Virginia to Oklahoma: journeyman electrician license reciprocity
Oklahoma has no reciprocity agreement with Virginia. A Virginia journeyman electrician applies by endorsement.
Reference only, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the licensing board before you apply. Full disclaimer.
Out-of-state journeyman without a reciprocity agreement
The board reviews your out-of-state credentials case by case. Some exam is usually still required, often only a law or code exam.
A journeyman from a state that has no written agreement with Oklahoma can ask for exam equivalency under OAC 158:40-9-2.4, but only if the Board has already approved that jurisdiction's exam as substantially similar; if so, the Oklahoma journeyman exam is waived on a certified letter from the home jurisdiction showing a current license in good standing, the license category, an exam score of 70% or higher and no pending discipline. CIB does not publish the list of approved jurisdictions. Otherwise the applicant files the standard Application for Electrical Licensure with a complete work history and employer experience affidavits, and out-of-state residents must show similar experience by attaching copies of apprenticeship registrations or government-issued electrical licenses; utility work is not counted. The applicant then pays $75 and must pass the Unlimited Electrical Journeyman exam through PSI. Oklahoma has no separate law exam for journeymen.
New Mexico lists Oklahoma as an EE-98J reciprocity partner, but Oklahoma's published list does not include New Mexico, so a New Mexico journeyman falls under this default path unless CIB confirms otherwise. CIB does not publish which jurisdictions' exams it has approved for equivalency, so ask CIB before relying on this route. 59 O.S. §1685(A)(1) also lets the Committee certify an applicant holding a valid license from another governmental entity with similar requirements.
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.Verifiable on-the-job hours as a registered apprentice while employed by an electrical contractor, 4,000 in commercial/industrial work; up to 2,000 hours may be formal electrical education with official transcripts.
What you'll do to get licensed in Oklahoma
- 1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($25). Journeyman application (processing) fee, non-refundable (OAC 158:40-9-3(b)).
- 2License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($50). Initial journeyman license fee, submitted with the application; annual renewal $75.
- 3Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. Unlimited Electrical Journeyman exam administered by PSI, 70% to pass; waived only if the Board has approved the home jurisdiction's exam for equivalency.
- 4Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($92). PSI fee per examination portion, non-refundable.
Published fees on this path total $167, 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
- Exam fee · $92
How Oklahoma licenses journeyman electricians
Oklahoma journeyman electrician · “Unlimited Electrical Journeyman”
Statewide license
Issued by Oklahoma Construction Industries Board (CIB), Electrical Licensing Unit
Oklahoma issues statewide electrical journeyman licenses through the Construction Industries Board (CIB) in three categories: Unlimited, Residential and Refinery. The Unlimited Electrical Journeyman license requires 8,000 verifiable hours as a registered apprentice under a licensed journeyman or contractor while employed by an electrical contractor, of which 4,000 must be commercial/industrial and up to 2,000 may be formal electrical education, plus passing the PSI-administered exam with 70% (59 O.S. §1684). The fee is $75 ($25 application plus $50 initial license) and the PSI exam fee is $92 per portion. CIB has written journeyman reciprocity agreements with ten states, and reciprocal applicants are exempt from the Oklahoma exam. Journeymen must be employed by a licensed contractor and complete 12 hours of continuing education every three years.
Common questions
- Do I have to take the Oklahoma journeyman electrician exam if I'm licensed in Virginia?
- Yes. Oklahoma requires the trade exam on this path.
- What does it cost to get a Oklahoma journeyman electrician license from Virginia?
- Published fees on this path total $167, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
- Do my Virginia work hours count in Oklahoma?
- Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward Oklahoma's eligibility requirements.
Sources
- Oklahoma CIB - Electrical Industry · Oklahoma Construction Industries Board · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
- Oklahoma CIB - Electrical Application Information and Application for Electrical Licensure (revised June 2024) · Oklahoma Construction Industries Board · Form · verified September 23, 2026
- Oklahoma CIB - Electrical Journeyman · Oklahoma Construction Industries Board · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
- Frequently Asked Questions - Oklahoma Construction Industries Board · Oklahoma Construction Industries Board · Faq · verified September 17, 2026
- Oklahoma Electrical License Act, 59 O.S. §§ 1680-1690 (effective 11-1-2025) · 59 O.S. §§ 1684, 1685, 1685.1 · Oklahoma Construction Industries Board · Statute · verified September 23, 2026
- OAC Title 158, Chapter 40 - Electrical Industry Regulations (permanent rules effective 07/11/2026) · OAC 158:40-5-3, 158:40-5-5, 158:40-7-1, 158:40-7-5, 158:40-9-1, 158:40-9-2, 158:40-9-2.4, 158:40-9-3, 158:40-9-4 · Oklahoma Construction Industries Board · Admin Rule · verified September 23, 2026
- State of Oklahoma Electrical, Mechanical, Roofing and Plumbing Examinations Candidate Information Bulletin (PSI, effective 12/18/2025) · PSI Services for the Oklahoma Construction Industries Board · Form · verified September 23, 2026
Verified dates are when a person last opened each source and confirmed the facts above. Cite the board, not us.