Wisconsin to Connecticut: master electrician license reciprocity
Connecticut has no reciprocity agreement with Wisconsin. A Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin 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
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.
Common questions
- Do I have to take the Connecticut master electrician exam if I'm licensed in Wisconsin?
- 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 Wisconsin?
- Published fees on this path total $418, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
- Do my Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin?
- Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from Connecticut to Wisconsin, the mechanism is experience credit.
Sources
- 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
- Connecticut DCP - Electrical Contractor: Equivalent Experience and Training · Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
- Connecticut DCP - Electrical Contractor: Equivalent Out of State License · Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026
- Connecticut DCP - Electrical License (application paths, fees, renewal) · Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
- Connecticut DCP - Electrical License Types and Scope of Work · Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026
- 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
Verified dates are when a person last opened each source and confirmed the facts above. Cite the board, not us.