No, you do not need a New York electrical license. Within rural upstate New York, you can do electrical work without any license. However, in other jurisdictions, you may be required to have a license at both the county and municipal level. New York City has one of the strictest licensing protocols in the country.

Many New York county and city jurisdictions have electrical licensing procedures that use the traditional multistage process. New York City does not issue licenses to journeymen. New York City only issues two types of electrical contracting licenses:

Master Electrician License:

 A Master Electrician license permits you to perform electrical contracting work in any building or facility project in New York City’s five boroughs.

Special Electrician License: 

A Special Electrician license permits you to perform electrical contracting work in a specific building or facility project in New York City’s five boroughs.

On average, both Master Electricians and Special Electricians in New York City make just under $84,000 a year.

The NYC Department of Buildings is responsible for issuing Master Electrician and Special Electrician licenses as well as for administering the qualifying examinations.

Obtaining a New York electrical license is a complex process. To qualify, you must be at least 21 years old, read and write English, and be of good moral character. While the Department of Buildings does not define “good moral character,” one of the requirements for licensure is the ability to pass a background investigation. This background investigation includes the submission of specified documents, one of which is a questionnaire that inquires about criminal convictions.

Qualifications

Within 10 years prior to your license application, you must have seven and a half years experience in the field, and 10,500 hours of that experience must have been spent installing, repairing, or altering wiring or appliances involved in the generation of electric power, heat, or light in buildings or comparable facilities. 

If the licensee worked in New York City, this experience must have been obtained by working under the supervision of a Master Electrician or Special Electrician licensed by the NYC Department of Buildings. If the licensee worked outside of New York City, this experience must have been obtained by working under a supervisor whose qualifications were deemed equivalent to those of a Master or Special Electrician license holder by the Building Codes department in that jurisdiction.

Applicants qualify in one of the following categories:

• Journeyman electrician with seven and a half years of experience and at least 10,500 hours of primary experience installing, repairing, or altering wiring or appliances involved in the generation of electric power, heat, or light in buildings or comparable facilities;
• Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering with three and a half years of experience and at least 4,900 hours of primary experience;
• Master of Science in electrical engineering with two and a half years of experience and at least 3,500 hours of primary experience;
• Graduate of a trade school or apprenticeship program registered with the New York Department of Labor with at least five and a half years of experience and 7,000 hours or more of primary experience;
• Someone who began working toward a bachelor’s degree in mechanical or electrical engineering, or who took classes at a vocational school with an electrical contracting curriculum. Classes taken toward this degree plus pertinent work experience must combine to equal seven and a half years of experience with a minimum of 7,000 hours of primary experience; or
• Electrical inspector working with a state or public agency vetted by the Building Commission. This experience plus pertinent work experience must combine to equal seven and a half years of experience with a minimum of 7,000 of primary experience.

You’ll have to summarize this information in the “Supplemental Investigation Questionnaire” for your background check.

Examination

Licensure candidates must pass two examinations. The first examination is a closed-book, multiple-choice exam that tests the applicant’s knowledge of the National Electrical Code, the New York City Electrical Code, and other applicable rules and regulations. The fee for the exam is $525, and 70% is a passing grade.

The second examination is a practical exam that covers field parameters like conduits, starters, and lighting. The fee for the exam is $350.

You must apply to the Licensing and Exams Unit of the New York City Department of Buildings to schedule your exam dates. The written exam proctor will notify you whether or not you passed that exam after the examination. You will be notified if you passed the practical exam three to four weeks after you take the exam.

Background Investigation

You also must pass a background investigation to obtain either a Master or a Special Electrical license in New York City. You’ll have to submit the documentation below to the Licensing & Exams Unit of the NYC Department of Buildings within one year. The fee for processing these materials is $500. All documents must be originals.

• Photo ID
• Original social security card
• Proof of residence
• Examination score reports
• Supplemental investigation questionnaire
• Notarized background investigation questionnaire
• Voluntary authorization for summons notifications
• Physical exam form
• Verification forms signed by supervisors for all the years you’re claiming as experience
• History of social security earnings for all the years you’re claiming as experience
• Child support certification form, if applicable

To be licensed as an electrician in New York City, candidates must register as a business entity. Sole proprietorships and general partnerships can be registered with a county clerk’s office; corporations and limited liability companies must be registered with the New York State Department of State.

As part of the background check, you will be required to verify your business’s address. You will also be required to show proof that your electrical business carries general liability, disability, and workers’ compensation insurance.

The electricians’ union throughout New York is the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW.) Unionized jobs typically command higher pay rates and better benefits, particularly for apprentices and journeymen electricians. However, many potential employers may prefer to work with non-union electricians.

Electrical contractors find employment in the counties and municipalities through membership in professional organizations like the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) or the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) and through affiliation with local business groups like the Chamber of Commerce and the Better Business Bureau.

The electricians’ union throughout New York is the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW.) Unionized jobs typically command higher pay rates and better benefits, particularly for apprentices and journeymen electricians. However, many potential employers may prefer to work with non-union electricians.

Environment awareness is one of the major construction industry trends in New York. Electricians are needed to engineer energy-efficient residential and commercial electrical systems. New York City hosts the Mastermind trade show for electricians to learn about the latest trends and innovative software to deliver their services more efficiently.

Since New York State doesn’t issue electrical licenses, there is no reciprocity agreements with other states.

New York electrical licenses are issued for a single year and must be renewed 30 to 60 days before a current license expires. Renewal fees are $60 annually. You’ll be required to submit your original license application as well as updated insurance background documentation. You’ll also need to complete eight hours of continuing education. Check with your local jurisdiction to find out license renewal procedures in other counties and municipalities.