Electrician License Requirements in New York
Last reviewed July 2026
New York has no statewide electrician license. Licensing is handled entirely by cities, counties, towns, and villages — each with its own exam, experience requirements, and fees. There is no single state agency, application, or automatic reciprocity between jurisdictions.
How licensing works by city
New York City
NYC Department of Buildings (DOB)
Licenses Master Electricians and Special Electricians (there is no NYC journeyman license). A Master Electrician needs about 7.5 years of practical experience (at least 5 in NYC) and must pass written and practical exams. Applications go through DOB NOW: Licensing.
https://www.nyc.gov/site/buildings/industry/master-electricians-special-electricians.page
Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany & other cities
Each city's building / permits department
Set their own journeyman and master electrician requirements and exams. Contact the city directly — published information for many upstate municipalities is out of date.
Studying for the New York electrician exam?
The exam is NEC-based — practice with 1,394 questions and worked solutions in the Electrical Exam Prep app.
