Electrician license
Idaho electrician license
The Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, through the Idaho Electrical Board, licenses electricians and electrical contractors statewide. Licensing is a state matter; cities and counties do not issue their own electrician licenses. The licenses are Apprentice Electrician (registration), Journeyman Electrician, Master Electrician, Residential Electrician and Electrical Contractor. 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 (registration) | Not set in hours | No exam | $30 for a 2-year registration, plus the $15 application fee |
| Journeyman Electrician | 8,000 hours | 100 questions | $55 license fee plus the $15 application fee; renewal is $45 |
| Master Electrician | Not set in hours | 100 questions | $65 license fee plus the $15 application fee; renewal is $45 |
| Residential Electrician | 4,000 hours | Yes | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Electrical Contractor | Not set in hours | Yes | $250 license fee plus the $15 application fee; renewal is $200 every 2 years |
How to get each Idaho license
Apprentice Electrician (registration)
Requirements. Register with DOPL as an apprentice before counting hours. Only hours worked while registered count toward the journeyman exam, along with the approved related instruction.
Exam. No exam for this license.
Fees. $30 for a 2-year registration, plus the $15 application fee.
Sources: Idaho Code 54-1007, issuance of licenses and reciprocity; DOPL Idaho Electrical Board home (fees).
Journeyman Electrician
Requirements. Either 8,000 hours as an apprentice plus a four-year course of related instruction approved by Idaho Career-Technical Education, or 16,000 hours of electrical experience, then pass the exam. Appliance repair, motor winding and communications work do not count.
Experience. 8,000 hours.
Exam. Required.
| Testing company | PSI (NASCLA accredited exam) |
|---|---|
| Code edition | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Questions | 100 questions |
| Time | 300 minutes (5 hours) |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Code book | Open book: bring your own 2020 or 2023 NEC (or NEC Handbook), OSHA 29 CFR 1926 and 1910, NFPA 70E and other listed references, highlighted or permanently tabbed only. A plan set is provided at the test site. |
| Exam fee | $75 |
| Official bulletin | PSI candidate information bulletin, NASCLA accredited Idaho electrical examinations (5/15/2025) |
Fees. $55 license fee plus the $15 application fee; renewal is $45.
If you have 16,000 hours but have not passed the exam yet, you can get a 6-month Provisional Journeyman license.
Exam scoring comes with 10 more unscored experimental questions. You schedule directly with PSI and then apply to DOPL for the license after passing.
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 Idaho exam outline.
Sources: IDAPA 24.39.10, Rules of the Electrical Board; DOPL Idaho Electrical Board home (fees); DOPL Idaho Electrical Board: Program Information and Exams; PSI candidate information bulletin, NASCLA Idaho electrical examinations (5/15/2025).
Master Electrician
Requirements. Work as a licensed journeyman for at least four years, then pass the master exam. A master license comes with a journeyman license at no extra cost.
Exam. Required.
| Testing company | PSI (NASCLA accredited exam) |
|---|---|
| Code edition | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Questions | 100 questions |
| Time | 270 minutes (4.5 hours) |
| Passing score | 75% |
| Code book | Open book, 2020 or 2023 NEC. |
| Exam fee | $75 |
| Official bulletin | PSI candidate information bulletin, NASCLA accredited Idaho electrical examinations (5/15/2025) |
Fees. $65 license fee plus the $15 application fee; renewal is $45.
Sources: Idaho Code 54-1007, issuance of licenses and reciprocity; DOPL Idaho Electrical Board home (fees); DOPL Idaho Electrical Board: Program Information and Exams; PSI candidate information bulletin, NASCLA Idaho electrical examinations (5/15/2025).
Residential Electrician
Requirements. 4,000 hours of experience as an apprentice plus a two-year course of related instruction approved by the Idaho Electrical Board and Career-Technical Education, then pass the residential exam.
Experience. 4,000 hours.
Exam. Required.
