Licensing Guides
Missouri Electrical License: How to Become a Licensed Electrician in Missouri
Electrical, MO
Table of Contents
How Much Does It Cost for Electrician Licensing in Missouri?
How Long Does It Take to Get an Electrician License in Missouri?
Does My Missouri Electrical License Work in Any Other State?
Being an electrician isn’t just a job, it’s a solid career path. Electrical contractors enjoy a wide range of employment opportunities and earn a respectable income. There’s also job security—customers will always need skilled trade professionals to install and service electrical systems in their homes and businesses.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there are 762,600 electricians nationwide and 12,390 work in Missouri. The national number is predicted to grow 6% from 2022 to 2032 and according to CareerOneStop, the U.S. Department of Labor’s job search website, that growth rate is expected to be almost three times that in Missouri at 17%. Many contractors nationwide are trying to find skilled tradesmen. According to the Associated General Contractors of America, 2020 AGC-Autodesk Workforce Survey, 60% of firms in the U.S. and 57% of firms in Missouri had unfilled hourly craft positions like plumbers, electricians, and HVAC technicians. So, if you get the training you need you will have a lot of jobs to choose from when you’re ready.
The process of becoming an electrician takes time, but you get paid while you learn and gain experience.
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License Requirements for Electricians in Missouri
Is a state license required to be an electrician in Missouri? Yes.
Electrical work performed in the state of Missouri requires a license. However, electrician licenses in Missouri are issued by individual cities and counties.
Some municipalities offer journeyman electrician licenses, while others skip that step and jump straight to issuing master electrician licenses or electrical contractor licenses. However, at the state level, the Missouri Division of Professional Registration, Office of Statewide Electrical Contractors does offer an optional statewide electrical contractors license.
Steps to Get an Electrician License in Missouri
Gain necessary work experience and classroom training hours.
Earn local-level electrical licensing.
Become a master electrician.
Consider becoming an independent electrical contractor.
How to Become an Electrician in Missouri
GAIN NECESSARY EXPERIENCE: In Missouri, electrician licenses are issued at a county level. However, most municipalities follow similar guidelines. For instance, the equivalent of a journeyman electrician license requires 8,000 hours, or about five years of experience, along with some sort of post high school electrical school experience.
Generally speaking, you must meet ONE of the following requirements to take a basic electrical exam:
Five years/8,000 hours of full-time work experience, as well as 500 to 1,000 hours of classroom-based training.
Complete 8,000 hours of electrical trade work under the supervision of a licensed electrician, and earn an associate's degree in electrical technology or electrical engineering.
Provide proof of 4,000 hours of electrical trade work experience under the supervision of a licensed electrician, and earn a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or electrical technology.
Complete 12,000 hours of electrical trade work experience under the supervision of a licensed electrical contractor, and submit verified documentation.
Most potential electricians gain experience through a union or non-union apprenticeship program. Union apprenticeship programs are organized through Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committees (JATCs), in collaboration with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEC) and the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). Several major Missouri cities offer JATCs, including Kanas City, St. Louis, and Jefferson City. Non-union apprenticeship programs are offered through the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) trade association.
Most apprenticeship programs require applicants to be at least 18 years old, possess a valid driver’s license, earn a high school diploma or GED, complete and pass an algebra course, and pass an aptitude test. Some counties may require copies of your birth certificate and school transcripts, as well as require you to pass a drug test and criminal background screening.
EARN LOCAL LEVEL LICENSURE: Some Missouri municipalities, like Jefferson City, offer a journeyman electrician license. In that county, applicants must pay a $105 licensing application fee, as well as a $100 testing fee. Other counties skip this step and jump straight to issuing master electrician or electrical contractor licenses. To see what licenses are available in your jurisdiction, contact your city planning commission for more information.
BECOME A MASTER ELECTRICIAN: In some Missouri counties, master electricians must be at least 21 years old and provide notarized reference letters from previous employers verifying their electrical trade work experience.
Kansas City is one Missouri municipality that issues master electrician licenses instead of journeyman licenses. Kansas City offers two types of master electrician licenses:
Class I electricians can work on any type of electrical wiring system.
Class II electricians are limited to existing circuits of 10 feet or less.
OBTAIN AN ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR LICENSE: If you plan to do electrical work throughout the state of Missouri, you might consider obtaining the optional statewide electrical contractor license, which is available through the Missouri Division of Professional Registration, Office of Statewide Electrical Contractors. The licensing application fee is $200.
However, if you plan to work within one specific Missouri county, you can obtain an electrical contractor license within the county's specific jurisdiction.
In St. Louis County, the St. Louis County Board of Electrical Examiners issues electrical contractor licenses. In that municipality, electrical contractor applicants must be at least 21 years old and need 12,000 hours or more of documented electrical trade experience.
Applicants must submit a completed application, provide employment verification, and pay a $20 application fee and $50 escrow deposit. An annual $125 licensing fee also applies. St. Louis County requires electrical contractors to maintain certain insurance requirements, including a $10,000 indemnifying bond and $500,000 of contractor liability insurance.
Types of Electrical Licenses in Missouri
Missouri offers several different types of electrician licenses that vary by municipality. Jefferson City offers a journeyman license, while Kansas City offers two different types of master electrician licenses. Missouri also offers an optional statewide electrical contractor license, although most county-level governments maintain their own electrical contractor licensing procedures. Contact your city planning commission for licensures available in your area.
Benefits of Becoming a Licensed Electrician in Missouri
There are many benefits to pursuing a Missouri electrician license:
Most important, it is required by law in Missouri to be licensed either through the state or counties to legally perform electrical work. Properly trained electricians throughout the United States are well-versed in fire prevention measures, as well as electrical distribution systems.
A trade license is proof of your experience and skill.
Only licensed electricians can: operate a business and advertise services, obtain commercial insurance, pull building permits, pass inspections, and bid on public and government projects.
Securing a license protects your company and customers.
An electrician license gives you a competitive advantage in the job market.
It also increases your earning potential.
What Is the Mean Wage for an Electrician in Missouri?
The annual mean wage for electricians in Missouri is $67,850 per year according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics. That salary, as you might expect, increases as you acquire more experience, according to Indeed.com.
Electrician Apprentice: The average salary for an electrician apprentice is $20.69 per hour in Missouri and $6,000 overtime per year.
Electrician: The average salary for an electrician apprentice is $28.10 per hour in Missouri and $9,438 overtime per year.
Master Electrician: The average salary for an electrician apprentice is $37.47 per hour in Missouri.
Salary ranges can vary widely, depending on the city and many other important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, and the number of years you have spent in your profession.
What Business Owners Need to Know
Getting the most out of an electrical technician, no matter where they are in their licensing journey, takes work. ServiceTitan’s cloud-based, all-in-one electrician software gives technicians and business owners the technology they need to do the work efficiently, and the data they need to do it smartly.
ServiceTitan features:
SMS communications that keep customers informed about the technician’s visit.
Location-specific service history, including recorded calls, accessible from the mobile app.
Required forms that ensure every job is done right, driving consistency.
The ability to build multi-option proposals with photos, on-site, in minutes.
Sales presentations that make conversations with customers easier and drive average ticket.
Mobile payment acceptance, eliminating lost checks and increasing cash flow.
To learn more, schedule a demo with a product expert today.
How Much Does It Cost for Electrician Licensing in Missouri?
Tuition at most Missouri electrical schools ranges from $4,000 to $15,000 per year, depending on the school and desired program. In addition to tuition, students must also pay for books and other learning materials.
Taking a qualifying licensing exam and obtaining your license also costs money, but those fees vary depending on what type of license you're obtaining, and the jurisdiction issuing it.
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How Long Does It Take to Get an Electrician License in Missouri?
