LicensebyState

Moving to District of Columbia as a journeyman electrician: every state's rule

District of Columbia has reciprocity agreements with 2 states. Everyone else follows its standard out-of-state path: endorsement.

District of Columbia journeyman electrician · “Journeyman Electrician”

Statewide license

Verified September 15, 2026· 4 sources

Issued by DC Board of Industrial Trades (Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection)

The District of Columbia issues a Journeyman Electrician license through the Board of Industrial Trades, which now sits in the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP, the successor to DCRA's Occupational and Professional Licensing Administration for this board; DLCP's fee page and forms still carry some DCRA branding). Under D.C. Code § 47-2853.92 a new applicant must have completed a class on the DC Electrical Code (Title 12C DCMR) or an equivalent code within the 2 years before applying and have worked at least 8,000 hours over at least 4 years as an apprentice (an electrical engineering degree plus 2 certified years, or equivalent experience the Board accepts, also qualifies), then pass the PSI-administered journeyman exam. The statute also requires the Board to accept a certificate from a national certifying organization, including a nationally recognized trade organization or labor union, in lieu of the exam and experience requirements. Fees are a $65 application fee and a $110 license fee for a 2-year term. Maryland and Virginia journeymen licensed by examination are licensed by reciprocity without the DC exam; the master electrician limited (low voltage) license shares the journeyman qualifications and is treated as a separate specialty category.

States District of Columbia reciprocates with

Every origin state

Reciprocity 2Endorsement 32No credit 16
Every state's path into District of Columbia
StateMechanismNoteVerified
AlabamaEndorsement2026-09-15
AlaskaEndorsement2026-09-15
ArizonaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
ArkansasEndorsement2026-09-15
CaliforniaEndorsement2026-09-15
ColoradoEndorsement2026-09-15
ConnecticutEndorsement2026-09-15
DelawareEndorsement2026-09-15
FloridaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
GeorgiaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
HawaiiEndorsement2026-09-15
IdahoEndorsement2026-09-15
IllinoisNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
IndianaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
IowaEndorsement2026-09-15
KansasNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
KentuckyEndorsement2026-09-15
LouisianaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
MaineEndorsement2026-09-15
MarylandReciprocityexplicit agreement2026-09-15
MassachusettsEndorsement2026-09-15
MichiganEndorsement2026-09-15
MinnesotaEndorsement2026-09-15
MississippiNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
MissouriNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
MontanaEndorsement2026-09-15
NebraskaEndorsement2026-09-15
NevadaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
New HampshireEndorsement2026-09-15
New JerseyEndorsement2026-09-15
New MexicoEndorsement2026-09-15
New YorkNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
North CarolinaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
North DakotaEndorsement2026-09-15
OhioNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
OklahomaEndorsement2026-09-15
OregonEndorsement2026-09-15
PennsylvaniaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
Rhode IslandEndorsement2026-09-15
South CarolinaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
South DakotaEndorsement2026-09-15
TennesseeNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
TexasEndorsement2026-09-15
UtahEndorsement2026-09-15
VermontEndorsement2026-09-15
VirginiaReciprocityexplicit agreement2026-09-15
WashingtonEndorsement2026-09-15
West VirginiaEndorsement2026-09-15
WisconsinEndorsement2026-09-15
WyomingEndorsement2026-09-15

Getting licensed in District of Columbia from scratch

No license yet, or nothing that transfers? This is how District of Columbia issues a journeyman electrician license to a first-time applicant.

Verified September 23, 2026· 9 sources

Journeyman Electrician by examination

The Board of Industrial Trades issues the Journeyman Electrician license to an applicant who has worked at least 8,000 hours over at least 4 years as an apprentice electrician, has taken a class on the DC Electrical Code (Title 12C DCMR) or an equivalent code within the 2 years before applying, and passes the journeyman exam. Experience is documented with employment verification letters signed by the supervising master electrician, plus tax records. The exam is given by PSI and is open book; there is no separate law or business exam. Under the Board's test-first process you may schedule the exam directly with PSI before applying, but passing it does not license you: you must still apply online through DLCP with your documents and fees. Completing a nationally certified apprenticeship lets you skip the exam.

