ALASKA · electrician
Electrician Journeyman Certificate of Fitness
Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development — Labor Standards and Safety, Mechanical Inspection Section →Scope of Work
Alaska issues an individual Electrician Journeyman Certificate of Fitness under 8 AAC 90.160. The Certificate of Fitness is the individual credential required to perform electrical work covered by the National Electrical Code (NEC) or National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) in Alaska. Source: Electrical and Plumbing Certificate of Fitness Application (https://labor.alaska.gov/lss/forms/cof/COF_Application_ELECRICAL-PLUMBING.pdf).
Two-Track Regulation
Alaska regulates electrical work through two separate credentials. (1) The Electrician Journeyman Certificate of Fitness (the individual Worker credential) is issued by the Department of Labor's Mechanical Inspection Section. (2) The Electrical Administrator license (the supervisory license that a contracting firm must have in its employ) is issued by the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing under AS 08.40. The Electrical Administrator is a supervisory license only and does not authorize the administrator to perform work covered by the NEC or NESC. Source: Alaska Electrical Administrators (https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/ProfessionalLicensing/ElectricalAdministrators.aspx).
Experience and Training
8,000 hours of experience verification is required per 8 AAC 90.160 and 8 AAC 90.890. Experience must be verified on the Experience Verification Form (https://labor.alaska.gov/lss/forms/cof/COF_Application_EVF.pdf). An applicant with less than 8,000 hours may qualify for the Residential Wireman certificate (4,000 hours under 8 AAC 90.164) as an intermediate credential.
Exam
An examination administered by the Mechanical Inspection Section is required. The exam is based on the NEC edition currently adopted by Alaska and on Alaska electrical code amendments. Verify the current exam bulletin through the Mechanical Inspection Forms and Publications page (https://labor.alaska.gov/lss/miforms.htm) before scheduling.
Trainees and Apprentices
Individuals who do not yet meet the 8,000-hour requirement may apply as Trainees under the Trainee Application (https://labor.alaska.gov/lss/forms/cof/COF_Application_TRAINEE.pdf). Trainees work under the direct supervision of a Certificate of Fitness holder.
Reciprocity
Alaska accepts reciprocal and provisional applications on a case-by-case basis; the updated Reciprocal and Provisional Application is available at https://labor.alaska.gov/lss/forms/cof/COF_Application_RECIPROCAL-PROVISIONAL.pdf. Reciprocity depends on the licensing terms of the applicant's home state.
Fees
The application fee is $50 (non-refundable) and the certificate fee is $200, for a total of $250. The certificate fee is not charged until testing is completed.
Renewal Cycle
Certificates are issued for a two-year term. Renewal is through the Renewal Application (https://labor.alaska.gov/lss/forms/cof/COF_Application_RENEWAL.pdf) and requires evidence of continuing education in the continuing code cycle; the current CE requirement is published on the Mechanical Inspection Forms and Publications page.
Scope Limitation
A Certificate of Fitness authorizes the individual to perform the specific class of electrical work for which the certificate was issued. A Journeyman certificate does not authorize the holder to hold out as an Electrical Administrator of a contracting firm; that is a separate license administered under AS 08.40 by the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing.