Electrician license
Virginia electrician license
The Virginia Board for Contractors, part of DPOR, licenses individual electricians as journeyman and master electrical tradesmen, and licenses electrical contracting firms. State licensing of tradesmen is mandatory, and some localities add their own requirements. The licenses are Journeyman Electrician (tradesman license), Master Electrician (tradesman license) and Electrical Contractor (ELE), Class A, B or C contractor license. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Journeyman Electrician (tradesman license) | Not set in hours | 70 questions, 2020 NEC | $150 for an original tradesman license by examination; renewal is $160. |
| Master Electrician (tradesman license) | Not set in hours | 90 questions, 2020 NEC | Upgrading a current Virginia journeyman license to master uses the Additional Designation/License Upgrade application. An original tradesman license by examination is $150 and renewal is $160. |
| Electrical Contractor (ELE), Class A, B or C contractor license | Not set in hours | Not confirmed: check with the board | $235 for Class C, $380 for Class B, $400 for Class A, plus a $25 Recovery Fund assessment with each initial application. |
How to get each Virginia license
Journeyman Electrician (tradesman license)
Requirements. Be at least 18 and show one of the Board's experience and training combinations, for example four years of practical experience plus 240 hours of formal vocational training, or eight years of experience with no classroom training. A two-year degree plus two years of experience, or an engineering bachelor's plus one year, also qualifies. Then pass the exam.
Exam. Required.
| Testing company | PSI |
|---|---|
| Code edition | 2020 NEC |
| Questions | 70 questions |
| Time | 210 minutes (3.5 hours) |
| Passing score | 49 of 70 correct (70%) |
| Code book | Open book: bring your own 2020 NEC and NFPA 70E; nothing is provided at the site. Books may be highlighted, underlined and tabbed with permanent tabs, but may not contain any writing. |
| Exam fee | Set by the PSI contract and capped by regulation at $200 for the journeyman exam. |
| Official bulletin | PSI candidate information bulletin, Virginia DPOR Individual License and Certification examinations (7/23/2026) |
Fees. $150 for an original tradesman license by examination; renewal is $160.
The exam also covers Virginia's tradesman regulations (standards of practice and conduct, renewal and reinstatement), not only the NEC.
Completing a registered apprenticeship program in Virginia, or one registered in another state, is another way to qualify for the journeyman exam.
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 Virginia exam outline.
Sources: 18VAC50-30-39, Qualifications for examination approval for a tradesman license; 18VAC50-30-30, General requirements for licensure or certification; 18VAC50-30-90, Fees for licensure and certification; 18VAC50-30-120, Renewal; PSI candidate information bulletin, Virginia DPOR Individual License and Certification (7/23/2026); 18VAC50-30-100, Examination fees; DPOR Tradesman Licensing Information and Application Instructions.
Master Electrician (tradesman license)
Requirements. Hold a Virginia journeyman electrician license for at least one year, or show nine years of practical experience in the trade, then pass the master exam.
Exam. Required.
| Testing company | PSI |
|---|---|
| Code edition | 2020 NEC |
| Questions | 90 questions |
| Time | 270 minutes (4.5 hours) |
| Passing score | 63 of 90 correct (70%) |
| Code book | Open book: bring your own 2020 NEC and NFPA 70E. |
| Exam fee | Set by the PSI contract and capped by regulation at $225 for the master exam. |
| Official bulletin | PSI candidate information bulletin, Virginia DPOR Individual License and Certification examinations (7/23/2026) |
Fees. Upgrading a current Virginia journeyman license to master uses the Additional Designation/License Upgrade application. An original tradesman license by examination is $150 and renewal is $160.
Sources: 18VAC50-30-39, Qualifications for examination approval for a tradesman license; DPOR Tradesmen Program; 18VAC50-30-90, Fees for licensure and certification; PSI candidate information bulletin, Virginia DPOR Individual License and Certification (7/23/2026); 18VAC50-30-100, Examination fees.
Electrical Contractor (ELE), Class A, B or C contractor license
Requirements. A business doing electrical contracting needs a Board for Contractors Class A, B or C license with the Electrical (ELE) classification, qualified by a person holding a Virginia Master Electrician tradesman license. A member of responsible management (or, for Class A and B, the designated employee) must complete eight hours of pre-license education.
Exam. Not confirmed: check with the board
Fees. $235 for Class C, $380 for Class B, $400 for Class A, plus a $25 Recovery Fund assessment with each initial application.
Class A and B applicants must also verify net worth or equity with a financial statement or surety bond.
Sources: 18VAC50-22-61, Qualifications for classifications and specialties; DPOR Board for Contractors; 18VAC50-22-100, Fees (contractors).
