How to get an electrician license in Washington
Edited by John Voll. Last verified .
Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), Electrical Program licenses electrical contractors in Washington. The L&I Contractor License Data: General, Washington State Department of Labor and Industries lists 5,551 active electrical business records as of October 6, 2026.
Who licenses electrical work in Washington
| Credential | State license |
|---|---|
| Board | Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), Electrical Program official statement |
| Official lookup | Search electrical licenses |
| License types | Electrical Contractor, Journey level and specialty electrician certificates |
How to get licensed
- Apply to L&I as an Electrical Contractor or Journey level and specialty electrician certificates.
- Yes. The contractor must designate a master electrician or an administrator; an administrator certificate requires passing an L&I exam. Journey and specialty electricians are also examined. source
- Experience: journey level electrician certificate: 8,000 hour apprenticeship, 4,000 hours of it new industrial or commercial work. The administrator route to a contractor license is exam based. source
- Post a electrical contractor bond of $4,000. source
- Pay the electrical contractor license (general or specialty), initial or renewal by mail, fax or in person, per 24 months (WAC effective 7/1/26): $353.90. source
- Electrical contractor licenses expire 24 months after issue. source
Electrical requirements in Washington
| Exam | Yes. The contractor must designate a master electrician or an administrator; an administrator certificate requires passing an L&I exam. Journey and specialty electricians are also examined. source |
|---|---|
| Experience | Journey level electrician certificate: 8,000 hour apprenticeship, 4,000 hours of it new industrial or commercial work. The administrator route to a contractor license is exam based. source |
| Bond | Electrical contractor bond of $4,000. source |
| Insurance | RCW 19.28.041 requires a bond and workers' compensation evidence for employees, but no liability insurance minimum was found for electrical contractors. |
| Renewal | Electrical contractor licenses expire 24 months after issue. source |
| Reciprocity | Yes, for electrician certificates only, through agreements L&I negotiates with states that have equivalent requirements. The current list of partner states was not found on an official page. source |
| Fees |
|
Hiring an electrical contractor?
See every official lookup in Washington, which board covers which trade, and what to check before you hire.
Questions
- Do you need an electrician license in Washington?
- Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), Electrical Program licenses electrical contractors in Washington.
- How do I check an electrician license in Washington?
- The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), Electrical Program keeps the record for electrical contractors in Washington. Use the official lookup on this page, and treat the board's own record as final.
- How much does an electrician license cost in Washington?
- $353.90 (Electrical contractor license (general or specialty), initial or renewal by mail, fax or in person, per 24 months (WAC effective 7/1/26)). $306.20 (Electrical contractor license renewal completed online). $44.20 (Administrator certificate exam application, nonrefundable). $106.70 (Master electrician or administrator first-time exam fee when the department administers it). $160 (Electrical administrator original certificate). $204.60 (Master electrician exam application, includes original certificate). $80.30 (Journey level or specialty electrician exam fee when the department administers it). $114.60 (Journey level, specialty or reciprocal electrician application, includes original certificate). $106.40 (Journey level or specialty electrician certificate renewal by mail, fax or in person).
- How much experience do you need for an electrician license in Washington?
- Journey level electrician certificate: 8,000 hour apprenticeship, 4,000 hours of it new industrial or commercial work. The administrator route to a contractor license is exam based.
- How often does an electrician license renew in Washington?
- Electrical contractor licenses expire 24 months after issue.
Other trades in Washington
- General contractor license in Washington
- Plumbing license in Washington
- HVAC license in Washington
- Roofing license in Washington
- All Washington trades
Electrical license in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Sources
- https://lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/electrical/
- https://secure.lni.wa.gov/verify/
- https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=19.28.041
- https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=19.28.191
- https://app.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=296-46B-940
- https://app.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=296-46B-909
- https://data.wa.gov/d/m8qx-ubtq
This is not a government site. The licensing board's own record governs; always confirm on the official lookup. Information as of October 6, 2026.