Electrician licensing requirements in Missouri vary by municipality. In most counties, however, obtaining local-level licensure requires 8,000 hours (or five years) of full-time electrical work, plus 500 to 1,000 hours of classroom-based instruction.
In some counties, like St. Louis County, earning an electrical contractor license requires 12,000 hours of full-time experience.
Missouri Electrician Training Programs and Schools
Many community colleges, trade schools, technical and vocational schools offer the training you need to become an electrical professional in Missouri. They're located all over the state, including in bigger cities and smaller communities.
Courses typically taught at electrical school include:
Electrical Theory
Structured Wiring Systems
National Electrical Code (NEC)
Conduit Bending
Blueprint Reading
OSHA Safety
Industrial Motor Controls
Fiber Optics
Programmable Logic Controllers
Some Missouri electrical schools include:
Mineral Area College in Park Hills offers an associate degree program in electrical technology. Tuition for in-state students costs about $4,720 per year.
Ranken Technical College in St. Louis offers an electrical technology certificate and associate degree program. Tuition costs about $14,457 per year.
Program Prerequisites: Program prerequisites vary. Most programs, however, require you to be 18 years old, possess a high school diploma or GED, a valid driver’s license, and a passing algebra grade.
On-the-Job Experience: While on the job, you'll gain an understanding of electrical standards, as well as math and scientific principles. Electricians need keen eyesight and good hand-eye coordination, as well as proper time management skills. They also need to have good customer service skills, be able to work independently, have good physical endurance, and use logical problem-solving techniques. Electricians also learn how to read blueprints, circuit diagrams, and other technical documents.
Missouri Electrician Licensing Exam Details
Jefferson City is one Missouri municipality to offer a journeyman electrician exam. The open-book test is administered by Prometric and contains 80 questions you must answer within three hours. A passing score is at least 75%.
Exam topics include:
General Electrical Knowledge
Wiring and Protection
Wiring Methods and Materials
Equipment for General Use
Special Occupancies
Special Equipment
Special Conditions
Communication Systems
Safety
Kansas City offers two different types of master electrician licenses: Class I and Class II. The exams, also administered by Prometric, are similar and require a passing score of at least 70%. The master electrician exams each contain 50 questions you must answer within 2.5 hours. Exam topics are similar to the journeyman electrical exam in Jefferson City.
Part of the Kansas City process to obtain an electrical contractor license involves passing a low-voltage electrical examination, administered by Prometric, or the low-voltage electrician examination, administered by the International Code Council (ICC).
Both low-voltage exams contain 50 questions you must answer within 2.5 hours. A passing score is at least 70%. Exam topics are similar to the journeyman exam in Jefferson City and the Kansas City master electrician exam.
Who Issues Electrician Licenses in Missouri?
Electrician licenses in Missouri are issued by individual cities and counties. Some municipalities offer journeyman licenses, while others jump straight to issuing master electrician licenses or electrical contractor licenses. However, the Missouri Division of Professional Registration, Office of Statewide Electrical Contractors, does offer an optional statewide electrical contractors license.
Does My Missouri Electrical License Work in Any Other State?
Possibly. The Missouri Division of Professional Registration, Office of Statewide Electrical Contractors indicates contractors with an electrical license in another state may email OSEC@pr.mo.gov for reciprocity to be considered.
National Electrician Certifications
While optional, national certifications can help you demonstrate your proficiency in certain aspects of the electrical trade to potential employers and clients, which often translates into more job opportunities and higher pay.
These include the Independent Electrical Contractors Certified Professional Electrician (CPE) distinction, certification through the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), among dozens of additional electrician certifications available.
Electrician Resources
You can stay up to date on all electrician industry news in several ways:
Check top electrician blogs, including ServiceTitan’s blog.
Read about the latest industry trends, and discover ideas on how to grow your electrical business.
Listen to top electrician podcasts like ServiceTitan’s Toolbox for the Trades podcast.
