Construction / Electrician License / Colorado
- Colorado
- Electrician License
- Journeyman, Master & Residential
- Updated Oct 2026
How to Get Your Colorado Electrician License
The hours, schooling and exams you need for a Colorado journeyman, master or residential electrician license, plus how renewal and reciprocity work.
Last updated October 27, 2026 from Colorado State Electrical Board requirements
Application fee
Not stated
Plus $78 PSI exam fee; confirm the state fee with the State Electrical Board
Exam time
4 hrs
Journeyman exam, 240 minutes
Time to get license
~4 yrs
Journeyman; residential takes at least 2 years
Continuing ed
24 hrs
Every renewal
Overview
Do you need a Colorado electrician license?
Yes. Colorado’s State Electrical Board licenses electricians who wire for, install and repair electrical apparatus and equipment for light, heat and power. Your license level decides what you can do, and only a master can plan, lay out and supervise installations.
License required when
- You wire for, install or repair electrical apparatus and equipment for light, heat or power (journeyman)
- You plan, lay out or supervise electrical installations (master)
- You wire one- to four-family homes (residential or higher)
Common exceptions
- Residential electricians are limited to one-, two-, three- and four-family dwellings
- Apprentices build hours toward a license; those registered on or after 1/1/2011 also need 288 classroom hours
Penalties for unlicensed work
Our sources don’t list specific fines. The State Electrical Board licenses electricians and can deny, discipline or act against anyone doing electrical work without the right license.
Your fast-track Colorado electrician license checklist
The Colorado application, one page
- License level chosen: journeyman, master or residential
- Documented hours over the minimum time span
- Classroom transcript, if you apprenticed on or after 1/1/2011
- Pre-approval from PSI
- Passing exam score
- License application through DORA
Types
Colorado electrician license types and classifications
Colorado has three main electrician licenses. Each one needs documented hours and a passing exam score, with pre-approval before you test.
JRY
Most common
Journeyman Electrician
Wire for, install and repair electrical apparatus and equipment for light, heat, power and other purposes.
Exam
Journeyman, 90 questions
Limit
All occupancies
MST
Can supervise
Master Electrician
Everything a journeyman can do, plus plan, lay out and supervise electrical installations and repairs.
Exam
Master Electrical exam
Limit
All occupancies
RES
Homes only
Residential Electrician
Wire for and install electrical apparatus and equipment in one-, two-, three- and four-family dwellings.
Exam
Residential Electrician exam
Limit
1–4 family dwellings
Requirements
Colorado electrician license requirements, class by class
Hours have to be earned over a minimum time span, so you can’t compress the experience into fewer years.
| Requirement | Journeyman | Master | Residential |
|---|---|---|---|
| Experience | 8,000 hrs over at least 4 yrs | Journeyman requirements plus 2,000 hrs over at least 1 yr | 4,000 hrs over at least 2 yrs |
| Type of work | At least 4,000 hrs commercial/industrial | Includes planning and layout, and supervision while holding a journeyman license | Residential only |
| Education | 288 classroom hrs if registered as an apprentice on or after 1/1/2011 | EE degree plus 2,000 hrs, or trade school / community college plus 8,000 hrs | Not stated |
| Proof | Transcript or similar statement | Not stated | Not stated |
| Exam | Journeyman, 90 questions, 70% | Master Electrical exam | Residential Electrician exam |
| Pre-approval to test | Required | Required | Not stated |
Steps
How to get your Colorado electrician license, step by step
- Pick your licenseBefore you start
Choose journeyman, master or residential based on the work you do and the hours you can document. - Build and document your hoursBefore you apply
Track your hours and keep transcripts for classroom education. Master supervision hours don’t count toward your total hours. - Get pre-approvedBefore the exam
Pre-approval from the testing agency is required before you schedule. Call PSI at 855-898-0710 to start. - Schedule with PSIAfter approval
Book online at candidate.psiexams.com. Test centers are in larger cities across the state. - Pass the open-book examExam day
PSI provides the code book at the test. The exams are based on the 2026 NEC. - Apply for your licenseAfter you pass
Apply through the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) for your Colorado electrical license.
Exam
What to expect on the Colorado electrician exam
All Colorado electrical exams are open book and based on the 2026 NEC. PSI hands you the code book at the test center, so get comfortable finding things in it before exam day.
Format
Open book, code book provided
Questions
90 (journeyman)
Passing score
70%
Exam vendor
PSI
Scoring & content
- Journeyman: 90 questions, 240 minutes, 70% to pass
- Master and residential: question counts and time not stated
- Topics include services, feeders and branch circuits, grounding and bonding, overcurrent protection, raceways and boxes, and calculations
- Journeyman topics also cover special occupancies, motors, transformers and photovoltaics
- Based on the 2026 NEC (NFPA 70)
Retake policy
- Retesting costs $73 through PSI; failed candidates can call PSI to reschedule
- Schedule and reschedule through PSI at 855-898-0710
- Pre-approval is required before you can book
Exam references · Open book
The Colorado Journeyman, Master and Residential electrical exams are open book and based on the 2026 NEC. The testing agency provides a copy of the code book at the exam, so your own copy is for studying and getting to know where everything is.
| Book | Edition | Use |
|---|---|---|
| NFPA 70: National Electrical Code (NEC) | 2026 | Allowed in exam |
Prep
Best Colorado electrician exam prep, compared
We haven’t compared prep courses for this exam yet.
