Arkansas Residential Master Electrician License: Requirements, Fees, and Renewal
What Arkansas requires for a residential master license: 3 years wiring dwellings including 1 as a licensed residential journeyman, the $80 Prov exam (60 questions on the 2023 NEC), a $50 annual license, CE, and no reciprocity.
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Arkansas Residential Master Electrician License: Requirements and the Exam
The residential master license is the top of Arkansas's residential track, above the residential journeyman. It is issued by the Board of Electrical Examiners at the Department of Labor and Licensing (Electrical Inspection and Licensing), and the exam is given by Prov.
The residential track at a glance
| Residential journeyman | Residential master | |
|---|---|---|
| Experience (rule) | 2 years wiring dwellings + 2-year approved training | 3 years wiring dwellings, incl. 1 as a licensed residential journeyman |
| Experience (Board form) | 2 years USDOL apprenticeship + 4,000 hours OJT | 2 years USDOL apprenticeship + 8,000 hours OJT |
| Exam | 40 questions, 120 minutes | 60 questions, 180 minutes |
| License fee | $25 a year | $50 a year |
| Reciprocity | None | None |
Experience
The Board's rules (17 CAR 210-404(g)) require 3 years of experience wiring dwellings, up to a quadruplex, including 1 year as a licensed residential journeyman, or an equivalent the Board approves.
The Board's Employment Verification form states it differently: 2 years of USDOL apprenticeship and 8,000 hours of qualifying on-the-job training. The two do not describe the same threshold, so if your history sits near the line, ask the Board which it applies.
For every class:
- No more than 2,000 hours a year, and no overtime.
- Verification letters dated within 6 months of applying.
- Unlicensed work in violation of state law does not count.
Residential master vs master
The residential master is not a shortcut to the full master license. They are separate licenses with separate exams:
- Master requires 6 years in residential and commercial construction including 2 as a licensed journeyman (or an EE degree plus 2 years), and its exam is organized by trade area with heavy grounding and services weight.
- Residential master requires dwelling experience and a residential journeyman license, and its exam is organized by NEC chapter.
Both exams are 60 questions in 180 minutes at $80, and both licenses cost $50 a year. The master license has a (limited) reciprocity list; the residential master has none. See Arkansas Master Electrician requirements.
Applying
- Apply through the Board's online licensing portal with the notarized Employment Verification form.
- Applications must reach the Board 5 business days before a Board meeting; the Board then publishes its approved list.
- Schedule with Prov within your 183-day approval.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Exam (paid to Prov) | $80 |
| Residential master license | $50 |
| Annual renewal | $50 |
We found no separate application fee.
The exam
| Item | Residential master exam |
|---|---|
| Vendor | Prov |
| Questions | 60 |
| Time | 180 minutes |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Reference | NFPA 70, 2023 edition (open book) |
It covers NEC Chapters 1 through 7, plus general theory and safety, with much more weight on wiring methods and equipment than the residential journeyman exam. There is no law or business section. See what is on the exam.
Which code?
The exam is keyed to the 2023 NEC. The Board's earlier rules adopted the 2020 NEC; the current rules adopt the 2026 NEC with Arkansas amendments on AFCI and GFCI protection and island and peninsula receptacles. The exam bulletin lists only NFPA 70, 2023, and does not reference those amendments. We have not found a published effective date for the 2026 rule, and Prov has announced no exam switch.
Once you pass, obtain the license within 6 months after the end of the month you tested, or retest.
Renewal and CE
- Annual renewal, expiring on the last day of the month one year after issue.
- Late renewal within 36 months: a year's renewal plus $10 a month. After 36 months: a $1,000 penalty and a retest.
- Continuing education: the state statute requires 8 hours per NEC code cycle for residential masters, completed in the first year of each cycle before renewing. The Board's rule text mentions only journeyman and master licenses, so check with the Board. Approved courses are tracked through StateReporting.com.
Reciprocity
None. The Board's form says of the residential master license: "License does not reciprocate." It is valid in Arkansas only.
Getting ready
Try our free practice test on the 2023 NEC, or see the full Arkansas Residential Master exam prep. For logistics, see Arkansas Residential Master exam day.
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