Kentucky Electrical License Renewal: Deadlines, Fees and CE

The Electrical Contractor (Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (DHBC), Public Protection Cabinet) renews every 2 years, has a renewal fee of about $400 and requires 6 hours of continuing education. The Master Electrician (Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (DHBC), Public Protection Cabinet) renews every 2 years, has a renewal fee of about $200 and requires 6 hours of continuing education. Fees change, so check the official site for the exact amount.

Full rule details

Verified dataLast checked Oct 17, 2026, next review due July 2027

Informational: verify with the issuing board.

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Electrical Contractor

CE · State license · Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (DHBC), Public Protection Cabinet

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Renew on the official site (502) 573-0365

Renewal cycle: Every 2 years
Continuing education: 6 hours
Show CE rules
At least 6 hours of approved CE for each year of the license, from NECA, ABC, IBEW, AGC, IAEI, IEC, DHBC or another department-approved provider (KRS 227A.100(7)). For electrical contractors the topics must be business or job safety, and the business designates an authorized agent to complete the hours. No more than 2 hours of safety topics count per 12 months. Excess hours carry forward up to 12 total. Hours earned for a master electrician, electrician or inspector license cannot be applied to the contractor license (815 KAR 2:010). Ask DHBC how the hours are reported at a two-year renewal.
Deadline rule: Licenses are biennial (for licenses issued or renewed on or after July 15, 2024). Renew on or before the last day of the licensee's birth month in the second year. Business entities without a birth month renew on or before the last day of the month the license was issued, in the second year (KRS 227A.100(1); 815 KAR 35:060 Sec. 8).

Show fees, grace period, bond and insurance

Grace period: 60-day grace period after expiration during which the licensee may continue to practice and renew by paying the renewal fee plus the late fee (KRS 227A.100(2)).

Fees, approximate

Renewal fee: About $400
Late fee: Show the details (amounts are approximate)
About $50 late renewal fee. If all renewal documents are postmarked on or before the last day of the renewal month, the filing is timely and no late fee applies (815 KAR 35:060 Sec. 9).
Reinstatement: Show the details (amounts are approximate)
A license not renewed within the 60-day grace period terminates. Reinstatement requires the renewal fee plus a reinstatement fee equal to the renewal fee (about $400 + about $400); no exam is required if reinstated within 3 years of termination (KRS 227A.100(4); 815 KAR 35:060 Sec. 9).

Fees change. Check the official site for the exact amount.

Why approximate?

Boards change fees often and some charge extra processing fees. We show a recent amount so you can plan.

Bond: Not required
Insurance: General liability policy of at least $1,000,000 (KRS 227A.060(1)(c); 227A.100(8)) plus workers' compensation proof (insurance certificate from a provider approved by the Kentucky Department of Insurance, or a notarized statement that coverage is not required and why). DHBC Electrical Licensing must be the certificate holder, and insurers must notify DHBC of cancellation or lowered limits (815 KAR 35:060 Sec. 6). A Kentucky master electrician must hold or be employed by the contractor.
Reciprocity: Per the DHBC checklist, an active Ohio electrical contractor license holder can obtain Kentucky Electrical Contractor and Master Electrician licenses (active Ohio license, Kentucky insurance, application, good standing letter). West Virginia and Virginia reciprocity applies to master and journeyman electricians, not contractors.

Notes

Biennial fee confirmed by the DHBC notice of May 3, 2024 (HB 444) and 815 KAR 35:060 Sec. 8: contractor $400, master electrician $200, electrician $100, each covering two years. The statute caps the initial application fee at $200 for contractors. No surety bond is required by the statute, rule or DHBC checklist. Electrical licensing phone (502) 573-2002. Renewals can be filed online through the DHBC HBC Online portal (a license must be within 60 days of expiration to appear for renewal) or by mailing Form DHBC L-1.

HighLast checked Oct 17, 2026

Sources (10)

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Master Electrician

ME · State license · Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (DHBC), Public Protection Cabinet

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Renew on the official site (502) 573-0365

Renewal cycle: Every 2 years
Continuing education: 6 hours
Show CE rules
At least 6 hours per year (KRS 227A.100(7); 815 KAR 2:010). Topics: job safety, electrical codes or electrical trade subjects. No more than 2 hours of safety topics count per 12 months. A person holding two licenses in the same DHBC division needs the annual hours for one license, except that an electrical contractor cannot use master electrician hours for the contractor license.
Deadline rule: Biennial; renew on or before the last day of the licensee's birth month in the second year (KRS 227A.100(1); 815 KAR 35:060 Sec. 8).

Show fees, grace period, bond and insurance

Grace period: 60-day grace period after expiration (renewal fee plus late fee).

Fees, approximate

Renewal fee: About $200
Late fee: About $50 late renewal fee; filing is timely if documents are postmarked by the last day of the renewal month.
Reinstatement: Show the details (amounts are approximate)
After the grace period the license terminates. Reinstatement fee equals the renewal fee (about $200 + about $200); no exam within 3 years of termination.

Fees change. Check the official site for the exact amount.

Why approximate?

Boards change fees often and some charge extra processing fees. We show a recent amount so you can plan.

