Articles & News

This Week in Trades — August 24, 2026

A fatal jobsite accident, a two-year GFCI code extension, and a state order requiring data centers to hire local tradespeople headline this week's trades news.

This Week in Trades — August 17, 2026

Tool makers, unions, and data center builders are all making bigger bets on the electrical trades this week.

Electrician Exam Prep in 2026: Every Option Compared

There are at least six real ways to prepare for a journeyman or master electrician exam, and they are not interchangeable. This guide compares every major option honestly, including where our own product is not the best fit.

This Week in Trades: August 11, 2026

The AI buildout is turning electrical work into one of the fastest-growing job categories in the country, and this week's numbers show why.

This Week in Trades — August 4, 2026

Trades training money and capacity are surging while Texas writes the grid rules for the data center boom.

This Week in Trades - June 22, 2026

Meta is funding free trade training for data center work, materials prices keep climbing, and housing starts fell to a five-year low.

Electrician Exam Cost by State: Fees & Time Limits

We pulled the journeyman exam fee, time limit, and code edition for all 50 states plus DC into one dataset. Here is what it actually costs and how long you get, by the numbers.

Electrician Exam Pacing: Time Per Question by State

Question count and time limit only matter together. We divided one by the other for all 50 states plus DC to find where the exam clock is tightest, and what that means for how you should pace on test day.

Electrician Exam Statistics by State (2026 Data)

We compiled the journeyman exam format for all 50 states plus DC, testing vendor, question count, passing score, and open-book rules, into one dataset. Here is what the US electrician licensing landscape looks like by the numbers.

ICC Electrician Exam: Format & How to Prepare (2026)

Many states and local jurisdictions license electricians using the International Code Council's National Contractor/Trades exams instead of running their own. Here is how the ICC electrician exam works, what it covers, and how to prepare.

Journeyman Electrician Experience Hours by State

Before you can sit for the journeyman exam, you have to log the work experience your state requires. We checked all 50 states plus DC against their licensing boards. Here is what the experience requirement actually looks like across the country.

GetLicenseReady vs. Electrician Exam Academy

Electrician Exam Academy uses a video course format to teach exam concepts. GetLicenseReady uses 1,600+ NEC-referenced practice questions to build exam performance. Here's an honest comparison of which approach works better.

GetLicenseReady vs. JADE Learning: Exam Prep

JADE Learning offers state-specific video courses with CE credits. GetLicenseReady is built around NEC-referenced practice questions for all 50 states. Here's how they compare.

GetLicenseReady vs. Mike Holt: Exam Prep

Mike Holt has been the gold standard for NEC instruction for 40 years. GetLicenseReady is built around a different model. Here's an honest comparison of how they stack up for exam prep.

GetLicenseReady vs. Mometrix: Exam Prep

Mometrix covers hundreds of different exams. GetLicenseReady covers one, the NEC. Here's an honest comparison of how they stack up for electrician licensing exam prep.

GetLicenseReady vs. Tests.com: Practice Tests

Tests.com offers free electrician practice exams written by instructors. GetLicenseReady offers 1,600+ NEC-cited questions with state-specific format guides. Here's how they compare and when each is the right choice.

GetLicenseReady vs. Tom Henry: Exam Prep

Tom Henry has published electrician licensing exam prep books for decades. GetLicenseReady is a digital practice question platform with 1,600+ NEC 2023 questions. Here's how they compare and when each makes sense.

This Week in Trades, June 7, 2026

Copper set a record high just as job openings jumped to 7.6 million and construction employment held steady through May.

Failed the Electrician Exam? Here's Exactly What to Do Next

Failing the journeyman exam is more common than passing it in most states. The electricians who eventually pass are the ones who change how they study, not just how much they study.

How to Study for the NEC Exam: A Method That Works

The most common mistake electricians make studying for the NEC exam is treating it like a memorization test. It isn't. Here is the method that actually builds the skills the exam tests.

NEC Article 450 Transformers: Exam Guide (NEC 2023)

Transformer questions appear on nearly every journeyman and master exam. Article 450 governs overcurrent protection, ventilation, accessibility, grounding, and the rules for transformer vaults. This guide walks through Tables 450.3(A) and 450.3(B), the 125 percent and 250 percent rules that confuse most exam candidates, and worked examples for both single phase and three phase transformer sizing.