How to apply
Submit the Tradesman Exam and License Application to the Board for Contractors with your Experience Verification form, training certificates or transcripts, a copy of your ID and the fee. The Board must approve you before you can schedule the PSI exam. Apply on the official site.
Sources: DPOR Tradesman Licensing Information and Application Instructions; DPOR Tradesmen Program.
Renewal and continuing education
| Renewal | Every three years. Electrician licenses expire three years from the last day of the month they were issued. |
|---|---|
| Continuing education | 3 hours of Board-approved continuing education on building code changes for each trade designation, completed before the license expires. This applies to journeyman and master licenses. |
Sources: 18VAC50-30-120, Renewal; DPOR Tradesmen Program.
Reciprocity with other states
By Board agreement: journeyman and master with the District of Columbia and West Virginia; Kentucky Electrician and Master Electrician with Virginia journeyman and master; master only with Maryland and Ohio; Alabama Electrical Contractor with Virginia master; North Carolina Unlimited and Intermediate contractor with Virginia master plus Class A or B. You must meet every term of the agreement and send verification from the other state's board. A Universal License Recognition application is also offered.
Source: Virginia Board for Contractors, Reciprocal Licensing/Examination Agreements with Other Jurisdictions.
Look up a Virginia electrician license
To check that an electrician or contractor is licensed, use the official DPOR License Lookup.
Good to know
DPOR's application instructions still list a ten-year experience route for the journeyman and master exams; the current regulation, 18VAC50-30-39, says eight years for journeyman and nine for master. Follow the regulation.
Since July 1, 2026 some DPOR fees include a separate technology fee of $7.25 per year.
Sources: DPOR Tradesman Licensing Information and Application Instructions; DPOR Tradesmen Program.
Common questions
Who issues electrician licenses in Virginia?
The Virginia Board for Contractors, part of DPOR, licenses individual electricians as journeyman and master electrical tradesmen, and licenses electrical contracting firms. State licensing of tradesmen is mandatory, and some localities add their own requirements.
How do I get a journeyman electrician license in Virginia?
Journeyman Electrician (tradesman license): Be at least 18 and show one of the Board's experience and training combinations, for example four years of practical experience plus 240 hours of formal vocational training, or eight years of experience with no classroom training. A two-year degree plus two years of experience, or an engineering bachelor's plus one year, also qualifies. Then pass the exam. Submit the Tradesman Exam and License Application to the Board for Contractors with your Experience Verification form, training certificates or transcripts, a copy of your ID and the fee. The Board must approve you before you can schedule the PSI exam.
How many questions are on the Virginia journeyman electrician exam?
70 questions in 210 minutes (3.5 hours), and the passing score is 49 of 70 correct (70%).
Does Virginia accept electrician licenses from other states?
By Board agreement: journeyman and master with the District of Columbia and West Virginia; Kentucky Electrician and Master Electrician with Virginia journeyman and master; master only with Maryland and Ohio; Alabama Electrical Contractor with Virginia master; North Carolina Unlimited and Intermediate contractor with Virginia master plus Class A or B. You must meet every term of the agreement and send verification from the other state's board. A Universal License Recognition application is also offered.
How often does a Virginia electrician license renew?
Every three years. Electrician licenses expire three years from the last day of the month they were issued. Continuing education: 3 hours of Board-approved continuing education on building code changes for each trade designation, completed before the license expires. This applies to journeyman and master licenses.
How do I look up an electrician license in Virginia?
Use the official DPOR License Lookup at https://www.dpor.virginia.gov/LicenseLookup
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from Virginia'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.
- DPOR Tradesmen Program, opened November 11, 2026
- DPOR Board for Contractors, opened November 11, 2026
- 18VAC50-30-39, Qualifications for examination approval for a tradesman license, opened November 11, 2026
- 18VAC50-30-30, General requirements for licensure or certification, opened November 11, 2026
- 18VAC50-30-100, Examination fees, opened November 11, 2026
- 18VAC50-30-90, Fees for licensure and certification, opened November 11, 2026
- PSI candidate information bulletin, Virginia DPOR Individual License and Certification (7/23/2026), opened November 11, 2026
- 18VAC50-30-120, Renewal, opened November 11, 2026
- DPOR Tradesman Licensing Information and Application Instructions, opened November 11, 2026
- 18VAC50-22-61, Qualifications for classifications and specialties, opened November 11, 2026
- 18VAC50-22-100, Fees (contractors), opened November 11, 2026
- Virginia Board for Contractors, Reciprocal Licensing/Examination Agreements with Other Jurisdictions, opened November 11, 2026
- DPOR License Lookup, 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.