Section 661.502.2. License requirements.

         502.2(1) An electrical contractor license may be issued to a person who submits to the board the required application with the applicable fee, who holds or employs a person who holds an active master electrician license, who is registered as a contractor with the labor services division of Iowa workforce development, and who is not disqualified pursuant to rule 661—502.4(103). An electrical contractor license issued to a person who holds a class B master electrician license is subject to the same restriction of use as is the class B master electrician license.

         502.2(2) A residential electrical contractor license may be issued to a person who is licensed as a class A master electrician, a class B master electrician, or a residential master electrician and who is registered with the state of Iowa as a contractor pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 91C.

         502.2(3) A class A master electrician license may be issued to a person who submits to the board a completed application with the applicable fee, who is not disqualified from holding a license pursuant to rule 661—502.4(103), and who meets one of the following requirements:

            a.               Has completed one year of experience as a licensed journeyman electrician, and has passed a supervised written examination for master electrician approved by the board with a score of 75 or higher; or

            b.               As of December 31, 2007, held a current valid license as a master electrician issued by a political subdivision in Iowa, the issuance of which required passing a supervised written examination approved by the board, and one year of experience as a journeyman electrician; or

            c.               Holds a current class B master electrician license and has passed a supervised written examination for master electrician approved by the board with a score of 75 or higher.

         502.2(4) A class B master electrician license may be issued to a person who submits to the board a completed application with the applicable fee; who is not disqualified from holding a license pursuant to rule 661—502.4(103); who presents credible evidence of having worked for a total of 16,000 hours of cumulative experience as a master electrician, of which at least 8,000 hours shall have been worked since January 1, 1998; and whose experience as a master electrician began on or before January 1, 1998.

         502.2(5) A residential master electrician license may be issued to a person who submits to the board a completed application with the applicable fee, who is not disqualified from holding a license pursuant to rule 661—502.4(103), and who meets one of the following requirements:

            a.               Holds a current residential electrician or journeyman electrician license, has 2,000 hours of verified experience as a residential electrician or a journeyman electrician, and has passed a residential master electrician examination approved by the board; or

            b.               Holds a current special electrician license with a residential endorsement, has 4,000 hours of verified experience, and has passed a residential master electrician examination approved by the board.

         502.2(6) A class A journeyman electrician license may be issued to a person who submits to the board a completed application with the applicable fee, who is not disqualified from holding a license pursuant to rule 661—502.4(103), and who meets one of the following requirements:

            a.               Has successfully completed a registered apprenticeship program, has passed a supervised written examination for journeyman electrician approved by the board with a score of 75 or higher, and has completed four years of experience as an apprentice electrician.

            b.               Holds a current class B journeyman electrician license and has passed a supervised written examination for journeyman electrician approved by the board with a score of 75 or higher.

            c.               Holds a current electrician license in another state, has passed a supervised written examination for journeyman electrician approved by the board with a score of 75 or higher, and has satisfied the sponsorship requirements for testing for a journeyman class A license by providing evidence of all of the following:

            (1)     Current licensure as a journeyman or master electrician from another state which required passing a test sponsored by that state.

            (2)     Completion of 18 hours of continuing education units approved by the board.

            (3)     Completion of 1,000 hours of work in Iowa as an unclassified person.

            d.               Holds a current license issued by the board, excluding a special electrician license other than special residential electrician license; has passed a supervised written examination for journeyman electrician approved by the board with a score of 75 or higher; has completed 54 hours of continuing education approved by the board; and has completed 16,000 hours of electrical work while licensed by the board, except as a special electrician other than a special residential electrician, as verified by a master electrician licensed by the board. The 16,000 hours must include at least the following minimum number of hours of work on commercial or industrial installations in the categories indicated: 500 hours of preliminary work, 2,000 hours of rough-in work, 2,000 hours of finish work, 2,000 hours of lighting and service work, 500 hours of troubleshooting, and 500 hours of motor control work. At least 4,000 hours of the 16,000 hours must have been completed by the applicant within the five years immediately preceding the submission date of the application.

Exception:  On or before December 31, 2019, a maximum of 10,000 of the required 16,000 hours of verified work experience may have been completed between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2007, without licensure from the board or from any political subdivision.

            e.              Holds a current license issued by the board as a residential electrician or residential master electrician, has passed a supervised written examination for journeyman electrician approved by the board with a score of 75 or higher, and has completed 4,000 hours of work on commercial or industrial electrical installations while licensed by the board, as verified by a master electrician licensed by the board. The 4,000 hours must include at least the following minimum numbers of hours in the categories indicated: 100 hours of preliminary work, 500 hours of rough-in work, 500 hours of finish work, 500 hours of lighting and service work, 100 hours of troubleshooting, and 100 hours of motor control work.

            f.                Holds a current license issued by the board, has satisfactorily completed an approved postsecondary electrical education program, has passed a supervised written examination for journeyman electrician approved by the board with a score of 75 or higher, and, subsequent to beginning the postsecondary electrical education program, has completed at least 6,000 hours of electrical work while licensed by the board, as verified by a master electrician licensed by the board.

