Requirements, license levels, and the issuing authority, sourced from Wisconsin's official board.
Statewide licensing via DSPS; all trades credentials applied for via LicensE at license.wi.gov.
| Requirements | Journeyman: complete a state-approved apprenticeship (typically ~8,000 hours over 4 years) and pass the journeyman exam. Journeymen must work under general supervision of a Master (or Residential Master for dwelling work). Master: 12+ months as a licensed journeyman plus qualifying experience (per board, ~10,000 hours over 60 months, or 1,000+ hrs/yr for 7 years). |
| Reciprocity | Yes, and it is narrow and tier-specific. The enabling rule, Wis. Admin. Code SPS 305.47, provides that as authorised under Wis. Stat. § 101.874 the department may enter into a reciprocal agreement with another state under which credentials issued to electricians, electrical apprentices, electrical contractors and electrical inspectors by either state are recognised as comparable; the rule names no states. The Department of Safety and Professional Services names them on its current application forms. Journeyman Electrician (DSPS Form #3106, rev. 12/04/2025): a person who holds a valid, unexpired Journeyman Electrician license acquired through a state examination in Iowa or New Hampshire may apply for a Wisconsin Journeyman Electrician license without taking the Wisconsin exam; the applicant must have held an Iowa Journeyman A Electrician license or a New Hampshire Journeyman Electrician license continuously for at least one year immediately before applying, Iowa applicants must have completed either an apprenticeship or the described experience hours, and New Hampshire applicants must have completed an electrical apprenticeship-schooling program of at least 600 hours including 24 safety-related hours. Master Electrician (DSPS Form #3107, rev. 12/04/2025): the same exam-free route exists for a person holding a Master A Electrician license acquired through a state examination in Iowa, held continuously for at least one year immediately before applying, New Hampshire is not included at the Master tier. Electrical Contractor (DSPS Form #3103): no reciprocity, endorsement or out-of-state credential provision appears in the application information at all. |
| Renewal | Journeyman/Master renew by June 30 every four years; continuing education required per cycle (per DSPS, 24 hours). Registered Master Electrician is a permanent, non-expiring credential. |
| Notes | Statewide licensing via DSPS; all trades credentials applied for via LicensE at license.wi.gov. |
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Sources: dsps.wi.gov, docs.legis.wisconsin.gov, dsps.wi.gov, dsps.wi.gov. Always confirm current requirements with the issuing authority.
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