How to Become an Electrician in Oklahoma, OK


Check Electrician Schools in Oklahoma, OK

As in most states, in order to be able to perform electrical work in the state of Oklahoma, you will have to be properly licensed.

There are various types of electrical licenses in the state of Oklahoma:

Oklahoma Construction Industries Board

The licensing procedure is governed by the Construction Industries Board. The Board is responsible for the adoption, amendment and repealing of rules governing the examination and licensing of electrical contractors and journeymen electricians. Additionally, the Board defines the license categories, the limitations that might apply to them and establishes the continuing education requirements and procedures as determined by the Committee of Electrical Examiners.

The Board also establishes and levies administrative fines and initiates disciplinary proceedings against any person who violates any of the provisions of the Electrical License Act or any rule promulgated pursuant to the Electrical License Act. Finally, the Board establishes the bonding and insurance requirements precluding municipal requirements, the requirement of proof of possession of a Federal Tax ID Number and a State of Oklahoma Employment Security Board identification number, the registration of electrical apprentices and the standard of electrical installations.

The Board contact information is as follows:

Oklahoma Construction Industries Board
2401 NW 23rd Street, Suite 2F Oklahoma City, OK 73107 (map)
Phone: (405) 521-6550
Toll Free: (877) 484-4424
Fax: (405) 521-6525
Operating Hours: Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (except state holidays)
Website: http://www.ok.gov/cib/

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Oklahoma Board Definitions

For the better understanding of the licensing procedure and requirements, we provide here a brief definition of the terms we will use.

An electrical apprentice is a person sixteen (16) years of age or older whose principal occupation is the learning of and assisting in the installation of electrical work under the direct supervision of a licensed journeyman electrician or electrical contractor.

A journeyman electrician is a person other than an electrical contractor who is involved in the actual installation, alteration, repair or renovation of electrical facilities or electrical construction work unless specifically exempted by the provisions of the Electrical License Act.

An electrical contractor is a person skilled in the planning, superintending and practical installation of electrical facilities who is familiar with the laws, rules and regulations governing such work. Electrical contractor also means any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, or business performing skills of an electrical contractor work according to the provisions of the Electrical License Act.

Oklahoma Electrical Apprentice Certification

In order to be issued a certificate of electrical apprentice, you will have to:

– Be at least sixteen (16) years old

– Have enrolled in a school or federal training program for electrical apprentices recognized by the Board, or employed as an electrical apprentice with an active licensed electrical contractor.

In order to apply for examination, license or renewal of license, you should use the forms provided by the Board, which are accompanied by the relevant fee. Additionally, you will have to provide documents, statements and other information that might be required in order to submit to a national criminal history record check.

Oklahoma General License Requirements

In order to be able to apply for a journeyman or an electrical contractor license, the following prerequisites have to be met:

– You will have to be certified by the Committee of Electrical Examiners as either having successfully passed the appropriate examination or having a valid license issued by another governmental entity with licensing requirements similar to those provided in the Electrical License Act.

– You will have to pay the respective license fee and comply with the provisions of the Electrical License Act.

– You will have to provide documents, statements and other information that might be required in order to submit to a national criminal history record check.

Once the Construction Industries Board receives your application and remittance, it will be reviewed for approval.

You may find the electrical license application form here.

All applicants are required to pass the Oklahoma electrical exam to gain licensure (except for the reciprocal applicants). You may find more information about the exams here.

Oklahoma Limited Electrical Contractor License Requirements

Additionally to the general requirements listed above, for the limited electrical contractor license the following requirements apply:

Degree in Electrical Engineering from an accredited college or university and:

– an additional 8,000 hours of electrical experience in field construction, electrical estimating, electrical project management in commercial/industrial electrical work

or

– verification of 16,000 hours experience in the electrical trade performing electrical work, estimating or project management in commercial/industrial work.
Note that a limited electrical contractor is prohibited from engaging in the work of an apprentice or journeyman electrician.