Exam details. Not confirmed: check with the board
Fees. Not confirmed: check with the board
Sources: IDAPA 24.39.10, Rules of the Electrical Board; Idaho Code 54-1007, issuance of licenses and reciprocity.
Electrical Contractor
Requirements. Pass the board's contractor exam and apply. Each contractor designates one supervising electrician (master, journeyman, residential or limited installer) who cannot represent another contractor, and must show $300,000 of liability insurance and workers' compensation if it applies.
Exam. Required.
Exam details. Not confirmed: check with the board
Fees. $250 license fee plus the $15 application fee; renewal is $200 every 2 years.
Sources: IDAPA 24.39.10, Rules of the Electrical Board; Idaho Code 54-1013, renewal of licenses; DOPL Idaho Electrical Board home (fees).
How to apply
Register and schedule the exam directly with PSI online. After you pass, apply for the license through DOPL's online services portal. Apply on the official site.
Source: DOPL Idaho Electrical Board: Program Information and Exams.
Renewal and continuing education
| Renewal | Journeyman and master licenses have run three years and contractor and apprentice licenses two years, but DOPL began moving the Electrical Board to two-year (biennial) licensing on October 30, 2026; check your renewal notice. |
|---|---|
| Continuing education | Not confirmed: check with the board |
Source: DOPL Idaho Electrical Board home (fees).
Reciprocity with other states
Idaho may grant licenses without a written exam to electricians licensed in states with qualifications at least equal to Idaho's, under reciprocal agreements. DOPL's pages opened do not list the states.
Source: Idaho Code 54-1007, issuance of licenses and reciprocity.
Look up an Idaho electrician license
To check that an electrician or contractor is licensed, use the official DOPL license search.
Good to know
Idaho uses NASCLA's accredited journeyman and master exams, delivered by PSI. You can retake a failed exam as often as needed.
Source: PSI candidate information bulletin, NASCLA Idaho electrical examinations (5/15/2025).
Common questions
Who issues electrician licenses in Idaho?
The Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, through the Idaho Electrical Board, licenses electricians and electrical contractors statewide. Licensing is a state matter; cities and counties do not issue their own electrician licenses.
How do I get a journeyman electrician license in Idaho?
Journeyman Electrician: Either 8,000 hours as an apprentice plus a four-year course of related instruction approved by Idaho Career-Technical Education, or 16,000 hours of electrical experience, then pass the exam. Appliance repair, motor winding and communications work do not count. Register and schedule the exam directly with PSI online. After you pass, apply for the license through DOPL's online services portal.
How many hours do you need to become a journeyman electrician in Idaho?
8,000 hours for the Journeyman Electrician.
How many questions are on the Idaho journeyman electrician exam?
100 questions in 300 minutes (5 hours), and the passing score is 70%.
Does Idaho accept electrician licenses from other states?
Idaho may grant licenses without a written exam to electricians licensed in states with qualifications at least equal to Idaho's, under reciprocal agreements. DOPL's pages opened do not list the states.
How often does a Idaho electrician license renew?
Journeyman and master licenses have run three years and contractor and apprentice licenses two years, but DOPL began moving the Electrical Board to two-year (biennial) licensing on October 30, 2026; check your renewal notice.
How do I look up an electrician license in Idaho?
Use the official DOPL license search at https://edopl.idaho.gov/OnlineServices/?link=PubSearch
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from Idaho'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.
- DOPL Idaho Electrical Board: Program Information and Exams, opened November 11, 2026
- DOPL Idaho Electrical Board home (fees), opened November 11, 2026
- IDAPA 24.39.10, Rules of the Electrical Board, opened November 11, 2026
- Idaho Code Title 54 Chapter 10, Electrical Contractors and Journeymen, opened November 11, 2026
- Idaho Code 54-1007, issuance of licenses and reciprocity, opened November 11, 2026
- PSI candidate information bulletin, NASCLA Idaho electrical examinations (5/15/2025), opened November 11, 2026
- Idaho Code 54-1013, renewal of licenses, 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.