Iowa Association of Building Officials
Information Update


State of Iowa Electrical Examining Board

Electrician Licensing Program Home Page:  http://www.dps.state.ia.us/fm/electrician/index.shtml

Electrical Examining Board Page:     http://www.dps.state.ia.us/fm/electrician/board.shtml


August 21, 2007
GOVERNOR CULVER APPOINTS 11 MEMBERS TO ELECTRICAL EXAMINING BOARD
In Des Moines today, Governor Chet Culver appointed the following eleven people to the Electrical Examining Board.   Governor Culver said, "I'm pleased that these qualified individuals have agreed to serve on this important board. I know that they will do a great job overseeing the electric codes and maintaining the necessary standards required by this board."
The new board members are: 

Name     Position     City
Chad Campion   
Randy Van Voorst 
Skip Perley   
Duane Quirk    
Andrea Rivera-Harrison
Lori Mease 
Barb Mentzer 
Chad Layland
Rodrick Van Wart
Valynda Akin
Jim Kenkel      
Journeymen Electrician - Union   
Journeymen Electrician - Non Union
Electrical Contractor - Union     
Electrical Contractor -Non Union
Public Member- Union
Public Member- Non Union
Electrical Inspector
Licensed Electrical Engineer    
Building Official  
Public Utility Representative
Iowa Fire Marshall    
Cedar Rapids
Sioux Center
Sioux City
New Hampton
Gilbertville
Des Moines
Carlisle
Des Moines
Des Moines
Dubuque
Waukee

The Board was created by HF 897 section 103.2 - Summary below:
Terms: 3 years staggered terms    
Term Limits: 3 terms
Make-up: The Iowa Electrical Examining Board will consist of 11 voting members appointed by the Governor, and these members will include:
1. Two journeymen electricians; one union, one non-union
2. Two master electricians or electrical contractors; one union, one non-union
3. One electrical inspector
4. Two public representatives; one union, one non-union
5. The state fire marshal, or a representative of the state fire marshal
6. One local building official employed by a political subdivision
7. One representative of a public utility
8. One engineer with a background in electrical engineering

Function: The board shall adopt rules reflecting updates to the electric code and amendments to the electric code. The board shall promulgate and adopt rules establishing wiring standards that protect public safety and health and property and that apply to all electrical wiring which is installed; perform administrative work related to statewide licensing of all electricians; revoke, suspend, or refuse to renew any license; adopt rules for continuing education requirements for each classification of licensure.


Iowa’s Statewide Licensing of Electricians and Electrical Contractors
Recognition of Local Licenses
 (09/25/07)

The law which established the state electrician and electrical contractor licensing program provides that a person who holds a license issued by an Iowa city or county as a journeyman or master electrician, which was obtained prior to January 1, 2008, may be awarded an equivalent state license without further examination provided that the local license was issued after satisfactory completion of a supervised written examination and that the examination meets criteria established by the Board. At its September 25 meeting, the Board adopted a resolution stating that they intend to accept licenses which had been issued by a local jurisdiction based upon a score of 75 or above on a supervised examination offered by Prometric or Thompson Prometric or its predecessors. (This examination was previously offered by Experior Assessment and by Block.) Persons who apply for a state license based upon holding a local license which meets criteria established by the Board will also be required to meet other criteria, such as years of experience and payment of licensing fees. This action of the Board relates only to the test currently offered by Prometric or Thompson Prometric. No decision has been made regarding awarding of state licenses to persons licensed by local jurisdictions based upon any other supervised written examination.

PLEASE NOTE: The provision of the law discussed here applies ONLY to persons who hold a local license by January 1, 2008. It does not apply to anyone who has taken an examination for electrical licensing prior to that date, but does not have a license.


The Iowa General Assembly has enacted legislation (2007 Iowa Acts, House File 897) which establishes a statewide licensing program for electricians and electrical contractors. The program was established in the Fire Marshal Division of the Iowa Department of Public Safety, and will be overseen by a new Electrical Examining Board.

The provisions of the law which require state licensing of electricians and electrical contractors take effect on January 1, 2008. Enforcement of these provisions will commence after the administrative rules have been adopted by the Board, the licensing program has been established, and electrical contractors and electricians have the opportunity to apply for and obtain their licenses.

The establishment of any new regulatory or licensing program results in many questions. We will try the best we can to provide the information you need, but we ask for your patience, as there are many decisions which will be made by the Electrical Examining Board after it has been appointed. Questions should be directed to the Fire Marshal Division by phone at 515-725-6145 or by e-mail to elecinfo@dps.state.ia.us.

To automatically receive updates as this program is developed please send your name, address and e-mail address to elecinfo@dps.state.ia.us