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Colorado Electrician License Reciprocity

By License Tier — Journeyman and Master are genuinely different

Last researched August 25, 2026

Colorado treats these two license tiers very differently.

A Journeyman Electrician certificate from a qualifying state can be reciprocated into Colorado. A Master Electrician license cannot — Colorado's own regulation states this directly. See each section below for the full, separately-sourced details.

Journeyman Electrician

Reciprocity Available
Reciprocity RulesColorado follows National Electrical Reciprocal Alliance (NERA) bylaws for the Journeyman Electrician license. A journeyman or master electrician certificate from a qualifying state may be reciprocated to a Colorado journeyman license without a written examination, provided the certificate is current/active/in good standing, was obtained by a state-administered examination (not by grandfathering without an exam), and has been held for at least 1 year. Qualifying states (14): Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming.
Source: Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), State Electrical Board
Licensing BoardColorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), State Electrical Board
Source: Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), State Electrical Board
Exam RequirementNo written examination required for reciprocal applicants who meet NERA eligibility conditions.
Source: Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), State Electrical Board
Experience RequirementFor the RECIPROCITY pathway specifically (distinct from Colorado's own original-licensure experience requirements): must have held the qualifying journeyman or master certificate for at least 1 year in the issuing state.
Source: Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), State Electrical Board
Application FeeNot yet confirmed
Processing TimeNot yet confirmed

Master Electrician

Reciprocity NOT Available
Reciprocity RulesA Colorado master electrician's license may not be granted by reciprocity.
Source: Colorado Secretary of State (State Electrical Board Rules)
Licensing BoardColorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), State Electrical Board
Source: Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), State Electrical Board
Exam RequirementNot yet confirmed
Experience RequirementNot yet confirmed
Application FeeNot yet confirmed
Processing TimeNot yet confirmed

Journeyman: Qualifying States

Colorado follows National Electrical Reciprocal Alliance (NERA) bylaws. A journeyman or master certificate from one of these states may be reciprocated to a Colorado journeyman license without a written exam, subject to the eligibility conditions above.

Alaska
Arkansas
Idaho
Iowa
Minnesota
Montana
Nebraska
New Hampshire
New Mexico
North Dakota
Oklahoma
South Dakota
Utah
Wyoming

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