Construction / Electrician Continuing Education / Arkansas
- Arkansas
- Electrician CE
- Journeyman & Master
- Updated Oct 2026
Arkansas Electrician Continuing Education: Hours, Deadline and Approved Courses
Arkansas master and journeyman electricians need 8 hours of approved National Electrical Code CE each NEC cycle, finished in the first year of the new cycle, and renew their license every year.
Last updated October 28, 2026 from Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing, Electrical Inspection and Licensing Division requirements
Hours per cycle
8 hrs
Per NEC code cycle, all on the National Electrical Code
Cycle
Each NEC cycle
CE is due once per code cycle; the license renews every year
Deadline
Your license anniversary
Licenses expire the last day of the month, one year after issue
Online allowed?
Yes, all hours
State-approved online CE can cover the full 8 hours
Who needs CE
Who needs continuing education for an Arkansas electrician license?
Licensed master, residential master, journeyman and residential journeyman electricians in Arkansas need 8 hours of CE each National Electrical Code cycle to renew. Renewal is handled by the state through the Electrical Inspection and Licensing Division, not by your city.
CE applies to
- Master Electricians
- Residential Master Electricians
- Journeyman Electricians
- Residential Journeyman Electricians
Exemptions
- Apprentices who finish their apprenticeship and pass the journeyman exam don’t need more CE during that NEC cycle
- Licensed electrical inspectors who also hold a master or journeyman license
Take the right code edition
You’re responsible for taking the correct version of the NEC course. If you’re not sure which edition you need, ask the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing before you start.
Arkansas electrician CE at a glance
Arkansas electrician renewal, one box
| Renewed with | Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing, Electrical Inspection and Licensing Division |
| CE required? | Yes, for master and journeyman electricians (including residential) |
| Hours per cycle | 8 hrs |
| Cycle | Each NEC cycle (license renews yearly) |
| Required topics | National Electrical Code changes |
| Online allowed? | Yes, all hours |
| Deadline | Yearly, the last day of the month your license was issued |
| Who reports | Your course provider (attendance roster to the state) |
| Carryover | Not stated |
| Grace period | None stated; late renewal allowed up to 36 months with late fees |
| Renewal fee | $50/yr master; $25/yr journeyman |
| Last updated | October 28, 2026 |
Hours
How many CE hours does an Arkansas electrician license need?
Arkansas electricians need 8 hours of state-approved CE for each National Electrical Code cycle, completed in the first year of the new cycle. The hours must relate specifically to the NEC, currently the 2026 NEC.
| Class | Total | Required topics | Electives | Delivery limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master & Residential Master Electrician | 8 hrs per NEC cycle | National Electrical Code (2026 NEC) | None (all hours on the NEC) | Classroom or other board-approved instruction |
| Journeyman & Residential Journeyman Electrician | 8 hrs per NEC cycle | National Electrical Code (2026 NEC) | None (all hours on the NEC) | Classroom or other board-approved instruction |
License holders are responsible for taking the correct version of the course. Contact the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing if you’re unsure which one applies to you.
Deadline
When is the Arkansas electrician license renewal deadline?
Arkansas electrical licenses renew every year and expire on the last day of the month, one year after they were issued. The 8 CE hours are due once per NEC cycle, in the first year of each new code cycle, before you renew.
| Deadline rule | Yearly, the last day of the month your license was issued |
| Cycle | CE once per NEC cycle; license renews every year |
| Grace period | None stated; you can renew late for up to 36 months |
| Late penalty | One year’s renewal fee plus $10 for each month late; after 36 months, a $1,000 penalty and retaking the exam |
| CE completion deadline | In the first year of each new NEC cycle, before you renew |
Steps
How to renew an Arkansas electrician license, step by step
- Take approved CEFirst year of the NEC cycle
Complete 8 hours of board-approved CE on the National Electrical Code in the first year of the new code cycle. Make sure it’s the code edition you need. - Get your certificateSame day
Print or save your certificate of completion when you finish the course. - Confirm it’s reportedBefore renewing
Your course provider sends an attendance roster to the Electrical Section, and that roster is the only accepted proof. Check your record in the board’s StateReporting account before you renew. - Pay the renewal fee$50 or $25 a year
Renew before the end of your license month: $50 a year for master licenses and $25 a year for journeyman licenses. - Check your license statusAfter renewal
Confirm with the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing that your license shows the new expiration date.
