Guide to Low Voltage Licensing

Simplified Guide to CT Low Voltage Licensing

Since 1965 a statewide electrical license has been required to work or operate a business within Connecticut

No reciprocity with any other states
No residency restrictions
No background check is required by the state
Connecticut requires more education classroom hours than neighboring states

Different types of licenses are required dependent on the type of work you will be doing

Contractor
- Limited by voltage and current
- Able to sell services to the public
- Able to hire journey person and apprentice
- Able to pull an electrical permit
- Continuing Education requirement is minimum of 4 hours annually
- Fees
- Application Fee for this license $150.00
- Initial Fee for this license $150.00
- Renewal Fee for this license $150.00
- Renews on September 30th every year
Journeyperson
- Limited by voltage and current
- Can only work for a Connecticut licensed contractor
- Can only perform work for licensed category
- Cannot pull permits
- Continuing Education requirement is minimum of 4 hours annually
- Fees
- Application Fee for this license $90.00
- Initial Fee for this license $120.00
- Renewal Fee for this license $120.00
- Renews on September 30th every year
Apprentice
- Must be registered with State Labor Department
- Cannot work on job alone without licensed supervision
- Must carry registration card on oneself when working in the field of his/her prospective license
- Record of training hours must be kept
- Fees
- Apprentice application fee $50.00
- Sponsor application fee $60.00
- Apprentice renewal application fee $50.00
- Sponsor renewal application fee $60.00
- Renews July 1st every year

Types of Licenses

T-1 Contractor
- Telecommunications, networking installation and service
- Able to sell services to public
- Must be registered with Connecticut Secretary of State
- Able to pull electrical permits
- Able to hire journeyperson and apprentice
- Must have been a T-2 journeyperson for 2 years
T-2 Journeyperson
- Telecommunications, networking installation and service
- Cannot sell services to the public
- Not able to pull electrical permits
- Able to supervise apprentice
- Must have documented education in the field and at least 4 years of equivalent experience or 5 years of equivalent experience or training as a service technician to take T-2 test
L-5 Contractor
- Low voltage contractor limited to alarm or signal work, audio and sound systems
- License limitations not to exceed 25 volts 5 amps
- Able to sell services as contractor to public
- Must be registered with Connecticut Secretary of State
- Able to pull electrical permits
- Able to hire journeypersons
- Must have been an L-6 Journeyperson for at least 2 years
L-6 Journeyperson
- Low voltage limited journeyperson alarm or signal work, audio and sound systems
- License limitations 25 volts & 5 amps
- Cannot sell services to public
- Not able to pull electrical permits
- Able to supervise apprentice
- Must have completed required apprenticeship or 4 years of equivalent experience with documented education
C-5 Contractor
- Low voltage contractor limited to low voltage systems and telephone interconnect
- License limitations not to exceed 48 volts 8 amps
- Able to sell services as contractor to public
- Must be registered with Connecticut Secretary of State
- Able to pull electrical permits
- Able to hire journeypersons
- Must have been a C-6 Journeyperson for at least 2 years
C-6 Journeyperson
- Low voltage journeyperson limited to low voltage systems and telephone interconnect
- License limitations not to exceed 48 volts 8 Amps
- Cannot sell services to public
- Not able to pull electrical permits
- Able to supervise apprentice
- Must have completed required apprenticeship or 4 years of equivalent experience with documented education

Education Requirements T-2
- T-Class license requires 288 hours of related classroom study consisting of:
  - Basic Math
  - Blueprint Reading
  - Electrical Code 1
  - Building Trade Safety (OSHA 30)
  - Electrical Theory 1
  - Basic Telecommunications
  - Electrical Theory 2
  - Telecom Cabling
Educational Requirements L-6
- L6 - Class license requires 288 hours of related classroom study consisting of:
  - Basic Math
  - Blueprint Reading
  - Electrical Code 1
  - Building Trade Safety (OSHA 30)
  - Electrical Theory 1
  - Basic Alarm Technology
  - Electrical Theory 2
  - Fire, access and CCTV systems
  - Educational requirements C-6
- C-6 class license requires 360 hours of related classroom study consisting of:
  - Basic math
  - Blueprint reading
  - Electrical code 1
  - Building trade safety (OSHA 30)
  - Electrical theory 1
  - Basic alarm technology
  - Electrical theory 2
  - Fire, access and CCTV systems
  - Basic telecommunications
  - Telecom cabling

The following NTS classes are accepted as equivalent education for the T, L, and C class license as of August 28, 2012:

Certified Alarm Technician (Level I)
Advanced Burglar Alarm Technician
Fire Alarm Installation Methods
Troubleshooting Service & Maintenance
Electronic Access Control
Video Systems Technology
National Electrical Code
OSHA 30

Connecticut has an Apprentice Hiring Ratio as follows:

CT Hiring Ratio Chart

Once licensed, Connecticut requires 4 hours of Continuing Education each year through accredited schools for the class license as issued

Class subject matter is determined by the Electrical Board based upon changes in sate and/or national codes
Changes in technology and theory are interwoven with code changes

Connecticut currently uses the 2005 National Electrical Code (NEC), which will be superseded by the 2011 NEC as of January 1, 2014

The current NFPA Fire Code is the 2002 edition which will be superseded by the 2010 NFPA Mass Evacuation Code

The 2009 edition of the Connecticut State Building Code will be amended to reflect these and other building code changes

Apprentices are required to be registered with the Connecticut State Labor Department
Any company regardless of contractor license type wishing to hire an apprentice must be registered with Connecticut as the apprentice sponsor
The apprentice cannot work outside of his/her registration area
Once apprenticeship is completed a letter will be provided to the applicant and the State Labor Department attesting to the fact that the applicant has completed the program
Commentary/Notes
No journeyperson may work outside the contractor classification of their employer or that of their license
If a C-6 journeyperson (48 volts & 8 amps) obtains employment under an L-5 contractor (24 volts & 5 amps) he cannot exceed the license limitations of his employer's category
The most common reason for not allowing a person to sit for any of the tests as discussed this date is failure to properly document their education experience against the classes as previously listed.

Rev. 1 - November, 2013