Preparing for the Kentucky Journeyman or Master Electrician exam? This guide explains how the Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (DHBC) structures its electrical licenses, the experience pathways for each license type, how the Prov-administered exam works, which NEC editions and companion reference are actually required, and the exact rules for tabs, highlighting, and notes.
Quick Answer: What Do You Need?
| Licensing authority | Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (DHBC), Electrical Licensing Division |
| Testing provider | Prov, Inc. (in-person at 10 Kentucky sites, or remote via Prov's Examroom service) |
| Experience needed | 8,000 hours (Journeyman/Electrician) or 16,000 hours (Master) since your 16th birthday, with several documented substitutes available |
| Exam fee | $80 per exam (Prov), separate from the DHBC application fee |
| Exam format | Journeyman: 80 items, 3 hours. Master: 100 items, 4 hours. Both require 70% to pass. |
| NEC edition | Candidate's choice of 2017, 2020, or 2023 NEC — all three are currently accepted on the same exam |
| Required companion reference | Ugly's Electrical References, specifically the 2017 edition — fixed, regardless of which NEC edition you choose |
| Tabs / highlighting / notes | Pre-exam highlighting and permanent tabs allowed. Handwritten notes must be in pen. No writing/marking of any kind during the exam itself. |
Who Regulates Electricians in Kentucky?
The Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (DHBC), through its Electrical Licensing Division, sets eligibility rules, reviews applications, and issues Kentucky's electrical licenses. DHBC contracts with Prov, Inc. to develop and administer the written exams. As with most Prov/PSI-administered states, this means two separate fees: DHBC's license application fee, and Prov's $80 exam fee.
Kentucky's Electrical License Types
- Electrician (Journeyman) License — the standard individual trade license
- Master Electrician License — the advanced individual credential
- Electrical Contractor License — a business-level license; the contractor must hold a Master license personally or employ a Kentucky-licensed Master Electrician
Journeyman (Electrician) Eligibility
Per DHBC's official application checklist, you must first pass the Journeyman's Electrical Exam, then document 8,000 hours of electrical trade experience since your 16th birthday, using one of these paths:
- A notarized letter from your employer/former employer verifying hours worked and describing the work performed, signed by the Electrical Contractor or Master Electrician; OR
- The last page of your 1040 tax form showing your job title as electrician; OR
- Proof of completion of 2 years of a minimum 4-year approved apprenticeship-training program (the remaining years must be completed within 4 years of receiving the license, or the license will be revoked); OR
- Proof of an approved apprenticeship-training program with at least 288 classroom hours, which substitutes for 4,000 of the 8,000 hours; OR
- An associate's degree or diploma in electrical technology from a KCTCS school or accredited college, substituting for 4,000 hours; OR
- 2 years of teaching electrical technology (or a related field) at an accredited college or university, substituting for 4,000 hours.
You'll also submit a completed application, the application fee, and a passport-style color photo.
Master Electrician Eligibility
Master applicants must pass the Master Electrician's Exam and document 16,000 hours of electrical trade experience since their 16th birthday, using largely the same documentation paths as Journeyman:
- Notarized employer verification letter, or the last page of your 1040 showing your electrician job title; OR
- An approved apprenticeship-training program with at least 288 classroom hours, substituting for 4,000 hours; OR
- An associate's degree or diploma in electrical technology from a KCTCS school or accredited college, substituting for 6,000 hours (note: this credit is larger than the 4,000-hour credit the same degree provides on the Journeyman path); OR
- 2 years of teaching electrical technology at an accredited college or university, substituting for 4,000 hours.
Electrical Contractor License
To become licensed as an Electrical Contractor, you must pass Prov's Business, Law and Project Management exam (40 questions, 1.5 hours) rather than a trade exam, and either hold a Kentucky Master Electrician license yourself or employ one. You'll also need a Certificate of Liability Insurance/ACORD form for general liability and workers' compensation (with a notarized waiver available if you're a sole proprietor with no employees), naming DHBC's Electrical Licensing division as certificate holder. All insurance carriers must be listed with the Kentucky Department of Insurance.
What's on the Exam?
Per Prov's current Candidate Information Bulletin (effective March 3, 2026):
| Exam | Questions | Time | Passing Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Journeyman Electrician | 80 | 3 hours | 70% |
| Master Electrician | 100 | 4 hours | 70% |
| Electrical Contractor (Business, Law & Project Mgmt.) | 40 | 1.5 hours | 70% |
The Journeyman exam covers General Electrical Theory & Principles, Plan Reading, Wiring & Protection, Wiring Methods & Materials, Motors & Controls, Equipment for General Use, Special Occupancies, Special Equipment, Special Conditions, and Communication Systems — the Master exam covers the same content areas with more items in each. Exams are computer-based, delivered at 10 fixed Kentucky testing sites or remotely through Prov's Examroom webcam-proctoring service. You may retake a failed exam as often as needed with no waiting period, at the same $80 fee each time. Only a simple 4-function calculator is permitted — no tablets, phones, or programmable/scientific calculators.
What NEC Edition Does Kentucky Test?
This is a detail worth getting exactly right, because it's more flexible than most states: per Prov's current bulletin, "Items in this exam have been selected to comply with 2017, 2020 and 2023 editions of the National Electric[al] Code. Candidates may use any one of these editions for this exam." That applies to both the Journeyman and Master exams as of our verification date. Note that this is Prov's own, currently-effective (March 2026) testing policy — some third-party sites describe a hard cutover to 2023-NEC-only exams after January 1, 2026, but the current official bulletin still lists all three editions as valid, so don't assume you must buy the newest edition.
