Page last reviewed 2026-10-01 against official sources. Confirm with the issuing authority before applying.
How electrical licensing works in Kansas
Start with the city or county that governs the job-site address. Kansas electrical licensing is local: a personal electrician credential, a contractor’s business authorization and a project permit serve different purposes. This page covers three selected authorities, not every Kansas locality. A place missing from this page may still require a license or permit.
For Wichita and unincorporated Sedgwick County, start with MABCD. For a small city on MABCD’s jurisdiction list, start the permit process with that city; MABCD’s services vary, and Valley Center also requires its own contractor license. In Johnson County, use Contractor Licensing for the company’s Class DE license and check the participating jurisdiction for project permits. Its Qualifying Individual belongs to the company license.
For master electrical work in Kansas City, Kansas, start with Unified Government Building Inspection. Its linked master-license rule applies to work “in the city”; the Wyandotte County name does not establish coverage of every county address. Confirm the job-site authority before applying. The personal master license is separate from the business occupational-tax license and electrical permits.
Verified local licensing authorities
This is a curated, not exhaustive, list. Confirm which licensing authority governs the actual job site before relying on a credential.
Wichita / Sedgwick County
Start with MABCD for Wichita and unincorporated Sedgwick County. In participating small cities, start permitting with the city; MABCD services vary. Valley Center also requires its own contractor license.
Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department →
Renewals →
MABCD Electrical Contractor License
Local contractor license
- Issuing authority
- Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department →
- Geographic validity
- Start with MABCD for Wichita and unincorporated Sedgwick County. In participating small cities, start permitting with the city; MABCD services vary. Valley Center also requires its own contractor license.
- Scope of work
- It is unlawful to engage in the electrical-contractor business without an MABCD electrical license. A master or qualified person is required.
- Experience or qualification
- The company must have a master or qualified person responsible for the work.
- Examination
- The qualified person must have a Kansas Standard ICC exam with a score of 75 percent or better. MABCD states it does not reciprocate with other jurisdictions.
- Initial fee
- Electrical trade contractor license fee $360 for a two-year odd-year term.
- Renewal
- Trade contractor licenses expire December 31 of every odd year. Renew the responsible master's certificate under the applicable certificate-renewal requirements before renewing the company license; liability insurance is also required.
- Official application
- Apply / forms →
MABCD Master Electrician Certificate
Local individual certificate
- Issuing authority
- Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department →
- Geographic validity
- Start with MABCD for Wichita and unincorporated Sedgwick County. In participating small cities, start permitting with the city; MABCD services vary. Valley Center also requires its own contractor license.
- Scope of work
- A master electrician's certificate authorizes installing electrical wiring while employed by a licensed electrical contractor in MABCD's jurisdiction. The master is responsible for the electrical work on the company's permits. The code also authorizes journeyman certificate holders to install wiring, and residential wiremen within their dwelling scope.
- Experience or qualification
- Hold an electrical journeyman certificate and document two years of field experience as a certified journeyman.
- Examination
- Score 75 percent or better on an approved master exam: ICC 554, KGD, F16, G16, or T16.
- Initial fee
- Certificate fee $35.00.
- Renewal
- Certificates expire December 31 of odd-numbered years. The code ordinarily requires 12 approved CE hours per two-year cycle, including six electrical-code hours. People passing the exam in the second year of a cycle need six approved hours, including three electrical-code hours, during that second year. The webpage states a general 12-CEU requirement; confirm your exam-year provision with MABCD.
- Official application
- Apply / forms →
MABCD Journeyman Electrician Certificate
Local individual certificate
- Issuing authority
- Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department →
- Geographic validity
- Start with MABCD for Wichita and unincorporated Sedgwick County. In participating small cities, start permitting with the city; MABCD services vary. Valley Center also requires its own contractor license.
- Scope of work
- A journeyman electrician's certificate authorizes installing electrical wiring while employed by a licensed electrical contractor in MABCD's jurisdiction. A master certificate also authorizes this work; residential wiremen have a separate dwelling-limited scope.
- Experience or qualification
- One year of field experience and one year of electrical trade school, or two years of field experience.
- Examination
- Score 75 percent or better on an approved journeyman exam: ICC 558 or KGH. The current webpage also lists 565 and KGX residential-only exams under journeyman requirements; UBTC and Form 19A treat residential as a separate certificate.
- Initial fee
- Certificate fee $35.00.
- Renewal
- Certificates expire December 31 of odd-numbered years. The code ordinarily requires 12 approved CE hours per two-year cycle, including six electrical-code hours. People passing the exam in the second year of a cycle need six approved hours, including three electrical-code hours, during that second year. The webpage states a general 12-CEU requirement; confirm your exam-year provision with MABCD.
- Official application
- Apply / forms →
MABCD Residential Wireman Electrician Certificate
Local individual certificate
- Issuing authority
- Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department →
- Geographic validity
- Start with MABCD for Wichita and unincorporated Sedgwick County. In participating small cities, start permitting with the city; MABCD services vary. Valley Center also requires its own contractor license.
- Scope of work
- A holder of a residential wireman electrician's certificate may install electrical wiring on one- and two-family dwellings only and must be employed by a licensed electrical contractor. Form 19A lists this classification as Resident Electrical.
- Experience or qualification
- UBTC requires residential wireman applicants to provide documented proof of at least two years of field experience, with no more than one year satisfied by trade-related schooling.
- Examination
- The MABCD-approved electrical examination is administered in accordance with K.S.A. 12-1525 with a minimum passing score of 75 percent. The current webpage identifies 565 and KGX as residential-only exams.
- Initial fee
- Certificate fee $35.00.
- Renewal
- Certificates expire December 31 of odd-numbered years. The code ordinarily requires 12 approved CE hours per two-year cycle, including six electrical-code hours. People passing the exam in the second year of a cycle need six approved hours, including three electrical-code hours, during that second year. The webpage states a general 12-CEU requirement; confirm your exam-year provision with MABCD.
- Official application
- Apply / forms →
Checked against official sources on 2026-09-06.
Johnson County
Johnson County Contractor Licensing issues the company license. Confirm job-site permit requirements with the participating jurisdiction listed in the official application instructions.
Johnson County Contractor Licensing →
Renewals →
License lookup →
Johnson County Class DE Electrical Contractor License
Local contractor license
- Issuing authority
- Johnson County Contractor Licensing →
- Geographic validity
- Johnson County Contractor Licensing issues the company license. Confirm job-site permit requirements with the participating jurisdiction listed in the official application instructions.
- Scope of work
- Class DE License shall entitle the holder thereof to perform only electric services.
- Experience or qualification
- The company must designate a Qualifying Individual who meets the education requirements for the license type requested.
- Examination
- The recognized DE exam is Standard Master Electrician 554 or KGD. Johnson County may recognize ICC National exams verified at 75 percent or higher.
- Initial fee
- Application fee $100 plus new license fee $225 per license type.
- Renewal
- The contractor license is valid for one year; renewal is $225, with a $75 late fee applied February 1. Each Qualifying Individual must complete at least eight approved CE hours per license classification each calendar year.
- Official application
- Apply / forms →
Checked against official sources on 2026-09-06.
Kansas City, Kansas (Unified Government)
The linked master-license rule applies to work in the city of Kansas City, Kansas. Do not assume the Wyandotte County name covers every county address; confirm the job-site authority with Building Inspection.
Unified Government of Wyandotte County / Kansas City, Kansas Building Inspections →
Applications →
Wyandotte Trade Master Electrician License
Local individual license
- Issuing authority
- Unified Government of Wyandotte County / Kansas City, Kansas Building Inspections →
- Geographic validity
- The linked master-license rule applies to work in the city of Kansas City, Kansas. Do not assume the Wyandotte County name covers every county address; confirm the job-site authority with Building Inspection.
- Scope of work
- Personal master-electrician license for work as a master electrician in Kansas City, Kansas. The renewal form says a master who is not a contractor cannot obtain permits; business occupational-tax licensing and electrical permits are separate.
- Experience or qualification
- UG’s linked section 8-158 requires age 21 or older and written evidence of one year planning, laying out, supervising, installing and repairing electrical work plus three additional years under a licensed electrical contractor or master; at least two years must be commercial or industrial. The building official may credit up to two years of an approved post-high-school electrical course. Separately, K.S.A. 12-1526(f) requires two years holding a valid journeyman certificate. Confirm with Building Inspection how the local wording and state requirement apply to your history.
