Utah to Virginia: master electrician license reciprocity
Virginia has no reciprocity agreement with Utah. A Utah master electrician applies by endorsement.
Reference only, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the licensing board before you apply. Full disclaimer.
Universal License Recognition for out-of-state masters (all other states)
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 master electrician licensed by any state without a reciprocal agreement applies on the Tradesman Universal License Recognition form for a 'Licensed Master Electrical (ELE)' license, which DPOR issues without the Virginia trade examination. The Tradesman ULR form requires that the current out-of-state master license has been held for at least one year, that the licensing state required an examination and required education, training or experience to obtain it, that there are no unresolved complaints or pending investigations, and that a Certification of Licensure/Letter of Good Standing dated within 90 days is sent directly by every state board that has licensed the applicant. DPOR reserves the right to require an exam specific to Virginia law (Va. Code 54.1-205). The ULR application fee is $171.75, which includes the technology fee added by 2026 House Bill 30. A master who has held the license less than one year instead files the standard Tradesman Exam & License Application ($171.75), where 'individuals currently certified or licensed as a journeyman or a master by a governing body located outside the Commonwealth' is an accepted qualification to sit the PSI master exam ($125) with no experience documentation; the license verification must show the license number, initial date, expiration, means of licensure and disciplinary history.
Whether DPOR actually imposes a Virginia-law exam on tradesman ULR applicants is not stated in its published materials. The contractor business license (Class A/B/C) is a separate application with its own exams and is not covered here.
At a glance
- Trade exam
- Waived
- Law / code exam
- Not required
- Out-of-state hours
- Count toward eligibility
What you must already have
- You must have held your Utah license for at least 1 year.Current out-of-state master license held at least 1 year (Tradesman ULR form, 2026 version)
- Your Utah license must have been obtained by examination, not by reciprocity or grandfathering.
- Your Utah license must be active and in good standing.
- You must have no disciplinary action or unresolved complaints on your record.
What you'll do to get licensed in Virginia
- 1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($171.75). Tradesman Universal License Recognition application fee (form A501-2710ULR); includes the $7.25/year technology fee; non-refundable.
- 2Other. Certification of Licensure/Letter of Good Standing from each state board where licensed, sent directly to the Board for Contractors - Tradesmen Program and dated within 90 days.
- 3Law / code exam. Pass a law, rules, or code exam (if applicable). DPOR may require an examination specific to Virginia law under Va. Code 54.1-205.
- 4Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam (if applicable). Only for applicants who do not meet the ULR criteria: PSI Virginia master electrical exam ($125) via the Tradesman Exam & License Application ($171.75), for which an out-of-state journeyman or master license is itself the qualification.
Published fees on this path total $171.75, 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.
- Law / code exam · if applicable
- Trade exam · if applicable
How Virginia licenses master electricians
Virginia master electrician · “Master Electrical Tradesman (ELE)”
Statewide license
Issued by Virginia Board for Contractors, Tradesmen Program (DPOR)
Virginia issues a statewide Master Electrical tradesman license to individuals through the Board for Contractors' Tradesmen Program at DPOR. Under 18VAC50-30-39 a first-time applicant qualifies for the PSI master exam ($125) with one year of practical experience as a licensed journeyman, three years as a Virginia residential tradesman, or nine years of verified practical experience in the trade; the application fee on the 2026 form is $171.75 including the technology fee. A current journeyman or master license from another state is itself an accepted qualification to sit the master exam, and a master licensed elsewhere for at least one year may apply through Universal License Recognition and receive the license without the Virginia trade exam. The Board has master-level examination reciprocity agreements with Alabama, the District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio and West Virginia. The master tradesman license is a personal qualification; contracting for work over $1,000 requires a separate Class A, B or C contractor business license from the same Board, and the North Carolina and Ohio agreements also cover that business license's exams.
Common questions
- Do I have to take the Virginia master electrician exam if I'm licensed in Utah?
- No. The trade exam is waived on this path.
- How long do I need to have held my Utah license?
- At least 1 year before applying.
- What does it cost to get a Virginia master electrician license from Utah?
- Published fees on this path total $171.75, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
- Do my Utah work hours count in Virginia?
- Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward Virginia's eligibility requirements.
Sources
- 18VAC50-30-100 - Examination fees · 18VAC50-30-100 · Virginia Board for Contractors / Virginia Register · Admin Rule · verified September 23, 2026
- 18VAC50-30-39 - Qualifications for examination approval for a tradesman license · 18VAC50-30-39 · Virginia Board for Contractors / Virginia Register · Admin Rule · verified September 23, 2026
- 18VAC50-30-90 - Fees for licensure and certification · 18VAC50-30-90 · Virginia Board for Contractors / Virginia Register · Admin Rule · verified September 23, 2026
- Va. Code 54.1-103 - Additional training of regulated persons; reciprocity; endorsement · Va. Code 54.1-103(B)-(C) · Virginia General Assembly · Statute · verified September 15, 2026
- Virginia Board for Contractors - Reciprocal Licensing/Examination Agreements with Other Jurisdictions · Virginia Board for Contractors (DPOR) · Agreement Document · verified September 17, 2026
- Form A501-2710EXLIC - Tradesman Exam & License Application (v8, 07/01/2026) · Virginia Board for Contractors (DPOR) · Form · verified September 23, 2026
- DPOR Board for Contractors - Tradesman Licensing Information and Application Instructions · Va. Code 54.1-1128 through 54.1-1131 · Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation · Other · verified September 23, 2026
- Form A501-2710ULR - Tradesman Universal License Recognition Application (v4, 07/01/2026) · Virginia Board for Contractors (DPOR) · Form · verified September 23, 2026
- DPOR Board for Contractors - Tradesmen Program · Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
- Universal License Recognition - Virginia DPOR · Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation · Agency Page · verified September 17, 2026
Verified dates are when a person last opened each source and confirmed the facts above. Cite the board, not us.