12 Professional Licenses Required by State and How to Start

8. Electrician

An electrician license lets you work on electrical systems, installations, and repairs. States and many local jurisdictions use a tiered system—apprentice, journeyman, and master electrician—each with different experience hours and testing requirements. Generally, you’ll complete an apprenticeship or trade school program that combines classroom hours with thousands of supervised on-the-job hours, then sit for a journeyman exam. To become a master electrician, additional experience and another exam are usually required; some states also require business licensing and a contractor’s bond for those who run an electrical contracting business. Continuing education may be required for code updates. Since rules vary significantly by state and municipality, reach out to your state electrician licensing board or the local building department to confirm apprenticeship registration, exam schedules, and whether reciprocity is offered for out-of-state license holders.