Licensing

Electrician Licensing in Connecticut

Connecticut licenses electricians statewide. The journeyman-level credential is the E-2 Unlimited Electrical Journeyperson License, issued by the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection — Electrical Work Board. Its standard route requires 8,000 hours of experience; other routes can differ.

Source: Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, checked 2026-10-07 · Standard-route hours: Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection

Before you start: You need this state credential before you start electrical work in Connecticut.

Credential: Registered apprentice card of registration (Labor Department); DCP trainee registration for license types without an established apprenticeship (e.g. C-8 sign)
Issued by: Connecticut Department of Labor (apprentices); Department of Consumer Protection (trainees)
Fee: Not confirmed in our records.

Official source · Checked 2026-10-07

Page last reviewed 2026-10-05 against official sources. Confirm with the issuing authority before applying.

How Connecticut's System Works

Connecticut's electrical licensing system includes one Connecticut Department of Labor electrical apprentice registration, one Department of Consumer Protection C-8 trainee registration, one statutory 15-month residential-security authorization, seven journeyperson licenses, and seven contractor licenses.

Credential-specific requirements

Requirements differ by credential. Expand any credential for the work or business activity you plan to perform. Issued by Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection — Electrical Work Board unless noted.

Registered Apprentice — Connecticut Electrical Trade Supervised apprentice registration Connecticut Department of Labor (CTDOL) — Office of Apprenticeship Training

Issuing authority: Connecticut Department of Labor (CTDOL) — Office of Apprenticeship Training →
Scope of work: You must be accompanied by a journeyperson while on the job site. You must carry a valid apprentice identification card at all times while on the job. The card is valid for the sponsor with whom you are registered.
Experience or qualification: Register with a CTDOL-approved sponsor. Published pathways lead to E-2, C-6, L-2, L-6, T-2, or PV-2. The card is sponsor-specific, and the apprentice must carry the valid identification card on the job; changing sponsors requires re-registration.
Examination: No occupational-license examination creates this registration.
Initial fee: —
Renewal: The card carries an expiration date; re-register after changing sponsors.
Official application: Apply / forms →

E-2 Unlimited Electrical Journeyperson License Journeyperson license

Issuing authority: Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection — Electrical Work Board →
Scope of work: All electrical work while employed by a properly licensed contractor.
Experience or qualification: Complete the corresponding registered pathway or document equivalent experience and training: 8,000 hours of on-the-job training and 720 classroom hours.
Examination: DCP requires every individual initial applicant to pass the applicable examination; the exam vendor charges a separate fee.
Initial fee: $90 nonrefundable application fee; $120 initial license fee after passing the examination. Exam-vendor fees are separate.
Renewal: Expires annually September 30; renew for $120. Complete 4 hours of approved continuing education by June 30; none is required before the first renewal.
Official application: Apply / forms →

E-1 Unlimited Electrical Contractor License Individual contractor license

Issuing authority: Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection — Electrical Work Board →
Scope of work: May contract for all electrical work.
Experience or qualification: Standard route: hold the corresponding journeyperson license. The statute says not less than two years. DCP's HTML application page says more than two years. The paper application says a minimum of two years. Equivalent-experience benchmark: 12,000 total on-the-job hours and 720 classroom hours.
Examination: DCP requires every individual initial applicant to pass the applicable examination; the exam vendor charges a separate fee.
Initial fee: $150 nonrefundable application fee; $150 initial license fee after passing the examination. Exam-vendor fees are separate.
Renewal: Expires annually September 30; renew for $150. Complete 4 hours of approved continuing education by June 30; none is required before the first renewal.
Official application: Apply / forms →

