If you’re wondering how to become a licensed electrician in Louisiana, you must turn to the municipality you want to work in. The laws for all electrical licenses vary across county lines. The only caveat to this rule is for electrical contractors, who fall under the jurisdiction of the Louisiana State Licensing Board.
To give you an idea of the licensing requirements across Louisiana municipalities, we’ve broken down the state electrical contractor license as well as the electrical licenses offered in the two of the top LA cities: New Orleans and Bossier City.
Do You Need to Be a Licensed Electrician in Louisiana?
If you plan to be an electrical contractor, you must be licensed in Louisiana. Other electrical licenses may or may not be offered by municipalities. Many municipalities offer trainee, journeyman, and/or master electrical licenses. You must check with your municipality in LA to know if you need an electrical license to conduct electrical work.
Electrical Licenses in New Orleans
As the largest city in Louisiana with over 390,800 people, New Orleans hosts ample room for an electrician looking for work. This city offers Master Electrical, Journeyman Electrical, Maintenance Electrician, and Electrical Helper Licenses.
- Electrical Helper License (Class E): This license is for apprentices, trainees, or electricians who are just starting out. These electricians work under other licensed workers, such as journeyman or master electricians.
- Maintenance Electrician License (Class C): Maintenance electricians working directly for the state must have at least 3 years of experience as a trainee or journeyman with the appropriate license. Other employers may replace the 3-year requirement with the requirement of passing a state exam and having general experience.
- Journeyman Electrical License (Class D): Journeyman electricians install, alter, maintain, and repair circuits, fixtures, and electrical equipment. All have passed an official journeyman exam.
- Master Electrical License (Class A): Master electricians in New Orleans are electrical contractors. They must pass either a National Test or State Test and have General Liability and Worker’s Comp Insurance. If applying as a business, they must submit an LA General Sales Tax number, Federal ID number, and their Occupational/General Business License.
How to Get Your New Orleans License
For all electrical licensing options in New Orleans, you must pass the appropriate exam, complete and submit the application, and pay a licensing fee. Applicants must be 18 years or older and submit 2 passport-sized photos with their applications, as well as copies of their driver’s license and other electrical licenses, if applicable.
All licenses must be renewed before the applicant’s birthday every year. The Electrical Helper’s License can only be renewed for 5 years, after which you must apply for your Journeyman Electrical License.
Annual licensing fees are as follows:
- Trainees: $30
- Maintenance electricians: $60
- Journeymen: $60
- Master electricians (contractors): $125
A handy checklist of what to include in your application for all license types can be found here.
Electrical Licenses in Bossier City
Any person performing electrical work within Bossier City must be both registered and licensed with the city. This includes electrical contractors, electrical apprentices, journeyman or special journeyman electricians, master electricians, sign electricians, or residential, specialty or maintenance electricians.
How to Get Your License in Bossier City
To receive your electrical license in Bossier City, you must pass the International Code Council exam. Submit proof of passing this exam with your photo ID and the appropriate fee to receive your license. If you are registering as an electrical contractor, you must also provide proof of your state licensure and the general liability requirement.
License fees are as follows:
- Apprentice – $15
- Journeyman, or Specialty Journeyman – $30
- Master or Sign Manufacturer – $150
- Residential Electrician, Specialty, or Maintenance – $25
All electrical licenses expire annually and must be renewed within 30 days of expiring. Renewal fees are as follows:
- Apprentice – $10
- Journeyman, or Specialty Journeyman – $25
- Master or Sign Manufacturer – $100
- Residential Electrician, Specialty, or Maintenance – $25
For more information about Bossier City’s electrical licenses, contact the City of Bossier City at 620 Benton Road, Bossier City, LA 71111.
LA State Electrical Contractor License
Electrical contractors in the state of Louisiana oversee electrical work and projects worth over $50,000. Electrical contractors supervise other electricians and are often master electricians themselves. All contractors must be licensed with the state and are usually required to also register with the municipality they are working under.
Requirements
Louisiana electrical contractors must present the following to be approved by the Board:
- Complete the Commercial Application online
- Instructions can be found here
- Provide a financial statement proving at least $10,000 in net worth
- Pass a Business & Law course and trade exam, if applicable
Once approved by the board, you will move on to complete:
- A financial background investigation
- Qualifying party verification
- Qualifying party approval and testing requirements (if you employ other electricians)
The exam fee for one classification is $120, plus $120 for the Business and Law exam. The background financial investigation is $60 and the general application fee is $100. For a basic electrical contractor license with the full exam, you are looking at a total cost of $400.
Louisiana Electrician Licensing Reciprocity
Louisiana offers reciprocity agreements for electrical contractors coming in from other states, including:
- California
- Nevada
- Utah
- Texas
- Arkansas
- Mississippi
- Alabama
- Georgia
- Tennessee
- Kentucky
- Ohio
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Florida
To apply for reciprocity, you must meet all initial applicant requirements and you must not have been sanctioned by the Board in your state for violating their contractor licensing laws over the last three years.
You will need to complete the reciprocity application online in LA as well as sent a Request for Verification of License to the Board in the state you’re coming from. If your application were to be accepted, you would not need to retake the trade exam in LA to receive your license.
Louisiana Electrician Salaries
The average electrician in LA makes $44,420 plus overtime, which is slightly less than the national average. New Orleans’ electricians earn a bit more, at $49,600 plus overtime, and Bossier City electricians come in at the median of $46,830 plus overtime.
These salaries are generalized and vary greatly depending on your licensure, city of work, and experience.
