Alabama Journeyman Electrician License: Requirements, Fees, and the Prov Exam
What the Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors requires for a journeyman license: 8,000 hours, Board approval before the exam, the $115 exam fee, the $35 license and annual renewal, and the 2026 NEC switch.
Contents
Alabama Journeyman Electrician License: Requirements and the Exam
Alabama licenses journeyman electricians statewide through the Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors. The exam is delivered by Prov, but you apply to the Board first, and the Board decides whether you can sit for it. Here is what the license takes.
Do you need the state license?
Alabama law says no one may work as a master or journeyman electrician without a license from the Board or from the county or city where the work is being done. The exemptions in the statute include systems of 25 volts or less and an owner, or an owner's employee, doing electrical work on the owner's own premises.
A statewide license also travels. Cities and counties can run their own exams, but someone with a valid statewide license is treated as qualified to work in any county or municipality, as long as they have the proper local permit and business license.
Eligibility
| Requirement | Journeyman electrician |
|---|---|
| Experience | 8,000 hours |
| Type of work | Installing electrical wiring, apparatus or equipment for lighting, power or controls, in commercial, industrial or residential settings |
| Education credit | 1,000 hours per year of accredited electrical curriculum or industry-recognized apprenticeship, up to 2,000 hours |
| Exam | Must pass the Board's exam, with Board approval first |
The education credit has to come from an electrical curriculum accredited through the Alabama community college system or from an industry-recognized apprenticeship program. You document it with your application, and the Board has to accept that documentation. Even with the maximum credit, you still need 6,000 hours of experience.
The rules also say you must be able to do the work according to the plans and specifications given to you, and in line with the standard rules that govern it.
The exam
| Item | Alabama Electrical Journeyman |
|---|---|
| Vendor | Prov |
| Questions | 80 |
| Time | 240 minutes (4 hours) |
| Passing score | 75% |
| Format | Computer-based, 4 options per question, open book |
| References | NFPA 70 (National Electrical Code) and American Electrician's Handbook, 17th edition |
| Exam fee | $115, paid to the Board |
The October 31, 2026 bulletin lists the 2023 NEC, but the Board has voted to move testing to the 2026 NEC on January 1, 2027. The details are in what is on the exam, and it is worth reading before you buy a code book.
How to apply
- Build your 8,000 hours, counting any education or apprenticeship credit.
- Send the Board your completed application, the application fee, personal identification and supporting documents.
- Wait for the Board's decision. It can approve or deny your request to sit for the exam.
- Once approved, schedule with Prov and pass the exam.
- Meet the remaining licensing requirements. The Board issues the license only after that.
Your approval does not last forever. A journeyman application expires two years after the approval date if you have not passed the exam and met the licensing requirements by then. After that, you submit a new application.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Journeyman exam | $115 |
| Journeyman license | $35 |
| Annual renewal | $35 |
The exam fee is on top of the license fee, and no part of the fees submitted with your application is refunded. The Board adds a 4% fee on card payments.
If you fail, the exam fee is due again with each new attempt. You also wait 30 days and need new Board approval each time. Exam day covers the retake steps.
Pass rates
The Alabama Examiners of Public Accounts publishes pass rates in its sunset reports on the Board. The figures come from the Board's Executive Director, are unaudited, and count attempts, including retakes.
| Period | Pass rate |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 68% |
| 2024 (through September 30) | 66% |
| FY2025 (through May 14, 2025) | 73% |
Renewal
- Journeyman licenses expire annually, and renewal is $35.
- The rules say a license must be renewed before the last day of the quarter in which it was issued.
- If you have not renewed by 11:59 pm on the expiration date, the license is immediately considered expired.
- No new exam is required for an ordinary annual renewal.
Continuing education
The statute and rules state a continuing education requirement of 14 hours every two years for electrical contractors. Check with the Board about anything that applies to your journeyman license.
Reciprocity
The Board may recognize a license from a reciprocating state whose standards it considers equal to or greater than Alabama's. The Board office keeps the list of approved states, and the Executive Director approves or denies each reciprocal applicant. Call the Board at (334) 679-1020 to ask whether your state is on the list.
Moving up
A separate contractor exam exists for those who want to qualify as an electrical contractor in Alabama.
Getting ready
Start with what the exam covers, then see how you do on real questions. Try our free sample test, or see the full Alabama Journeyman Electrician exam prep.
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