Much like becoming a general contractor in Ohio, becoming an electrician in this state requires time, effort, and patience while you learn the trade. However, there are no statewide licensing or educational requirements for general electricians in Ohio; all licensing occurs at the local, city, or county level. Commercial electricians, on the other hand, must get licensed at the state level by the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB), as must commercial plumbers, HVAC, refrigeration, and hydronics contractors.
If you want to pursue a career as an electrician in Ohio, you may still want to consider enrolling in a trade program or securing an apprenticeship to learn the ins and outs of this profession.
Electrical work can be dangerous, and it is commonly listed among the most dangerous jobs in the United States — especially if you don’t know how to do the work properly. Further, getting formal training as an electrician will provide you with the knowledge you need to pursue commercial work in Ohio in the future, if that’s something that you’re interested in, or to work as an electrical contractor in another state. Whether you’re already performing electrical work or are simply exploring potential career options, here’s what you need to know to become an electrician in the state of Ohio:
Ohio Electrical License Reciprocity
If you’re already licensed as an electrician in another state, you may be able to start working in Ohio without going through the entire licensure or training process. According to the Ohio Division of Industrial Compliance, the state of Ohio does maintain reciprocity agreements for electricians, as well as several other professions, with six other states. Additionally, if you’re already licensed by the state of Ohio as an electrician, you can also work in:
- Kentucky: also maintains reciprocity for HVAC and refrigeration;
- Louisiana: also maintains reciprocity for HVAC, plumbing, and hydronics;
- North Carolina: only maintains reciprocity for electricians;
- South Carolina: also maintains reciprocity for HVAC and plumbing;
- Tennessee: also maintains reciprocity for HVAC, plumbing, and hydronics;
- West Virginia: also maintains reciprocity for HVAC and plumbing.
Ohio only allows for reciprocity between states if you have taken the state-recognized licensure exam. If you were grandfathered into your license, you may have to take the state licensure exam before you can begin working as an electrical contractor in Ohio.
Ohio Journeyman Electrical License Requirements
The state of Ohio defines a contractor as an individual who “has responsibility for the means, method, and manner of construction, improvement, renovation, repair, or maintenance on a construction project with respect to one or more trades and who offers, identifies, advertises, or otherwise holds out or represents that the individual or contracting company is permitted or qualified to perform or have responsibility for the means, method, and manner of construction, improvement, renovation, repair, or maintenance with respect to one or more trades on a construction project”. This definition applies to HVAC, refrigeration, plumbing, hydronics, and electrical contractors.
There are several requirements you have to meet if you want to become licensed as a commercial electrician at the state level in Ohio. Generally, the process is simple: you must apply to sit the licensure exam, and then, upon approval, take and pass that exam. After that, you will receive your commercial electrician license.
To apply, you must meet the following requirements laid out by the OCILB:
- Be at least 18 years old;
- Be a citizen or legal resident of the United States;
- Never have been convicted of a disqualifying offense or crime;
- Meet one of the following requirements:
- Be an electrician for at least five years immediately before the date of filing the application;
- Be a registered electrical engineer in Ohio with at least three years of experience immediately before the date of filing the application;
- Or have an acceptable amount of other experience as decided by the OCILB;
- Carry a minimum of $500,000 contractor liability insurance coverage;
- And pay any applicable fees.
Your test application — which can be found on the OCILB website — must be filled out completely, free of all errors, and notarized before submission. Applications that are incomplete, contain errors, or aren’t notarized will likely be delayed in the review process. Once your application is approved by the board, you must pass both a state and federal background check.
Your results from the background check, your completed test application packet and materials, and a $25 check or money order made payable to “Treasurer State of Ohio” must be mailed to:
“Ohio Department of Commerce
Division of Industrial Compliance
Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB)
6606 Tussing Road
P.O. Box 4009
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068-9009”
Once your application is fully approved, you’re able to take the exam. Upon passing, you will be licensed as a commercial electrician in Ohio. You must renew your license and continue your education after obtaining it. There is a $60 fee for each time you renew your license. This can be done online, either for four hours annually or twelve hours every three years, via the Ohio Department of Commerce Online Licensing website. If your license ever expires or you don’t renew it, you must reapply for your license and retake the exam.
Hamilton
Hamilton, Ohio is one of two cities that has its own local requirements for general contractors, including electricians. You must be registered with the city to do any work that requires a permit in Hamilton. For electricians, you must be registered as a Master before beginning any work or obtaining the necessary permits.
To apply for registration, you must contact the city of Hamilton. In addition to the application, you will need to submit proof of your OCILB-issued electrical contractor license and pay the $200 new license fee. You must renew your license with the city, which costs $100 each year.