Bond: Not required
Insurance: Not required
Reciprocity: Per the DHBC checklist: West Virginia and Virginia master and journeyman electrician reciprocity; Ohio contractors receive a Kentucky master electrician license along with the contractor license.

Notes

Qualifier for the electrical contractor license; a contracting business must have or employ a Kentucky master electrician. Fee confirmed by the DHBC HB 444 notice and 815 KAR 35:060. Renewals can be filed online through the DHBC HBC Online portal or by mailing Form DHBC L-1.

HighLast checked Oct 17, 2026

Sources (9)

The hours, required topics, approved providers and reporting rules for each license are on the Kentucky Electrical continuing education page.

How to renew

1Check your Electrical Contractor deadline: Licenses are biennial (for licenses issued or renewed on or after July 15, 2024). Renew on or before the last day of the licensee's birth month in the second year. Business entities without a birth month renew on or before the last day of the month the license was issued, in the second year (KRS 227A.100(1); 815 KAR 35:060 Sec. 8).
2Complete 6 continuing education hours before renewing. At least 6 hours of approved CE for each year of the license, from NECA, ABC, IBEW, AGC, IAEI, IEC, DHBC or another department-approved provider (KRS 227A.100(7)). For electrical contractors the topics must be business or job safety, and the business designates an authorized agent to complete the hours. No more than 2 hours of safety topics count per 12 months. Excess hours carry forward up to 12 total. Hours earned for a master electrician, electrician or inspector license cannot be applied to the contractor license (815 KAR 2:010). Ask DHBC how the hours are reported at a two-year renewal.
3Confirm your insurance meet the board requirements and are not expiring.
4Renew online at https://dhbc.ky.gov/HBCOnline/login
5Pay the renewal fee on the official site. Expect about $400, but fees change.
6If you miss the deadline: About $50 late renewal fee. If all renewal documents are postmarked on or before the last day of the renewal month, the filing is timely and no late fee applies (815 KAR 35:060 Sec. 9).
7Check your Master Electrician deadline: Biennial; renew on or before the last day of the licensee's birth month in the second year (KRS 227A.100(1); 815 KAR 35:060 Sec. 8).
8Complete 6 continuing education hours before renewing. At least 6 hours per year (KRS 227A.100(7); 815 KAR 2:010). Topics: job safety, electrical codes or electrical trade subjects. No more than 2 hours of safety topics count per 12 months. A person holding two licenses in the same DHBC division needs the annual hours for one license, except that an electrical contractor cannot use master electrician hours for the contractor license.
9Pay the renewal fee on the official site. Expect about $200, but fees change.
10If you miss the deadline: About $50 late renewal fee; filing is timely if documents are postmarked by the last day of the renewal month.

Kentucky Electrical renewal questions

Answers come from the records above. Informational: verify with the issuing board.

When does a Kentucky electrical license expire?

Electrical Contractor: renews every 2 years. Licenses are biennial (for licenses issued or renewed on or after July 15, 2024). Renew on or before the last day of the licensee's birth month in the second year. Business entities without a birth month renew on or before the last day of the month the license was issued, in the second year (KRS 227A.100(1); 815 KAR 35:060 Sec. 8). Master Electrician: renews every 2 years. Biennial; renew on or before the last day of the licensee's birth month in the second year (KRS 227A.100(1); 815 KAR 35:060 Sec. 8). Check with Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (DHBC), Public Protection Cabinet before you rely on it.

How many CE hours does a Kentucky electrical license need?

Electrical Contractor: 6 hours per renewal. Master Electrician: 6 hours per renewal. Check with Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (DHBC), Public Protection Cabinet before you rely on it.

Is there a grace period for a Kentucky electrical license?

60-day grace period after expiration during which the licensee may continue to practice and renew by paying the renewal fee plus the late fee (KRS 227A.100(2)). Check with Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (DHBC), Public Protection Cabinet before you rely on it.

How much does it cost to renew a Kentucky electrical license?

Electrical Contractor: About $400. Fees change. Check the official site for the exact amount.

What happens if a Kentucky electrical license expires?

About $50 late renewal fee. If all renewal documents are postmarked on or before the last day of the renewal month, the filing is timely and no late fee applies (815 KAR 35:060 Sec. 9). Fees change. Check the official site for the exact amount.

Does Kentucky accept electrical licenses from other states?

Per the DHBC checklist, an active Ohio electrical contractor license holder can obtain Kentucky Electrical Contractor and Master Electrician licenses (active Ohio license, Kentucky insurance, application, good standing letter). West Virginia and Virginia reciprocity applies to master and journeyman electricians, not contractors. Check with Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (DHBC), Public Protection Cabinet before you rely on it.

Sources

Spot something out of date?

Informational only. Check it with the issuing board. Licensing rules, deadlines and CE requirements change, fee amounts are approximate, and this page can be out of date. It is not legal advice, and we are not affiliated with any state board. Read the disclaimer.

This information is here to help you plan, not to replace the board. Fee amounts are approximate and may be out of date. Deadlines and continuing education rules change too, sometimes without much notice. Always confirm with your licensing board and its official site before you rely on a date or an amount. This is not legal advice.

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