Alaska Electrical Administrator License: Requirements, Cost and How to Apply

In Alaska, the person who qualifies an electrical contracting business is an electrical administrator, licensed by the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development under AS 08.40 and 12 AAC 32. This guide covers the Unlimited Commercial Wiring category, the broadest inside-wiring license. Individual electricians need a separate certificate of fitness from the Department of Labor; see the journeyman requirements.

Who needs one

Every registered electrical contractor must be, or employ, a licensed electrical administrator (AS 08.18.026; 12 AAC 21.310).
One administrator may qualify only one registered contractor (AS 08.40.130).
The administrator supervises the work and must personally inspect it after installation, unless it is simple or highly standardized work done in under 24 man-hours by people under their supervision (AS 08.40.195). They keep a record of supervised work for three years (12 AAC 32.903).
You may work only in the categories you are licensed for (AS 08.40.090). Unlimited Commercial Wiring covers all inside wiring under the NEC, starting at the secondary side of the transformer, and includes the residential, inside communications and controls categories (12 AAC 32.165).

Experience for Unlimited Commercial Wiring

You qualify with any one of these (12 AAC 32.145):

Route	Requirement
Journeyman	4 of the last 6 years as a journeyman electrician in inside commercial wiring
Management	4 of the last 6 years as a field superintendent (or similar) in inside wiring
Combination	4 of the last 6 years combining the two
Engineering degree	An electrical engineering degree plus 1 of the last 3 years as a journeyman or field engineer in inside commercial wiring
Alaska PE	Registration as a professional electrical engineer plus 1 of the last 3 years of field management
Journeyman plus	3 of the last 6 years as a journeyman plus a year as a certified electrical inspector, a full-time electrical instructor, or a related curriculum

A year of experience means at least 1,500 hours in 12 consecutive months (12 AAC 32.930).

How to apply

Apply to Commerce for licensure by examination with the $150 application fee for each category (12 AAC 02.210) and your proof of experience.
Get your eligibility letter. Once approved, you receive a PSI eligibility letter good for one year.
Book with PSI at a test site in Alaska or remotely (allowed since October 20, 2026) and pay PSI's $150 exam fee.
Pass with 70%, then pay the $170 license fee for the first two-year period.

The exam in brief

Item	Unlimited Commercial Wiring Administrator
Given by	PSI, at a test site or remotely
Questions	100 scored, plus up to 10 unscored
Time	4 hours
Passing score	70%
Books	Open book: 2020 NEC, NFPA 72 (2013), 29 CFR 1926, Alaska statutes and regulations

See what is on the exam and exam day.

Licensed in another state?

Alaska has no reciprocity list for administrators. If you hold an equivalent license in another state, meet Alaska's experience requirements and passed an equivalent exam, Commerce waives the exam when you apply by credentials (AS 08.40.120(b); 12 AAC 32.025).

Renewal and continuing education

Licenses renew every two years for $170. Each license period you need at least one 8-hour approved workshop on the NEC (or the equivalent in approved study), unless you passed a licensing exam on that code during the period (12 AAC 32.315). A license lapsed for more than two years can only be reinstated by passing the exam again (AS 08.40.135). If you change employers, tell Commerce within 15 days (12 AAC 32.920).

Practice for the exam

Our Alaska Electrical Administrator practice test follows PSI's Unlimited Commercial Wiring outline on the 2020 NEC, with Alaska law and safety questions, and every answer cites its source.

Alaska Electrical Administrator License: Requirements, Cost and How to Apply