Kentucky to Idaho: journeyman electrician license reciprocity
Idaho has no reciprocity agreement with Kentucky. Your Kentucky experience counts toward eligibility, but you must pass the Idaho exam.
Reference only, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the licensing board before you apply. Full disclaimer.
Out-of-state journeymen from non-reciprocal states (standard route with out-of-state experience credit)
Nothing is waived, but your documented out-of-state hours count toward eligibility to sit the exam.
An applicant licensed in a state that is not on Idaho's reciprocal list applies as an initial applicant. Idaho accepts supervised electrical-installation hours earned in any state: the journeyman application states that work hours 'can be obtained in or out of the State of Idaho' and IDAPA 24.39.10.100.02 counts apprentice hours obtained 'in accordance with the requirements of the jurisdiction in which the applicant obtained the experience.' The applicant needs either 8,000 supervised hours plus completion of a Board-approved four-year apprenticeship program, or 16,000 supervised hours, documented on Work Verification Forms (one per employer or state). Hours in appliance repair, motor winding, or communications do not count. The applicant must pass the Idaho journeyman exam administered by PSI (the Idaho State Journeyman Electrician exam replaced the NASCLA exam on December 1, 2025) before applying, and pay DOPL's $15 application fee plus the $55 original journeyman license fee (shown as a combined $70 processing fee on the form).
At a glance
- Trade exam
- Required
- Law / code exam
- Not required
- Out-of-state hours
- Count toward eligibility
What you must already have
- You must document at least 8,000 hours of qualifying work experience.8,000 supervised electrical-installation hours plus a completion certificate from a Board-approved four-year apprenticeship program; otherwise 16,000 supervised hours. Up to 2,000 hours as a limited electrical installer or trainee may count.
What you'll do to get licensed in Idaho
- 1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($15). DOPL application fee (the application form shows the combined $70 processing fee, which includes the license fee).
- 2License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($55). Original Journeyman Electrician license fee, three-year term (renewal $45).
- 3Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. Idaho State Journeyman Electrician exam administered by PSI; a passing score is required before the application is submitted; exam fee paid to PSI.
- 4Other. Work Verification Form(s) for each employer and state where hours were earned; apprenticeship completion certificate if using the 8,000-hour route.
Published fees on this path total $70, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.
What you'll need to buy or arrange
Exam preparation
Most boards contract PSI, Prov, or ICC for exams. Check which code edition the exam is written to before buying a prep course.
- Trade exam
How Idaho licenses journeyman electricians
Idaho journeyman electrician · “Journeyman Electrician”
Statewide license
Issued by Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (Idaho Electrical Board)
Idaho issues a statewide Journeyman Electrician license through the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) on behalf of the Idaho Electrical Board, under Idaho Code Title 54, Chapter 10 and IDAPA 24.39.10. Idaho Code 54-1007(6) lets the administrator sign reciprocal agreements with states whose qualifications are at least equal to Idaho's, and Idaho participates in the multi-state National Electrical Reciprocal Alliance (NERA) agreement as well as a separate bilateral agreement with Oregon. Journeymen from those states are licensed without examination on proof of an active license obtained by examination. Everyone else applies on the standard route, where out-of-state hours count toward the 8,000-hour (with a four-year program) or 16,000-hour experience requirement and the Idaho journeyman exam (PSI) must be passed. DOPL was re-evaluating its reciprocal agreements in late 2025, so the partner list may change.
Common questions
- Do I have to take the Idaho journeyman electrician exam if I'm licensed in Kentucky?
- Yes. Idaho requires the trade exam on this path.
- What does it cost to get a Idaho journeyman electrician license from Kentucky?
- Published fees on this path total $70, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
- Do my Kentucky work hours count in Idaho?
- Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward Idaho's eligibility requirements.
Sources
- Idaho Code 54-1007 - Issuance of licenses - Reciprocity · Idaho Code 54-1007 · Idaho Legislature · Statute · verified September 23, 2026
- Idaho Electrical Board - Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses · Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
- Idaho Electrical Board - Program Information and Exams · Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
- Idaho Electrical Board - Frequently Asked Questions · Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) · Faq · verified September 23, 2026
- IDAPA 24.39.10 - Rules of the Idaho Electrical Board · IDAPA 24.39.10.100 · Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) · Admin Rule · verified September 23, 2026
- Idaho Electrical Journeyman License Application and Instructions (revised August 2, 2024) · Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) · Form · verified September 23, 2026
- Idaho Electrical Board draft meeting minutes, August 12, 2025 · Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) · Other · verified September 23, 2026
- Idaho Electrical Board meeting minutes, October 29, 2025 · Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) · Other · verified September 23, 2026
Verified dates are when a person last opened each source and confirmed the facts above. Cite the board, not us.