Middletown
Middletown, Ohio is the only other city that has its own licensing requirements for contractors. First, you must apply to take the journeyman electrician licensure exam; submission materials include a completed application and a $50 exam fee. Once your application is approved, you must sit the exam at the Division of Building Inspection on One Donham Plaza. The exam is three hours long, but it is open-book. You need to get at least 70% of the questions correct to pass.
Upon passing, your license will be issued and you will be allowed to work as an electrician under a master electrician in the city of Middletown. To become a master electrician, you must also submit an application to the city, pay a $200 fee, and have a state-issued electrical contractor license.
Electrical Contractor Exam
The electrical contractor exam is actually two separate tests, both given by PSI Exams. The first is the electrical contractor exam, which is an open-book test made up of 100 questions. You have four hours to complete it, and must get at least 70% of the questions right to pass. You will be tested on the following subject areas:
- General Electrical Knowledge;
- Transformers and Equipment;
- Service Feeders and Branch Circuits;
- Raceways, Boxes, and Panelboards;
- Conductors and Cables;
- Control Devices;
- Motors and Generators;
- Utilization Equipment;
- Special Occupancies and Equipment;
- Pretest Items.
You must also take and pass the contractor’s business law exam. This exam is also open-book, but is much shorter. You have two hours to complete it, and only 50 questions to answer. You must still get at least 70% of the questions correct to pass. This exam tests on the following areas:
- Business Org;
- Licensing;
- Estimating and Bidding;
- Contract Management;
- Project Management;
- Insurance and Bonding;
- OSHA Record Keeping and Safety;
- Personnel Regulations;
- Financial Management;
- Tax Laws;
- Lien Laws;
- Pretest Items.
Upon passing both tests, you will receive your electrician license. For more information on testing locations, examination accommodations, permissible reference materials, and preparation tips, please see the Candidate Bulletin Information for OCILB on PSI’s website.
Ohio Electrical Insurance Requirements
In order to operate as an independent electrical contractor in the state of Ohio, you must provide proof of at least $500,000 in general liability insurance.
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[mv_video doNotAutoplayNorOptimizePlacement=”false” doNotOptimizePlacement=”false” jsonLd=”true” key=”mrllxtlulhymqjki3aq4″ ratio=”16:9″ thumbnail=”https://mediavine-res.cloudinary.com/v1679500824/chefe5mtbgtgtlbbb6ce.jpg” title=”How to Become an Electrician in Ohio” volume=”70″] ” title=”Get A FREE Insurance Quote” subtitle=”No Commitment To Buy”]Electrician Apprenticeship Requirements
You are not required to become an electrical apprentice in Ohio to work as a general or even commercial electrician. However, an apprenticeship is a great way to learn the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this profession, while earning money, building up professional relationships, and getting the experience required to apply for a license.
You must register with the state of Ohio to become an apprentice; the ApprenticeOhio website describes the process as “just like applying for a job.” To become a registered apprentice, you must apply directly to a qualifying program. Fill out the “I’m Interested in Becoming an Apprentice” form online to get more information about what opportunities are available to you.
Ohio Electrical Apprentice Jobs
There are other resources and organizations that you can use to find an electrical apprenticeship in Ohio. The OhioMeansJobs website maintains a list of dozens of different apprenticeships, all of which are state-registered programs. Many of these programs are affiliated with the Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committees in Ohio, of which there are 17, and are union programs. There are also non-union programs listed in this resource. In addition, you can always use general job-hunting websites, like Indeed or Monster, to search for more opportunities.
Electrical Trade Schools in Ohio
There are myriad electrical trade schools and programs throughout Ohio. Many cities have their own school or program, and some cities, such as Columbus and Piqua, even have two or three to choose from. No matter where you live in the state, you’re sure to find a program nearby that provides the training you want.
