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About Becoming an Electrician

You must have a valid electrician certificate to perform electrical construction work in Washington State.

What is required to become a journeyman or specialty electrician?

To become a certified journeyman or specialty electrician in Washington, while you are an Electrical Trainee you must do the following:

1. Get the required amount of experience to qualify for a general journeyman or specialty electrician certificate.



• General journeyman electrician - Must qualify to work in ALL types (specialties) of electrical work.
  • 8,000 documented hours working as an electrical trainee under the supervision of a certified electrician.
    Note: 4,000 hours must be spent working in commercial or industrial installation.
    OR
  • Equivalent verified training or experience in the U.S. military.
    OR
  • Mutual exchange experience in another state with which Washington has a reciprocity agreement.
• Specialty electrician - May qualify to work in one or more of the following electrical specialties.

  If you meet the requirements for one of these specialties, you can apply for a Specialty Electrician's certificate in that specialty.

  • Residential
    • 4,000 documented hours working in the specialty under supervision of a certified electrician.
      OR
    • Equivalent training or experience in the U.S. military with verification.
      OR
    • Experience earned in another state may be submitted to the department for consideration.
  • Pump and irrigation
    • 4,000 documented hours working in the specialty under supervision of a certified electrician.
      OR
    • Equivalent training or experience in the U.S. military with verification.
      OR
    • Experience earned in another state may be submitted to the department for consideration.
  • Domestic well
    • 2,000 documented hours working in the specialty under supervision of a certified electrician.
      OR
    • Equivalent training or experience in the U.S. military with verification.
      OR
    • Experience earned in another state may be submitted to the department for consideration.
  • Signs
    • 4,000 documented hours working in the specialty under supervision of a certified electrician.
      OR
    • Equivalent training or experience in the U.S. military with verification.
      OR
    • Experience earned in another state may be submitted to the department for consideration.
  • Limited energy system
    • 4,000 documented hours working in the specialty under supervision of a certified electrician.
      OR
    • Equivalent training or experience in the U.S. military with verification.
      OR
    • Experience earned in another state may be submitted to the department for consideration.
  • HVAC/refrigeration system
    • 4,000 documented hours working in the specialty under supervision of a certified electrician.
      OR
    • Equivalent training or experience in the U.S. military with verification.
      OR
    • Experience earned in another state may be submitted to the department for consideration.
  • HVAC/refrigeration - restricted
    • 2,000 documented hours working in the specialty under supervision of a certified electrician.
      OR
    • Equivalent training or experience in the U.S. military with verification.
      OR
    • Experience earned in another state may be submitted to the department for consideration.
  • Nonresidential maintenance
    • 4,000 documented hours working in the specialty under supervision of a certified electrician.
      OR
    • Equivalent training or experience in the U.S. military with verification.
      OR
    • Experience earned in another state may be submitted to the department for consideration.
  • Nonresidential lighting maintenance and lighting retrofit
    • 2,000 documented hours working in the specialty under supervision of a certified electrician.
      OR
    • Equivalent training or experience in the U.S. military with verification.
      OR
    • Experience earned in another state may be submitted to the department for consideration.
  • Residential maintenance
    • 2,000 documented hours working in the specialty under supervision of a certified electrician.
      OR
    • Equivalent training or experience in the U.S. military with verification.
      OR
    • Experience earned in another state may be submitted to the department for consideration.
  • Restricted nonresidential maintenance
    • 2,000 documented hours working in the specialty under supervision of a certified electrician.
      OR
    • Equivalent training or experience in the U.S. military with verification.
      OR
    • Experience earned in another state may be submitted to the department for consideration.
  • Appliance repair
    • 2,000 documented hours working in the specialty under supervision of a certified electrician.
      OR
    • Equivalent training or experience in the U.S. military with verification.
      OR
    • Experience earned in another state may be submitted to the department for consideration.
  • Equipment repair
    • 2,000 documented hours working in the specialty under supervision of a certified electrician.
      OR
    • Equivalent training or experience in the U.S. military with verification.
      OR
    • Experience earned in another state may be submitted to the department for consideration.
  • Door, gate, and similar systems
    • 2,000 documented hours working in the specialty under supervision of a certified electrician.
      OR
    • Equivalent training or experience in the U.S. military with verification.
      OR
    • Experience earned in another state may be submitted to the department for consideration.
2. AND get the required amount of basic classroom instruction.
3. AND apply for AND pass the appropriate exam.

What is required to renew a journeyman or specialty electrician certificate?

1. You must take 24 hours of approved Continuing Education course work in the three (3) years between your certificate renewals. Get more information here.
2. You should apply to renew your certificate before your card expires, even if you don't have all your continuing education credits finished.

Out-of-state experience

If you have done electrical work outside of Washington that you want to present for consideration as qualifying experience, at the time of application you must present appropriate evidence showing that this work experience is equivalent to that required by RCW 19.28.191. Contact the L&I Electrical Program at 360-902-5269 for details.

States with which Washington has reciprocal agreements

A person who is certified in one of these states may be able to become certified without taking the Washington State exam.

For more information, see:

• Find out more about the Electrical Program.
• Read the Electrical law Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 19.28.
• Read the Electrical rules Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 296-46B.
• See minimum qualifications for examination in WAC 296-46B-945.
• Join the Electrical Listserv to receive e-mails with the Electrical Currents Newsletter and other important information.