NEC Article 625: EV Charging Exam Guide (NEC 2023)

Electric vehicle supply equipment is the fastest growing branch circuit category in the NEC and now appears on most journeyman and master exams. Article 625 sets the rules for branch circuit sizing, overcurrent protection, disconnects, ventilation, and personnel protection. This guide walks through every section with worked examples.

NEC Article 690 Solar PV: Exam Guide (NEC 2023)

Solar PV is one of the fastest-growing chapters of the NEC and one of the most heavily revised. Article 690 covers maximum DC voltage, conductor sizing at 125 percent of short circuit current, rapid shutdown thresholds, disconnect locations, and grounding rules. This guide walks through every section likely to appear on a journeyman or master exam.

NEC Article 706 Energy Storage: Exam Guide (NEC 2023)

Battery storage installations are exploding in both residential and commercial work, driven by solar, demand response, and backup power markets. Article 706 was rewritten significantly in NEC 2020 and refined again in 2023. This guide covers listing requirements, disconnects, overcurrent protection, marking, and the cross references to Article 690 and Article 705 that exam writers love to test.

What Is on the Journeyman Electrician Exam? (Full Breakdown)

The journeyman exam is 80 to 100 multiple-choice questions, open book, with 4 hours on the clock. Here is exactly what is covered and how the questions are weighted.

NEC 2023 vs 2026: Which Edition Is Your Exam?

State adoption of new NEC editions typically lags 2-4 years behind publication. If your exam is in 2026, you almost certainly need to study NEC 2023, not 2026.

This Week in Trades, June 1, 2026

Data centers are set to claim a third of commercial building power, summer electricity demand is climbing, and construction spending hit a $2.17 trillion annual pace.

This Week in Trades, May 25, 2026

Contractor backlog climbs to 8.8 months, materials costs keep rising, and a federal emergency order puts data center power demand in the spotlight.

Journeyman Electrician Exam Pass Rate by State (2026)

Roughly 1 in 3 journeyman electrician candidates fails on the first attempt. Here is what the data shows about pass rates by state, why candidates fail, and what actually works.

What to Bring to the Electrician Exam: 2026 Checklist

Most electrician exam candidates forget to think about what goes in the bag on exam day. Here is exactly what to bring, and what to leave home, for PSI, Prometric, and Pearson VUE testing centers.

This Week in Trades, May 13, 2026

Power sector construction surged 59% this past year, data centers are driving a planning boom, and ComEd's data center pipeline now nearly doubles its all-time peak demand.

This Week in Trades, May 4, 2026

A $1 trillion skilled trades shortage, eight NEC 2026 changes to know before your state adopts, and the first IBEW contract at a crypto-mining power plant.

Best Electrician Exam Prep Courses & Tools (2026)

Not all electrician exam prep is created equal. Here's an honest comparison of the most popular options, from free YouTube channels to $200 prep courses, so you can put your study time where it counts.

Electrician Exam Calculator: What's Allowed (2026)

How Hard Is the Journeyman Electrician Exam?

About 1 in 3 candidates fails the journeyman electrician exam on the first attempt. Here's an honest look at what makes it hard, what makes it manageable, and how to end up in the 65% who pass.

NEC Load Calculation Practice Problems (10 Examples)

Chicago Electrician License: Exam, Steps & Fees (2026)

Illinois has no statewide electrician license. In Chicago, the City of Chicago Department of Buildings administers its own exam using the Chicago Electrical Code. This guide covers journeyman and contractor requirements, the exam format, and how to prepare.

Electrician License Reciprocity by State (2026)

Los Angeles Electrician License: DLSE & C-10 (2026)

Electricians working in Los Angeles must hold a California state electrician certification through the DLSE or a C-10 contractor license through the CSLB. Unlike Chicago, NYC, and Philadelphia, LA uses the statewide California system, no separate city exam. This guide covers both credentials, the PSI exam format, and the LA market.

NEC Article 210 Branch Circuits: GFCI & AFCI Rules

GFCI and AFCI requirements from Article 210 appear on nearly every electrician exam. This guide covers every required location, the 6-foot receptacle spacing rule, and the countertop rules with exact 2023 NEC citations.

