Rhode Island Electrician License Guide: Exam Requirements, Fees & NEC Edition (2026)
Rhode Island runs its own electrician exams directly — no PSI, no ICC, no Prov. The Department of Labor and Training's Professional Regulations Unit administers everything itself, and the state licenses more distinct electrical-trade categories than almost any other state we've covered: sixteen separate license classes, from standard Electrical Contractor down to Lightning Protection Installer. Here's exactly how it works, straight from DLT's own application packet and the state's regulations.
Quick Answer
| Licensing authority | RI Department of Labor and Training (DLT), Board of Examiners of Electricians |
| Exam administrator | DLT itself — no third-party vendor (no PSI, ICC, or Prov) |
| License classes | 16 distinct classes, including Contractor, Journeyperson, Limited Electrician, Burner Contractor/Person, Fire Alarm Contractor/Installer, Electrical Sign Contractor/Installer, Lightning Protection Contractor/Installer |
| Journeyperson experience | 4 years (8,000 hours) as a registered apprentice + 576 hours of related instruction |
| Contractor experience | 6 years (12,000 hours), including holding an RI Journeyperson license for at least 2 years |
| Passing score | 70% average |
| Adopted NEC edition | 2020 (per the state's formal Electrical Code adoption, RISBC-5) |
| Application/exam fee | $75, non-refundable |
Who Regulates Electrical Work in Rhode Island
The Board of Examiners of Electricians, operating under the RI Department of Labor and Training's Division of Workforce Regulation and Safety (Professional Regulations Unit), licenses electricians statewide. Unlike the majority of states in this series, Rhode Island doesn't contract exam development or delivery out to PSI, ICC, or Prov — applications go directly to DLT's Professional Regulations Unit in Cranston, and DLT itself schedules and administers the test.
Sixteen License Classes, Not Two
Most states split electrical licensing into two or three tiers. Rhode Island's official fee schedule lists sixteen distinct classes, each with its own computer code and fee:
| Class | Certificate | Test Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical Contractor | A | Yes |
| Corporation Electrical Contractor | AC | No |
| Limited Electrician / Manufacturers | C | No |
| Limited Electrician / Non-Manufacturers | D | No |
| Burner Contractor | E | Yes |
| Burner Person | F | Yes |
| Fire Alarm Contractor | AF | Yes |
| Fire Alarm Installer | BF | Yes |
| Electrical Sign Contractor | SCF | Yes |
| Sign Installer | CF | Yes |
| Lightning Protection Contractor | LPC | Yes |
| Lightning Protection Installer | LPI | Yes |
| Journeyperson Electrician | B | Yes |
| Limited Maintenance Journeyperson | M | Yes |
Most electricians will only ever deal with two of these — Journeyperson (B) and Electrical Contractor (A) — but if your work touches fire alarm systems, electrical signs, lightning protection, or oil burners, Rhode Island treats those as entirely separate licensed trades with their own experience and testing requirements, not sub-specialties of a general electrician license.
Eligibility: Journeyperson and Contractor
Per DLT's official application instructions: "All Electrical Journeypersons Tests require verification of at least four (4) years of experience in their respective trade and 576 hours of related instruction approved by the Department of Labor and Training." Indentured apprentices need a Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship from DLT's Apprenticeship Office specifically.
For the Contractor (Master) level: "All Rhode Island Electrical Contractor tests require verification of experience in their respective trade for at least six (6) years and the possession of a Rhode Island Journeyperson's license. The Electrical Journeyperson's License must be valid for at least two (2) years prior to applying for a contractor's examination." Every applicant must also submit a notarized employer statement detailing work-related experience, and every application must itself be signed and notarized.
The Exam
Per the Board's regulation, "all examinations shall be conducted and completed in writing and may include written and/or practical demonstrations," and "applicants for examination will be required to obtain an average of at least 70% in order to obtain a license." If you score below passing but at least 60%, you're eligible to request a review of your results. Applications for examination must be received at least 15 working days prior to the examination date. Once you achieve a passing score, per DLT's own fee table: "Individuals who achieve a passing score of 70 or greater will be invoiced for the License Fee."
