Texas to Idaho: journeyman electrician license reciprocity
Idaho has a reciprocity agreement with Texas: a Texas journeyman electrician can get a Idaho license without retaking the trade exam.
Reference only, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the licensing board before you apply. Full disclaimer.
NERA reciprocity with Texas
A signed state-to-state agreement. The trade exam is waived; you apply, prove your history, and pay the fee.
Texas is listed on Idaho's journeyman application as a National Electrical Reciprocal Alliance (NERA) state. Idaho issues a journeyman license without examination; DOPL contacts the Texas licensing agency to confirm that the license is active, was obtained by examination, and its issue date. Under the multi-state agreement the origin license must have been earned through a four-year apprenticeship or 8,000 hours of equivalent experience and be current, active and in good standing, and Idaho may require it to have been held for at least one year. The applicant pays the $70 processing fee ($15 application plus $55 license).
At a glance
- Trade exam
- Waived
- Law / code exam
- Not required
- Agreement
- Active
What you must already have
- Your Texas license must be active and in good standing.
- Your Texas license must have been obtained by examination, not by reciprocity or grandfathering.
- You must have no disciplinary action or unresolved complaints on your record.Multi-state agreement requires the license to be current, active and in good standing.
- You must document at least 8,000 hours of qualifying work experience.Four-year apprenticeship program or 8,000 hours of equivalent experience as determined by the licensing state.
What you'll do to get licensed in Idaho
- 1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($15). DOPL application fee.
- 2License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($55). Original Journeyman Electrician license fee (three-year term).
Published fees on this path total $70, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.
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 Texas?
- No. The trade exam is waived on this path under the agreement with Texas.
- What does it cost to get a Idaho journeyman electrician license from Texas?
- Published fees on this path total $70, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
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 - Frequently Asked Questions · Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) · Faq · 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
- Reciprocal Agreement - Wyoming and Idaho Journeyman and Master Electrician Licenses (with the November 9, 1999 Multi-State Electrician Reciprocal Agreement and 2006 amendment adding Idaho) · Idaho Code 54-1007 · Idaho Division of Building Safety / Wyoming Department of Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety · Agreement Document · verified September 23, 2026
Verified dates are when a person last opened each source and confirmed the facts above. Cite the board, not us.