NEC Article 220 Load Calculations: Exam Guide

Load calculations are the most math-heavy part of the electrician exam. This guide walks through every piece of Article 220, lighting loads, appliance demand, range calculations, and the optional method, with worked examples and exact NEC 2023 citations.

NEC Article 430 Motors: Sizing, Overloads & Disconnects

Article 430 is one of the most heavily tested articles on the master electrician exam. Motor conductor sizing, the 125% rule, Table 430.52 percentages, and disconnect requirements all appear regularly. This guide covers every exam-critical section with exact NEC 2023 citations and worked examples.

NYC Electrician License: Master & Special (2026)

New York City has no connection to a statewide electrician license, the NYC Department of Buildings administers its own Master Electrician and Special Electrician licenses. This guide covers both credentials, the exam format, experience requirements, and how NYC licensing compares to upstate New York.

Philadelphia Electrician License: Exam & Fees (2026)

Pennsylvania has no statewide electrician license. Philadelphia administers its own journeyman and electrical contractor licensing through the Department of Licenses and Inspections. This guide covers both credentials, the exam format, experience requirements, and what to expect in the Philly market.

This Week in Trades, April 26, 2026

Electric power and utility construction starts jumped 353% month over month in March while 50% copper tariffs squeeze electrical contractor margins, here is what both mean for licensed electricians.

Washington D.C. Electrician License Requirements (2026)

Washington D.C. licenses electricians through the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP). The journeyman exam is an 80-question open-book PSI test with a 70% passing score. Here's everything you need to know about D.C.'s requirements, timeline, and how to prepare.

Electrician Apprenticeship Programs: IBEW & NECA

Electrician apprenticeships are the main path into the trade. This guide covers IBEW, NECA, and independent programs, what you'll earn each year, how to get accepted, and exactly what happens over the 4–5 years before you test for your journeyman license.

Electrician Exam Math: Formulas & Worked Examples

Calculation questions make up 30–40% of most electrician exams. This guide covers every formula you need, Ohm's Law, the power wheel, voltage drop, three-phase power, and transformer calculations, with worked examples for every type you'll see on exam day.

How to Become an Electrician in 2026: Full Guide

Becoming a licensed electrician takes 4–6 years of apprenticeship, on-the-job training, and exam preparation. This guide covers every step, from your first day as an apprentice to passing your journeyman exam and eventually earning your master license.

NEC Article 110 Requirements: Complete Exam Guide

Article 110 establishes the requirements that apply before any specific installation begins, equipment approval, workmanlike execution, electrical connections and temperature ratings, working space clearances, and enclosure types. These rules are tested on every journeyman and master exam.

NEC Article 230 Services: Everything the Exam Tests

NEC Article 230 governs electrical services, where they enter a building, how they're protected, and how they disconnect. Overhead clearances, service conductor sizing, and the '6 disconnects' rule are heavily tested. This guide covers all of it with exact NEC 2023 section references.

NEC Article 240 Overcurrent Protection: Exam Guide

Article 240 governs overcurrent protection, one of the most tested topics on electrician exams. This guide covers conductor protection, standard breaker sizes, the tap rules (10-foot, 25-foot, and transformer secondary), and the small conductor limits that trip up many exam candidates.

NEC Article 300 Wiring Methods: Exam Prep

Article 300 establishes the general rules that apply to all wiring methods, before you even choose conduit type or cable assembly. Conductor grouping, physical protection at studs and plates, underground burial depths, the 6-inch free conductor rule, and when a box is required. These rules appear on virtually every electrician exam.

NEC Article 310 Conductor Rules: Insulation Types & Ampacity

Table 310.16 is the most-used table in the NEC. Journeyman and master exams test it constantly, from basic ampacity lookups to multi-factor derating problems. This guide walks through everything: temperature columns, correction factors, adjustment factors, and the worked examples you'll see on exam day.

NEC Article 334: NM Cable (Romex) Exam Guide

Article 334 governs nonmetallic-sheathed cable, the Romex that runs through nearly every house in America. The exam tests where NM cable is permitted, how often it must be supported, when you need physical protection, and where it's flat-out prohibited. Know these rules cold before your residential journeyman exam.

