Virginia to District of Columbia: master electrician license reciprocity
District of Columbia has a reciprocity agreement with Virginia: a Virginia master electrician can get a District of Columbia license without retaking the trade exam.
Reference only, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the licensing board before you apply. Full disclaimer.
Reciprocity with Virginia (master)
A signed state-to-state agreement. The trade exam is waived; you apply, prove your history, and pay the fee.
The Board of Industrial Trades began accepting reciprocity applications from Virginia master electricians on February 8, 2021. A Virginia master electrician who received the license by examination and holds a current active license in good standing is licensed in the District without taking the DC master exam. Apply through the DLCP online portal with a letter of good standing from the Virginia Board for Contractors, a copy of the current Virginia license, a passport-style photo and government ID, and pay the $65 application fee and $120 license fee for a 2-year term.
A Virginia master license obtained by Virginia's own reciprocity or other exam waiver rather than by the Virginia exam does not meet DC's 'received their license by examination' condition.
At a glance
- Trade exam
- Waived
- Law / code exam
- Not required
- Agreement
- Active since February 8, 2021
What you must already have
- Your Virginia license must have been obtained by examination, not by reciprocity or grandfathering.
- Your Virginia license must be active and in good standing.
What you'll do to get licensed in District of Columbia
- 1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($65). Application fee (non-refundable).
- 2License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($120). Master electrician license fee, 2-year term.
- 3Other. Letter of good standing from the Virginia Board for Contractors and a copy of the current Virginia license, uploaded with the online application.
Published fees on this path total $185, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.
How District of Columbia licenses master electricians
District of Columbia master electrician · “Master Electrician”
Statewide license
Issued by DC Board of Industrial Trades (Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection)
The District of Columbia issues a person-held Master Electrician license through the Board of Industrial Trades in the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP). It is the District's highest individual electrician credential; the Board also issues a Master Electrician Limited (low voltage) specialty license with journeyman-level qualifications, and a separate Electrical Contractor business license that requires an electrical bond. Under D.C. Code § 47-2853.92(c) a master applicant must meet the journeyman requirements (a DC Electrical Code class within 2 years and 8,000 apprentice hours over 4 years or equivalent) and in addition have worked as a journeyman electrician for at least 4 years, then pass the PSI-administered master exam. Fees are a $65 application fee and a $120 license fee for a 2-year term ($155 on renewal). Maryland and Virginia master electricians licensed by examination are licensed by reciprocity without the DC exam under a program the Board opened on February 8, 2021.
Compare: getting a District of Columbia license from scratch
Common questions
- Do I have to take the District of Columbia master electrician exam if I'm licensed in Virginia?
- No. The trade exam is waived on this path under the agreement with Virginia.
- What does it cost to get a District of Columbia master electrician license from Virginia?
- Published fees on this path total $185, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
Sources
- 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
- D.C. Code § 47-2853.91 - Scope of practice for electricians · D.C. Code § 47-2853.91 · Council of the District of Columbia · Statute · verified September 15, 2026
- 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
- DCRA bulletin - Changes in Electrician Licensure Through Reciprocity: New Opportunities for MD and VA Electricians (Feb 8, 2021) · District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA), Board of Industrial Trades · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026
- District of Columbia Board of Industrial Trades · District of Columbia Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection · Agency Page · verified September 17, 2026
- 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
Verified dates are when a person last opened each source and confirmed the facts above. Cite the board, not us.