Electrician license
District of Columbia electrician license
The DC Board of Industrial Trades, part of the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, licenses apprentice, journeyman and master electricians in the District of Columbia. PSI gives the exams. The licenses are Apprentice Electrician, Journeyman Electrician and Master Electrician. Each is below with its hours, exam, fees and official source, followed by how to apply, renewal, reciprocity and the official license lookup.
Licenses at a glance
| License | Experience | Exam | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice Electrician | Not set in hours | No exam | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Journeyman Electrician | 8,000 hours | 80 questions, 2011 NEC | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Master Electrician | 16,000 hours | 100 questions, 2011 NEC | Not confirmed: check with the board |
How to get each District of Columbia license
Apprentice Electrician
Requirements. Registered without an exam; no experience required. An apprentice works only under the direct personal supervision of a licensed master electrician.
Exam. No exam for this license.
Fees. Not confirmed: check with the board
Sources: D.C. Code § 47-2853.92, Eligibility requirements (electricians); DC Board of Industrial Trades: Electrician License (Low and Regular Voltage) Application Instructions (PDF created October 2022).
Journeyman Electrician
Requirements. At least 8,000 hours over at least 4 years as an apprentice (or an electrical engineering degree plus 2 years of practical experience), plus a DC electrical code class taken within 2 years of applying. Then pass the PSI exam. Completing a nationally certified apprenticeship lets you waive the exam.
Experience. 8,000 hours.
Exam. Required.
| Testing company | PSI |
|---|---|
| Code edition | 2011 NEC |
| Questions | 80 questions |
| Time | 240 minutes (4 hours) |
| Passing score | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Code book | Open book: the 2011 NEC and Ugly's Electrical Reference. |
| Exam fee | $52 |
| Official bulletin | PSI Washington D.C. Contractor/Trades Candidate Information Bulletin (updated 8/25/2022) |
Fees. Not confirmed: check with the board
The PSI bulletin and the Board's instructions both still name the 2011 NEC; the bulletin was last updated August 25, 2022. Confirm the edition with PSI before you study.
Free practice. The journeyman electrician practice test with 2026 and 2023 NEC versions has 30 questions on code and calculations, scored by subject, with no account. It is general NEC practice, not built from the District of Columbia exam outline.
Sources: D.C. Code § 47-2853.92, Eligibility requirements (electricians); DC Board of Industrial Trades: Electrician License (Low and Regular Voltage) Application Instructions (PDF created October 2022); PSI Washington D.C. Contractor/Trades Candidate Information Bulletin, updated 8/25/2022.
Master Electrician
Requirements. Meet the journeyman requirements and work as a journeyman electrician for at least 4 more years (the Board's instructions list 8 years / 16,000 work hours in total). Then pass the PSI master exam.
Experience. 16,000 hours.
Exam. Required.
| Testing company | PSI |
|---|---|
| Code edition | 2011 NEC |
| Questions | 100 questions |
| Time | 300 minutes (5 hours) |
| Passing score | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Code book | Open book: the 2011 NEC and Ugly's Electrical References. |
| Exam fee | $52 |
| Official bulletin | PSI Washington D.C. Contractor/Trades Candidate Information Bulletin (updated 8/25/2022) |
Fees. Not confirmed: check with the board
Sources: D.C. Code § 47-2853.92, Eligibility requirements (electricians); DC Board of Industrial Trades: Electrician License (Low and Regular Voltage) Application Instructions (PDF created October 2022); PSI Washington D.C. Contractor/Trades Candidate Information Bulletin, updated 8/25/2022.
How to apply
Apply online through DLCP with employment verification letters signed by a master electrician, tax records and your code class certificate. Approved applicants then schedule the exam with PSI. Apply on the official site.
Renewal and continuing education
| Renewal | Every two years: all electrician licenses expire November 30 of odd-numbered years. |
|---|---|
| Continuing education | Not confirmed: check with the board |
Reciprocity with other states
Journeyman: Virginia license holders, with a letter of good standing. Master: Maryland and Virginia license holders. The letter must say the license was obtained by exam.
Look up a District of Columbia electrician license
Not confirmed: check with the board
Common questions
Who issues electrician licenses in District of Columbia?
The DC Board of Industrial Trades, part of the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, licenses apprentice, journeyman and master electricians in the District of Columbia. PSI gives the exams.
How do I get a journeyman electrician license in District of Columbia?
Journeyman Electrician: At least 8,000 hours over at least 4 years as an apprentice (or an electrical engineering degree plus 2 years of practical experience), plus a DC electrical code class taken within 2 years of applying. Then pass the PSI exam. Completing a nationally certified apprenticeship lets you waive the exam. Apply online through DLCP with employment verification letters signed by a master electrician, tax records and your code class certificate. Approved applicants then schedule the exam with PSI.
How many hours do you need to become a journeyman electrician in District of Columbia?
8,000 hours for the Journeyman Electrician.
How many questions are on the District of Columbia journeyman electrician exam?
80 questions in 240 minutes (4 hours).
Does District of Columbia accept electrician licenses from other states?
Journeyman: Virginia license holders, with a letter of good standing. Master: Maryland and Virginia license holders. The letter must say the license was obtained by exam.
How often does a District of Columbia electrician license renew?
Every two years: all electrician licenses expire November 30 of odd-numbered years.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from District of Columbia's own licensing board, statute or rule, or the testing company the board names. Where a fact could not be confirmed from one of them, the page says to check with the board. Rules and fees change: confirm with the board before you apply.
- DC DLCP: Board of Industrial Trades, opened November 11, 2026
- DC Board of Industrial Trades: Electrician License (Low and Regular Voltage) Application Instructions (PDF created October 2022), opened November 11, 2026
- D.C. Code § 47-2853.92, Eligibility requirements (electricians), opened November 11, 2026
- PSI Washington D.C. Contractor/Trades Candidate Information Bulletin, updated 8/25/2022, opened November 11, 2026
Electrician license requirements in every state · How to become an electrician · Journeyman electrician license · Master electrician license
Last verified November 11, 2026.