State license

Rhode Island Journeyman Electrician License

Written by a licensed IBEW journeyman electrician

Last updated: October 24, 2026

Rhode Island grants a Certificate B (journeyperson) to anyone who passes the state exam. The Division of Professional Regulation at the Department of Labor and Training runs it. Registered apprentices need at least 8,000 hours over not less than 4 years and 144 hours of related instruction per year. The exam application fee is $75 and the license fee is $72.

The facts, from the source

Who licenses: Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, Division of Professional Regulation (Board of Examiners of Electricians) (dlt.ri.gov)
Exam vendor: State-administered. The Department mails your exam date. (rules.sos.ri.gov)
Exam (questions/time): Journeyperson Electrician B, exam code 22. Written, and may include practical demonstrations. Examinations are conducted and completed in writing, with answers in ink unless otherwise specified. (rules.sos.ri.gov)
Passing score: An average of at least 70%. A score of 60% is needed to review the exam with the board. (rules.sos.ri.gov)
NEC edition: 2023. The Rhode Island Electrical Code (510-RICR-00-00-5) adopts the 2023 NEC with Rhode Island amendments. The exam is based on the NEC edition adopted by the RI State Building Code Standards Committee at the time of the exam (260-RICR-30-15-7). (rules.sos.ri.gov)
Experience required: Registered apprentices must work at least 8,000 hours over not less than 4 years and complete 144 hours of related instruction per year (576 total) in a DLT-approved registered apprenticeship program to qualify for the journeyperson B exam (RIGL 5-6-24(b)). Rule 260-RICR-30-15-7 requires at least 8,000 hours (4 years) as a registered apprentice. Applicants must be 18 or older. Credit is given for 144 hours of vocational-school classroom training, or up to 288 hours over two academic years at an approved trade school. (webserver.rilegislature.gov)
Fees: Exam application fee $75 (RIGL 5-6-17). Applications must be received 15 working days before the exam date. Journeyperson license fee $72, with biennial renewal equal to the license fee (RIGL 5-6-16, 5-6-20). (webserver.rilegislature.gov)
Reciprocity: No automatic reciprocity. The rule says out-of-state journeyperson and contractor license holders "will be allowed to take the Rhode Island journeyperson's exam" (260-RICR-30-15-7). RIGL 5-6-24(b) also recognizes a certificate from another state based on equal training as a qualifying route. (rules.sos.ri.gov)

Confirm these with the board

Number of questions: not published in the materials we checked
Time limit: not published in the materials we checked
Open book or closed book: not published in the materials we checked
Effective date of the 2023 electrical code adoption: confirm with the Department
Separate exam fee beyond the $75 application fee: confirm with the Department

RI Department of Labor and Training, Division of Professional Regulation (Board of Examiners of Electricians) ↗

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

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