C-6 Limited Electrical Journeyperson License Journeyperson license

Issuing authority: Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection — Electrical Work Board →
Scope of work: C-6 performs only the C-5 category while employed by a licensed electrical contractor. The C-5 wording differs: the regulation says low-voltage systems and telephone-interconnect, while DCP's scope page lists low voltage, alarm or signal work, audio and sound systems, and telephone-interconnect. Both cap any system at 48 volts or 8 amperes.
Experience or qualification: Complete the corresponding registered apprenticeship, or document equivalent experience and training. DCP's equivalent-experience chart states 4,000 hours of on-the-job training and 360 classroom hours; RCSA § 20-332-2 states at least four years of equivalent experience and training. The two official texts differ, so confirm the equivalent route with DCP.
Examination: DCP requires every individual initial applicant to pass the applicable examination; the exam vendor charges a separate fee.
Initial fee: $90 nonrefundable application fee; $120 initial license fee after passing the examination. Exam-vendor fees are separate.
Renewal: Expires annually September 30; renew for $120. Complete 4 hours of approved continuing education by June 30; none is required before the first renewal.
Official application: Apply / forms →

Electrical Trainee Registration — C-8 Sign Pathway Supervised trainee registration

Issuing authority: Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection — Electrical Work Board →
Scope of work: May train in C-8 sign work for an approved sponsor under a C-7 or E-1 supervisor at a one-to-one jobsite ratio.
Experience or qualification: Complete 2,000 hours of on-the-job training and 144 hours of related instruction for C-8.
Examination: No trainee examination; the later C-8 license requires examination.
Initial fee: No fee for trainee or sponsor.
Renewal: Normally valid one year for C-8; cannot be renewed or reinstated.
Official application: Apply / forms →

C-8 Limited Electrical Sign Journeyperson License Journeyperson license

Issuing authority: Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection — Electrical Work Board →
Scope of work: Electric-sign work beginning at a dedicated outlet or adjacent connection while properly employed.
Experience or qualification: Complete the corresponding registered pathway or document equivalent experience and training: 2,000 hours of on-the-job training and 144 classroom hours.
Examination: DCP requires every individual initial applicant to pass the applicable examination; the exam vendor charges a separate fee.
Initial fee: $90 nonrefundable application fee; $120 initial license fee after passing the examination. Exam-vendor fees are separate.
Renewal: Expires annually September 30; renew for $120. Complete 4 hours of approved continuing education by June 30; none is required before the first renewal.
Official application: Apply / forms →

L-2 Electrical Lines Journeyperson License Journeyperson license

Issuing authority: Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection — Electrical Work Board →
Scope of work: Line/distribution work, cable splicing and pulling above 2,400 volts, and traffic-signal or highway-lighting work while properly employed.
Experience or qualification: Complete the corresponding registered pathway or document equivalent experience and training: 8,000 hours of on-the-job training and 576 classroom hours.
Examination: DCP requires every individual initial applicant to pass the applicable examination; the exam vendor charges a separate fee.
Initial fee: $90 nonrefundable application fee; $120 initial license fee after passing the examination. Exam-vendor fees are separate.
Renewal: Expires annually September 30; renew for $120. Complete 4 hours of approved continuing education by June 30; none is required before the first renewal.
Official application: Apply / forms →

L-6 Limited Electrical Journeyperson License Journeyperson license

Issuing authority: Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection — Electrical Work Board →
Scope of work: Alarm, signal, audio, and sound work up to 25 volts or 5 amperes, commencing at an outlet receptacle or connection previously installed by a properly licensed person, while properly employed; telecommunications excluded except monitoring interface.
Experience or qualification: Complete the corresponding registered apprenticeship, or document equivalent experience and training. DCP's equivalent-experience chart states 4,000 hours of on-the-job training and 288 classroom hours; RCSA § 20-332-2 states at least four years of equivalent experience and training. The two official texts differ, so confirm the equivalent route with DCP.
Examination: DCP requires every individual initial applicant to pass the applicable examination; the exam vendor charges a separate fee.
Initial fee: $90 nonrefundable application fee; $120 initial license fee after passing the examination. Exam-vendor fees are separate.
Renewal: Expires annually September 30; renew for $120. Complete 4 hours of approved continuing education by June 30; none is required before the first renewal.
Official application: Apply / forms →