NEC Article 440 Air Conditioning: Exam Guide

NEC Article 440 is the go-to article for any A/C or refrigeration circuit. Its rules differ from Article 430 motors in important ways, conductors sized at 125% of the MCA nameplate value, HACR-rated breakers, and a different disconnect sizing approach. This guide breaks down the key rules and worked exam examples.

NEC Article 680: Pools, Spas & Hot Tubs Exam Guide

Article 680 is one of the most complex, and most tested, articles on journeyman and master electrician exams. Pools require equipotential bonding of all metallic components, GFCI protection for virtually all nearby circuits, strict clearances from overhead conductors and receptacles, and special rules for underwater lighting. This guide covers every major rule with the distances and exceptions you'll see on exam day.

NEC Articles 404 & 406: Switches & Receptacles

Articles 404 and 406 govern what most electricians install every day, switches and receptacles. The exam tests switch ratings, position requirements, grounding of snap switches, 15A vs 20A outlet rules, tamper-resistant requirements in dwelling units, and when in-use covers are required in wet vs damp locations.

NEC Table 310.16: Wire Sizing & Ampacity Guide

Table 310.16 is the most-used table in the NEC. Knowing how to read it, and how to apply temperature correction factors and adjustment factors, is essential for the electrician exam. This guide explains exactly how to use it with worked examples.

Voltage Drop: NEC Rules, Formula & Exam Math

Voltage drop questions appear on virtually every journeyman and master exam. The NEC recommends, but does not require, specific limits for branch circuits and feeders. This guide covers the formulas, the 3% and 5% rules, how to calculate voltage drop for any circuit, and how to select wire size to keep drop within limits.

Alabama Electrician License: Requirements & Exam (2026)

Alabama licenses electricians through the Alabama Electrical Contractors Board (AECB). Here's everything you need, from experience requirements to the journeyman exam and biennial renewal.

Alaska Electrician License: Requirements & Exam (2026)

Alaska licenses electricians through the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development (DCCED). Here's everything you need, from OJT hours to the journeyman exam and annual renewal.

Arizona Electrician License: Requirements & Exam (2026)

Arizona licenses electricians through the Registrar of Contractors (ROC). Here's everything you need, from qualifying experience to the ROC exam and triennial renewal.

Arkansas Electrician License: AEEC PSI Exam (2026)

Arkansas licenses electricians through the Arkansas Electrical Examining Committee. Here's everything you need, from 8,000 hours of OJT to the journeyman exam and annual renewal.

Colorado Electrician License: Requirements & Exam (2026)

Colorado issues electrician licenses through the State Electrical Board under DORA (Division of Professions and Occupations). The path runs Apprentice → Journeyman → Master → Electrical Contractor, with 8,000 hours of OJT required for the Journeyman license and a PSI-administered NEC 2023 exam. Here's everything you need to know to get licensed in 2026.

Connecticut Electrician License: Requirements & Exam (2026)

Connecticut requires a state license for all electrical work. Here's everything you need, from 8,000 hours of OJT to the E-1 journeyman exam and biennial renewal.

Delaware Electrician License: Requirements & Exam (2026)

Delaware licenses electricians through the Division of Professional Regulation (DELPRO). Here's everything you need, from OJT hours to the journeyman exam and biennial renewal.

How Long to Get a Journeyman Electrician License?

From starting an apprenticeship to holding a journeyman electrician license, the typical path is 4–6 years. But the timeline varies significantly by state and the route you take. Here's how to map your path.

Idaho Electrician License: Requirements & Exam (2026)

Idaho licenses electricians through the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL). Here's everything you need, from OJT hours and schooling to the NASCLA journeyman exam and annual renewal.

Indiana Electrician License: Requirements & Exam (2026)

Indiana has no state-level electrician or electrical contractor license. Licensing is handled locally by cities such as Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Evansville, and South Bend. Here's what you need to know for 2026.

Kansas Electrician License: Requirements & Exam (2026)

Kansas has no statewide electrician license. Licensing is handled by cities and counties such as Wichita, Topeka, Overland Park, and Kansas City (KS), most using ICC exams. Here's how it works.

Maine Electrician License: Requirements & Exam (2026)

Maine requires a state license for all electrical work through the Electrician's Examining Board. Here's everything you need, from apprenticeship hours to the journeyman exam and biennial renewal.

