- Change your address, pay renewal or reinstatement fee online
- Change your address form
- Get a duplicate license
About Master Electricians
Master electricians have met eligibility requirements, taken and passed an examination and are certified with the department to do both:
- Work with the tools of the trade as an installer.
- When assigned; act as an administrator to ensure that an electrical contractor's work is in compliance withs the electrical laws and rules.
What is required to become a master electrician?
- Get the required experience as an electrician.
- Master Journeyman electrician - you must have been certified as a journeyman electrician by L&I for at least 4 years.
- Master Specialty categories - you must have been certified by L&I in that specialty, for at least 2 years.
- Apply for and pass the appropriate exam.
You must have the required amount of experience as an electrician. If you have not been certified with L&I as an electrician, you cannot qualify for the Master Electrician exam. Get information about becoming certified as an electrician with L&I.
More information
- Find out more about the Electrical Program.
- Read the Electrical law Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 19.28.
- Join the Electrical Listserv to receive e-mails with the Electrical Currents Newsletter and other important information.
Apply for a Master Electricians' certificate
You must qualify to apply for a master electrician's certificate.
Do I meet the eligibility requirements?
- If you have held a journeyman electrician certificate with L&I for at least 4 years, you may qualify to take the Master Journeyman Electrician examination.
- If you have held a specialty electrician certificate with L&I for at least 2 years, you may qualify to take the Master Specialty Electrician examination for that specialty.
There are three ways to apply:
- Apply Online if you meet the eligibility requirements you can submit your application and pay your fee online. You'll need the following:
- Your name and address.
- Your Social Security number (required by federal law).
- $147.60 application fee. (VISA or MasterCard only).
- E-mail address and phone number.
- Apply in person
- Meet the eligibilty requirements as noted above.
- Bring your completed master electrician's application to any L&I office location.
- $147.60 application fee payable by check, money order or credit card.
- Apply by mail
- Meet the eligibilty requirements as noted above.
- Complete a master electrician's application.
- Send your completed application form and $147.60 application fee, payable by check or money order to the L&I address printed on the application.
We will approve or deny your application within 5 days, and notify you by mail.
If you are approved, you are responsible for scheduling an exam with PSI. Information on how to schedule the exam is included in the approval letter. Study the content outlines for your exam.
If you are denied, you will receive information indicating why the application was denied and how to re-apply.
Refunds
The application fee is non-refundable after a certificate has been issued. Refund requests before the certificate has been issued can be made in writing to L&I, minus a processing fee of $32.00.
Master Electrician Exams
How to prepare for your exam(s)
Exams are administered by PSI, an independent testing center. All exam candidates must receive approval from L&I before scheduling with PSI.
Exam Content outlines and other examination information is available in the Candidate Bulletin of Information located at www.psiexams.com.
For more information, see Preparing for Your Electrical Exam to find out what to expect and how to prepare.
How to renew your Master Electrician certificate
Master Electrician certificates must be renewed every three (3) years. 24 hours of continuing education are required for renewal.
What you need to do
Make sure you have completed 24 hours of continuing
education courses or units (CEUs).
Eight (8) of those hours must be code update and four (4) hours must be RCW/WAC review.- Your continuing education credits are recorded by your course provider.
- Master Electricians who renew without the required CEUs completed will be renewed to an inactive status, which means you cannot work as a Master Electrician.
- Make sure you don't have any outstanding, unpaid citations with L&I.
If you're not sure, go online toLook Up Electrical Violations or call L&I's Electrical Program at 360-902-5269.
- Download and complete the application.
Fill out the certificate renewal application and follow its instructions carefully.
- Be prepared to pay the renewal fee. See the consequences of late renewal here.
Renew before your card expires so you don't have to pay a late renewal fee.
- If you pay before your expiration date:
- The online renewal fee is $132.20.
- If paying in person or by mail the renewal fee is $145.90.
- (You are responsible to ensure that the department receives your renewal application materials before your expiration date.)
- The online renewal fee is $264.50.
- If paying in person or by mail the renewal fee is $291.80.
Note: Fees are nonrefundable after certificate has been issued.
Refund requests before the certificate has been issued must be made in writing to the department. Mail to the L&I Electrical Program, PO Box 44460, Olympia, WA 98504-4460.
- If you wish to be assigned to an Electrical Contractor or change your assignment status,
You must also complete the Change Assignment of Administrator/Master Certificate form and be prepared to pay the $38.30 fee. You must notify the department of any change in your assignment status within 10 days.
- Submit your renewal request and fee one of the following 3 ways:
- Save Money! Pay
and submit your renewal request online via L&I’s Renew a License system (QuickCards).
Before you apply online, you will need to have the following:
- Your 12-digit license number.
- Your credit card (VISA or MasterCard only).
- An active license (not suspended or not expired for more than 90 days).
- You'll be required to enter an e-mail address and phone number.
- Then mail your Change Assignment
of Administrator/Master Certificate form and fee, if appropriate, to L&I's Electrical Program at the address indicated on the form.
— OR — - Mail your fee, your renewal application, and the Change Assignment of Administrator/Master Certificate form and fee, if appropriate, to L&I's Electrical Program at the address indicated on the form. Payment can by made by check or money order.
— OR — - Go to one of L&I's service locations where you can pay your fee and submit your renewal application and the Change Assignment of Administrator/Master Certificate form and fee, if appropriate. You can pay by check, money order, or credit card.
- Save Money! Pay
and submit your renewal request online via L&I’s Renew a License system (QuickCards).
- Verify that the following information is on file with the department:
- All necessary application information.
- Sufficient continuing education credits to meet the requirement.
- Within 5 days after we receive the information listed above, L&I will do one of the following:
- Send your certificate.
— OR — - Notify you of the action taken on your renewal application.
- Send your certificate.
What L&I will do
Continuing Education for Master Electricians
Get approved Continuing Education course (CEUs) lists below.
Continuing education requirements for renewal
If you are an Electrical Administrator, Electrician or Master Electrician, you are required to take 24 hours of continuing education course work in the three (3) years between your certification renewals:
- 8 hours of your CEUs must be on currently adopted National Electrical Code changes.
- 4 hours must be on currently adopted Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 19.28 and related Washington Administrative Codes (WAC).
- The remaining 12 hours of continuing education credit can be your choice from the list of approved courses below.
Avoid late renewal
Even if you have not completed the required CEUs as your renewal date approaches, you can submit your renewal application and fee to L&I.
Your certificate will become inactive. Inactive status allows you to avoid the late penalty and re-exam that result from being late.
You cannot work as an Electrician, Master Electrician or as an Electrical Administrator as your certificate is inactive until you complete your CEUs and L&I is informed.
Check your continuing education and certificate status
If you are unsure what continuing education has been reported, or the status of your certificate, check your record in L&I's Look up a Contractor or tradesperson to see what courses have been reported and may be considered for renewal will be listed.
Approved Continuing Education Courses (CEUs)
Courses listed below are for Electrician certification renewal only and cannot be used to qualify for a Trainee certificate renewal. (Find Basic Classroom Education for Trainees here.)
For course schedules, contact the course sponsor named in the lists below. Courses are good for three years from initial approval. Check all the lists and verify the course will not expire before you complete it.
2012 Continuing Education Courses. (45 KB PDF)- 2011 Continuing Education Courses. (334 KB PDF)
- 2010 Continuing Education Courses. (305 KB PDF)
- 2009 Continuing Education Courses. (303 KB PDF) Check carefully, these 2009 classes start to expire January 1, 2012.
Courses specifically for combination 03 or 03A specialty plumber-electricians in the pumping industry:
(Trainees in the pumping industry must take standard Basic Classroom Education for Trainees to renew their training certificate.)
Washington Administrative Code 296-46B-970 rule regarding Electrical Continuing Education.
Information for Electrical Continuing Education/Basic Classroom Course Providers