- Auburn Career Center
- Public
- Location: Concord Township
- Tuition & Costs: Must contact for more information
- Contact Information:
- (440)-357-7542
- 8140 Auburn Road Concord Twp. OH 44077
- Collins Career Technical Center
- Public
- Locations: Chesapeake and Coal Grove
- Tuition & Costs: Must contact for more information
- Contact Information:
- Chesapeake:
- (740)-867-6641
- 11627 State Route 243, Chesapeake, OH 45619
- Coal Grove:
- (740)-867-6641
- 120 Marion PikeCoal Grove, Ohio 45638
- Chesapeake:
- Columbus State Community College
- Public
- Locations: Columbus and Delaware
- Tuition & Costs: $4,738 per year
- Contact Information:
- Columbus:
- (614) 287-5353
- 550 East Spring St., Columbus, OH 43215
- information@cscc.edu
- Delaware:
- (740) 203-8345
- 5100 Cornerstone Dr., Delaware, OH 43015
- delaware@cscc.edu
- Columbus:
- Eastern Gateway Community College
- Public
- Locations: Steubenville and Youngstown
- Tuition & Costs: $132 per credit hour
- Contact Information:
- Steubenville
- (800)-682-6553
- 4000 Sunset Boulevard, Steubenville, Ohio 43952
- info@egcc.edu
- Youngstown
- (800)-682-6553
- 101 East Federal Street, Youngstown, OH 44503
- info@egcc.edu
- Steubenville
- Edison State Community College
- Public
- Locations: Eaton, Greenville, Piqua, and Troy
- Tuition & Costs: $161.62 per credit hour
- Contact Information:
- Eaton:
- (937)-683-8169
- 450 Washington Jackson Road, Suite E, Eaton, Ohio 45320
- Greenville:
- (937)-548-5546
- 601 Wagner Avenue, Greenville, Ohio 45331
- Piqua:
- (937)-778-8600
- 1973 Edison Drive, Piqua, Ohio 45356
- Troy:
- (937)-381-1525
- 859 W. Market Street, Troy, Ohio 45373
- Eaton:
- Hocking College
- Public
- Locations: Logan, Nelsonville, and Perry
- Tuition & Costs: Must contact for more information
- Contact Information:
- Logan:
- (740)-380-9315 ext. 6601
- Hocking College Logan Educational Site, 30140 Iles Road Logan, OH 43138
- Nelsonville:
- (740)-753-3591
- 3301 Hocking Parkway Nelsonville, OH 45764
- Perry:
- (740)-342-3337 or (866)-HC-PERRY
- Hocking College Perry Campus, 5454 State Route 37 New Lexington, OH 43764
- Logan:
- Miami Valley Career Technology Center
- Public
- Location: Englewood
- Tuition & Costs: See Fees page for more information
- Contact Information:
- (937)-837-7781
- 6800 Hoke Road, Englewood, OH 45315
- North Central State College
- Public
- Location: Mansfield
- Tuition & Costs: $171.60 per credit hour
- Contact Information:
- (419)-755-4800
- 2441 Kenwood Circle, Mansfield, OH 44906
- Northwest State Community College
- Public
- Location: Archbold
- Tuition & Costs: Must contact for more information
- Contact Information:
- (855)-267-5511
- 22600 State Route 34, Archbold, OH 43502
- Owens Community College
- Public
- Locations: Findlay and Toledo
- Tuition & Costs: $152.50 per credit hour
- Contact Information:
- Findlay:
- (567)-429-3500
- 3200 Bright Road, Findlay, OH 45840
- Toledo:
- (567)-661-7000
- 30335 Oregon Road, Perrysburg, OH 43551
- Findlay:
- Sinclair Community College
- Public
- Locations: Centerville, Dayton, Englewood, Huber Heights, Mason
- Tuition & Costs: $121.03 per credit hour
- Contact Information:
- Centerville:
- (937)-512-2363
- 5800 Clyo Road, Centerville, Ohio 45459
- Dayton:
- (800)-315-3000
- 444 West Third Street, Dayton, Ohio 45402
- Englewood:
- (937)-836-8750
- 1150 West National Road, Englewood, Ohio 45315
- Huber Heights:
- (937)-233-5550
- 7301 Shull Road, Huber Heights, Ohio 45424
- Mason:
- 513-339-1212
- 5386 Courseview Drive, Mason, Ohio 45040
- Centerville:
- Stark State College
- Public
- Locations: Akron, Alliance, Barberton, Canton, and North Canton
- Tuition & Costs: $174.60 per credit hour
- Contact Information:
- Akron
- 330-494-6170 ext. 4670
- 360 Perkins St., Akron, Ohio 44304
- Alliance
- 330-494-6170 ext. 4672
- 1725 South Arch Avenue, Alliance, Ohio 44601
- Barberton
- 330-494-6170 ext. 4670
- 664 Norton Avenue, Barberton, Ohio 44203
- Canton
- 330-494-6170 ext. 4138
- 400 Third Street SE, Canton, Ohio 44702
- North Canton
- 330-494-6170 or 1-800-797-8275
- 6200 Frank Ave. NW, North Canton, OH 44720
- Akron
- Upper Valley Career Center
- Public
- Location: Piqua
- Tuition & Costs: Must contact for more information
- Contact Information:
- (937)-778-1980
- 8811 Career Drive, Piqua, Ohio 45356
Ohio Professional License Search
If you’re looking to verify someone’s professional credentials in the state of Ohio, you can always visit the eLicense Ohio Professional Licensure website. You can search for either an individual or a business using their License Look-Up tool.
For More License and Career Guides
To find out how to become an Electrical Contractor in another state, start here.
For information on other trades in New Ohio, click on a link below to learn more about the licensing requirements:
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