New Jersey to Washington: master electrician license reciprocity
Washington gives no credit for a New Jersey master electrician license. You qualify from scratch.
Reference only, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the licensing board before you apply. Full disclaimer.
No out-of-state credit toward the master certificate
Your out-of-state credentials give no advantage. You meet the destination's requirements from scratch.
An out-of-state master or journeyman license gives no advantage toward the Washington Master Electrician (01) certificate. RCW 19.28.191(1)(a) requires four years holding a valid journey level certificate, L&I's master electrician page requires four years certified as a general journey level electrician with L&I, and WAC 296-46B-945 states that no credit may be applied from out-of-state toward qualifying for the master examination. The applicant must first obtain the Washington journey level (01) certificate (by exam, or by reciprocity from Oregon), hold it for four years, and then apply for and pass the master exam, which is scheduled with PSI after L&I approval. The open-book master exam has NEC and theory, major load calculations, and Washington laws and rules sections, each passed with at least 70 percent.
Fees listed are what the applicant pays once eligible after four years as a Washington journey level electrician. PSI bills the master exam at a flat rate regardless of how many sections are taken; the rate is set by contract with L&I and is not published, so confirm it with PSI (855-834-8751) when scheduling. Retests within the one-year exam period are billed by the hour.
At a glance
- Trade exam
- Required
- Law / code exam
- Required
- Out-of-state hours
- Do not count
What you must already have
- You must have held your New Jersey license for at least 4 years.
What you'll do to get licensed in Washington
- 1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($204.60). Master electrician exam application fee (includes original certificate and application processing; $44.20 is nonrefundable once submitted).
- 2Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. Washington Master Electrician (01) exam, NEC and theory section and major load calculations section, open book, minimum score 70 percent on each; scheduled with PSI after L&I approval.
- 3Law / code exam. Pass a law, rules, or code exam. Washington laws and rules section on chapter 19.28 RCW and chapter 296-46B WAC, open book, minimum score 70 percent.
- 4Exam fee. Pay the exam fee. Paid to PSI at a flat rate for the full master exam; the rate is set by contract with L&I and is not published. Retests within the one-year exam period are billed by the hour, from $45 for one hour to $105 for seven hours.
Published fees on this path total $204.60, 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
- Law / code exam
- Exam fee
How Washington licenses master electricians
Washington master electrician · “Master Electrician (01)”
Statewide license
Issued by Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, Electrical Program
Washington issues a statewide Master Electrician (01) certificate through the Department of Labor & Industries. To sit the master exam an applicant must have held a valid journey level electrician certificate for four years, and L&I applies this as four years certified as a general journey level electrician with L&I; WAC 296-46B-945 states that no out-of-state credit may be applied toward qualifying for the master exam. Master certificates cannot be obtained through reciprocity, and Washington has no master-level agreement with any state. An out-of-state master electrician therefore first obtains the Washington journey level (01) certificate, holds it for four years, and then takes the master exam. Certificates renew every three years with 24 hours of continuing education.
Common questions
- Do I have to take the Washington master electrician exam if I'm licensed in New Jersey?
- Yes. Washington requires the trade exam on this path, plus a law or code exam.
- How long do I need to have held my New Jersey license?
- At least 4 years before applying.
- What does it cost to get a Washington master electrician license from New Jersey?
- Published fees on this path total $204.60, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
- Do my New Jersey work hours count in Washington?
- No. Washington does not credit out-of-state hours on this path.
- Does it work the other way, from Washington to New Jersey?
- Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from Washington to New Jersey, the mechanism is experience credit.
Sources
- L&I - Electrical Examination · Washington State Department of Labor & Industries · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
- L&I - Master Electrician Certificate · Washington State Department of Labor & Industries · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
- Application for a Reciprocal (01) General Journey Level Electrician Certificate (F500-148-000) · Washington State Department of Labor & Industries · Form · verified September 23, 2026
- Washington Home Inspector Candidate Information Bulletin · PSI Services LLC for the Washington State Department of Licensing · Form · verified September 23, 2026
- RCW 19.28.191 - Certificate of competency - Eligibility for examination - Rules · RCW 19.28.191 · Washington State Legislature · Statute · verified September 23, 2026
- WAC 296-46B-909 - Electrical/telecommunications fees · WAC 296-46B-909 · Washington State Legislature · Admin Rule · verified September 23, 2026
- WAC 296-46B-945 - Qualifying for master, journey level, specialty electrician examinations · WAC 296-46B-945 · Washington State Legislature · Admin Rule · verified September 23, 2026
- WAC 296-46B-960 - Administrator and electrician certificate of competency examinations · WAC 296-46B-960 · Washington State Legislature · Admin Rule · verified September 23, 2026
Verified dates are when a person last opened each source and confirmed the facts above. Cite the board, not us.