Providers
Approved Arkansas electrician license CE providers
We haven’t compared CE providers for this license yet. Use the board’s approved provider list to confirm a course counts before you pay. Courses must be approved by the Arkansas Electrical Inspection and Licensing Division to count.
Approval
How to check an Arkansas electrician CE course is approved
Only courses approved by the Arkansas Electrical Inspection and Licensing Division count toward your 8 hours. Approved courses cover changes to the National Electrical Code.
- Confirm the course is approved by the Electrical Inspection and Licensing Division before you pay.
- Check that it totals 8 hours.
- Make sure it covers the NEC edition you’re required to take, and ask the division if you’re unsure.
Reporting
How Arkansas electrician CE is reported, and what happens in an audit
Your course provider reports your hours. After a board-approved course, the provider submits an attendance roster to the Electrical Section of the Department of Labor and Licensing, and that roster is the only document accepted to confirm credit. The board uses StateReporting.com to track CE, and you can set up a free account to check your compliance with the CE cycle.
- Save the certificate of completion your provider gives you; it shows the course number, date, your license number and the instructor.
- Set up a free StateReporting account to confirm your hours are on file.
- Providers keep course records for at least five years.
- If you miss your hours, you can’t renew until you finish them, send proof and pay all fees and penalties.
Cost
How much does Arkansas electrician license renewal cost?
| Item | Fee | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| License renewal fee | $50 a year (master, residential master); $25 a year (journeyman, residential journeyman, industrial maintenance, specialist sign) | Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing |
| Late renewal fee (up to 36 months) | One year’s renewal fee plus $10 per month late | Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing |
| Reinstatement after 36 months | Renewal fee plus $1,000 penalty and retaking the exam | Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing |
| CE course (8 hours) | Varies by provider | CE provider |
Fees from the Board of Electrical Examiners rules (17 CAR Part 210) and Arkansas Code § 17-28 as amended by Act 746 of 2025, checked October 2026.
Late or lapsed
Late, expired or inactive Arkansas electrician license
Arkansas electrical licenses expire every year on the last day of the month they were issued. You can renew late for up to 36 months by paying late fees; after that you must retake the exam.
Grace period
None stated. Renewals within 36 months of expiration pay the renewal fee, a late fee of one year’s renewal fee plus $10 per month, and any civil penalty.
After 36 months
You must retake the license exam and pay the fees plus a $1,000 penalty.
Makeup CE
If you missed the 8 hours, finish them, send proof and pay all fees and penalties before you can renew. Reinstated licensees follow the same CE rules.
Who controls
Who controls Arkansas electrician license renewal?
Renewal authority
Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing, Electrical Inspection and Licensing Division
501-682-4549 or 501-682-4548
Responsibilities
- Issues and renews Arkansas electrical licenses
- Approves electrician CE courses
- Answers questions about which NEC course version to take
Getting licensed
Getting an Arkansas electrician license
Need the license first? Our Arkansas guide covers who needs a license, the classes, exams, fees and the steps to apply.
FAQ
Arkansas electrician license CE FAQs
How many CE hours does an Arkansas electrician need?
8 hours each National Electrical Code cycle, all on the NEC, finished in the first year of the new code cycle.
When is the deadline?
Arkansas electrical licenses renew every year and expire on the last day of the month they were issued. The CE is due once per NEC cycle, before you renew.
Can I take CE online?
Yes. Board-approved courses, including online ones, can cover all 8 hours.
Which NEC edition do I need?
Current courses cover the 2026 NEC changes. You’re responsible for taking the correct version, so ask the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing if you’re unsure.
Who reports my hours?
Your course provider sends an attendance roster to the Electrical Section. You can check your hours with a free StateReporting account.
Do hours carry over?
The rules don’t say extra hours carry over, so plan on 8 new hours each NEC cycle.
What happens if I miss the deadline?
You can renew late for up to 36 months by paying a late fee of one year’s renewal fee plus $10 per month. After 36 months you must retake the exam and pay a $1,000 penalty.
Sources
Official sources for Arkansas electrician CE rules
- Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing, Electrical Inspection and Licensing
- NFPA 70, National Electrical Code
- Administrative Rules of the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners (17 CAR Part 210)
- Board of Electrical Examiner Laws (2025)
- StateReporting, Arkansas electrician CE tracking
Last updated October 28, 2026. Spot something out of date? Tell us.
Exam Insiders is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing.