Indiana has no state electrician license
Indiana does not issue a state license for electricians.1 Cities and counties set their own rules; this page lists what Indianapolis (Consolidated City of Indianapolis-Marion County; excludes Lawrence, Beech Grove, Speedway, Southport), Evansville / Vanderburgh County, Fort Wayne / Allen County and South Bend / St. Joseph County require.
On this page
Is there a Indiana electrician license?
No. Indiana does not license electricians at the state level.1
- Evansville: homeowners (or immediate family) may get a permit for their own residence without a license.2
- South Bend/St. Joseph County: a residential owner-occupant may do their own work.3
The official wording“For electrical, HVAC, and wrecking contractors, licensing is at the discretion of the local municipality. There is no state license for these contractors.”1
City of Indianapolis Department of Business and Neighborhood Services
City and county licenses
Electrician licensing in Indiana is local. Indianapolis (BNS / Board of Electrical Examiners), Evansville-Vanderburgh County, Allen County (Fort Wayne) and South Bend/St. Joseph County run their own programs; several Indiana cities reciprocate licenses tested with the Prometric (Experior) exam.1
| City or county | What it requires | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis (Consolidated City of Indianapolis-Marion County; excludes Lawrence, Beech Grove, Speedway, Southport) | BNS licenses electrical contractors (Revised Code 875-201) with a Master (unrestricted) or Residential (one- and two-family) craft license holder. The holder needs Board of Electrical Examiners approval: 6 years of documented electrical construction experience (up to 2 years credit each for related college courses or a DOL apprenticeship), employer and three customer reference letters, then the ICC exam at 75%+ and an orientation. The business files $500,000 general liability, workers' compensation and a $10,000 surety bond. Licenses expire December 31 of odd-numbered years and renew every two years ($247 holder + $247 business). Reciprocity: holders of Prometric-exam licenses from listed Indiana and Illinois jurisdictions.4 | Official page1 |
| Evansville / Vanderburgh County | The joint Evansville-Vanderburgh County Building Commission licenses Master, Journeyman and Apprentice Electricians. Applicants file an application with three notarized letters on letterhead showing at least four years of experience; after board approval they schedule and pay for the exam with Ivy Tech. Electrical Master exams need 75% on each part (other exams 70%). Masters file $1,000,000 general liability, a $25,000 surety bond and workers' compensation proof; continuing education is required to keep a contractor license.5 | Official page6 |
| Fort Wayne / Allen County | Allen County (Fort Wayne) issues its own electrical licenses: Indianapolis lists it among jurisdictions whose Prometric-tested licenses it reciprocates.4 | – |
| South Bend / St. Joseph County | The South Bend Building Department requires every contractor, including electrical, to be registered or licensed to work in South Bend and St. Joseph County (owner-occupants excepted). Indianapolis lists St. Joseph County-South Bend as a reciprocal electrical licensing jurisdiction.3 | Official page3 |
Laws and rules
The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.
Electrician licenses in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Sources
Every number and rule above links to one of these official pages. Select a footnote number to read the board's own words.
- Contractor LicensesCity of Indianapolis Department of Business and Neighborhood ServicesChecked November 7, 2026
- Insurance & BondsEvansville-Vanderburgh County Building CommissionChecked November 7, 2026
- Contractor LicensesCity of South Bend Building DepartmentDated September 29, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- 2026 Board of Electrical Examiners ApplicationCity of Indianapolis Department of Business and Neighborhood Services (Board of Electrical Examiners)Checked November 7, 2026
- Categories & DefinitionsEvansville-Vanderburgh County Building CommissionChecked November 7, 2026
- License ProcessEvansville-Vanderburgh County Building CommissionChecked November 7, 2026