How to Get Your Journeyman Electrician License in Washington

The First Step: Obtaining Your Electrical Trainee Certificate

Before you can log a single hour of professional experience, your journey begins with a mandatory first step: registering with L&I to get your electrical trainee certificate. According to the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, you cannot legally perform electrical work or accrue qualifying hours toward your license until you hold this certificate. This initial phase is where you learn the trade under the direct supervision of a certified journeyman or master electrician, building the foundational skills for your entire career.

To register, you must be at least 16 years old. Your trainee certificate must be renewed every two years, and this renewal requires completing at least 24 hours of approved basic trainee classes annually (totaling 48 hours over two years). It’s crucial to check the L&I website for approved education, as both in-person and approved online basic trainee classes are available.

The Core Requirements: Documenting Hours and Education

The path to becoming a journey-level electrician is built on two pillars: extensive on-the-job training and formal education. The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries has set clear, rigorous standards that you must meet before you can even apply for the journeyman exam.

Accumulating 8,000 On-the-Job Hours

To qualify for the General Journeyman (EL01) examination, you must document 8,000 on-the-job hours of supervised experience as a trainee. This typically takes about four years of full-time work. Critically, L&I specifies that at least 4,000 of these hours must be in commercial electrical experience or industrial settings. This ensures that journeyman electricians possess a versatile skill set that goes beyond basic residential work.

Completing Classroom Instruction

In addition to field experience, trainees on a non-apprenticeship path must complete 96 hours of L&I-approved basic classroom instruction (typically 24 hours per year over four years) from an approved electrician school or program to be eligible to sit for the exam. This education covers foundational electrical theory, safety, and code requirements, providing the technical knowledge behind your practical skills. For those on a formal apprenticeship track, the educational requirements are integrated into the program and can total 576 hours or more over several years.

A Major Shift: The Move to Apprenticeship Programs

A crucial update to licensing has changed the training landscape. As of July 1, 2023, Washington has moved toward an apprenticeship-only model for those pursuing the (01) journeyman license. According to L&I, trainees with fewer than 3,000 hours of experience must now be enrolled in a state-registered apprenticeship program to perform and log hours for general journeyman work. This shift formalizes the training process, combining structured on-the-job learning with related classroom instruction. While there are some exceptions for trainees who had already logged significant hours before the deadline, this new rule underscores the state’s commitment to structured, comprehensive training programs.

Passing the Journeyman Electrician Exam Washington

Once L&I has approved your documented hours and education, you are eligible to take the final step: the journeyman electrician exam Washington administers. This exam, managed by a third-party testing center called PSI, is the ultimate test of your knowledge and competency.

The EL01 journeyman exam is an open-book test that requires you to demonstrate mastery of two key documents: the National Electrical Code (NEC) and the Washington Administrative Code (WAC). You’ll need to be proficient in navigating these dense codebooks to answer questions on everything from load calculations to safety protocols. A passing score of 70% is required to earn your license.

• Proficiency with the NEC is non-negotiable. Understanding concepts like dwelling unit load calculations is essential for residential work.
• For commercial applications, you’ll need a firm grasp of topics such as motor conductor sizing.
• Practical skills like calculating outlet box dimensions are also heavily tested.

Beyond the Journeyman: Advancing Your Career

Earning your journeyman license is a massive achievement, but it’s not the end of the road. Washington offers several pathways for career advancement.

• Residential Electrician (EL02): If you prefer to focus solely on home wiring, the residential electrician license offers a faster path. It requires 4,000 on-the-job hours and completion of approved basic classroom courses, which often totals 48 hours or more.
• Master Electrician License: After holding a journeyman (01) certificate for four years, you become eligible to test for a master electrician license. This credential allows you to supervise jobs and plan complex projects.
• Electrical Administrator: This separate certification allows you to oversee an electrical contractor’s operations to ensure compliance, though an administrator cannot perform installations without also holding an electrician certificate.

Washington also has an Oregon reciprocity agreement for the general journeyman license, allowing qualified Oregon electricians to transfer their license without re-testing, provided they meet specific criteria like having completed a formal apprenticeship.

Staying Certified: Continuing Education Requirements

Your license must be renewed every three years. To keep it active, the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries requires you to complete 24 hours of continuing education units (CEUs). The breakdown is specific: 8 hours must cover NEC updates, 4 hours must be on RCW/WAC changes, and the final 12 hours can be on other industry-related topics. This ensures you stay current with evolving technology and safety standards. When your renewal is due, ExpertCE offers a full suite of state-approved courses to meet your L&I electrical license CEU needs. Take the next step in your professional development and browse our courses today.