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Electrician
Total cost: $268.20
Governing Authority
Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), Electrical Program
Official website →Some details on this page are not yet confirmed against an official source. See sources below or contact the licensing board to verify.
Yes
State Licensed?
Apprentice Hours
3 levels
License Levels
Total Initial Fees
CE Hours
NEC Version
Get the Washington Electrician Roadmap — every step, fee, and deadline mapped out. — every step mapped out.
Get the Roadmap — $20Journeyman License Fee
$107.60
Application/exam fee for 01 General Journey Level; $41.40 is nonrefundable after submission. Certification fee: $160.60 (triennial).
Master Electrician License Fee
$192.10 ($41.40 nonrefundable)
Application/exam fee for Master (01) Electrician; $41.40 is nonrefundable. Certificate fee: $80.10.
Exam Fee
Included in application fee
Exam fees billed by the hour through PSI; included in the application process
Renewal Fee
$137.90
Triennial renewal; online or at L&I office. Certification fee: $160.60.
Regulation Status
VerifiedState Licensed
Yes
Regulation Level
state
License Types
Notes
Washington uses 'certification' for individual electricians (issued by L&I). The state has a uniquely granular specialty system with 16+ categories. Beginning July 2023, all trainees must be enrolled in a state-approved apprenticeship program. Electrical contractor businesses are licensed separately by L&I.
State-Level Licensing Required
Regulated by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), Electrical Program
Official Title
Electrical Trainee
Experience Required
No prior experience required; must be enrolled in a state-approved apprenticeship program (effective July 2023)
Exam Required
No
Additional Requirements
Official Title
01 General Journey Level Electrician
Experience Required
8,000 hours, no more than 4,000 of which can be worked in 4,000-hour specialties (i.e., at least 4,000 hours must be in new industrial or commercial installations)
Exam Required
Yes
Additional Requirements
Official Title
Master (01) General Journey Level Electrician
Experience Required
Must hold a valid 01 General Journey Level Electrician certificate; additional master-level exam required
Exam Required
Yes
Additional Requirements
Apprenticeship
Hours Breakdown
8,000
Total Hours
4
Years
8,000
On-the-Job
DOL Registered Apprenticeship
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Exam Requirements
VerifiedRequired
Journeyman Exam
Required
Master Exam
Exam Provider
PSI
NEC Version
2023 NEC, effective April 1, 2024 (confirmed via LNI laws/rules page context; current exams use 2023 NEC)
Open Book
Yes
Journeyman Exam Details
77
Questions
180 min
Time Limit
70%
Passing Score
Master Exam Details
70%
Passing Score
Retake Policy
Must wait 14 days after failure. After 3 failures, must wait 3 months. Must pass all sections within 1 year of approval date.
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Overall licensing difficulty: 34/100
Study recommendation: 1–2 weeks of focused review is usually sufficient
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Minimum Age
Education
Background Check
Insurance Required
Bonding Required
Not sure if you need an electrician license? Check whether your state requires one.
Washington has 5% above average — nationally the ratio is 1 per 458 residents.
Washington has above-average electricians density — competitive market.
Washington ranks #25 out of 51 states by electricians per capita.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Journeyman License Fee Application/exam fee for 01 General Journey Level; $41.40 is nonrefundable after submission. Certification fee: $160.60 (triennial). | |
Master License Fee Application/exam fee for Master (01) Electrician; $41.40 is nonrefundable. Certificate fee: $80.10. | |
Exam Fee Exam fees billed by the hour through PSI; included in the application process | |
Renewal Fee Triennial renewal; online or at L&I office. Certification fee: $160.60. | |
Total Initial Fees 01 General Journey Level: $107.60 application + $160.60 certification fee |
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Renewal & CE Requirements
Verified3 years, expires on licensee's birthdate
Renewal Period
24 hrs
CE Hours Required
CE Topics
Renewal Fee
$137.90
Triennial renewal; online or at L&I office
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.
For a deeper dive into CE requirements and deadlines, see our electrician license renewal guide.
Out-of-State Reciprocity
VerifiedAccepts Out-of-State Credentials
Reciprocity Type
Limited reciprocity (Oregon only, 01 General Journey Level only)
Transfer Details
Reciprocity with Oregon only, for 01 General Journey Level Electricians. Oregon General Journeyman (J) or General Supervising (S) holders who obtained license through exam and 8,000-hour apprenticeship may apply for WA 01 certificate without examination. Application fee: $107.60 ($41.40 nonrefundable). No reciprocity for any specialty categories.
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.
Moving to Washington? Use our Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Compare Washington with other states →
See how requirements, costs, and timelines differ across all 50 states.
Washington has one of the most granular electrician specialty systems in the US with 16+ distinct certification categories (e.g., 06A HVAC/Refrigeration, 06B HVAC Restricted, 07A Lighting Retrofit, 07D Appliance Repair, 10 Door/Gate Systems). Beginning July 2023, all trainees must be in a state-approved apprenticeship program. The state has limited reciprocity with Oregon only, and only for 01 General Journey Level. Certification expires on the licensee's date of birth on a triennial cycle.
Washington has one of the most granular specialty electrician systems in the US, with 16+ distinct certification categories beyond the general journey level.
Beginning July 2023, all electrical trainees must be enrolled in a state-approved apprenticeship program. Previously, trainees could accumulate hours outside of formal apprenticeship.
Specialty certifications (02 Residential, 03 Pump/Irrigation, 06A HVAC, etc.) require 2,000-4,000 hours depending on category and have separate exams.
Washington has reciprocity with Oregon only, and only for 01 General Journey Level Electricians.
Electrical contractor businesses require separate licensing from L&I, including a $4,000 surety bond (per RCW 19.28.041).
The 2023 NEC was adopted effective April 1, 2024.
Master Electrician certification is available for 01 General Journey Level holders; application fee is $192.10.
Electrician Schools in Washington
Compare approved training programs, costs, and requirements.
Electrician requirements in nearby states
See how Washington compares: Electrician License Fees by State — Cheapest to Most Expensive →
Related Guides
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Electrician licensing requirements nationwide →
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Official Sources
Electrician requirements in Washington verified against Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), Electrical Program, April 2026.
Primary source for WA electrician certification
Accessed 2026-03-19
Washington Administrative Code listing all specialty types
Accessed 2026-03-19
Experience hour requirements by category
Accessed 2026-03-19
Official application form with fees
Accessed 2026-03-19
NEC adoption and state electrical code
Accessed 2026-03-19
LNI announcement on OR-WA reciprocity
Accessed 2026-03-19
Official reciprocal application form
Accessed 2026-03-19
Moving to Washington? Use our free Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Already licensed elsewhere? See how to transfer your Electrician license to Washington →