T-2 Limited Electrical Journeyperson License Journeyperson license

Issuing authority: Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection — Electrical Work Board →
Scope of work: Telephone-interconnect work as defined for T-1, only while employed by a licensed electrical contractor. The work commences at an outlet receptacle or connection previously installed by a person holding the proper electrical license.
Experience or qualification: Complete the corresponding registered apprenticeship, or document equivalent experience and training. DCP's equivalent-experience chart states 4,000 hours of on-the-job training and 288 classroom hours; RCSA § 20-332-2 states at least four years of equivalent experience and training. The two official texts differ, so confirm the equivalent route with DCP. RCSA § 20-332-2 also accepts five years as a registered public-service technician.
Examination: DCP requires every individual initial applicant to pass the applicable examination; the exam vendor charges a separate fee.
Initial fee: $90 nonrefundable application fee; $120 initial license fee after passing the examination. Exam-vendor fees are separate.
Renewal: Expires annually September 30; renew for $120. Complete 4 hours of approved continuing education by June 30; none is required before the first renewal.
Official application: Apply / forms →

PV-2 Limited Solar Electric Journeyperson License Journeyperson license

Issuing authority: Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection — Electrical Work Board →
Scope of work: Photovoltaic or wind-generation work, including storage and distribution to a point immediately inside a structure or adjacent to an end use, while properly employed.
Experience or qualification: The CTDOL PV-2 apprenticeship schedule states 4,000 hours of on-the-job training and 288 hours of related instruction. DCP's equivalent-experience chart states 4,000 hours of on-the-job training and 324 classroom hours. The regulation says a registered apprenticeship or at least one year of equivalent experience and training and does not restate either hour total.
Examination: DCP requires every individual initial applicant to pass the applicable examination; the exam vendor charges a separate fee.
Initial fee: $90 nonrefundable application fee; $120 initial license fee after passing the examination. Exam-vendor fees are separate.
Renewal: Expires annually September 30; renew for $120. Complete 4 hours of approved continuing education by June 30; none is required before the first renewal.
Official application: Apply / forms →

C-5 Limited Electrical Contractor License Individual contractor license

Issuing authority: Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection — Electrical Work Board →
Scope of work: Official descriptions differ. RCSA § 20-332-2 limits C-5 to low-voltage systems and telephone-interconnect; DCP's scope page lists low voltage, alarm or signal work, audio and sound systems, and telephone-interconnect. Both cap any system at 48 volts or 8 amperes where the work commences at an outlet receptacle or connection previously installed by a person holding the proper electrical license.
Experience or qualification: Standard route: hold the corresponding journeyperson license. The statute says not less than two years. DCP's HTML application page says more than two years. The paper application says a minimum of two years. Equivalent-experience benchmark: 8,000 total on-the-job hours and 360 classroom hours. RCSA § 20-332-2 instead states at least six years of equivalent experience and training, so the two official texts differ; confirm the equivalent route with DCP.
Examination: DCP requires every individual initial applicant to pass the applicable examination; the exam vendor charges a separate fee.
Initial fee: $150 nonrefundable application fee; $150 initial license fee after passing the examination. Exam-vendor fees are separate.
Renewal: Expires annually September 30; renew for $150. Complete 4 hours of approved continuing education by June 30; none is required before the first renewal.
Official application: Apply / forms →

C-7 Limited Electrical Sign Contractor License Individual contractor license

Issuing authority: Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection — Electrical Work Board →
Scope of work: May contract for electric-sign work beginning at a dedicated outlet or adjacent connection.
Experience or qualification: Standard route: hold the corresponding journeyperson license. The statute says not less than two years. DCP's HTML application page says more than two years. The paper application says a minimum of two years. Equivalent-experience benchmark: 4,000 total on-the-job hours and 144 classroom hours. DCP's equivalent table describes 2,000 apprentice on-the-job hours plus one year (2,000 hours) of licensed on-the-job training.
Examination: DCP requires every individual initial applicant to pass the applicable examination; the exam vendor charges a separate fee.
Initial fee: $150 nonrefundable application fee; $150 initial license fee after passing the examination. Exam-vendor fees are separate.
Renewal: Expires annually September 30; renew for $150. Complete 4 hours of approved continuing education by June 30; none is required before the first renewal.
Official application: Apply / forms →