The Electrical Contractor fee is $330.00 (License $300.00 / Processing $30.00). Make sure to make the remittance payable to the CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES BOARD.

A license is good for one year but all licenses shall expire on the last day in the birth month of the licensee.

Finally, don’t forget to check Electrician Jobs in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Unlimited Electrical Contractor License Requirements

Additionally to the general requirements listed above, for the unlimited electrical contractor license the following requirements apply:

12,000 Verifiable Hours on the job experience in electrical construction work
– Proof of 4,000 hours experience as licensed Unlimited electrical journeyman
6,000 hours must be in commercial industrial work obtained while employed by a licensed electrical contractor
2,000 hours maximum may be satisfied by formal electrical education (Must be an Owner, Partner, or Officer in a Corporation)

The Electrical Contractor fee is $330.00 (License $300.00 / Processing $30.00). Make sure to make the remittance payable to the CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES BOARD.

A license is good for one year but all licenses shall expire on the last day in the birth month of the licensee.

Finally, don’t forget to check Electrician Jobs in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Unlimited Electrical Journeyman License Requirements

Additionally to the general requirements listed above, for the unlimited electrical journeyman license the following requirements apply:

8,000 verifiable hours on the job experience in the electrical construction trade as a registered apprentice under the direct supervision of a licensed journeyman or licensed contractor
4,000 hours must be in commercial/ industrial work
2,000 hours may be satisfied by formal electrical education* and/or verified military electrical installations

The Electrical Journeyman fee is $75.00 (License $50.00 / Processing $25.00). Make sure to make the remittance payable to the CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES BOARD.

A license is good for one year but all licenses shall expire on the last day in the birth month of the licensee.

Finally, don’t forget to check Electrician Jobs in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Residential Electrical Contractor Requirements

Additionally to the general requirements listed above, for the residential electrical contractor license the following requirements apply:

8,000 verifiable hours total
4,000 hours as a residential or unlimited journeyman electrician under the employment and supervision of an electrical contractor
4,000 hours as a registered apprentice or 3,000 hours as a registered apprentice and 1,000 hours may be satisfied by formal electrical education
– Passed the residential or unlimited journeyman electrical examination

Note that residential electrical licenses are limited to wiring buildings as defined in the NEC for one and two family dwellings.

The Electrical Contractor fee is $330.00 (License $300.00 / Processing $30.00). Make sure to make the remittance payable to the CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES BOARD.

A license is good for one year but all licenses shall expire on the last day in the birth month of the licensee.

Finally, don’t forget to check Electrician Jobs in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Residential Electrical Journeyman Requirements

Additionally to the general requirements listed above, for the residential electrical journeyman license the following requirements apply:

4,000 verifiable hours on the job experience in the electrical construction trade as a registered apprentice under the direct supervision of a licensed journeyman or licensed contractor.
1,000 hours may be satisfied by formal electrical education and/or verified military electrical installations

Note that residential electrical licenses are limited to wiring buildings as defined in the NEC for one and two family dwellings.

The Electrical Journeyman fee is $75.00 (License $50.00 / Processing $25.00). Make sure to make the remittance payable to the CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES BOARD.

A license is good for one year but all licenses shall expire on the last day in the birth month of the licensee.

Finally, don’t forget to check Electrician Jobs in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Refinery Electrical Journeyman Requirements

Additionally to the general requirements listed above, for the refinery electrical journeyman license the following requirements apply:

– A verifiable license in the unlimited electrical classification issued by a jurisdiction outside of the State of Oklahoma that is current and in good standing.

Note that refinery electrical licenses are limited to wiring inside refinery facilities that are defined as facilities designed and operated to receive, unload, store, process and refine raw crude oil.

The Electrical Journeyman fee is $75.00 (License $50.00 / Processing $25.00). Make sure to make the remittance payable to the CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES BOARD.

A license is good for one year but all licenses shall expire on the last day in the birth month of the licensee.

Finally, don’t forget to check Electrician Jobs in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Electrical License Exams

The Board has contracted PSI for the examination procedure. You may contact PSI at 1-800-733-9267 or visit their site here.

Examinations for licenses as electrical contractors or journeyman electricians are uniform and practical in nature for each respective license. The Committee shall conduct examinations twice a year and at such other times as it deems necessary.

You shall pay all examination and license fees before undertaking any examination. If you fail to meet the minimum qualifications to take the examination, the application fee will be forfeited and reexamination fees shall be the same as the initial examination fees.

You will have to present positive identification before undertaking an examination.

The electrical license examinations may include, without limitation, written questions, consisting of open book, closed book and problems, based on current National Electrical Code and other related questions, as well as practical shop, which for contractors shall also include written questions on job estimating and the laws and regulations relating to electricians.

The maximum grade value of each part of the examination shall be 100 points. A passing score is 75% or more on each part.

If you initially fail to pass the examination, you shall not be permitted to take another examination for a period of thirty (30) days. If you also subsequently fail to pass the examination, you shall not be permitted to take another examination for a period of ninety (90) days.

The recommended reading for the electrical exams is as follows:

Business and Law

  • Oklahoma Electrical Industry Regulations, Oklahoma Code, Title 158, Chapter 40, 2004 Edition
  • Oklahoma Fine Schedule of the Construction Industries Board, Oklahoma Code, Title 158, Chapter 10, 2004 Edition
  • Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Act, Oklahoma Statutes, Title 85, 2004 Edition
  • Oklahoma Electrical License Act, Oklahoma Statutes, Title 59,Chapter 40A, 2004 Edition
  • Oklahoma Rules of the Workers’ Compensation Court, Oklahoma Statutes, Title 85, 2004 Edition
  • Oklahoma Lien Law, Oklahoma Statutes, Title 42, Chapter 3, 2003 Edition
  • Construction Management Guide: Basic Business and Project Management for Contractors

Limited Electrical

  • NFPA 70 – National Electrical Code, 2005 Edition
  • Code of Federal Regulations Title 29, Part 1926 (OSHA)
  • Ugly’s Electrical References, George V. Hart, Sammie Hart, ISBN: 0-9623229-7-0

Unlimited Electrical Journeyman

  • NFPA 70 – National Electrical Code, 2005 Edition,
  • Code of Federal Regulations Title 29, Part 1926 (OSHA), Superintendent of Documents
  • Ugly’s Electrical References, George V. Hart, Sammie Hart, ISBN: 0-9623229-7-0

Residential Electrical Contractor

  • NFPA 70 – National Electrical Code, 2005 Edition, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
  • Code of Federal Regulations Title 29, Part 1926 (OSHA)
  • Ugly’s Electrical References, George V. Hart, Sammie Hart, ISBN: 0-9623229-7-0

Residential Electrical Journeyman

  • NFPA 70 – National Electrical Code, 2005 Edition, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
  • Code of Federal Regulations Title 29, Part 1926 (OSHA)
  • Ugly’s Electrical References, George V. Hart, Sammie Hart, ISBN: 0-9623229-7-0

Oklahoma Reciprocal License Agreements

For the unlimited electrical License, limited reciprocity exists with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Utah.

For the residential electrical license, Limited reciprocity exists with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Please contact the board for more information on the reciprocity.

Oklahoma Electrical License Renewal

As discussed above, a license is issued for longer than one (1) year. A license may be renewed upon application and payment of fees thirty (30) days preceding or following the date the license is due.

Licenses renewed more than thirty (30) days following the date of expiration may be renewed only upon application and payment of all required fees and payment of any penalty for late renewal established by the Board and upon compliance with any applicable continuing education requirements established by the Board and this act.

Before applying for a renewal of your license, you will have to complete the required hours of continuing education, as determined and approved by the Committee of Electrical Examiners and approved by the Construction Industries Board.

In general, 6 hours of continuing education are required within 1 year after the state adopts a newer code.

You may find the electrical continuing education courses here.

Please contact the board for more information on the license renewal process and the continuing education requirements.