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How to become a licensed electrician in Idaho. State-level licensing required. Apprenticeship: 8,000 hours. Total initial fees: $130. Verified 2026-03-21. Data verified 2026-03-21. Source: LicenseMap (getlicensemap.com).
Electrician
Governing Authority
Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL), Idaho Electrical Board
Official website →Most information on this page has been verified.
87% of data points are verified against official sources. 6 fields based on preliminary research. We recommend confirming details with your state's licensing authority. See sources below · Report incorrect data
Yes
State Licensed?
Apprentice Hours
3 levels
License Levels
Total Initial Fees
CE Hours
NEC Version
Regulation Status
VerifiedState Licensed
Yes
Regulation Level
state
License Types
Notes
Idaho has a traditional apprentice/journeyman/master licensing structure administered by the Idaho Electrical Board under DOPL. Apprentices are divided into 4 levels based on hours accumulated. Idaho uses the NASCLA examination for journeyman and master exams. As of 2025, continuing education is no longer required for license renewal.
State-Level Licensing Required
Regulated by the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL), Idaho Electrical Board
Official Title
Electrical Apprentice (4 levels)
Experience Required
Level 1: 0–2,000 hrs; Level 2: 2,000–4,000 hrs; Level 3: 4,000–6,000 hrs; Level 4: 6,000–8,000 hrs. Must be at least 16 years old. All work under supervision of an Idaho-licensed journeyman.
Exam Required
No
Additional Requirements
Official Title
Journeyman Electrician
Experience Required
Option A: 4 years of approved electrical apprentice school + 8,000 hours of supervised work experience. Option B: 16,000+ hours of supervised work experience as apprentice. Option C (in-state): 4 years school + 6,000 hours (must work additional 2,000 hours after passing exam before licensure). All options require 576 hours of classroom instruction.
Exam Required
Yes
Additional Requirements
Official Title
Master Electrician
Experience Required
Must have held an active Idaho Journeyman Electrician license for at least 4 years. Must pass the NASCLA Master Electrician examination.
Exam Required
Yes
Additional Requirements
Apprenticeship
Hours Breakdown
8,000
Total Hours
4
Years
576
Classroom
8,000
On-the-Job
DOL Registered Apprenticeship
Exam Requirements
VerifiedRequired
Journeyman Exam
Required
Master Exam
Exam Provider
NASCLA examination, administered through PSI/Pearson VUE
NEC Version
2020 NEC (current exam basis); transitioning to 2023 NEC as NASCLA updates its exam
Open Book
Yes
Journeyman Exam Details
80
Questions
240 min
Time Limit
70%
Passing Score
Master Exam Details
70%
Passing Score
Retake Policy
Must wait 30 days before retaking; maximum 3 attempts before additional training required
Minimum Age
Education
Background Check
Insurance Required
Bonding Required
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Apprentice Registration Fee Annual registration; annual renewal also $15 | |
Journeyman License Fee $55 application + $75 exam fee | |
Master License Fee Master Electrician license fee | |
Exam Fee Exam fee per Idaho Code 67-2604(4)(b) | |
Renewal Fee Triennial renewal for Journeyman and Master licenses | |
Total Initial Fees $55 application + $75 exam for Journeyman; $65 for Master (after holding Journeyman 4 years) |
Renewal & CE Requirements
Verified3 years (triennial) for Journeyman and Master; annual for Apprentice and Contractor
Renewal Period
0 hrs
CE Hours Required
Renewal Fee
$45
Triennial renewal for Journeyman and Master; Apprentice $15/year; Contractor $100/year
Regulatory Board
Electrician licenses must be renewed on schedule. Most states require continuing education covering NEC code updates, safety practices, and applicable state/local amendments.
Out-of-State Reciprocity
Mostly verifiedAccepts Out-of-State Credentials
Reciprocity Type
Endorsement — may accept out-of-state Journeyman or Master licenses
Transfer Details
Idaho may accept out-of-state Journeyman or Master licenses by endorsement. Applicants must hold a valid license from another state and may need to pass the state exam. Wyoming has explicit reciprocity with Idaho for both Journeyman and Master levels.
Additional Requirements for Transfer
Electrician license reciprocity varies significantly by state. Some states offer endorsement for experienced electricians, while others require passing the state exam regardless of prior credentials.
Idaho eliminated continuing education requirements for electrician license renewal as of 2025, making it one of the few states with no CE mandate. The state uses NASCLA exams and has an unusually low apprentice minimum age of 16. Idaho offers three distinct pathways to journeyman licensure with varying combinations of classroom and on-the-job hours.
Idaho uses NASCLA (National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies) exams for both Journeyman and Master levels, administered through PSI/Pearson VUE.
As of 2025, continuing education is NO LONGER REQUIRED to renew a Journeyman or Master Electrician license in Idaho. This is a major recent change.
Idaho apprentices are divided into 4 levels based on accumulated hours (2,000-hour increments from 0 to 8,000).
The minimum age for apprentice registration is 16 years, lower than most states' 18-year requirement.
Idaho offers three pathways to Journeyman: (A) 4 years school + 8,000 hours, (B) 16,000+ hours without school, (C) 4 years school + 6,000 hours with conditional licensure.
Electrical Contractors must carry $300,000 minimum general liability insurance and employ or be a Master Electrician.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in Idaho.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#1 of 51
Salary
#34 of 51
Cost
#16 of 51
Processing
#1 of 51
Based on May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data for Electricians (SOC 47-2111)
Entry Level
$46,820
25th percentile
Median
$60,670
-3% vs. national avg ($62,350)Experienced
$77,420
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
5,380 employed in this state
Source: BLS OEWS – Electricians (May 2024)
National employment projections for 2024-2034
Projected Growth
+7.1%
Average GrowthNew Jobs
+60,000
over 10 years
Annual Openings
68,500
per year (avg.)
839,600 currently employed nationwide (2024)
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (September 2025)
Electrical Career Ladder+19% salary growth potential
You are here
Electrician (Journeyman)
$60,670
Apprenticeship (4-5 years) + journeyman exam
You are here
Electrician (Journeyman)
Apprenticeship (4-5 years) + journeyman exam
$60,670
Master electrician license + contractor license
$72,360
Salary data from BLS OEWS May 2024 for this state. Career paths represent common advancement routes — actual progression may vary. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Outlook Handbook
Government fees and exam costs to obtain your initial license
Note: These are government licensing fees only. Education/training program costs (tuition, books, etc.) are not included as they vary widely by institution.
Estimated total: 212–224 weeks
Timeline estimated from licensing requirements on this page.
Source: Idaho Division of Building Safety - Electrical Bureau — Licensing Requirements
2–8 weeks
Estimated processing time
Source: Idaho Division of Building Safety - Electrical Bureau — Licensing Requirements
Study guides and NEC code practice tests for the electrician licensing exam.
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Official regulatory agency — added during electrician audit
Accessed 2026-03-22
Primary source for Idaho electrician licensing
Accessed 2026-03-19
License types, fees, and requirements
Accessed 2026-03-19
Exam and program details
Accessed 2026-03-19
Official exam bulletin
Accessed 2026-03-19
Idaho requires state-level licensing. An apprenticeship of 8,000 hours is required. All licensing is managed through the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL), Idaho Electrical Board.
Requirements vary by state and local jurisdiction. Always verify current requirements with your state licensing authority.