L-1 Electrical Lines Contractor License Individual contractor license

Issuing authority: Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection — Electrical Work Board →
Scope of work: May contract for line/distribution work, cable splicing and pulling above 2,400 volts, and traffic-signal or highway-lighting work.
Experience or qualification: Standard route: hold the corresponding journeyperson license. The statute says not less than two years. DCP's HTML application page says more than two years. The paper application says a minimum of two years. Equivalent-experience benchmark: 12,000 total on-the-job hours and 576 classroom hours.
Examination: DCP requires every individual initial applicant to pass the applicable examination; the exam vendor charges a separate fee.
Initial fee: $150 nonrefundable application fee; $150 initial license fee after passing the examination. Exam-vendor fees are separate.
Renewal: Expires annually September 30; renew for $150. Complete 4 hours of approved continuing education by June 30; none is required before the first renewal.
Official application: Apply / forms →

L-5 Limited Electrical Contractor License Individual contractor license

Issuing authority: Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection — Electrical Work Board →
Scope of work: May contract for alarm, signal, audio, and sound work up to 25 volts or 5 amperes, commencing at an outlet receptacle or connection previously installed by a properly licensed person; telecommunications excluded except monitoring interface.
Experience or qualification: Standard route: hold the corresponding journeyperson license. The statute says not less than two years. DCP's HTML application page says more than two years. The paper application says a minimum of two years. Equivalent-experience benchmark: 8,000 total on-the-job hours and 288 classroom hours. RCSA § 20-332-2 instead states at least six years of equivalent experience and training, so the two official texts differ; confirm the equivalent route with DCP.
Examination: DCP requires every individual initial applicant to pass the applicable examination; the exam vendor charges a separate fee.
Initial fee: $150 nonrefundable application fee; $150 initial license fee after passing the examination. Exam-vendor fees are separate.
Renewal: Expires annually September 30; renew for $150. Complete 4 hours of approved continuing education by June 30; none is required before the first renewal.
Official application: Apply / forms →

T-1 Limited Electrical Contractor License Individual contractor license

Issuing authority: Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection — Electrical Work Board →
Scope of work: May contract for telephone-interconnect systems where the work commences at an outlet receptacle or connection previously installed by a person holding the proper electrical license.
Experience or qualification: Standard route: hold the corresponding journeyperson license. The statute says not less than two years. DCP's HTML application page says more than two years. The paper application says a minimum of two years. Equivalent-experience benchmark: 8,000 total on-the-job hours and 288 classroom hours. RCSA § 20-332-2 instead states at least six years of equivalent experience and training, so the two official texts differ; confirm the equivalent route with DCP.
Examination: DCP requires every individual initial applicant to pass the applicable examination; the exam vendor charges a separate fee.
Initial fee: $150 nonrefundable application fee; $150 initial license fee after passing the examination. Exam-vendor fees are separate.
Renewal: Expires annually September 30; renew for $150. Complete 4 hours of approved continuing education by June 30; none is required before the first renewal.
Official application: Apply / forms →

PV-1 Limited Solar Electric Contractor License Individual contractor license

Issuing authority: Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection — Electrical Work Board →
Scope of work: May contract for photovoltaic or wind-generation systems, including storage and distribution to a point immediately inside a structure or adjacent to an end use.
Experience or qualification: Standard route: hold the corresponding journeyperson license. The statute says not less than two years; DCP's HTML application page says more than two years; the paper application says a minimum of two years. DCP's equivalent-experience chart lists 8,000 total on-the-job hours and 324 classroom hours. The CTDOL PV-2 schedule, which is the related apprenticeship, states 288 related-instruction hours rather than 324.
Examination: DCP requires every individual initial applicant to pass the applicable examination; the exam vendor charges a separate fee.
Initial fee: $150 nonrefundable application fee; $150 initial license fee after passing the examination. Exam-vendor fees are separate.
Renewal: Expires annually September 30; renew for $150. Complete 4 hours of approved continuing education by June 30; none is required before the first renewal.
Official application: Apply / forms →

