Washington electrician license & renewal
The requirements, the timing and the official sources. Everything we’ve verified, in one place.
Sources verifiedLast verified 2026-10-24
License fee
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Not verified yet
Required hours
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Not verified yet
Exam
L&I approves the application before scheduling the PSI examination.
Renewal
You must renew your electrician certificate every 3 years. It expires on your birthdate.
Before you begin
Agency guidance
Electrical construction work requires a valid L&I electrician certificate.
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
To work in the electrical construction trade in Washington, you must have a valid electrician certificate issued by L&I.Official source
Agency guidance
Alternative journey-level eligibility includes an equivalent out-of-state 8,000-hour apprenticeship, a qualifying out-of-state journey certificate, 16,000 out-of-state hours, or specified military construction-battalion experience. See RCW 19.28.191 for each pathway's conditions.
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
(ii) Successfully completed an 8,000 hour electrical construction trade apprenticeship program in another jurisdiction equivalent to an apprenticeship program approved under chapter 49.04 RCW. Four thousand of the hours must be new industrial or commercial electrical installations; (iii) An out-of-state journey level electrician certificate obtained through examination by a state licensing jurisdiction requiring at least 8,000 hours of supervised experience in the electrical construction trade installing and maintaining electrical wiring and equipment for installations of a type regulated under this chapter. Four thousand of the hours must be new industrial or commercial electrical installations. All experience applied toward qualifying for examination must be experience gained in the state that issued the certificate or military experience not exceeding that allowed under this chapter, or both; (iv) At least 16,000 hours of out-of-state experience in the electrical construction trade installing and maintaining electrical wiring and equipment for installations of a type regulated under this chapter. Four thousand of the hours must be new industrial or commercial electrical installations; or (v) Eight thousand hours of experience in the electrical construction trade installing and maintaining electrical wiring and equipment for installations of a type regulated under this chapter while serving in a construction battalion in the armed forces of the United States.Official source
Agency guidance
Initial journey-level and specialty certification lasts 25–36 months, depending on examination date and birthday.
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
Depending on the date you pass the examination and your birthdate, your initial certification will be good for a minimum of 25 months up to a maximum of 36 months for journey level or specialty electricians.Official source
Agency guidance
Master certificates renew every three years on the licensee's birthday. Renewal instructions are at https://lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/electrical/electrical-licensing-exams-education/master-electrician-certificate.
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
Master electrician's certificates must be renewed every 3 years. Your certificate expires on your birthdate.Official source
How to get this license
Use the agency’s requirements below to plan your next steps. Missing details stay marked.
Start with the licensing authority
Licensing board
Washington Department of Labor & Industries
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
Make checks payable to the Department of Labor & Industries.
Official sourceOfficial agency page
Check the qualifications
Education
Journey-level exam, Washington apprenticeship route: approved 8,000-hour electrical-construction apprenticeship, including 4,000 hours of new industrial or commercial installations. Specialty experience is limited as specified in RCW 19.28.191.
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
(i) Successfully completed the work experience and education requirements of an 8,000 hour electrical construction trade apprenticeship program approved under chapter 49.04 RCW. Four thousand of the hours must be new industrial or commercial electrical installations under the supervision of a master journey level electrician or journey level electrician and not more than a total of 4,000 hours in all specialties under the supervision of a master journey level electrician, journey level electrician, master specialty electrician working in that electrician's specialty, or specialty electrician working in that electrician's specialty. Specialty electricians with less than a 4,000 hour work experience requirement cannot credit the time required to obtain that specialty towards qualifying to become a journey level electrician. The holder of a specialty electrician certificate of competency with a 4,000 hour work experience requirement shall be allowed to credit the work experience required to obtain that certificate towards apprenticeship requirements for qualifying to take the examination for a journey level electrician certificate of competency;
Official sourceExperience
Master journey-level exam: hold an L&I general journey-level certificate at least four years. Specialty master applicants need two years certified in that specialty.
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
Journey level master electrician: To qualify for the master electrician exam you must be certified as a general journey level electrician by L&I for at least 4 years. Specialty master electrician: To qualify for the exam you must be certified by L&I in an specialty, for at least 2 years.
Official sourceExam
L&I approves the application before scheduling the PSI examination.
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
Mail you a notice once your application is approved with instructions on how to schedule your exam with PSI.
Official sourceReview fees and apply
Application fee
Not verified yet
Exam fee
Not verified yet
License fee
Not verified yet
Apply with the agency
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
In-State Application for Electrical Examination (F626-001-000)
Official source
Reciprocity
Oregon reciprocity for Washington (01): Oregon journey license earned after an 8,000-hour apprenticeship with at least 576 classroom hours and Oregon exam, or Oregon supervising (S) license by exam; additional eligibility restrictions apply.