Minnesota Electrician License: Requirements & Exam (2026)

Minnesota licenses electricians through the Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) Electrical Unit. Whether you're working toward your journeyman or master electrician license in the Twin Cities or greater Minnesota, here's everything you need to know for 2026: experience requirements, the PSI exam on NEC 2023, fees, CE requirements, and reciprocity.

Mississippi Electrician License: Requirements & Exam (2026)

Mississippi has no statewide journeyman or master license. The Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) licenses contractors, while individual electrician licensing is handled by cities like Jackson, Gulfport, Biloxi, and Hattiesburg.

Missouri Electrician License: State & Local Rules (2026)

Missouri's electrical licensing is handled primarily at the local level. Here's everything you need to know, from Kansas City and St. Louis requirements to statewide contractor licensing.

Montana Electrician License: Requirements & Exam (2026)

Montana licenses electricians through the Department of Labor and Industry (DLI). Here's everything you need, from apprenticeship hours to the journeyman exam and annual renewal.

Nebraska Electrician License: Requirements & Exam (2026)

Nebraska requires a state license for electrical work through the State Electrical Division. Here's everything you need, from OJT hours to the journeyman exam and annual renewal.

NEC 2023 vs 2020: What Changed for Your Exam

The NEC 2023 edition introduced changes that directly affect the most-tested topics on the electrician licensing exam: the main ampacity table was renumbered, GFCI and AFCI requirements expanded, and EV charging and energy storage rules were significantly revised. If you studied on NEC 2020 materials, here's what you need to update.

Nevada Electrician License: Requirements & Exam (2026)

Nevada licenses electricians through the Nevada State Board of Electrical Examiners (NSBEE). Whether you're targeting a Journeyman or Master Electrician license in Las Vegas, Reno, or anywhere else in the state, here's exactly what you need to know to get licensed in 2026.

New Hampshire Electrician License: OPLC Exam (2026)

New Hampshire licenses electricians through the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC). Here's everything you need, from OJT hours to the journeyman exam and biennial renewal.

New Mexico Electrician License: EE98J Exam (2026)

New Mexico requires a state license for all electrical work through the Construction Industries Division (CID). Here's everything you need, from 8,000 hours of OJT to the EE98J journeyman exam and annual renewal.

North Dakota Electrician License: Requirements & Exam (2026)

North Dakota licenses electricians through the North Dakota State Electrical Board (NDSEB). Here's everything you need, from 8,000 hours of OJT to the journeyman exam and annual renewal.

Oregon Electrician License: Requirements & Exam (2026)

From 8,000 hours of apprenticeship to the Oregon journeyman exam, everything you need to get licensed and working in the Portland metro and beyond.

South Carolina Electrician License: SCCLB Exam (2026)

South Carolina requires a state license for all electrical work. Here's the full breakdown, OJT hours, the PSI journeyman exam, fees, and how to apply through LLR.

South Dakota Electrician License: Requirements & Exam (2026)

South Dakota licenses electricians through the Electrical Commission. Here's everything you need, from OJT hours to the journeyman exam and annual renewal.

Tennessee LLE License & Practice Test Guide (2026)

Tennessee has no statewide journeyman or master electrician license. The state offers the Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) permit and the electrical contractor (CE) license, with local licenses in places like Memphis and Shelby County.

Utah Electrician License: Requirements & Exam (2026)

Utah requires a state license for all electrical work. Here's everything you need, from apprenticeship hours to the journeyman exam and biennial renewal through DOPL.

Vermont Electrician License: Requirements & Exam (2026)

Vermont licenses electricians through the Office of Professional Regulation (OPR). Here's everything you need, from OJT hours to the journeyman exam and biennial renewal.

Washington Electrician License: L&I Exam Guide (2026)

Everything you need to know about Washington electrician licensing, from 8,000 hours of supervised OJT to the open-book PSI exam on NEC 2023 and Washington's limited reciprocity provisions.

West Virginia Electrician License: Exam Guide (2026)

West Virginia licenses electricians through the State Fire Marshal's office. Here's everything you need, from OJT hours to the journeyman exam and annual renewal.

Wisconsin Electrician License 2026: DSPS Exam Guide

Everything Wisconsin electricians need to know, from 8,000 hours of OJT to the journeyman exam and biennial renewal with 24 CE hours.

