To work as an electrician in Missouri, you may need a license from the city or county where you work. Missouri doesn't issue a statewide license to individual electricians, and only some cities and counties license them.
An apprenticeship is a paid job with training. You work for an employer and you learn the trade on the job. Missouri has 38 registered electrician apprenticeship programs. The median wage is $18.50 an hour at the start and $39.30 an hour at the end.
Find the office that licenses electricians where you will work
Only some cities and counties license electricians, and each one sets its own rules. Ask the building department in the city or county where you will work.
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Step 3,
Check what that license requires
Each office sets the experience you need and the exam you must pass.
Master Electrician Certificate of Qualification
City of Kansas City, Missouri
The City of Kansas City, Missouri, City Planning and Development Department, Permits Division issues the Master Electrician Certificate of Qualification.
The application fee is $60.
You must pass the standard master electrician (W16) examination administered by ICC.
You renew the Master Electrician Certificate of Qualification every 4 years. The renewal costs $181.
Kansas City's requirements still name a Prometric exam as well. The city says Prometric no longer gives construction trade exams and that it uses the ICC exam.
The official wording of the requirement
Master Electrician Certificate of Qualification (City of Kansas City, Missouri)“At least three years of experience in the electrical construction field at the journeyman, foreman, supervisor, or contractor level. One of the required three years' experience must be in the commercial or industrial field. One of the required three years may be substituted with proof of graduation with a degree in electrical engineering from an approved college of engineering.”
Journeyman Electrician License
City of Jefferson
The City of Jefferson, Planning and Protective Services, Building Regulations issues the Journeyman Electrician License.
The Journeyman Electrician License costs $110.
You must pass the exam named "G17 - Journeyman Electrician".
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Step 4,
Apply to that office
Apply to the office that issues the license, and pay its fees when you apply.
To run an electrical business
These are the licenses for running an electrical business.
Statewide Electrical Contractor License
Hours on the job
12,000
Fee
$200
The Statewide Electrical Contractor License requires 12,000 hours on the job.
The application fee is $200.
You must pass the Division approved examination as an electrical contractor, master electrician or journeyman electrician.
You renew the Statewide Electrical Contractor License every 3 years. The renewal costs $100. You don't need continuing education to renew.
You need 12,000 hours if you have no other credential. An apprenticeship certificate lowers it to 10,000 hours, an associate's degree to 8,000 hours, and an electrical engineering degree to 4,000 hours of supervising the work.
The Office of Statewide Electrical Contractors says the renewal fee went down from $200 to $100 this year. Renewing an inactive license also costs $100.
The official wording of the requirement
Statewide Electrical Contractor License“Have completed one of the following: (a) Twelve thousand verifiable practical hours installing equipment and associated wiring; (b) Ten thousand verifiable practical hours installing equipment and associated wiring and have received an electrical journeyman certificate from a United States Department of Labor-approved electrical apprenticeship program; (c) Eight thousand verifiable practical hours installing equipment and associated wiring and have received an associate's degree from a state-accredited program; or (d) Four thousand verifiable practical hours supervising the installation of equipment and associated wiring and have received a four-year electrical engineering degree.”
Electrical Contractor Class I (City of Kansas City, Missouri)
The City of Kansas City, Missouri, City Planning and Development Department, Permits Division issues the Electrical Contractor Class I license.
The application fee is $60. The Electrical Contractor Class I license costs $181.
You renew the Electrical Contractor Class I license every 4 years. The renewal costs $181.
The official wording of the requirement
Electrical Contractor Class I (City of Kansas City, Missouri)“Every contractor must employ a full-time, qualified supervisor to oversee tradeswork. All work shall be performed by or under the supervision of the holder of a master electrician certificate of qualification.”
Electrical Contractor's License (St. Louis County)
Hours on the job
12,000
Fee
$20
The St. Louis County Department of Transportation and Public Works, Board of Electrical Examiners issues the Electrical Contractor's License. The Electrical Contractor's License requires 12,000 hours on the job.
The application fee is $20. The Electrical Contractor's License costs $125.
You must pass an exam. The St. Louis County Board of Electrical Examiners, or an examiner it names, gives the exam.
You renew the Electrical Contractor's License every year. The renewal costs $125.
You need 12,000 hours if you have no other credential. An approved apprenticeship counts for 8,000 of them and a 2-year trade school degree for 4,000. With an electrical engineering degree, you need 4,000 hours of design work. On every route, you must also pass a National Electrical Code class in the 24 months before you apply.
The official wording of the requirement
Electrical Contractor's License (St. Louis County)“At least twelve thousand (12,000) hours of practical experience installing the wiring, equipment, and material specified in NFPA70 (National Electrical Code), or a DOL-approved electrical apprenticeship (8,000 hours) plus 4,000 hours, a two-year trade-school degree plus 8,000 hours, or a four-year electrical engineering degree plus 4,000 hours of design experience; and a recognized National Electrical Code class with a minimum 75% final exam grade within the 24 months previous to application date.”
Take the exam
License
Exam
Statewide Electrical Contractor License
Division approved examination as an electrical contractor, master electrician or journeyman electricianThe International Code Council (ICC), Prov or NASCLA gives the exam. PSI runs the NASCLA exam.
Master Electrician Certificate of Qualification (City of Kansas City, Missouri)
standard master electrician (W16) examination administered by ICCThe International Code Council (ICC) gives the exam.
Journeyman Electrician License (City of Jefferson)
G17 - Journeyman ElectricianThe International Code Council (ICC) gives the exam.
You take the exam for the license you apply for.
What electricians earn in Missouri
$31.45an hour
$65,410 a year, full time
Half of the electricians on a payroll in Missouri earn more than $31.45 an hour, and half earn less. The federal wage survey puts the yearly figure at $65,410.
These figures cover everyone on a payroll as an electrician in Missouri, from apprentices to people with decades in the trade, so they aren't a starting wage. The survey counts 12,780 jobs. The figures don't include self-employed electricians.
The yearly figure is for full-time work all year, which is 2,080 hours.
The Office of Statewide Electrical Contractors doesn't recognize licenses from other states.
Missouri doesn't accept electrical contractor licenses from other states. If you passed an exam on the office's Approved Examinations listing, which includes other states' licensing exams, and send a copy of your score report, you don't take the exam again in Missouri.
Questions
Can you become an electrician with no experience?
Yes. You can start as an apprentice and learn the trade on the job.