         502.2(7) A class B journeyman electrician license may be issued to a person who submits to the board a completed application with the applicable fee; who is not disqualified from holding a license pursuant to rule 661—502.4(103); who presents credible evidence of having worked for a total of 16,000 hours of cumulative experience as a journeyman electrician or master electrician, of which at least 8,000 hours shall have been worked since January 1, 1998; and whose experience as a journeyman electrician or master electrician began on or before January 1, 1998.

         502.2(8) A residential electrician license may be issued to a person who submits to the board a completed application with the applicable fee, who is not disqualified from holding a license pursuant to rule 661—502.4(103), and who meets one of the following requirements:

            a.               Holds a current residential special electrician license and has held that license for a minimum of one year and has passed a residential electrician examination approved by the board; or

            b.               Has completed 6,000 hours of experience as an apprentice electrician and has passed a residential electrician examination approved by the board. An applicant may take the examination required by this paragraph after completing 5,000 hours of experience as an apprentice electrician, although the license will not be issued until the applicant has completed 6,000 hours of such experience; or

            c.               Has completed 4,000 hours of experience working under the direct supervision of a residential master electrician, a residential electrician, a master electrician, or a journeyman electrician; has successfully completed a minimum of one academic year of an electrical trade school approved by the board; and has passed a residential electrician examination approved by the board; or

            d.               Has completed 8,000 hours of verified experience as a licensed unclassified person including at least 2,000 hours of verified work experience in residential wiring and has passed a residential electrician examination approved by the board; or

            e.               Has successfully completed a registered residential electrician apprenticeship program and passed a supervised written residential electrician examination approved by the board with a score of 75 or higher.

         502.2(9) A special electrician license may be issued to a person who submits to the board a completed application with the applicable fee, who is not disqualified from holding a license pursuant to rule 661—502.4(103), and who meets the qualifications for any endorsement entered on the license. Each special electrician license shall carry one or more endorsements as specified in paragraphs “a” through “d.”

            a.               Endorsement 1, “Irrigation System Wiring,” shall be included on a special electrician license if the licensee requests it and has passed a supervised examination approved by the board or has completed two years, or 4,000 hours, of documented experience in the wiring of irrigation systems.

            b.               Endorsement 2, “Disconnecting and Reconnecting Existing Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Systems,” shall be included on a special electrician license if the licensee requests it and has passed a supervised examination approved by the board or has completed two years of documented experience in the disconnecting and reconnecting of existing air conditioning and refrigeration systems.

Note: An individual who holds any of the following licenses issued by the plumbing and mechanical systems board established pursuant to Iowa Code section 105.3 is not required to hold a license issued by the electrical examining board in order to perform disconnection and reconnection of existing air conditioning and refrigeration systems:

            1.      Master HVAC.

            2.      Journeyperson HVAC.

            3.      Master refrigeration.

            4.      Journeyperson refrigeration.

            c.               Endorsement 3, “Sign Installation,” shall be included on a special electrician license if the licensee requests that it be included. This endorsement does not authorize a licensee to connect power to a sign that has a voltage greater than 220V and an ampere rating greater than 20 amps. Initial installation or upgrading of the branch circuits supplying power to the sign shall be completed by a licensed master electrician or by a licensed journeyman electrician under the supervision of a master electrician.

            d.               Endorsement 4, “Residential Electrician,” shall be included on a special electrician license if the licensee requests it and has passed a supervised written examination approved by the board or has completed four years of documented experience performing residential electrical work. A political subdivision may, by enactment of an ordinance filed with the board prior to its effective date, require that a special electrician performing work authorized by this endorsement be supervised by a master electrician. Special electrician licenses with “residential electrician” endorsements shall not be issued after December 31, 2010. Renewals of special electrician licenses with “residential electrician” endorsements shall not be issued after December 31, 2013.

         502.2(10) An apprentice electrician license may be issued to a person who submits a completed application to the board with the applicable fee, who is not disqualified pursuant to rule 661—502.4(103), and who is participating in a registered apprenticeship program. A person may hold an apprentice electrician license for no more than six years from the original date on which an apprentice electrician license is granted, except that a person may apply to the board for an exception to this limitation based upon a documented hardship. “Documented hardship” includes, but is not limited to, an interruption in service as an apprentice electrician for active military duty or for an extended illness.

         502.2(11) A license as an unclassified person may be issued to a person who submits a completed application to the board with the applicable fee, who is not disqualified pursuant to rule 661—502.4(103), and who is employed by a licensed electrical contractor. Any person who holds a current license issued by the board, including a special residential electrician license, but excluding other special electrician licenses, may work as an unclassified person without holding an unclassified person license.