Residential Security Systems Authorization — 15-Month L-6 Transition Temporary statutory work authorization

Issuing authority: Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection — Electrical Work Board →
Scope of work: Residential security installation, service, and repair limited to 25 volts and 5 amperes in one- to three-family dwellings; telecommunications is excluded except monitoring-interface wiring.
Experience or qualification: Be employed by an E-1 or L-5 contractor and complete an apprenticeship and training program established and approved by the Labor Department with the advice of the Connecticut State Apprenticeship Council (CGS § 20-334a(i)).
Examination: No separate examination is stated; later qualify for L-6.
Initial fee: —
Renewal: Secure L-6 within 15 months after authorization; no separate renewal route is stated.

Licensed in another state?

No reviewed route into Connecticut is listed yet. Ask Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection — Electrical Work Board how it treats a license from another state.

Licenses Are Issued to Individuals

The Department of Consumer Protection accepts applications from individuals, not companies. Contractor and journeyperson classes are separate because their authority and requirements differ.

Shared Terms

Every initial Department of Consumer Protection electrical-license applicant takes the examination that applies to the requested class. Contractor applications cost $150 and journeyperson applications cost $90; examination-vendor charges are separate. Licenses expire September 30. Renewal costs $150 for contractors and $120 for journeypersons. Four hours of approved continuing education are due annually by June 30, except before the first renewal.

Pathways and Other Classes

Equivalent experience, equivalent out-of-state licensure, examinations, reinstatement, retiree status, and municipal permits may affect a person's route or authority, but they are not separate license classes. E-4, E-5, and E-9 appear in DCP's 2027 continuing-education curriculum but not on DCP's scope-of-work page, in the license-types regulation, or among DCP's application routes. Holders should confirm their scope with the Department of Consumer Protection. A 2027 continuing-education curriculum groups E-9 with unlimited licenses; the scope regulation does not define E-9.

Before You Apply

This information reflects official Connecticut sources available on October 5, 2026. The 15-month residential-security authorization remains in statute, but no dedicated public application page is available. Contact the Department of Consumer Protection for filing instructions.

A chapter 393 license may be used in any Connecticut town without another municipal examination or license. Municipal permits are separate.

The C-5 regulation limits that license to low-voltage systems and telephone-interconnect systems. DCP's scope page also names alarm or signal work and audio and sound systems. Both texts cap any system at 48 volts or 8 amperes. C-6 follows the C-5 definition. Both texts are official and their lists of work do not match.

The statute says a contractor applicant has served as a journeyperson for not less than two years. DCP's electrical-license page says more than two years. The paper contractor application says a minimum of two years.

The CTDOL PV-2 work schedule states 4,000 on-the-job hours and 288 related-instruction hours. DCP's equivalent-experience chart states 324 classroom hours for PV-2 and for the PV-1 classroom total.

For the C-5, L-5, and T-1 contractor licenses and the C-6, L-6, and T-2 journeyperson licenses, DCP's equivalent-experience charts list on-the-job hours that do not match the years of equivalent experience in RCSA § 20-332-2 (six years for the contractor licenses and four years for the journeyperson licenses). Applicants using an equivalent route should confirm the requirement with DCP.

View Application Information → Connecticut eLicense Lookup →

Cite this page

Title: Electrician Licensing in Connecticut
URL: https://tradesdir.com/electrical/licensing/connecticut
Information checked: 2026-10-05

Suggested citation: Electrician Licensing in Connecticut. Trades Directory. https://tradesdir.com/electrical/licensing/connecticut (information checked 2026-10-05).

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