Quick Reference Table
Label | Value |
|---|---|
License Type(s) | Electrical Contractor, Master Electrician, Journeyman Electrician, Residential Electrician |
Regulating Agency | State Fire Marshal (SFMO) |
Experience Requirement | 8,000 hours supervised field experience + 432 hours trade school |
Exam Requirement | Yes, standard exam (ICC, IAPMO, Prometric) |
Passing Score | At least 75% (minimum set by SFMO) |
Renewal Cycle | Biennially (implied, confirmed by rules later) |
Continuing Education | 12 hours biennially or 6 hours annually (half code-focused) |
Fees | Not yet published (verify at SFMO official site) |
Insurance | $1,000,000 GL per injury/death, $500,000 property damage |
Official URL |
Who Needs a License in Kansas?
Most importantly, the electrical license requirements in Kansas apply statewide starting July 1, 2027. Nearly all electrical work in Kansas will require a license from the State Fire Marshal. If you provide, offer, or advertise professional electrical services, whether as a contractor, master, journeyman, or residential electrician, you must hold one of the new Kansas licenses.
The law defines "electrical work" broadly, so any installation, repair, maintenance, or representation of being able to perform electrical tasks falls under the licensing law. There are very limited exceptions: public officers reviewing plans, or public employees inspecting or supervising for compliance, do not need a license (per K.S.A. 74‑7035(e)). Employees working directly under a licensed electrician, consultants, or supervised subordinates are also exempt when they are not in "responsible charge." However, if you independently contract or advertise, you cannot claim exemption.
Currently, no official statewide dollar threshold or specific project size limit defines the need for a Kansas electrical license. Each classification allows work on different scopes as defined in rules to come. Importantly, local (city/county) licenses issued before July 1, 2027 remain valid but after that date, only the SFMO can issue new licenses. There is no explicit statewide owner-builder or handyman exception; some local policies may persist until the state takes over in 2027. Contractors must check with both their local jurisdiction and the new SFMO rules before proceeding.
Electrical License Types in Kansas
There are four license classes under the new electrical license requirements in Kansas: Electrical Contractor, Master Electrician, Journeyman Electrician, and Residential Electrician. All are defined in sections 2–3 of HB 2588. Each classification will have its scope of practice defined by SFMO rules, expected before the 2027 rollout.
Electrical Contractor: Will let you legally contract for and supervise all types of electrical work statewide. Details on whether multiple journeymen/masters are required for a contracting business are pending rules.
Master Electrician: This is the highest technical level, qualifying you to supervise journeymen, plan/lay out work, and possibly operate as a contractor (exact criteria for running a business pending rules).
Journeyman Electrician: Lets you perform electrical work unsupervised but does not authorize you to contract business directly.
Residential Electrician: Limited to residential electrical work. SFMO will define boundaries, but typically this includes single-family and possibly multifamily dwellings.
Prerequisites for all electrical license requirements in Kansas include at least 8,000 hours of supervised field work and 432 hours of formal education at an approved electrical trade school. Rules about combining licenses or simultaneous holding of multiple classes will be defined by SFMO in future rule-making.
How to Get Licensed in Kansas
To comply with the electrical license requirements in Kansas, you must follow a series of concrete, documented steps once SFMO releases application forms and detailed instructions.
Verify Experience & Education: Document 8,000 hours of supervised electrical work under a licensed electrician and 432 hours at a certified trade school. Schooling hours cannot be counted as field experience.
Submit Application: Complete and submit the SFMO application form (expected on the State Fire Marshal site by the 2027 effective date). Details like online or paper submission, processing time, and supporting documentation will be finalized by SFMO rules.
Take the Licensing Exam: Register for and schedule the required standard electrical exam. Exam providers are ICC, IAPMO, or Prometric. The SFMO or a delegated city/county will administer the test post-July 1, 2027. Pass with the required minimum score (not less than 75%, but exact passing grade to be confirmed with each exam provider).
Obtain Insurance: Secure and provide proof of minimum general liability insurance: $1,000,000 per injury/death and $500,000 for property damage (not a bond, but an insurance policy with proof for the SFMO as a condition of licensure).
Receive License: SFMO will issue your license after verifying all requirements. Your official Kansas electrical license will state the testing agency and exam used to qualify.
If you already have a local Kansas electrician license issued before July 1, 2027, you are "grandfathered" in and will be recognized statewide. You may still need to complete additional continuing education requirements on your next renewal but will not be required to retake exams.
Required Documents and Verification
You must prepare formal documentation, such as employment records, completion certificates from trade schools, and insurance policy evidence. The SFMO is expected to release detailed checklists and forms through its website before implementation.
Testing Locations and Process
Exam scheduling will be coordinated through the SFMO or authorized local test centers. Exact test format, retake policy, and administrative rules will be published during 2026–2027. Be ready with your documentation well in advance due to anticipated demand in the transition year.
Application Requirements
To meet the electrical license requirements in Kansas, your application must establish eligibility with documented experience, schooling, and insurance. The Act itself sets minimums; detailed requirements will come from future SFMO rule-making.
Experience and Education
You must provide verifiable proof of at least 8,000 hours of supervised, qualifying electrical work. Acceptable documentation may include employer letters, pay stubs, or signed affidavits from supervising electricians. In addition, you must show completion of 432 classroom hours at a recognized trade school in Kansas or another approved institution. You cannot substitute education for field work, or vice versa.
Insurance Coverage
The electrical license requirements in Kansas set explicit liability insurance minimums. Every applicant (not just contractors) must provide proof of:
$1,000,000 coverage per occurrence for bodily injury or death
$500,000 coverage for property damage
This is a general liability policy, and you must renew coverage for the life of your license. The law does not specify a bond (surety) requirement at this time. Failure to keep insurance current may result in suspension or denial of license renewal.
Other Obligations: Age, Background Check, Citizenship, Bond
The statute does not mention age, citizenship, financial statement, fingerprinting, or background check requirements (as of 2026). SFMO rules may add these elements, so you should verify status on the SFMO website before applying.
Exams
Passing a licensing exam is required for all first-time applicants under the electrical license requirements in Kansas unless you are grandfathered by an active local license issued before July 1, 2027.
The state accepts exams administered by ICC, IAPMO, or Prometric. The exam will be coordinated by the SFMO or a delegated local authority, but the exam format, question count, and test duration are not published as of 2026. The required passing score is at least 75% as specified in the statute, but the SFMO can set a higher minimum. The exact content, business/trade split, or retake policy will be clarified by the board under their upcoming rules.
You should confirm the current exam scheduling and structure by checking with the SFMO site before registering. After passing the exam and verifying experience, you will receive a license that specifically lists which test and provider you passed.
Fees
You must pay several fees under the electrical license requirements in Kansas, but the exact amounts will be set by the SFMO and are not published as of mid-2026. All license and exam fees will fund the new Electrician Fee Fund administered by the State Fire Marshal and Kansas State Treasury.
The exam fee will be uniform statewide and set by the SFMO following rule-making. Verify the latest fee schedule at SFMO official site.
Application, license issuance, renewal, and late fees have not been published. No bond premium is required by the statute.
The insurance coverage is not a fee paid to the state but a policy paid to your insurer.
If you need exact pricing before preparing a business plan or bid, check the board fee schedule as soon as rules are finalized in 2027.
Renewal and Continuing Education
The electrical license requirements in Kansas mandate ongoing education for all licensed electricians. To renew, you must complete at least 12 hours of continuing education every two years (or 6 hours each year if you renew annually). At least half of all CE hours must focus on electrical code updates.
Acceptable providers include local governments, nationally recognized trade associations, community colleges, technical colleges, or another institution approved by the SFMO. You must submit proof to the state with your renewal application. Renewal periods and precise renewal dates will be finalized by rule, but current language implies a biennial (every two years) cycle.
Consequences for lapses, including grace periods, reinstatement process, and late penalties, are not yet defined. The SFMO is expected to clarify procedures for renewing expired or suspended licenses, as well as for addressing incomplete CE or lapses due to military service or hardship.
Mandatory Topics and Proof of Completion
Continuing education must focus on relevant industry updates, with at least half your hours covering electrical code changes. Retain records and certificates from every CE class for the entire renewal cycle in case of audit.
Reciprocity
Currently, the electrical license requirements in Kansas do not provide any formal reciprocity with licenses from other states. Neither HB 2588 nor other Kansas statutes grant automatic endorsement or recognition of out-of-state electrical licenses.
The Advisory Board is empowered to recommend future policies such as interstate or mutual endorsement to facilitate professional growth, but as of 2026, no such arrangements are in place. If you are licensed in another state, you must independently qualify and apply under Kansas' normal process. Endorsement or equivalency may be addressed later in board rules, but you should not expect to transfer your license automatically.
Official Links
K.S.A. 12‑1508 (Exam, KS Legislature)
K.S.A. 12‑1542 (Exam Fees, KS Legislature)
For additional support, see the main electrical licensing resource page and Kansas electrical tools from CloseCrew.