Costs
How much does a Colorado electrician license cost?
| Item | Type | Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | Fixed | Not stated |
| PSI exam fee | Fixed | $78 |
| PSI retest fee (if needed) | Fixed | $73 |
| 2026 NEC for study | Variable | Varies |
| Classroom education (288 hrs for apprentices since 2011) | Variable | Varies |
| State fees and exams | PSI exam fee only; the state application and license fee isn’t published in our sources | $78 |
Exam fees from the PSI Colorado candidate information bulletin, checked October 2026; confirm the state application fee with the State Electrical Board.
Reciprocity
Does Colorado accept out-of-state electrician licenses?
Colorado has reciprocity agreements with 15 states. Check with the State Electrical Board which license levels each one covers before you apply.
Alaska — reciprocity agreement
Colorado lists a reciprocity agreement with this state. Confirm with the State Electrical Board which license levels it covers.
Arkansas — reciprocity agreement
Colorado lists a reciprocity agreement with this state. Confirm with the State Electrical Board which license levels it covers.
Idaho — reciprocity agreement
Colorado lists a reciprocity agreement with this state. Confirm with the State Electrical Board which license levels it covers.
Iowa — reciprocity agreement
Colorado lists a reciprocity agreement with this state. Confirm with the State Electrical Board which license levels it covers.
Maine — reciprocity agreement
Colorado lists a reciprocity agreement with this state. Confirm with the State Electrical Board which license levels it covers.
Minnesota — reciprocity agreement
Colorado lists a reciprocity agreement with this state. Confirm with the State Electrical Board which license levels it covers.
Montana — reciprocity agreement
Colorado lists a reciprocity agreement with this state. Confirm with the State Electrical Board which license levels it covers.
Nebraska — reciprocity agreement
Colorado lists a reciprocity agreement with this state. Confirm with the State Electrical Board which license levels it covers.
New Hampshire — reciprocity agreement
Colorado lists a reciprocity agreement with this state. Confirm with the State Electrical Board which license levels it covers.
New Mexico — reciprocity agreement
Colorado lists a reciprocity agreement with this state. Confirm with the State Electrical Board which license levels it covers.
North Dakota — reciprocity agreement
Colorado lists a reciprocity agreement with this state. Confirm with the State Electrical Board which license levels it covers.
Oklahoma — reciprocity agreement
Colorado lists a reciprocity agreement with this state. Confirm with the State Electrical Board which license levels it covers.
South Dakota — reciprocity agreement
Colorado lists a reciprocity agreement with this state. Confirm with the State Electrical Board which license levels it covers.
Utah — reciprocity agreement
Colorado lists a reciprocity agreement with this state. Confirm with the State Electrical Board which license levels it covers.
Wyoming — reciprocity agreement
Colorado lists a reciprocity agreement with this state. Confirm with the State Electrical Board which license levels it covers.
All other states — no agreement
Apply as a new applicant with documented hours and pass the Colorado exam.
Local
Do Colorado cities and counties have their own electrician licensing rules?
Your electrical license is issued by the state and covers all of Colorado. Permits are handled where you work.
State handles
- Journeyman, master and residential licenses
- Exams, through PSI
- License applications through DORA
- Continuing education and renewals
City & county handle
- Electrical permits
- Inspections
- Local business licenses
Governance
Who regulates electricians in Colorado
Licensing authority
Colorado State Electrical Board (Department of Regulatory Agencies)
303-894-2300
Oversight responsibilities
- Issues journeyman, master and residential electrician licenses
- Sets experience and education requirements
- Requires 24 hours of continuing education for renewal
- Manages reciprocity agreements with other states
Maintenance
How to renew your Colorado electrician license and keep it active
You need 24 hours of continuing education for each renewal. Our sources don’t list the renewal cycle or fees, so check with the State Electrical Board.
Renewal cycle
Not stated
CE hours
24
Renewal fee
Not stated
Late penalty
Not stated
Renewing your license?
See the Colorado CE guide: hours, deadline, required topics and how to renew.
FAQ
Colorado electrician license FAQs
How many hours do I need to be a journeyman electrician in Colorado?
8,000 hours earned over at least 4 years, with at least 4,000 in commercial or industrial work. Apprentices registered on or after 1/1/2011 also need 288 classroom hours.
Is the Colorado electrical exam open book?
Yes. The exams are open book and based on the 2026 NEC, and PSI provides the code book at the test center.
What score do I need to pass the Colorado journeyman exam?
70%. The exam has 90 questions and you get 240 minutes.
How do I become a master electrician in Colorado?
Meet the journeyman requirements plus 2,000 more hours over at least a year, including planning, layout and supervision as a licensed journeyman. Electrical engineering graduates need 2,000 hours of construction experience.
What can a Colorado residential electrician do?
Wire for and install electrical apparatus and equipment in one-, two-, three- and four-family dwellings. You need 4,000 hours of residential experience over at least 2 years.
Does Colorado have electrician reciprocity?
Yes, with 15 states including Arkansas, Minnesota, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.
How much continuing education do Colorado electricians need?
24 hours for each renewal.
Sources
Official sources for the Colorado electrician license
- Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations, State Electrical Board
- PSI, Colorado electrical exam scheduling
- NFPA 70, National Electrical Code (2026)
- PSI, Colorado State Electrical Board candidate information bulletin
Last updated October 27, 2026. Spot something out of date? Tell us.
Exam Insiders is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the Colorado State Electrical Board.