Verified 2026-10-24 — source and quotation
Washington reciprocal certificates are generally available to those who obtained their Oregon general journeyman electrician (J) licenses after completing 8,000-hour Apprenticeships requiring at least 576 classroom hours of education and passing Oregon exams. Anyone having an Oregon General Supervising Electrician (S) license obtained by Oregon examination is also eligible. If this describes you, and you have never held a Washington general journey level electrician (01) certificate before, or failed to pass an exam for one in the last two years, and you are not otherwise disqualified by conditions in WAC 296-46B-940 (20), you are likely eligible.Official source
Official sources and verification (14)
Last verified 2026-10-24. Each quotation supports the corresponding published value.
Application
In-State Application for Electrical Examination (F626-001-000)Official source
Verified 2026-10-24
Agency guidance
To work in the electrical construction trade in Washington, you must have a valid electrician certificate issued by L&I.Official source
Verified 2026-10-24
Agency guidance
(ii) Successfully completed an 8,000 hour electrical construction trade apprenticeship program in another jurisdiction equivalent to an apprenticeship program approved under chapter 49.04 RCW. Four thousand of the hours must be new industrial or commercial electrical installations; (iii) An out-of-state journey level electrician certificate obtained through examination by a state licensing jurisdiction requiring at least 8,000 hours of supervised experience in the electrical construction trade installing and maintaining electrical wiring and equipment for installations of a type regulated under this chapter. Four thousand of the hours must be new industrial or commercial electrical installations. All experience applied toward qualifying for examination must be experience gained in the state that issued the certificate or military experience not exceeding that allowed under this chapter, or both; (iv) At least 16,000 hours of out-of-state experience in the electrical construction trade installing and maintaining electrical wiring and equipment for installations of a type regulated under this chapter. Four thousand of the hours must be new industrial or commercial electrical installations; or (v) Eight thousand hours of experience in the electrical construction trade installing and maintaining electrical wiring and equipment for installations of a type regulated under this chapter while serving in a construction battalion in the armed forces of the United States.Official source
Verified 2026-10-24
Agency guidance
Depending on the date you pass the examination and your birthdate, your initial certification will be good for a minimum of 25 months up to a maximum of 36 months for journey level or specialty electricians.Official source
Verified 2026-10-24
Agency guidance
Master electrician's certificates must be renewed every 3 years. Your certificate expires on your birthdate.Official source
Verified 2026-10-24
Requirements / Education
(i) Successfully completed the work experience and education requirements of an 8,000 hour electrical construction trade apprenticeship program approved under chapter 49.04 RCW. Four thousand of the hours must be new industrial or commercial electrical installations under the supervision of a master journey level electrician or journey level electrician and not more than a total of 4,000 hours in all specialties under the supervision of a master journey level electrician, journey level electrician, master specialty electrician working in that electrician's specialty, or specialty electrician working in that electrician's specialty. Specialty electricians with less than a 4,000 hour work experience requirement cannot credit the time required to obtain that specialty towards qualifying to become a journey level electrician. The holder of a specialty electrician certificate of competency with a 4,000 hour work experience requirement shall be allowed to credit the work experience required to obtain that certificate towards apprenticeship requirements for qualifying to take the examination for a journey level electrician certificate of competency;Official source
Verified 2026-10-24
Requirements / Experience
Journey level master electrician: To qualify for the master electrician exam you must be certified as a general journey level electrician by L&I for at least 4 years. Specialty master electrician: To qualify for the exam you must be certified by L&I in an specialty, for at least 2 years.Official source
Verified 2026-10-24
Requirements / Exam
Mail you a notice once your application is approved with instructions on how to schedule your exam with PSI.Official source
Verified 2026-10-24
Renewal
You must renew your electrician certificate every 3 years. It expires on your birthdate.Official source
Verified 2026-10-24
Continuing education hours
You must complete 24 hours of L&I approved continuing education , including a minimum of 8 hours of code update and 4 hours of RCW/WAC review.Official source
Verified 2026-10-24
Continuing education topics
You must complete 24 hours of L&I approved continuing education , including a minimum of 8 hours of code update and 4 hours of RCW/WAC review.Official source
Verified 2026-10-24
Reciprocity
Washington reciprocal certificates are generally available to those who obtained their Oregon general journeyman electrician (J) licenses after completing 8,000-hour Apprenticeships requiring at least 576 classroom hours of education and passing Oregon exams. Anyone having an Oregon General Supervising Electrician (S) license obtained by Oregon examination is also eligible. If this describes you, and you have never held a Washington general journey level electrician (01) certificate before, or failed to pass an exam for one in the last two years, and you are not otherwise disqualified by conditions in WAC 296-46B-940 (20), you are likely eligible.Official source
Verified 2026-10-24
Keep exploring.
Same license in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
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- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
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- Illinois
- Indiana
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- Kentucky
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- Maine
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- Mississippi
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- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
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- Ohio
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- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
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- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
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Last verified 2026-10-24.
Official sources (3)
Not legal or tax advice. Confirm with the official agency before filing.