Electrician License Requirements in Washington
| Licensing Authority | Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) |
| License Type | Electrical Certification (Journey Level EL01) |
| Experience Required | 01 Journey Level: 8,000 hours with at least 4,000 in commercial/industrial, plus 96 hours of approved classroom instruction. Specialty certifications require 2,000-4,000 hours depending on classification. |
| Education Substitute | Completion of a registered apprenticeship program satisfies experience and education requirements. An approved 2-year training school program may substitute for some classroom hours. After July 1, 2026, registered apprenticeship is mandatory for new 01 Journey Level candidates. |
| Exam Required | Yes — 01 General Journey Level - NEC & Theory + 01 General Journey Level - WA Laws & Rules + 06A HVAC/R - NEC & Theory + 06A HVAC/R - WA Laws & Rules |
| Bond Required | Yes — $4,000 |
| Insurance | General liability: required. Workers comp: required with employees |
| Continuing Education | 24 hours 3 years |
| Processing Time | 2-4 weeks for certification after passing exam |
Fee Breakdown
| Application Fee | $107.6 |
| Exam Fee | $65 |
| Initial License Fee | $107.6 |
| Electrical trainee application/renewal | $46.3 |
| Electrical contractor license | $293.6 |
| Electrical contractor administrator assignment | $44 |
| Electrical contractor surety bond | $4000 |
| 06A HVAC/R specialty exam (PSI) | $65 |
| 06B HVAC/R restricted exam (PSI) | $55 |
| Est. Initial Total | $4,784.1 |
Renewal: $76.9 every 3 years
Exam Requirements
01 General Journey Level - NEC & Theory
01 General Journey Level - WA Laws & Rules
06A HVAC/R - NEC & Theory
06A HVAC/R - WA Laws & Rules
Exam provider: PSI
License Tiers
01 - General Journey Level Electrician
8,000 hours (4+ years), with at least 4,000 hours in commercial/industrial. Plus 96 hours of basic classroom instruction (or registered apprenticeship).
Exam: Required
02 - Residential Electrician
4,000 hours (2+ years) of residential electrical work. Plus 48 hours of basic classroom instruction.
Exam: Required
06A - HVAC/Refrigeration Electrician
4,000 hours (2+ years) of HVAC/R electrical work. Plus 48 hours of education.
Exam: Required
06B - HVAC/Refrigeration Restricted Electrician
2,000 hours (1+ year) of HVAC/R electrical work. Plus 24 hours of education.
Exam: Required
07 - Limited Energy (Low Voltage) Electrician
4,000 hours (2+ years) of limited energy work. Plus 48 hours of education.
Exam: Required
Electrical Trainee
No experience required to start. Must work under supervision of certified electrician. Renews every 2 years.
Exam: Not required
License Reciprocity
This state has reciprocity agreements with 1 state. You may be able to skip the trade exam if you hold a valid license from one of these states.
Notes
- CRITICAL 2026 CHANGE: After July 1, 2026, all new 01 Journey Level candidates must complete a registered apprenticeship program. The temporary exception for non-apprenticed trainees with 3,000+ hours before July 2023 expires on this date.
- Exam is open-book — authorized NEC codebook and WA code materials allowed
- Must wait 14 days between exam retakes; after 3 failures must wait 3 months
- One year from approval date to pass all exam sections
- Trainee renewal requires 48 hours of approved classroom instruction (no online/correspondence) per 2-year cycle
- CE requirements: 8 hours on current NEC changes, 4 hours on WA RCW 19.28 and WAC, 12 hours elective from approved courses
- Late renewal fee doubles; >90 days late requires retesting
- $41.40 of application fee is nonrefundable after submission
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a electrician license in Washington?
Yes, Washington requires a statewide electrician license through the Department of Labor & Industries.
How much does a electrician license cost in Washington?
The estimated initial cost is $280.2, including application, exam, and license fees.
Data last verified: 2026-04-02 | Source: L&I