cooling...) · CGS §§ 20-333, 20-333a, 20-334a, 20-335 · Connecticut General Assembly · Statute · verified September 15, 2026§20-333: non-refundable application fee of $90 for limited licenses and journeyman-type licenses under 20-334a(a)(2)-(3) and $150 for unlimited contractor licenses under 20-334a(a)(1); competency is shown by examination. §20-333a Reciprocity: the Commissioner may grant a license without examination to a currently practicing, competent person holding a similar license from another state with substantially similar or higher requirements, but only if that state grants the same privilege to Connecticut licensees; DCP reports no such agreements exist. §20-334a(a)(1)(A): an unlimited contractor's license may be issued to a person who served as a journeyman in the trade for at least two years 'and, if such service as a journeyman was outside this state, has furnished evidence satisfactory to the appropriate state board or the department that such service is comparable to similar service in this state', and has passed the examination; (a)(2)(A): an unlimited journeyman's license requires a bona fide apprenticeship including not less than four years' experience and passing the state licensure examination. §20-335: initial license fee $150 for a contractor's license and $120 for any other license; licenses expire annually; renewal $150 contractor / $120 other. The page returned a TLS certificate error to the fetch tool on 2026-09-15 and was downloaded directly with curl to read the section text.
Connecticut DCP - Electrical Contractor: Equivalent Experience and Training · Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Fallback path when an out-of-state license is not found equivalent: E-1 needs 720 classroom hours equivalent to the Exhibit A courses, 8,000 apprentice OJT hours and 4,000 licensed OJT hours (12,000 total), documented by transcripts/diplomas, notarized employer letters with dates and work descriptions, and out-of-state completion certificates. Continuing-education and manufacturer certificates are not accepted, and OJT cannot substitute for classroom hours.
Connecticut DCP - Electrical Contractor: Equivalent Out of State License · Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Same equivalency definition as the journeyperson page. E-1 requires 8,000 apprentice OJT hours plus 2 years (4,000 hours) of licensed OJT for 12,000 total OJT hours, and 720 classroom hours matching Exhibit A (required courses). Same document list; only one out-of-state license is reviewed. Does not state exam requirements or fee amounts itself.
Connecticut DCP - Electrical License (application paths, fees, renewal) · Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Lists the six application paths (contractor: 2+ years as journeyperson, equivalent experience and training, equivalent out-of-state license; journeyperson: Connecticut apprenticeship, equivalent experience and training, equivalent out-of-state license). Application fee: contractor $150, journeyperson $90, non-refundable. Renewal: contractor $150, journeyperson $120; all licenses expire September 30 annually. States 'Separate fees will be due to the exam vendor at time of exam registration' and, verbatim, 'Connecticut does not have reciprocal agreements with any other jurisdiction.'
Connecticut DCP - Electrical License Types and Scope of Work · Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026E-1 Unlimited Electrical Contractor: all electrical work as defined in CGS 20-330. E-2 Unlimited Electrical Journeyperson: all electrical work, only while employed by a properly licensed contractor. Also lists the limited classes (C-5/C-6, C-7/C-8, L-1/L-2, L-5/L-6, T-1/T-2, PV-1/PV-2).
Connecticut DCP Occupational Licensing - Electrical Trades Candidate Information Bulletin (PSI, updated 2/4/2026) · Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection / PSI Services LLC · Other · verified September 15, 2026Eligibility for examination is determined by the State (DCP approves the application, then PSI schedules). Fee: $59 per examination portion, first attempt or retake, non-refundable. Journeypersons pass only a trade portion; contractors must pass both a trade portion and the Business and Law portion (50 questions, 2 hours, 70%, based on the NASCLA Contractors Guide, Connecticut 6th edition). E-1 Unlimited Electrical Contractor trade exam: 100 questions, 4 hours, 70%, open book. E-2 Unlimited Electrical Journeyperson: 80 questions, 3.5 hours, 70%, open book. Code questions are based on the 2020 or 2023 National Electrical Code. Eligibilities are valid for one year; a passed portion is valid for two years.

Verified dates are when a person last opened each source and confirmed the facts above. Cite the board, not us.

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