Electrician License Requirements in Washington
Last reviewed July 2026
To work as a licensed electrician in Washington, you'll apply through the licensing authority, meet an experience requirement, and pass a licensing exam based on the National Electrical Code. Here's how it breaks down.
Heads up: after June 30, 2026, Washington is moving to require completion of a registered journey-level (01) electrical apprenticeship to qualify for the journeyman exam.
Licensing authority
Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I)
Phone: (360) 902-5269
Website: https://lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/electrical/electrical-licensing-exams-education/electrician
License types & experience
| License | Experience required | Exam |
|---|---|---|
| 01 Journeyman General journey-level electrician |
8,000 hours of supervised experience (at least 4,000 in commercial/industrial) plus 96 hours of classroom training | Proctored written exam (PSI), open book (2023 NEC) |
The exam & fees
Testing vendor
PSI
Code edition
2023 NEC (open book)
Fees
PSI exam about $80–90 + L&I application + biennial license (~$78 for journeyman)
Renewal & continuing education
Journeyman certificate renews every 3 years with continuing education (confirm current hours with L&I).
Studying for the Washington electrician exam?
The exam is NEC-based — practice with 1,394 questions and worked solutions in the Electrical Exam Prep app.
⚠ Licensing requirements and fees change. This page is a summary, not legal advice — always confirm current requirements directly with Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) before applying.