NEC Edition and Reference Rules
The Board's regulation ties exam content to "the National Electrical Code adopted by the Rhode Island State Building Code Standards Committee" — referenced formally as the Rhode Island Electrical Code (RISBC-5). Rhode Island's own building code adoption regulation confirms the state adopted "the National Electrical Code, 2020 edition," together with state amendments, as its official Electrical Code. DLT's own recommended study material page mirrors this same "current edition" framing rather than naming a fixed year directly — it tells candidates to obtain the "Current National Electrical Code Book – Latest State Approved Edition" — but based on the state's own formal code adoption, that's the 2020 NEC as of this writing.
What we could not confirm: whether the exam is open book or closed book, or what markup/tabbing rules apply if it is open book. Rhode Island's own regulation doesn't spell this out, and DLT's public study-material guidance doesn't address it either. Some third-party test-prep sources describe the exam as closed book, but we couldn't verify that against DLT's own materials — confirm directly with the Professional Regulations Unit before assuming either way.
Fees
Per DLT's official fee schedule:
| License | Application/Exam Fee | 2-Year License Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical Contractor (A) | $75 | $240 |
| Journeyperson Electrician (B) | $75 | $72 |
| Limited Maintenance Journeyperson (M) | $75 | $72 |
| Fire Alarm Contractor (AF) | $75 | $240 |
| Lightning Protection Contractor (LPC) | $75 | $200 |
| Corporation-level certificates (AC, EC, AFC) | No test | $200 |
The $75 fee is explicitly non-refundable and must be paid by check or money order (credit cards accepted in person only). See DLT's full fee table for all sixteen classes.
Out-of-State Applicants
Rhode Island doesn't offer automatic license transfer, but out-of-state licensees can test into the system: per the Board's regulation, "out-of-state applicants who hold a contractor's license or journeyperson's license will be allowed to take the Rhode Island journeyperson's exam." You'll need a valid copy of your out-of-state license plus an official license verification sent directly from your home state's board — DLT is explicit that "computer printouts of verification trade licenses will not be accepted as proof." Out-of-state contractors who then hold RI journeyperson status for 2 years and accumulate 12,000 hours become eligible to sit the contractor exam.
Continuing Education
Certificate A (Contractor) and Certificate B (Journeyperson) holders must complete at least 15 hours of continuing education in a board-approved course of study for each 2-year renewal cycle. Out-of-state residents who can't access RI-approved courses may instead take a National Electrical Code course and separately obtain a copy of the Rhode Island amendments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who administers the Rhode Island electrician exam?
The RI Department of Labor and Training administers it directly — there's no third-party testing vendor like PSI, ICC, or Prov involved, unlike most other states.
What NEC edition does Rhode Island's electrician exam test?
The 2020 NEC, based on Rhode Island's formal adoption of "the National Electrical Code, 2020 edition" as its state Electrical Code (RISBC-5). DLT's own study guidance refers to the "Latest State Approved Edition" without naming a year directly, but 2020 is the current formal adoption.
How many license classes does Rhode Island have for electrical work?
Sixteen, per DLT's official fee schedule — including standard Contractor and Journeyperson licenses, plus separate licenses for burner work, fire alarms, electrical signs, and lightning protection.
Is the Rhode Island electrician exam open book?
We could not confirm this from DLT's own regulation or study materials. Some third-party sources describe it as closed book, but that's unverified against a primary DLT source — confirm directly with the Professional Regulations Unit.
Can I transfer my out-of-state electrician license to Rhode Island?
Not automatically, but holding a valid out-of-state license lets you sit for the Rhode Island journeyperson exam, with official (not photocopied) license verification required from your home state.
Study Materials
Rhode Island's formally adopted code edition is the 2020 NEC, which doesn't match our current catalog's 2023 and 2026 editions. Combined with the unresolved open-book/closed-book question, we're not going to recommend a specific-edition bundle for exam day here. Our general electrical code book collection is a reasonable choice for building broader code familiarity while you prepare, but confirm the exact edition and reference policy with DLT before test day.
Official Sources
- RI DLT — Board of Examiners for Electricians
- RI DLT — Trade License Applications & Study Materials
- 260-RICR-30-15-7 — Board of Examiners of Electricians (active regulation)
- 510-RICR-00-00-5 — RISBC-5 Rhode Island Electrical Code
This guide is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Licensing rules, fees, and exam content change — always confirm current requirements directly with the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training before applying, testing, or purchasing study materials.