- Examination
- The Application for Prometric Master Testing asks applicants who passed Block, Experior or Thompson Prometric through another city to attach a Certificate of Competency or test results showing at least 75%. The Chief Building Inspector determines whether an examination is required or a certificate may be granted without one. Confirm the currently accepted examination before booking; the form is not a general promise of reciprocity.
- Initial fee
- —
- Renewal
- The published renewal form covers January 1–December 31 and charges $45 for a master who is not a contractor. It separately lists $60 for a licensed and bonded electrical contractor and $20 per employee. K.S.A. 12-1526(a) requires at least six approved CE hours annually or 12 biennially, including three or six code hours respectively. Confirm UG’s accepted CE, current renewal process and fees with Building Inspection; the form does not describe CE administration.
- Official application
- Apply / forms →
Checked against official sources on 2026-09-06.
Choosing a personal or business credential
MABCD separately licenses electrical contracting businesses and certifies master, journeyman and residential-wireman electricians. Johnson County’s Class DE authorizes the company to provide electrical services; the company designates a Qualifying Individual and must meet its insurance and application requirements.
Unified Government’s renewal form distinguishes a master who is not a contractor from a licensed and bonded master electrical contractor. A master who is not a contractor cannot obtain permits. The contractor route also involves a surety bond, employee fees and a separate occupational tax; those charges are not the personal master’s initial license fee.
Experience and examination wording to confirm
MABCD’s unified code calls the residential credential a residential wireman electrician’s certificate, Form 19A calls it Resident Electrical, and the trade-certificate webpage places the 565/KGX residential examinations under journeyman requirements. Confirm the certificate and examination MABCD will accept before registering for an exam.
Unified Government links a local code excerpt with age and experience requirements, while K.S.A. 12-1526(f) requires an issuing jurisdiction to verify at least two years holding a valid journeyman certificate before issuing a master certificate. The linked local excerpt does not explain that relationship. Ask Building Inspection to confirm how your documented journeyman history and any school credit meet the requirements before paying for testing.
Kansas statutes provide recognition rules for designated examinations and certificates; they do not turn every local license into a statewide business authorization. MABCD’s webpage says it does not reciprocate with other jurisdictions. Present the exact exam, score and certificate to the destination authority and confirm the applicable route. Do not assume acceptance works in both directions.
Before you apply
Confirm the job-site city, the work you will perform and whether you are applying as an individual or a business. For MABCD, use the credential’s application form; its online renewal instructions require the company’s master certificate to be renewed before the contractor license. Johnson County accepts new-license packages by mail or in person, and its Contractor Licensing System provides renewals and contractor searches.
For Unified Government, the official application linked below is the Application for Prometric Master Testing / Certificate of Qualification. It requests work history and a notarized applicant certificate; applicants who passed a listed test through another city attach their certificate or results showing at least 75%. Ask Building Inspection at (913) 573-8620 to confirm the current testing route, initial application/license and examination charges, and how to submit your documents. The linked forms carry an older office address; the current department page lists 4953 State Avenue and says in-person submissions are not being received.
The Unified Government renewal form lists a January 1–December 31 cycle and $45 for a master who is not a contractor. Confirm the current renewal submission process and accepted continuing education with Building Inspection. K.S.A. 12-1526(a) sets a local-license minimum of six approved CE hours annually or 12 biennially, including at least three or six code hours respectively; the reviewed UG renewal form does not explain how it administers that requirement. Initial personal-license and examination fees remain unverified.
For verification, use Johnson County’s contractor search for company licenses. Unified Government’s public E-Link says its License category contains business and rental licenses; it is not verified here as a personal master-license lookup. Ask Building Inspection to verify a master’s current status. This page was re-verified against the Kansas Municipal sources cited on this page (MABCD, Wichita, Johnson County, UG Wyandotte) on October 1, 2026.
Cite this page
- Title
- Electrician Licensing in Kansas
- URL
- https://tradesdir.com/electrical/licensing/kansas
- Information checked
- 2026-10-01
Suggested citation: Electrician Licensing in Kansas. Trades Directory. https://tradesdir.com/electrical/licensing/kansas (information checked 2026-10-01).