Wyoming Electrician License: Requirements & Exam (2026)

Wyoming licenses electricians through the Wyoming Electrical Board. Here's everything you need, from OJT hours to the journeyman exam and annual renewal.

Virginia Electrician License: Journeyman & Master (2026)

Virginia licenses individual electricians through the Board for Contractors at DPOR as Journeyman or Master tradesmen. Separate contractor licenses (Class A, B, or C) are required to bid jobs, and an electrical contractor license requires a master electrician tradesman.

This Week in Trades, April 20, 2026

Federal apprenticeship money is on the table, and OSHA refreshed its heat enforcement program heading into summer.

NEC Chapter 9 Conduit Fill: Exam Cheat Sheet

Conduit fill questions are on every journeyman and master electrician exam. Learn the 53/31/40 percent rule, how to use NEC Chapter 9 Tables 4 and 5, the Annex C shortcut, and work through two examples step by step.

This Week in Trades, April 8, 2026

Construction hiring picked up in March, and public infrastructure work kept rolling into April.

This Week in Trades, April 6, 2026

Electrician demand is still strong, even as broader construction hiring cooled in February.

North Carolina Electrician License: NCBEEC Exam (2026)

North Carolina licenses electrical contractors through the NC State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors, a three-tier system (Limited, Intermediate, Unlimited) with PSI-administered exams, open-book NEC testing, and reciprocity agreements with 11 states.

Oklahoma Electrician License: Requirements & Exam (2026)

Everything you need to know about getting licensed as an electrician in Oklahoma: CIB requirements, PSI open-book exam (100 questions, 70% to pass), 2023 NEC, and verified fees.

Hawaii Electrician License: No Reciprocity (2026)

Hawaii has some of the strictest electrician licensing rules in the country, no reciprocity with any state, mandatory University of Hawaii coursework, and a PSI exam where you can't even bring your own code book. Here's the complete breakdown of license types, experience requirements, exam format, fees, and continuing education.

Kentucky Electrician License: ICC Exam & 2024 Rules

Kentucky overhauled its electrician licensing rules in 2024 with House Bill 444, biennial renewals, higher insurance minimums, and expanded military pathways. Here's the complete breakdown of license types, experience requirements, exam format, and reciprocity for journeyman, master, and contractor licenses.

Louisiana Electrician License: Requirements & Exam (2026)

Louisiana licenses electrical contractors through the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC). There is no statewide journeyman electrician license, journeyman licensing is handled at the parish or city level. Here's everything you need to get your Class A or Class B electrical contractor license.

Rhode Island Electrician License: Closed-Book Exam (2026)

Rhode Island gives you a closed-book electrician exam, zero reciprocity with other states, and requires a registered 4-year apprenticeship before you can even sit for it. Here's the full breakdown of license types, experience requirements, exam format, fees, and continuing education.

New Jersey Electrician License: EET & Exam (2026)

New Jersey licenses electricians at two distinct levels, the Electrical Contractor business license and the individual Electrician Certificate of Registration (EET/journeyman). No reciprocity with any other state, and contractors must pass a three-part PSI exam.

America's Construction Gap: 40 States Are Building Faster Than They Can Train Electricians

A new 50-state analysis finds 40 states are issuing construction permits faster than they can train electricians, and separate Randstad data shows skilled trades demand grew 3x faster than professional roles since 2022.

Ohio Electrician License: OCILB & City Rules (2026)

Ohio licenses electrical contractors through the OCILB under the Department of Commerce, a contractor-only state model with PSI exams and local journeyman requirements in two cities: Hamilton and Middletown.

This Week in Trades, March 31, 2026

The data center boom needs 300,000 more electricians. The pipeline isn't keeping up.

Michigan Electrician License: LARA PSI Exam (2026)

Michigan licenses electricians through the Bureau of Construction Codes (BCC) under LARA, a multi-tier system with apprentice, journeyman, master, and contractor licenses, open-book PSI exams, and no reciprocity with other states.

Pennsylvania Electrician License: No State Exam (2026)

Pennsylvania is one of the few states with no statewide electrician license, electrical licensing is handled entirely at the municipal level. What you need depends entirely on where you work.

