Construction / Electrician License / Oklahoma
- Oklahoma
- Electrician License
- Unlimited & Residential Journeyman
- Updated Oct 2026
How to Get Your Oklahoma Electrician License
How to become an Unlimited or Residential Electrical Journeyman in Oklahoma, from apprentice hours to the two exams and renewal.
Last updated October 27, 2026 from Oklahoma Construction Industries Board requirements
Application fee
$25
Plus $50 initial license fee and $92 per exam portion
Exam time
4 hrs
Unlimited trade exam; Residential is 3.5 hrs, plus Business & Law
Time to get license
Varies
8,000 hrs (Unlimited) or 4,000 hrs (Residential) as a registered apprentice
Continuing ed
Required
Before each renewal; hours not stated
Overview
Do you need an Oklahoma electrician license?
Yes. Oklahoma requires an electrician license for anyone who does any electrical work for pay. Licensed journeymen must work under the direct supervision of an electrical contractor.
License required when
- You do any electrical work for compensation in Oklahoma
- You lay out, install, maintain, repair or replace electrical wiring, conduit or equipment (Unlimited Journeyman)
- You wire one- and two-family dwellings (Residential Journeyman)
Common exceptions
- Our sources don’t list specific exemptions. Check with the CIB before relying on one
- Registered apprentices work under the direct supervision of a licensed journeyman or contractor while earning hours
Penalties for unlicensed work
Our sources don’t list specific penalty amounts. The Construction Industries Board licenses electricians and can act against anyone doing electrical work for pay without a license.
Your fast-track Oklahoma electrician license checklist
The Oklahoma application, one page
- License chosen: Unlimited or Residential
- Verifiable registered apprentice hours
- Proof of formal electrical education
- Application submitted to the CIB
- Passing scores on the trade and Business & Law exams
- A licensed electrical contractor to work under
Types
Oklahoma electrician license types and classifications
Oklahoma offers two electrical journeyman licenses. Both require working under the direct supervision of an electrical contractor.
UNL
Most common
Unlimited Electrical Journeyman
Lay out, install, maintain, repair or replace all or part of electrical wiring, conduit, fixtures, appliances and equipment.
Exam
Trade + Business & Law
Limit
Under a contractor
RES
Homes only
Residential Electrical Journeyman
Limited to wiring one- and two-family dwellings as defined in the National Electrical Code.
Exam
Trade + Business & Law
Limit
1–2 family homes
Requirements
Oklahoma electrician license requirements, class by class
Both licenses need verifiable hours as a registered apprentice under a licensed journeyman or contractor. The Unlimited license needs twice the hours and commercial or industrial work.
| Requirement | Unlimited Journeyman | Residential Journeyman |
|---|---|---|
| Experience | 8,000 verifiable hours | 4,000 verifiable hours |
| Commercial / industrial | 4,000 hours | Not stated |
| Formal electrical education | 2,000 hours | Up to 1,000 hours |
| Supervision | Registered apprentice under a licensed journeyman or contractor | Registered apprentice under a licensed journeyman or contractor |
| Exams | Trade (100 questions) + Business & Law | Trade (80 questions) + Business & Law |
| Continuing ed | Required before renewal | Required before renewal |
Steps
How to get your Oklahoma electrician license, step by step
- Pick your licenseBefore you start
Choose Unlimited for all electrical work, or Residential if you’ll only wire one- and two-family homes. - Earn your apprentice hoursBefore you apply
Log verifiable hours as a registered apprentice under a licensed journeyman or contractor: 8,000 for Unlimited, 4,000 for Residential. - Apply to the CIBBoard review
Submit your application with verified education and work experience to the Construction Industries Board. - Get your exam dateAfter approval
Once your application is approved, the Board contacts you with an exam date and time. - Pass both examsExam day
Take your trade exam and the Business and Law exam. The Unlimited trade exam is 100 questions in 240 minutes, open book, 70% to pass. - Work under a contractor and renewEach renewal
Journeymen work under the direct supervision of an electrical contractor. Complete continuing education before each renewal.
Exam
What to expect on the Oklahoma electrician exam
Oklahoma journeymen pass two exams: a trade exam and a Business and Law exam. The trade exam is open book, and your reference can be tabbed and highlighted.
Format
Open book
Questions
100 (Unlimited) / 80 (Residential)
Passing score
70% (Unlimited)
Exam vendor
PSI
Scoring & content
- Unlimited: 100 questions, 240 minutes, 70% to pass
- Residential: 80 questions, 210 minutes
- Topics: services, feeders and branch circuits, overcurrent protection, grounding and bonding, conductors, raceways and boxes, special occupancies, low voltage and safety
- Unlimited also covers motors and transformers
- Business and Law exam details aren’t stated in our sources
Retake policy
- Retake rules aren’t stated in our sources; ask the CIB
- Board approval is required before you test
- The Board schedules your exam date and time
- Testing centers are in larger cities across the state
Exam references · Open book
The Oklahoma Electrical Journeyman exam is open book, and you can bring tabbed and highlighted copies of these references into the test. The list covers the Unlimited and Residential Journeyman exams.
| Book | Edition | Use |
|---|---|---|
| NFPA 70: National Electrical Code (NEC) | 2023 | Allowed in exam |
| Ugly’s Electrical References | 2023 | Allowed in exam |
| OSHA 1926 Construction Industry Regulations | Not stated | Allowed in exam |
Prep
Best Oklahoma electrician exam prep, compared
We haven’t compared prep courses for this exam yet.