Separately, DHBC's building code itself (governing installed work, not the exam) requires mandatory enforcement of the 2023 NEC as of January 1, 2025, with a few specific one- and two-family dwelling articles delayed until July 15, 2026. As of March 2026, DHBC has also formed an NEC Task Force to review the 2026 NEC for possible future adoption — no adoption decision has been made as of our verification date.
What Books Are Allowed?
For the Journeyman and Master exams, Prov's bulletin lists two required references together — not an either/or choice:
- NFPA 70 — National Electrical Code, your choice of the 2017, 2020, or 2023 edition
- Ugly's Electrical References, 2017 edition (ISBN 978-1-284-11936-7) — specifically the 2017 edition, regardless of which NEC edition you choose
For the Electrical Contractor (Business, Law & Project Management) exam, the references are entirely different: the NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management (13th or 14th edition), plus candidate-printed copies of Kentucky Electrical Licensing Law 815 KAR 35 and the Kentucky Lien Law (2019) — both freely available from DHBC and permitted in printed form at the testing facility.
Covers the 2023 NEC (one of Kentucky's three accepted editions) plus a copy of Ugly's Electrical References. One honest flag: Kentucky's current bulletin specifically lists the 2017 edition of Ugly's, and we don't currently carry that exact printing — if you want to match the bulletin precisely, source the 2017 Ugly's edition directly from Prov's bookstore or Jones & Bartlett before your exam.
Tabs, Highlighting, and Notes
Prov's reference material rules are detailed and specific. What's allowed, prepared before your exam date:
- Highlighting and underlining — in pen only
- Permanent tabs — gummed tabs, self-adhesive tabs with printable inserts, or insertable tab dividers (for three-ring binders only)
- Handwritten notes — must be written in pen (ink); Kentucky's Candidate Instructions Handout further notes that handwritten notes are "NOT allowed in any portion of a reference book unless authorized by your licensing or certifying jurisdiction," so keep any notes minimal and expect them to be scrutinized at check-in
What's never allowed, at any time:
- Moveable or repositionable tabs, or Post-it notes
- Photocopied documents added to a reference book, or photocopied versions of the reference book itself (unless a specific exam's Exam Details explicitly allow it)
- Formula sheets, the Tom Henry or Kelly indexes, Ohm's Law stickers, or any other separate document glued, taped, or added to a reference book
- Writing, marking, highlighting, or underlining of any kind during the exam itself — all markup must be done before you arrive
All reference materials are physically checked by the Prov test administrator before you're allowed into the testing room.
Reciprocity
Kentucky has documented reciprocity paths for a handful of neighboring states:
- Ohio: An active Ohio Electrical Contractor license, plus qualifying insurance, a completed application, fee, photo, and good-standing letter, gets you issued a Kentucky Contractor Electrician and Master Electrician license together.
- Virginia or West Virginia: An active Master or Journeyman license from either state, plus a completed application, fee, photo, and good-standing letter, qualifies for the equivalent individual Kentucky license.
Outside these specific paths, plan to test through Prov using the standard Journeyman or Master exam.
Fees
DHBC's electrical licenses run on a 2-year (24-month) cycle tied to your birth month, with your initial license fee pro-rated based on the month you apply. Base 24-month fees:
| License | Full 24-Month Fee |
|---|---|
| Electrical Contractor | $400.00 |
| Master Electrician | $200.00 |
| Electrician (Journeyman) | $100.00 |
If you apply mid-cycle, DHBC prorates the fee down to as little as roughly 54–58% of the full fee, depending on how close your application month is to your birth month; your renewal then falls in your birth month every two years going forward. This is separate from Prov's $80 exam fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Kentucky electrician exam open book?
Yes. Journeyman and Master candidates bring their own NEC (2017, 2020, or 2023) plus the 2017 edition of Ugly's Electrical References.
Can I highlight my NEC before the Kentucky exam?
Yes, in pen, along with permanent tabs and pen-written notes — all done before exam day. No marking of any kind is allowed once testing begins.
Do I have to buy the newest NEC edition for Kentucky?
No. As of Prov's current bulletin, the 2017, 2020, and 2023 NEC are all accepted for the Journeyman and Master exams — your choice.
What's the difference between the DHBC fee and the Prov fee?
They're separate: DHBC's fee ($100 Electrician / $200 Master / $400 Contractor per 24 months, prorated) covers your license itself; Prov's $80 fee covers scheduling and sitting each exam.
Does Your Book Spot USA guarantee I'll pass?
No. We sell official, correctly-referenced study materials — no book or bundle can guarantee an exam result, and we don't claim otherwise.
Get the Correct Codebook
Once you've picked which NEC edition you'll use (2017, 2020, or 2023 are all valid) and sourced the 2017 Ugly's Electrical References to match Kentucky's exact bulletin, shop our current codebook options below.
Ordering for a crew, apprenticeship class, or training program? Request bulk pricing.
Official Sources
- Kentucky DHBC — Electrical New Application Checklists (KRS 227A.060 & 815 KAR 35:060; 080; 090; checked September 3, 2026)
- Kentucky DHBC — Form EL-3, Electrical License Application (revised October 2024; checked September 3, 2026)
- Kentucky DHBC — Electrical Licensure Application Fee Schedule with Pro-Rating (checked September 3, 2026)
- Kentucky DHBC — 2023 National Electrical Code Update Memo (October 7, 2024; checked September 3, 2026)
- Kentucky DHBC — NEC Task Force Announcement (March 18, 2026; checked September 3, 2026)
- Prov, Inc. — Commonwealth of Kentucky Electrical Licensing Candidate Information Bulletin, KY ELEC 2026.03.03 (effective March 3, 2026; obtained via provexam.com)
Your Book Spot USA is not affiliated with DHBC, Prov, Inc., or NFPA. Candidate bulletins and licensing rules change — this page reflects our verification as of the date above. Spot something outdated? Let us know and we'll correct it.