         502.2(12) In lieu of renewal of the active master electrician license, an inactive master electrician license may be issued to a holder of a master electrician license whose license is due for renewal and who requests placement in inactive status. A holder of an inactive license shall maintain all requirements which would apply for an active master electrician license, except for payment of the fee required for an active license, during the term of the inactive license. If the license holder fails to meet any such requirement during the term of the inactive license, the license holder shall not be entitled to reinstatement of an active license. If the license holder continues to meet all such requirements while holding an inactive license, the license holder may obtain an active master electrician license by surrendering the inactive master electrician license, filing an application for reinstatement, and paying the applicable license fee. The holder of an inactive license who seeks reinstatement of an active license shall not receive any refund of the fee paid for the inactive license. A person who holds an inactive license may not perform work which requires the person to be a holder of that license but may perform work authorized by any active license issued by the board which the person holds.

         502.2(13) Retaking an examination. If passage of an examination is a requirement for issuance of a license:

            a.               An applicant who has taken the examination for a license twice and has failed the examination twice shall wait six months before taking the examination again and shall complete 12 hours of continuing education approved by the board on subjects related to the standards specified in 661—Chapter 504. After satisfying the requirements of this paragraph, the applicant may take the examination two additional times, or a maximum of four times.

            b.               An applicant who has satisfied the conditions of paragraph “a” and who has taken the examination two additional times, or a total of four times, and has failed the examination four times shall wait an additional six months and shall complete an additional 12 hours of continuing education approved by the board on subjects related to the standards specified in 661—Chapter 504 before taking the examination again. After satisfying the requirements of this paragraph, the applicant may take the examination two additional times, or a maximum of six times.

            c.               An applicant who has satisfied the conditions of paragraph “b” and who has taken the examination two additional times, or a total of six times, and has failed the examination six times shall not be permitted to take the examination an additional time unless approved to do so by the board. An applicant who wishes to take an examination after failing it six times shall wait six months and then may petition the board to allow the applicant to take the examination an additional time. The applicant may be required to appear personally before the board when the board is considering the petition.

         502.2(14) Reciprocal journeyman licensing. A journeyman class A license may be issued, without examination, to a person who holds a license from another state provided that:

            a.               The board has entered into an agreement with the other state providing for reciprocal issuance of licenses and that the agreement recognizes the equivalency of the examination required for the license issued by the other state and the examination required for the Iowa license to be issued; and

            b.               The applicant has successfully completed a supervised written examination approved by the other state with a score of 75 or higher in order to obtain the license from the other state; and

            c.               The applicant holds an applicable license from the other state at the time the application for an Iowa license is filed and has held the applicable license from the other state continuously for one year at the time the application for an Iowa license is filed; and

            d.               The applicant has submitted:

             (1)             A completed application for the Iowa license;

             (2)             A copy of the applicable license from the other state, clearly showing the license number and any other identifying information;

             (3)             The applicable fee;

             (4)             The sworn affidavit required under subparagraph 502.2(14)“e”(2), if applicable; and

             (5)             Any other information required by the board; and

            e.               The applicant has either:

             (1)             Completed an approved apprenticeship program; or

             (2)             Completed 16,000 hours of electrical work as an electrician licensed by the other state, as documented by submission of a sworn affidavit signed by the applicant.

         502.2(15) Reciprocal master licensing. A master class A license may be issued, without examination, to a person who holds an equivalent license from another state provided that:

            a.               The board has entered into an agreement with the other state providing for reciprocal issuance of licenses and that the agreement recognizes the equivalency of the examination required for the license issued by the other state and the examination required for the Iowa license to be issued; and

            b.               The applicant has successfully completed a supervised written examination approved by the other state, with a score of 75 or higher, in order to obtain the license from the other state; and

            c.               The applicant holds an applicable license from the other state at the time the application for an Iowa license is filed and has held the applicable license from the other state continuously for one year at the time the application for an Iowa license is filed; and

            d.               The applicant has submitted:

             (1)             A completed application for the Iowa license;

             (2)             A copy of the applicable license from the other state, clearly showing the license number and any other identifying information;

             (3)             The applicable fee;

             (4)             Any other information required by the board, which may include, but is not limited to, additional evidence that the person’s license from the other state is currently valid; and

            e.               The applicant has either:

             (1)             Completed an approved apprenticeship program; or

             (2)             Completed 16,000 hours of electrical work as an electrician licensed by the other state, documented by a sworn affidavit signed by the applicant.

[ARC 8396B, IAB 12/16/09, effective 2/1/10; ARC 9234B, IAB 11/17/10, effective 1/1/11; ARC 9626B, IAB 7/27/11, effective 9/1/11; ARC 9811B, IAB 10/19/11, effective 12/1/11; ARC 0120C, IAB 5/16/12, effective 7/1/12; ARC 2245C, IAB 11/25/15, effective 12/30/15]