Nebraska electrician license and insurance requirements

Nebraska electrician license and insurance requirements

Ashley Henshaw
By Ashley Henshaw
Feb 2, 2024
7 min read
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Do you need a Nebraska electrician license?

Yes, a license from the Nebraska Electrical Division is mandatory to work as an electrician. Your work scope determines the type of license you need. Here are the options:

  • Apprentice: An apprentice level is ideal if you’re learning and assisting in electrical installation, alteration, and repair, as an employee of a licensed electrician.
  • Journeyman: A journeyman is suitable if you have the qualifications, training, experience and technical know-how to handle electrical wiring and installation and to supervise apprentices.
  • Electrical contractor: A contractor license is best if you have the expertise to plan, lay out, execute and oversee electrical installations for light, heat, power and other purposes.

Each license type has specific qualifications and requirements, ensuring you’re equipped for your chosen electrical work.

How to get an electrician license in Nebraska

The Nebraska Electrical Division streamlines the process with a single application whether you are interested in how to get journeyman electrician licenses, electrical contractor licenses or apprentice licenses.

Submit your Nebraska electrician license application online or by mail. Be sure to include: 

  • Your application fee (more on that below)
  • Mailing addresses for current and previous employers
  • A completed United States citizenship attestation form
  • A copy of your degree (if applicable)

Journeyman and electrical contractor applicants must also pass an exam. The testing company, Pearson Vue, will send directions on scheduling your exam upon application approval. 

The journeyman and electrical contractor exam covers topics such as:

  • National Electrical Code
  • Nebraska State Electrical Act
  • Basic electricity theory
  • Blueprint reading
  • Emergency circuits, including fire alarm circuits

Insurance for Nebraska electricians

As an electrician in Nebraska, having the right insurance is key to protecting your business and assets. Here are the types of Nebraska business insurance available for electricians.

Workers’ compensation insurance

Nebraska requires you to have workers’ compensation insurance if you have one or more employees. It covers medical expenses, lost wages, and more in case you or an employee experiences an injury on the job.

General liability insurance

General liability insurance can help cover the costs if someone other than an employee slips or falls or if you or an employee accidentally damages someone’s property.

Tools and equipment insurance

Electricians need specific tools and equipment to get the job done. In the case of stolen or damaged work gear, tools and equipment insurance pays for repair or replacement.

Commercial auto insurance

Whether you use a dedicated work vehicle or your personal vehicle on the job, commercial auto insurance can help cover costs related to accidents, such as property damage and medical expenses. 

Commercial property insurance

Commercial property insurance can help protect some of the most important things you need to do business, including your equipment, furniture and inventory.

Nebraska electrician license requirements

Depending on the type of license you’re pursuing, you’ll need to fulfill certain education and work experience requirements.

Electrician apprentice license requirements

No education or work experience requirements apply for an electrician apprenticeship. To get this license, you simply register with the Nebraska Electrical Division. 

The registration fee for an electrician apprentice is $20 if issued in an even-numbered year or $40 if issued in an odd-numbered year.

Journeyman electrician license requirements

You must have four years of employment by an electrical contractor to apply for a journeyman license. As an alternative, the State Electrical Board will accept three years of experience if you also have a degree in electrical technology from a post-high-school course.

The license fee for a journeyman electrician is $25 if issued in an even-numbered year or $50 if issued in an odd-numbered year.

Electrical contractor license requirements

You have three options to apply for an electrical contractor license:

  1. Complete a four-year electrical course at an accredited college or university plus have one year of experience as a licensed journeyman electrician
  2. One or more years of experience as a licensed journeyman electrician
  3. Five years of experience in planning for, laying out, supervising and installing wiring, apparatus or equipment for electrical light, heat and power.

The license fee for an electrical contractor is $125 if issued in an even-numbered year or $250 if issued in an odd-numbered year.

electrician insurance breaker

License renewal requirements for Nebraska electricians

Nebraska electrical licenses expire on December 31 in even-numbered years. You’ll receive a notice to renew in October of each expiration year.

To renew your journeyman or contractor license, you must complete a minimum of 12 hours of continuing education, with at least six hours covering the National Electrical Code. Electrician apprentices do not have any continuing education requirements.

A two-year license renewal is $50 for a journeyman electrician and $250 for an electrical contractor.

Nebraska electrician license reciprocity

Nebraska has reciprocity agreements with several states, making it easier for licensed electricians from these areas to work in Nebraska. The states included are:

  • Alaska
  • Arkansas
  • Colorado
  • Iowa
  • Idaho
  • Minnesota
  • Montana
  • New Mexico
  • North Dakota
  • Oklahoma
  • South Dakota
  • Texas
  • Wyoming

For electrical contractor licenses, reciprocity is only available for Minnesota and South Dakota.

You must have held the license you want to reciprocate in good standing for at least one year. Because restrictions vary by state, contact the Nebraska Electrical Division before applying for a license via reciprocity.

How NEXT helps supports Nebraska electricians

Find the right electrician insurance coverage with NEXT.

NEXT makes it fast, easy and affordable to protect your small business — and you can do it all online.

We’ll ask a few questions about your business and give you a quote. You can select your coverage options and purchase your policy — all in about 10 minutes. Your certificate of insurance will be available immediately, and you can access your policy 24/7 via web or mobile app.

If you have questions, our licensed, U.S.-based insurance professionals are available to help.

Start a free quote with NEXT.

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Ashley Henshaw
About the author

Ashley Henshaw was a contributing writer at NEXT. She specializes in small business topics, covering everything from insurance and branding to web hosting and cryptocurrency.


Her work has appeared in The Huffington Post, AOL City's Best, Citysearch, USA Today, The San Francisco Chronicle and Livestrong.

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