Moving to Idaho as a journeyman electrician: every state's rule
Idaho has reciprocity agreements with 18 states. Everyone else follows its standard out-of-state path: experience credit.
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.
States Idaho reciprocates with
Every origin state
| State | Mechanism | Note | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Experience credit | 2026-09-23 | |
| Alaska | Reciprocity | explicit agreement | 2026-09-23 |
| Arizona | Reciprocity | explicit agreement | 2026-09-23 |
| Arkansas | Reciprocity | explicit agreement | 2026-09-23 |
| California | Experience credit | 2026-09-23 | |
| Colorado | Reciprocity | explicit agreement | 2026-09-23 |
| Connecticut | Experience credit | 2026-09-23 | |
| Delaware | Experience credit | 2026-09-23 | |
| District of Columbia | Experience credit | 2026-09-23 | |
| Florida | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-23 |
| Georgia | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-23 |
| Hawaii | Experience credit | 2026-09-23 | |
| Illinois | Reciprocity | explicit agreement | 2026-09-23 |
| Indiana | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-23 |
| Iowa | Reciprocity | explicit agreement | 2026-09-23 |
| Kansas | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-23 |
| Kentucky | Experience credit | 2026-09-23 | |
| Louisiana | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-23 |
| Maine | Reciprocity | explicit agreement | 2026-09-23 |
| Maryland | Experience credit | 2026-09-23 | |
| Massachusetts | Experience credit | 2026-09-23 | |
| Michigan | Experience credit | 2026-09-23 | |
| Minnesota | Reciprocity | explicit agreement | 2026-09-23 |
| Mississippi | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-23 |
| Missouri | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-23 |
| Montana | Reciprocity | explicit agreement | 2026-09-23 |
| Nebraska | Experience credit | 2026-09-23 | |
| Nevada | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-23 |
| New Hampshire | Reciprocity | explicit agreement | 2026-09-23 |
| New Jersey | Experience credit | 2026-09-23 | |
| New Mexico | Reciprocity | explicit agreement | 2026-09-23 |
| New York | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-23 |
| North Carolina | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-23 |
| North Dakota | Reciprocity | explicit agreement | 2026-09-23 |
| Ohio | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-23 |
| Oklahoma | Reciprocity | explicit agreement | 2026-09-23 |
| Oregon | Reciprocity | explicit agreement | 2026-09-23 |
| Pennsylvania | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-23 |
| Rhode Island | Experience credit | 2026-09-23 | |
| South Carolina | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-23 |
| South Dakota | Reciprocity | explicit agreement | 2026-09-23 |
| Tennessee | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-23 |
| Texas | Reciprocity | explicit agreement | 2026-09-23 |
| Utah | Experience credit | 2026-09-23 | |
| Vermont | Experience credit | 2026-09-23 | |
| Virginia | Experience credit | 2026-09-23 | |
| Washington | Experience credit | 2026-09-23 | |
| West Virginia | Experience credit | 2026-09-23 | |
| Wisconsin | Reciprocity | explicit agreement | 2026-09-23 |
| Wyoming | Reciprocity | explicit agreement | 2026-09-23 |
Getting licensed in Idaho from scratch
No license yet, or nothing that transfers? This is how Idaho issues a journeyman electrician license to a first-time applicant.
Journeyman electrician by examination
Idaho issues the Journeyman Electrician license to an applicant who documents the required electrical work experience, passes the Idaho State Journeyman Electrician exam administered by PSI, and applies to DOPL. The primary route is 8,000 hours of supervised work as an apprentice plus completion of a four-year Board-approved apprenticeship program; hours earned in Idaho count only while the worker holds an active DOPL apprentice registration. The alternative is 16,000 hours (eight years) of electrical installation experience without the school requirement. The exam must be passed before the license application is submitted, and the application carries a $70 processing fee ($15 application plus the $55 three-year license).
The Idaho State Journeyman Electrician exam replaced the NASCLA journeyman exam on December 1, 2025. It has 100 questions with a 270-minute time limit and is open book: candidates bring the 2020 or 2023 National Electrical Code (NFPA 70) and the 2023 Ugly's Electrical References, highlighted or tabbed in advance but not written in during the exam. Topics are general electrical knowledge, wiring and protection, wiring methods and materials, equipment for general use, special occupancies, special equipment and special conditions. Apprentices register with DOPL each year ($15) while they earn their hours. An applicant who has the 16,000 hours but has not yet passed the exam may hold a provisional journeyman license in the meantime.
- Trade exam
- Required
- Law / code exam
- Not required
- Exam given by
- PSI
- Exam format
- Open book
- Passing score
- 70%
- Renewal
- Every 3 years
- Continuing education
- None required
Who can apply
- You must document at least 8,000 hours of qualifying work experience.Supervised electrical installation work as an apprentice, earned in or out of Idaho under the rules of the jurisdiction where the work was done. Idaho hours count only while the apprentice holds an active DOPL registration. Appliance repair, motor winding and communications work does not count, and no more than 2,000 hours as a limited electrical installer or trainee may be counted.
- Complete a registered apprenticeship (4 years): Completion certificate from a four-year electrical apprenticeship program approved by the Idaho Electrical Board and the Idaho Division of Career-Technical Education.Approved programs include the Idaho colleges and training providers on DOPL's list and all United States JATC, IEC and WECA electrical apprenticeship schools.
Other ways to qualify
Each of these replaces the requirements above. You only need one.
16,000 hours of electrical experience
An applicant without a completed apprenticeship program qualifies for the same exam with eight years of work experience, defined as at least 16,000 hours of making electrical installations, documented on Work Verification Forms.
- You must document at least 16,000 hours of qualifying work experience.Eight years of on-the-job electrical installation experience, earned under the rules of the jurisdiction where it was gained. The same exclusions and the 2,000-hour cap on limited installer or trainee hours apply.
Steps to get licensed
- 1Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. Idaho State Journeyman Electrician exam administered by PSI (100 questions, open book, minimum passing score 70); must be passed before applying for the license.
- 2Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($75). PSI examination fee per attempt; non-refundable and valid for one year from payment.
- 3Application fee. Pay the application fee ($15). DOPL application fee (the application form shows a combined $70 processing fee, which includes the license fee).
- 4License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($55). Original Journeyman Electrician license fee, three-year term.
- 5Other. Work Verification Form for each employer and state where hours were earned, plus the apprenticeship completion certificate when using the 8,000-hour route.
Published fees on this path total $145, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.
Keeping it active
Every 3 years with no continuing education required and a $45 renewal fee.
No continuing education is currently required to renew. The Idaho Legislature removed the continuing education requirement when it approved the Electrical Board's rules (IDAPA 24.39.10) in 2025.
Licenses run for three years and may be renewed during the final month of the licensing period; outstanding civil penalties and fees must be paid first.
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
Sources for this section
- Idaho Code 54-1007 - Issuance of licenses - Reciprocity · Idaho Code 54-1007 · Idaho Legislature · Statute · verified September 23, 2026
- Idaho Code 54-1013 - Renewal of licenses or registrations - Inactive licenses · Idaho Code 54-1013 · Idaho Legislature · Statute · verified September 23, 2026
- Idaho DOPL - Board Approved Apprenticeship Programs (electrical, HVAC, plumbing) · Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses · Agency Page · 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 meeting minutes, May 6, 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
- PSI Candidate Information Bulletin - Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses trade examinations (effective July 9, 2026) · PSI Services LLC for the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses · Form · verified September 23, 2026