City/county license

Journeyman Electrician License in New York

✓Written by a licensed IBEW journeyman electrician

Last updated: October 24, 2026

We found no statewide electrician license in New York. Licensing is local. New York City licenses Master and Special Electricians only, with no journeyman license, and Rochester licenses Single Phase and Master electricians. Check with the city where you'll work.

The facts, from the source

Who licenses

We found no state board. Licensing appears to be local, for example the New York City Department of Buildings. The state's Business Express page says local government entities license electrical contractors and that NYC electricians are licensed by the NYC Department of Buildings. (businessexpress.ny.gov)

Exam vendor

Varies by locality. The NYC Department of Buildings page does not name an administrator. Rochester uses its own Board exam. (nyc.gov)

NEC edition

New York City only: the 2025 NYC Electrical Code (full effect Dec 21, 2025) is the NYC amendments to the 2020 edition of NFPA 70. (nyc.gov)

Passing score

NYC written exam 70%. Rochester 70%. These are the Master, Special and Single Phase exams, not journeyman exams. (nyc.gov)

Experience required

Varies by locality. NYC Master or Special: at least 7 years within the 10 prior years working with tools under direct supervision (alternatives: an engineering degree plus 3 years, or a NYS DOL-registered apprenticeship plus 5 years). Rochester: Single Phase 2 years (3,000 hours), Master 4 years (6,000 hours). (nyc.gov)

Fees

NYC Master or Special: written exam $585.00, practical exam $530.00 (nyc.gov)

Where the license comes from in New York

In New York, journeyman licensing is handled locally. Examples we verified:

• New York City Department of Buildings, Licensing & Exams Unit: Master Electrician and Special Electrician licenses

  The city lists only Master and Special licenses, with no journeyman license. Its own written exam is multiple choice on the NYC Electrical Codes, with 70% to pass and a $585 fee. A practical exam follows, with a $530 fee. Experience: 7 years within the 10 prior years under a licensed master or special electrician. The page does not name an exam administrator.

  nyc.gov

• City of Rochester, Electrical Examining Board: Single Phase and Master licenses

  No journeyman class. Board rules (last amended 6/17/25), 70% passing grade. The Board sets the exam format. Single Phase needs 2 years or 3,000 hours of experience. Master needs 4 years or 6,000 hours.

  cityofrochester.gov

Requirements differ city to city. Check with the building or licensing department where you’ll work.

Confirm these with the board

• Other New York cities and counties: check with the one where you'll work
• Statewide NEC edition (NYS Uniform Code): not confirmed

No state board. Local licensing, for example the New York City Department of Buildings ↗

Partly verified October 24, 2026: some items couldn’t be confirmed from official sources and are listed above

Sparky AI app · iPhone & Android

Study the NEC with an AI that cites the article

Sparky AI answers code questions with exact NEC article citations and has electrical calculators for box fill, conduit fill and voltage drop. It’s a study aid, not a state exam simulator. Free 7-day trial.

All states · NEC exam study guide · NEC practice test

Facts on this page trace to primary sources or first-hand IBEW Local 134 experience — see sources & methodology.