Electrician license requirements in New Jersey.
New Jersey licenses electrical contractors at the state level through its own board within the Division of Consumer Affairs — a third board, separate from the plumbing and HVACR boards. A completed four-year registered apprenticeship is the cleanest route to qualifying.
What New Jersey requires.
Electrical Contractor
The state license to contract electrical work for the public in New Jersey.
Apprentice Electrician
Enrolled in a four-year electrical apprenticeship program approved by the US Department of Labor.
Getting the Electrical Contractor
- Complete a four-year registered apprenticeship program approved by the US Department of Labor, including roughly 576 classroom hours — this satisfies the full experience requirement
- Otherwise document five years of hands-on experience in the electrical trade
- Pass the electrical contractor examination: 50 Business & Law questions in two hours plus 100 Electrical Contracting questions in four hours, open book, at 70% or better
- Post a $1,000 contractor bond
- · New Jersey runs three separate trade boards — plumbing, HVACR, and electrical — so contractors working across trades deal with each one individually.
The official board
New Jersey Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors (Division of Consumer Affairs)
(973) 504-6410
Visit the boardVerified 2026-08 against the sources below. Licensing rules change — confirm with the board before relying on this page.
New Jersey electrical licensing FAQ.
Do you need a license to do electrical work in New Jersey?
Yes. New Jersey requires an electrical contractor license from the Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors in the Division of Consumer Affairs to contract electrical work for the public.
How do you become a licensed electrical contractor in New Jersey?
The standard route is completing a four-year US Department of Labor–approved electrical apprenticeship, which includes about 576 classroom hours and satisfies the full experience requirement. Otherwise you document five years of hands-on electrical experience. Then you pass the contractor exam and post the bond.
What is on the New Jersey electrical contractor exam?
Two open-book sections: 50 Business and Law questions with a two-hour limit, and 100 Electrical Contracting questions with a four-hour limit, covering the National Electrical Code and New Jersey business law. You need at least 70% to pass.
What bond do New Jersey electrical contractors need?
The Division of Consumer Affairs requires a $1,000 contractor bond, issued for a three-year term.
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