This Week in Trades, March 29, 2026

EV fleet buildout is creating years of electrical contractor work. Plus: data center construction pace, a $33B Ohio power plant, and $2B in restored transit funding.

GFCI and AFCI Requirements: What Changed in NEC 2023

NEC 2023 expanded GFCI coverage, reorganized AFCI requirements, and added new protected locations. Here's what changed, where protection is now required, and the exam questions you're most likely to see.

Maryland Electrician License: Journeyman & Master (2026)

Maryland licenses electricians through the State Board of Electricians, a two-tier system with separate journeyman and master licenses, a PSI-administered exam, and reciprocity agreements with four neighboring states.

Massachusetts Electrician License: Journeyman & Master

Massachusetts licenses electricians through the Board of State Examiners of Electricians, a two-tier system with separate journeyman and master licenses, a two-part PSI exam, and some of the most specific education requirements in the country.

Construction Workers Are Getting the Biggest Pay Bumps From Job-Switching, More Than Any Other Industry

ADP's latest payroll data shows construction has the highest job-switching wage premium of any industry, 6.6%, and new hire pay jumped to $19/hour in January.

Georgia Electrician License: Journeyman & Master (2026)

Georgia licenses Electrical Contractors (Class I and Class II) through the Construction Industry Licensing Board, not individual journeyman or master electricians. Here’s what you need, what the PSI exam covers, and how to apply.

Florida Electrical Contractor License: ECLB/DBPR (2026)

Florida licenses Electrical Contractors through the Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board (ECLB) under the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). There is no statewide journeyman electrician license in Florida. Here's exactly what you need to know to get your Certified Electrical Contractor license in 2026.

Iowa Electrician License: DIAL Exam Guide (2026)

Iowa licenses individual electricians, both journeymen and masters, through the Electrical Examining Board under the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL). Unlike many states, Iowa issues individual journeyman and master electrician licenses as well as contractor licenses. Here's exactly what you need to know in 2026.

Journeyman vs. Master Electrician: The Difference

A journeyman license gets you working independently. A master license lets you run the job, pull permits, and start your own business. Here's what separates the two, requirements, scope, and pay.

California Electrician License: C-10 via CSLB (2026)

California doesn't license journeyman electricians at the state level. The state licenses Electrical Contractors (C-10) through the Contractors State License Board (CSLB). Here's exactly what you need to know to get licensed in 2026.

How to Get an Electrician License in Illinois in 2026

Illinois is one of the few major states with no statewide electrician license. Licensing is entirely local, and if you're working in Chicago, that means passing the Chicago Supervising Electrician exam. Here's exactly how it works in 2026.

NEC 314.16 Box Fill Calculations: Rules & Examples

Box fill questions show up on every journeyman and master electrician exam. Learn the five categories that count, the conductor volume table from NEC Table 314.16(B), and walk through worked examples step by step.

NEC Article 250 Grounding vs. Bonding: Exam Guide

Grounding vs. bonding is the #1 most-confused distinction on the electrician exam. This guide breaks down NEC Article 250 with exact 2023 citations, a side-by-side comparison table, and the exam topics you're most likely to see.

AI Data Centers Can't Build Themselves, and Electricians Are Cashing In

Tech giants are committing $700 billion to data center construction this year. Electrician job listings are up 27% since 2022, and specialized roles are commanding 25–30% wage premiums.

Electricians Out-Earn Lawyers in These States, Here Is the Data

Electrician job postings are up 18% over three years, driven by data center construction. In several states, licensed electricians now out-earn the average attorney.

Texas Electrician License: Exam & Reciprocity (2026)

Everything you need to know about Texas electrician licensing, from 8,000 hours of OJT to the two-part PSI exam and reciprocity with 10 states for Journeymen.

New York Electrician License Exam Prep | GetLicenseReady

New York doesn't issue a statewide electrician license, licensing is handled city by city. Here's what you need to know for NYC and other major jurisdictions.

Electrician License Test 2026: What's on It & Tips

A complete breakdown of the electrician license test - what it covers, how it's scored, and what you need to do to pass in your state.

How to Pass the Electrician Exam: 6 Key NEC Articles

Everything you need to know to pass your electrician licensing exam on the first try, from state-by-state exam formats to NEC navigation tips and proven study strategies.