Not a government site. Always confirm with the licensing board before you apply. About us

State License Requirements
Menu

Kansas has no state electrician license

Kansas does not issue a state license for electricians.1 Cities and counties set their own rules; this page lists what Wichita / Sedgwick County (MABCD: City of Wichita, unincorporated Sedgwick County and small cities in its jurisdiction), Johnson County (Overland Park, Olathe and other Johnson County cities; unincorporated Johnson County), Kansas City, Kansas (Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City) and Lawrence require.

Last checked · 11 official sources

On this page
  1. Is there a Kansas electrician license?
  2. City and county licenses
  3. Other rules for electricians in Kansas
  4. Check a license or report a problem
  5. Laws and rules
  6. Electrician licenses in other states

Is there a Kansas electrician license?

No. Kansas does not license electricians at the state level.1

  • State law does not require a license; whether one is needed depends on the city or county. Where a city or county licenses electricians, it must use the state-designated standard exams (ICC, IAPMO or Prometric) for licenses that are valid statewide.2
  • Wichita/Sedgwick County (MABCD): homeowners may do specific electrical work on their own owner-occupied home after passing an MABCD homeowner exam.3
The official wording

“In addition to the general requirements for starting a business in Kansas, cities and counties set licensing requirements for construction or contracting businesses.”1

Kansas Business Center

City and county licenses

Kansas leaves electrician licensing to cities and counties. Under K.S.A. 12-1526, a city or county that licenses electricians must use an ICC, IAPMO or Prometric standard exam with a 75% pass mark, require at least 12 hours of CE every 2 years (or 6 a year, half of it code), and check 2 years of field experience before a journeyman or residential certificate and 2 years as a journeyman before a master certificate. A certificate earned that way must be accepted without re-examination by any other Kansas city or county that licenses electricians. Licenses based on other exams are valid only locally unless there is a reciprocal agreement.4

City or countyWhat it requiresLink
Wichita / Sedgwick County (MABCD: City of Wichita, unincorporated Sedgwick County and small cities in its jurisdiction)MABCD issues an Electrical trade contractor license (2 years, $360, expires 31 December of odd years). The company's master must hold an MABCD trade certificate backed by a Kansas Standard ICC exam at 75%+; the company files $300,000+ general liability, workers' compensation and auto insurance (or notarized waivers). Renewal requires 12 hours of approved CE, 6 of them code-related. MABCD does not reciprocate with other jurisdictions. Homeowners must pass an MABCD exam to do their own electrical work.3Official page3
Johnson County (Overland Park, Olathe and other Johnson County cities; unincorporated Johnson County)Johnson County Contractor Licensing issues a Class DE Electrical Contractor license to a company that has a full-time (30+ hours/week) Qualifying Individual who passed the ICC Kansas (Johnson County) Standard Master Electrician exam (ID KGD) or another standard exam approved by the Contractor License Review Board (ICC, Prometric or past ETS subsidiaries) at 75%+. The company files $1,000,000 general liability (and workers' compensation if it has employees). Fees: $100 application + $225 per license type; renewal $225 each year, $75 late fee from February 1; inactive renewal $100. Each QI needs 8 hours of approved CE per license type each calendar year. The county license applies wherever a building permit is issued in the company's name in Johnson County; permits outside unincorporated areas are issued by the cities.5Official page5
Kansas City, Kansas (Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City)Electrical contractors need one master per trade who passed the Block & Associates, Experior or Prometric exam at 75%+ (Master Electrician or Master Residential Electrician) and holds a UG Certificate of Qualification approved by the Chief Building Inspector. The contractor files a $5,000 surety bond, buys a master card ($60) and an employee card ($20) for each employee working in the jurisdiction, all renewed annually, and pays the UG occupational tax (business license).6Official page7
LawrenceLawrence licenses a Class E Electrical Contractor: 4 years of qualifying electrical experience (engineering degree can replace 2.5 years, vo-tech graduation 1 year) and a Certificate of Competency from a nationally recognized testing body (degree route not allowed for Class E). Fees: $75 application + $75 annual license fee; late renewal +$75 (January 1 - May 1). Employees doing electrical work must be certified master or journeyman tradespersons; the contractor's qualifying party needs 8 hours of CE a year and tradespersons 6 hours.8Official page9

Other rules for electricians in Kansas

Education or training
At least 930 clock hours4
Framework for local licenses: "field experience" can include trade-related schooling for up to 1 of the 2 required years, if the program is at least 930 hours with a certificate of completion.4
Experience
At least 2 years4
Framework for local licenses: 2 years of field experience under a journeyman, residential or master certificate holder before a journeyman or residential certificate; 2 years holding a journeyman certificate before a master certificate.4
Supervision: Direct supervision by a journeyman, residential or master certificate holder.4
Exam
State-designated standard examinations for local electrician licensing: ICC, IAPMO or Prometric (contractor, master, journeyman, residential)2
Given by: ICC, IAPMO or Prometric (local jurisdictions choose; JoCo and MABCD use ICC Kansas standard exams)10
Passing score: 75% (minimum the local rules must set)4

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire an electrician in Kansas, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in Kansas is on the Kansas license lookup page.

Look up a license
jocogov.org11

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

Electrician licenses in other states

Sources

Every number and rule above links to one of these official pages. Select a footnote number to read the board's own words.

  1. Business Starter Kit: ConstructionKansas Business CenterChecked November 7, 2026
  2. K.S.A. 12-1525 Competency of electricians for licensure; designation of standard examinationsKansas Office of Revisor of StatutesChecked November 7, 2026
  3. MABCD Contractor LicensingSedgwick County - Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department (MABCD)Checked November 7, 2026
  4. K.S.A. 12-1526 Rules and regulations relating to examination and licensure; certificate of competency;…Kansas Office of Revisor of StatutesChecked November 7, 2026
  5. New License & License TypesJohnson County, Kansas - Contractor LicensingChecked November 7, 2026
  6. Contractors Requirements - Electrical, Mechanical, PlumbingUnified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas - Building InspectionsDated March 15, 2011Checked November 7, 2026
  7. Trade Licensing & Prometric TestingUnified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, KansasChecked November 7, 2026
  8. Ordinance No. 9634 - Chapter V Article 15 Contractor LicensingCity of Lawrence, KansasDated July 1, 2019Checked November 7, 2026
  9. Contractor LicensingCity of Lawrence, KansasChecked November 7, 2026
  10. Exam InformationJohnson County, Kansas - Contractor LicensingChecked November 7, 2026
  11. Contractor LicensingJohnson County, Kansas - Contractor LicensingChecked November 7, 2026