Costs
How much does an Oklahoma electrician license cost?
| Item | Type | Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | Fixed | $25 |
| Initial license fee | Fixed | $50 |
| Trade exam | Fixed | $92 |
| Business & Law exam | Fixed | $92 |
| Code book and references | Variable | Varies |
| Continuing education at renewal | Variable | Varies |
| State fees and exams | $167 with one $92 exam portion, $259 with two; excludes code books and CE | $167–$259 |
Fees from the CIB electrical rules (OAC 158:40-9-3) and the PSI candidate bulletin, checked October 2026. SB 1732 raises license and renewal fees starting July 1, 2028.
Reciprocity
Does Oklahoma accept out-of-state electrician licenses?
Oklahoma has electrical reciprocity agreements with 10 states. Ask the CIB what’s waived and what you still need to submit.
Alaska — reciprocity agreement
Oklahoma has an agreement with this state. Contact the CIB to confirm which license levels qualify.
Arkansas — reciprocity agreement
Oklahoma has an agreement with this state. Contact the CIB to confirm which license levels qualify.
Colorado — reciprocity agreement
Oklahoma has an agreement with this state. Contact the CIB to confirm which license levels qualify.
Idaho — reciprocity agreement
Oklahoma has an agreement with this state. Contact the CIB to confirm which license levels qualify.
Iowa — reciprocity agreement
Oklahoma has an agreement with this state. Contact the CIB to confirm which license levels qualify.
Montana — reciprocity agreement
Oklahoma has an agreement with this state. Contact the CIB to confirm which license levels qualify.
Nebraska — reciprocity agreement
Oklahoma has an agreement with this state. Contact the CIB to confirm which license levels qualify.
South Dakota — reciprocity agreement
Oklahoma has an agreement with this state. Contact the CIB to confirm which license levels qualify.
Texas — reciprocity agreement
Oklahoma has an agreement with this state. Contact the CIB to confirm which license levels qualify.
Wyoming — reciprocity agreement
Oklahoma has an agreement with this state. Contact the CIB to confirm which license levels qualify.
Local
Do Oklahoma cities and counties have their own electrician licensing rules?
Your journeyman license comes from the state and covers all of Oklahoma. Cities and counties still handle permits and inspections.
State handles
- Journeyman licenses, through the CIB
- Exam approval and scheduling
- Continuing education for renewal
- Reciprocity agreements
City & county handle
- Electrical permits
- Inspections
- Local business requirements
Governance
Who regulates electricians in Oklahoma
Oversight responsibilities
- Issues Unlimited and Residential Electrical Journeyman licenses
- Approves applications and schedules exams
- Sets continuing education for renewal
- Manages reciprocity agreements with other states
Maintenance
How to renew your Oklahoma electrician license and keep it active
Journeyman licenses renew every year for $75, rising to $100 once you’re more than 30 days past expiration. Oklahoma also requires continuing education before each renewal, so confirm the CE hours with the CIB.
Renewal cycle
Annual
CE hours
Not stated
Renewal fee
$75
Late penalty
$100 total if renewed 30+ days late
Renewing your license?
See the Oklahoma CE guide: hours, deadline, required topics and how to renew.
FAQ
Oklahoma electrician license FAQs
Do I need a license to do electrical work in Oklahoma?
Yes. Anyone who does electrical work for pay in Oklahoma needs a license from the Construction Industries Board.
How many hours do I need for a journeyman license?
8,000 verifiable hours as a registered apprentice for Unlimited, including 4,000 commercial or industrial hours. Residential needs 4,000 hours.
What’s the difference between Unlimited and Residential?
Unlimited covers all electrical work. Residential is limited to wiring one- and two-family dwellings.
How many exams do I take?
Two: your trade exam and the Business and Law exam.
Is the Oklahoma electrical exam open book?
Yes. The Unlimited exam is 100 questions in 240 minutes, and you need 70% to pass. Your reference can be tabbed and highlighted.
Can a journeyman work on their own?
No. All electrical journeymen must work under the direct supervision of an electrical contractor.
Does Oklahoma have electrical reciprocity?
Yes, with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming.
Sources
Official sources for the Oklahoma electrician license
- Oklahoma Construction Industries Board
- National Electrical Code (NFPA 70)
- Oklahoma Electrical Industry Regulations, Title 158, Chapter 40 (PDF)
- PSI Candidate Information Bulletin, Oklahoma Contractors Licensure (PDF)
- CIB Chapter 40 Rule Impact Statement, fee changes under SB 1732 (PDF)
Last updated October 27, 2026. Spot something out of date? Tell us.
Exam Insiders is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the Oklahoma Construction Industries Board.