Electrician License in Washington State: L&I Rules

Who needs a certificate in Washington?

Every person doing electrical construction work in Washington needs a valid certificate from L&I. That covers wiring and equipment for light, heat or power. It also covers remote control, signaling, power limited and communication circuits. There are two kinds of electrician certificate: the 01 general journey level, which covers all electrical and telecommunications work, and specialty certificates that each cover one defined scope.

Everyone starts as a trainee, unless they bring equivalent out-of-state or military experience. You must be at least 16 to get a trainee certificate. Your supervising electrician has to be on the same jobsite as you. On 01 work the ratio is one trainee to one journey level electrician. On specialty work it is two trainees to one specialty electrician.

The 01 route now runs through apprenticeship

A state law took effect on July 1, 2023 and changed how you reach the 01 certificate. Trainees with fewer than 3,000 hours at that date had to register as apprentices to keep doing 01 work. The grace period for trainees who had 3,000 hours ended on July 1, 2026. Today a registered apprenticeship, or an equivalent L&I accepts, is the in-state route to the 01 exam.

To do work limited to 01 electricians, a trainee must be registered in an approved Washington, Oregon or Montana apprenticeship program. For the 01 exam, L&I lists 8,000 hours of experience, with no more than 4,000 from the 4,000-hour specialties, plus 96 hours of basic classroom instruction. If you already hold a 02, 03, 04, 06, 06A or 07 specialty certificate, your apprenticeship program has to credit you with 4,000 hours.

Specialty certificates

Washington has 14 specialty categories, and none of them require an apprenticeship. Residential (02), pump and irrigation (03), signs (04), limited energy (06), HVAC/refrigeration (06A) and nonresidential maintenance (07) each take 4,000 hours. Trainees in these specialties must be supervised by a specialty electrician certified for that work or by a journey level electrician.

The 2,000-hour specialties include domestic pump (03A), residential maintenance (07B), appliance repair (07D) and door, gate and similar systems (10). Each covers a narrow scope of work, so the hour requirement is half that of the larger specialties. After you pass the exam, you work unsupervised on a modified training certificate until you finish 2,000 hours and 24 hours of basic classes.

Keeping your hours and your certificate

Trainee certificates expire every two years. To renew, you need 48 hours of basic classroom instruction, taught in person. If you are not in a registered apprenticeship, you report your hours on employer affidavits. Hours worked without a valid certificate, out of ratio, or for an unlicensed contractor do not count.

Once you are certified, you renew every three years on your birthday. You need 24 hours of continuing education: 8 on NEC changes, 4 on electrical laws and rules, and 12 of your choice. Fees double once a certificate expires. If it has been expired more than 90 days, you can't renew and have to retest.

Pay

Electricians, Washington (25th to 75th percentile)

$69,000–125,800

Electricians, Washington (median)

$98,600

Apprentices and trainees, Washington (25th to 75th percentile)

$49,100–81,400

Electricians, United States (25th to 75th percentile)

$51,200–86,900

USD a year, before tax. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data for May 2025, moved to 2026 with a wage index; state figures are modeled estimates. Union status, specialty, overtime and where in the state you work move the figure. Refer to the Electricians salary guide for figures from live adverts.

What you need

Trainee certificateYou must be 16 or older. Renew every two years with 48 hours of basic classroom instruction.
Registered apprenticeship (01)Required to do work limited to 01 electricians. Programs must be approved in Washington, Oregon or Montana.
Experience hoursThe 01 exam needs 8,000 hours. Specialty exams need 4,000 or 2,000 hours in that specialty.
Classroom hours96 hours of basic classroom instruction for the 01 exam. 48 hours for the 4,000-hour specialties.
ExamRun by PSI once L&I approves you. You need 70% or better on every section, and you have one year from your approval letter to pass.
Continuing education24 hours every three years: 8 on NEC changes, 4 on RCW 19.28 and WAC 296-46B, and 12 of your choice.
Contractor licenseYou need a UBI number, an assigned administrator or master electrician, a $4,000 surety bond or savings assignment, and workers' comp if you have employees.

State by state

Oregon reciprocity	If you got an Oregon J license through an 8,000-hour apprenticeship with at least 576 classroom hours and passed Oregon's exam, you can generally apply for a reciprocal Washington 01. Washington 01 holders who qualified through an apprenticeship can generally get an Oregon reciprocal license.
Out-of-state applicants	Electricians licensed by another state, military construction battalion electricians, and out-of-state electricians who can prove 16,000 hours can qualify for the 01 exam. They apply by mail on the out-of-state application.

How to get there

StartGet a trainee certificateApply online with L&I. You must be 16 or older. Work only under a certified electrician on the same jobsite.
Year 1Register as an apprentice (01 route)Join an approved general electrician apprenticeship program. If you want a specialty instead, keep logging hours as a trainee.
Years 1-4Build hours and classroom creditTake 48 hours of basic classroom instruction every two years. Report your hours on time.
After 8,000 hoursApply for and pass the examOnce L&I approves your application, schedule with PSI. Every section needs 70%.
Every 3 yearsRenew and keep learningRenew every three years with 24 hours of CE. Master electrician eligibility comes after four years as a certified 01.
OptionalOpen a contracting businessGet a UBI number, a $4,000 bond and an assigned administrator or master electrician.

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Questions people ask

Can I still become a 01 journey level electrician in Washington without an apprenticeship?

Washington trainees mostly can't. The grace period for trainees who had 3,000 hours before July 1, 2023 ended on July 1, 2026. Exceptions cover electricians licensed in other states, military construction battalion electricians, and out-of-state workers who can prove 16,000 hours.

Do specialty electricians need an apprenticeship?

No. The apprenticeship rule covers only 01 work. Specialty contractors and the trainees they hire are exempt, and specialty certificates take 4,000 or 2,000 hours, depending on the category.

How long do I have to pass the Washington electrician exam?

You have one year to pass all sections of your exam. The clock starts with your L&I approval letter, and you need 70% or better on every section.

How long does a master electrician certificate take?

You can sit the journey level master exam after holding a 01 certificate for at least four years. For a specialty master exam, you need at least two years in that specialty. The master certificate replaces your electrician certificate.

How do trainees report their hours?

If you are not in a registered apprenticeship, you report your hours on employer affidavits. Hours worked without a valid certificate, out of ratio, or for an unlicensed contractor do not count toward your exam.

How do you get an electrician license in Washington state?