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Ohio electrician licensing

Ohio licenses commercial electrical contractors statewide, not journeymen. Some cities, such as Toledo, issue their own journeyman cards.

Go to the official site Electrician jobs in Ohio

At a glance

Journeyman credential
City cards (for example, Toledo)
Apprentice credential
None statewide
Journeyman experience
Set by city
Classroom
Set locally
Exam
Local (state contractors: PSI)

Apprentice or trainee

  • Ohio has no apprentice license. Registered apprenticeships run through the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

Journeyman

  • No statewide journeyman license.
  • Toledo issues journeyman licenses to graduates of an 8,000-hour apprenticeship ($100 exam).
  • Columbus and Cleveland register contractors who hold the state license; they don't issue journeyman cards.

Where to apply

  1. Check the city where you work.

  2. The state contractor license needs 5 years as a tradesperson, a PSI exam and a background check. It covers commercial work.

Local licensing offices

Large local programs in Ohio. Other cities and counties may run their own.

Fees

Fees are set by each city or county.

Exam vendors often charge their own testing fee on top of state fees.

Reciprocity

Not applicable to individual electricians. The state contractor license has reciprocity by written agreement.

Good to know

  • A journeyman card can support a state contractor license application, but the contractor license is a separate credential.

Official sources

Checked October 29, 2026. Rules and fees change by regulation; confirm with the board before you apply or pay.