Michigan Electrical License Requirements: Tiers, Exams, and Renewal

To meet Michigan electrical license requirements, you register as an apprentice with LARA, complete at least 8,000 hours of supervised work over a minimum of four years while taking approved coursework, and pass the journeyman electrician exam. From there you can move up to a master electrician license after two years as a journeyman, and to an electrical contractor license if you want to run the business side. Every tier has its own age, experience, and exam rules, and working without the right license can escalate from a misdemeanor to a felony carrying up to five years in prison.

The License Tiers

Michigan recognizes four main credentials for electrical work: apprentice registration, journeyman electrician, master electrician, and electrical contractor. There are also narrower specialty licenses for sign work and fire alarm systems. LARA’s Bureau of Construction Codes administers the program, and the Electrical Administrative Board sets the qualifications.

Apprentice Registration

Registration as an apprentice is the entry point, and it has to be in place before your hours start counting toward the journeyman license. To register, you must be employed by a licensed master electrician working under an electrical contractor, and you must enroll in an approved related technical instruction program. Coursework continues throughout the apprenticeship, and LARA reviews both your classes and your employment at every renewal.¹

The registration fee is $15, renewed annually.² Working on a job site without an active apprentice registration can bring penalties, so keeping it current is not optional.

Journeyman Electrician

The journeyman license is the first full license and lets you perform electrical installations and repairs, though you still work under the direction of a master electrician or electrical contractor. You must meet each of the following:

Be at least 20 years old.
Have at least 8,000 hours over a minimum of four years in electrical construction, maintenance, or wiring, all under the direct supervision of a licensed electrician.
Pass the journeyman exam, which covers the National Electrical Code, Michigan-specific electrical rules, and general electrical theory.

Your experience must be documented, and the supervision must come from someone already licensed under the act.³ The application fee is $40.²

Veterans Path

Veterans who served as interior electricians or in an equivalent military classification have a separate route. If you were honorably discharged within one year of applying, you can qualify without a civilian apprenticeship by providing an affidavit from a commanding officer or supervisor documenting at least 8,000 hours of relevant experience. The affidavit must confirm basic knowledge of the electrical trade, practical calculation ability, and familiarity with the National Electrical Code.³

What Happens If You Fail the Exam

Two failures on the journeyman exam within a two-year period trigger a mandatory one-year lockout from the date of the second failure. To become eligible again, you must complete a board-approved course in Michigan electrical code, electrical fundamentals, or electrical theory.³ If you were borderline on your first attempt, a prep course before the second try is far cheaper than a forced year off.

Master Electrician

The master license authorizes you to oversee electrical work, sign off on code compliance, and qualify an electrical contracting business. The requirements are:

At least 22 years old.
Held a journeyman electrician license for at least two years.
Passed the master electrician exam.

The same two-failure rule applies. Fail twice within two years and you sit out one year and complete a remedial course before you can retest.⁴ The license fee is $50.²

Electrical Contractor

Running an electrical contracting business requires a separate contractor license. There are two ways to qualify: either you personally hold a master electrician license, or your business employs at least one full-time master electrician who resides in Michigan and is actively in charge of code compliance for all installations.⁵

Contractors also have to carry a surety bond, which protects clients if you fail to meet contractual or code obligations. Depending on the scope of your work and your local municipality’s rules, you may also need general liability insurance, particularly for commercial projects.

Specialty Licenses

Michigan issues specialty licenses for focused electrical work, including sign specialist and fire alarm specialty technician. These cover narrower scopes than a general journeyman or master license and require targeted training and a specialty-specific exam. If your career is concentrated in one of these areas, a specialty license lets you work legally without completing the full general pathway.

Out-of-State Applicants

Michigan does not offer reciprocity with any other state. If you hold a license elsewhere, you must apply to LARA, document your experience, and pass Michigan’s exam.⁶

You submit an application with a copy of your current out-of-state license, the licensing requirements from your issuing jurisdiction, and notarized letters documenting your experience hours, years worked, and supervision. You must also complete an Out-of-State License Verification form and have it sent to each state where you hold credentials. The relevant Michigan licensing board meets quarterly to review these applications, so plan for months of lead time before you can even sit for the exam.

Homeowner Exemption

Michigan does not require a license for a homeowner performing electrical work on a single-family home and its outbuildings, provided the homeowner owns and occupies the property or will occupy it.⁷ The exemption does not extend to rental properties, multi-family buildings, or commercial structures, and it does not waive code compliance. Your work still needs to meet the Michigan Electrical Code and pass inspection when your local jurisdiction requires one.

Continuing Education and Renewal

Journeymen and master electricians must complete 15 hours of continuing education every three years to renew. All 15 hours must relate to updates to the National Electrical Code, and the courses must be approved by LARA. These are not generic refreshers; they cover substantive code changes that affect how you wire buildings and install equipment.

Renewal fees match the initial license fees: $40 for a journeyman, $50 for a master.² Apprentice registrations renew annually at $15.¹

If Your License Lapses

Reinstatement gets harder the longer you wait. For a license lapsed between 61 days and three years, you can generally apply for relicensure by submitting an application and paying the required fees. After three years of lapse, expect to complete 60 hours of approved prelicensure education, pass the current exam again, and pay all applicable fees.

Penalties for Working Without a License

Criminal penalties escalate sharply with each offense:⁸

First offense: misdemeanor, fine up to $500, imprisonment up to 90 days, or both.
Second offense: misdemeanor, fine up to $1,000, imprisonment up to one year, or both.
Third or subsequent offense: felony, fine up to $25,000, imprisonment up to five years, or both.

A third conviction is a felony with potential prison time on par with some violent crimes, and the record carries consequences well beyond the electrical trade. Licensed electricians can also face separate administrative action from LARA, including suspension, revocation, and fines up to $10,000 per violation. Administrative and criminal cases run independently, so both can happen at once.

1
State of Michigan. Electrical Examination, Licensing/Registration and Application Information
2
Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 339.5707 – Fees
3
Michigan Legislature. MCL – Section 339.5715 – Skilled Trades Regulation Act (Excerpt)
4
Michigan Legislature. Michigan Code 339.5713 – Skilled Trades Regulation Act (Excerpt)
5
Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 339.5711 – Electrical Contractors License
6
State of Michigan. Out of State License Verification Form
7
Michigan Legislature. MCL – Section 339.5737 – Skilled Trades Regulation Act
8
Michigan Legislature. MCL – Section 339.5601 – Skilled Trades Regulation Act