PSI's candidate bulletin describes the journeyman exam as 80 multiple-choice questions with a 4-hour time limit, using the National Electrical Code and Ugly's Electrical Reference as approved references. PSI reports only PASS to passing candidates, with no numerical score, and no passing percentage is published. D.C. Code § 47-2853.92(b) also lets the Board accept comparable experience, or a combination of education and experience, that it deems equivalent. Before qualifying, apprentices register with the Board (no experience required, $110 for up to 2 years) and work under a licensed master electrician. For questions, contact DLCP Occupational and Professional Licensing at (202) 671-4500.

Trade exam
Required
Law / code exam
Not required
Exam given by
PSI
Exam format
Open book
Renewal
Every 2 years

Who can apply

  • You must document at least 8,000 hours of qualifying work experience.Worked as an apprentice electrician for at least 8,000 hours over at least 4 years (D.C. Code § 47-2853.92(b)(1)), documented with employment verification letters signed by the master electrician and tax records.
  • Completed a class on Title 12C DCMR (the DC Electrical Code) or an equivalent code within the 2 years before applyingDLCP's application instructions call this the NEC code class certificate, uploaded with the application.

Other ways to qualify

Each of these replaces the requirements above. You only need one.

Electrical engineering degree plus 2 years of practical experience

A graduate of an accredited college or university with a degree in electrical engineering qualifies for the journeyman exam with at least 2 years of practical experience in electrical work, certified by a licensed master electrician. The code class within 2 years still applies.

  • Degree in electrical engineering from an accredited college or university
  • You must document at least 2 years of qualifying work experience.
  • Completed a class on Title 12C DCMR (the DC Electrical Code) or an equivalent code within the 2 years before applyingDLCP's application instructions call this the NEC code class certificate, uploaded with the application.

Nationally certified apprenticeship or national journeyman certificate (exam waived)

DLCP waives the journeyman exam for an applicant who completed a nationally certified apprenticeship program, documented with a certificate of completion, formal designation certificate or official transcripts. By statute the Board must also accept, in place of the exam and the experience requirements, a certificate from a national certifying organization, including a nationally recognized trade organization or labor union, showing that you passed its exam, are designated a journeyman electrician, and have not been disciplined. The application and license fees still apply.

  • Complete a registered apprenticeship: Completion of a nationally certified electrical apprenticeship program, or a journeyman certificate from a national certifying organization such as a trade organization or labor union.

Steps to get licensed

  1. 1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($65). Application fee, paid with the online application (non-refundable).
  2. 2Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. Washington DC Journeyman Electrician exam administered by PSI: 80 multiple-choice questions, 4 hours, open book.
  3. 3Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($52). Per attempt, paid to PSI when scheduling, as listed in PSI's District of Columbia candidate bulletin.
  4. 4License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($110). Journeyman license fee, for a term of up to 2 years.

Published fees on this path total $227, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.

Keeping it active

Every 2 years and a $110 renewal fee.

All electrician licenses expire on November 30 of odd-numbered years regardless of when they were issued, so a first license can run less than 2 years. Renew online through the DLCP portal before the expiration date; a late renewal adds a $50 fee.

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
  • Exam fee · $52

Sources for this section

  1. D.C. Code § 47-2853.12 - License, certification, and registration criteria; waiver · D.C. Code § 47-2853.12(b)-(d), (l) · Council of the District of Columbia · Statute · verified September 23, 2026
  2. D.C. Code § 47-2853.92 - Electricians: eligibility requirements · D.C. Code § 47-2853.92 · Council of the District of Columbia · Statute · verified September 23, 2026
  3. 17 DCMR § 3500 - Licensing fees · 17 DCMR § 3500.2(o), 3500.3 · District of Columbia Office of Documents and Administrative Issuances · Admin Rule · verified September 23, 2026
  4. District of Columbia Board of Industrial Trades · District of Columbia Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection · Agency Page · verified September 17, 2026
  5. DLCP Board of Industrial Trades - Electrician License (Low and Regular Voltage) Application Instructions · District of Columbia Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) · Form · verified September 23, 2026
  6. DC Board of Industrial Trades - Electrician License Renewal Notice Reminder · District of Columbia Board of Industrial Trades (DLCP) · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
  7. DC DLCP - Board of Industrial Trades landing page (apply, items needed, examination, reciprocity) · District of Columbia Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
  8. DC Board of Industrial Trades - Test First Examination Process Notice · District of Columbia Board of Industrial Trades (DLCP) · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
  9. PSI Candidate Information Bulletin - Washington D.C. Contractor/Trades Examinations · PSI Services LLC for the District of Columbia Board of Industrial Trades · Form · verified September 23, 2026

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