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How to get a Journeyman Electrician license in Idaho

Idaho licenses electricians statewide through the Idaho Electrical Board.1 For the Journeyman Electrician license you need at least 8,000 hours of on-the-job training2 and a passing score on the Idaho journeyman electrician examination2. The board lists $15 for the application3 and $55 for the initial license3, each a separate charge. You renew every 3 years3.

Last checked · 12 official sources

Who issues it

Idaho Electrical Board

Training and experience

Experience: at least 8,000 hours of on-the-job training2

Exam

Idaho journeyman electrician examination2

Fees the board lists

Application fee: $153
Initial license fee: $553

Renewal

Every 3 years3

From another state

Reciprocity agreements1 Details

On this page
  1. Idaho electrician licenses
  2. Applies to every license level
  3. Who needs a Journeyman Electrician license
  4. Requirements for a Journeyman Electrician license
  5. How to apply
  6. Renewal and continuing education
  7. Apprentice Electrician registration
  8. Limited Electrical Installer Trainee
  9. Provisional Journeyman Electrician
  10. Limited Electrical Installer
  11. Residential Electrician
  12. Master Electrician
  13. Electrical Contractor
  14. Limited Electrical Contractor
  15. Check a license or report a problem
  16. Laws and rules
  17. Rule changes since January 2024
  18. Common questions
  19. Electrician licenses in other states

Idaho electrician licenses

Idaho issues 9 electrician credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

LicenseWhat it coversTraining or experienceExamApplication or license fee
Apprentice Electrician (registration)Learns the trade while installing under constant on-the-job supervision of a residential, journeyman or master electrician; must be registered with DOPL for hours to count.4–No1$153
Limited Electrical Installer TraineeInstalls restricted categories of wiring under constant on-the-job supervision of a qualified limited electrical installer.4–No4$153
Provisional Journeyman ElectricianWorks under constant on-the-job supervision of a residential, journeyman or master electrician while waiting to pass the residential or journeyman exam.4Experience 16,000 hours2No2$153
Journeyman ElectricianPerforms or supervises the physical installation of electrical wiring and equipment, and plans, lays out or designs such wiring.4Experience 8,000 hours2Yes2$153
Limited Electrical InstallerInstalls, alters and repairs special classes of electrical wiring within one restricted category adopted by the board; must be employed by a contractor in the same category.4Experience 4,000 hours2Yes1$153
Residential ElectricianInstalls or supervises electrical wiring in a residential setting (1-2 family dwellings, townhouses, multi-family up to 3 stories); may work elsewhere only as a registered apprentice under a journeyman.4Training 2 years1
Experience 4,000 hours1		Yes1$153
Master ElectricianPlans, lays out or designs electrical installations, or supervises that work.4Experience 4 years1Yes1$153
Electrical ContractorBusiness that installs or contracts to install wiring, equipment or apparatus carrying electric current; includes maintenance and repair work unless exempt.4–Yes2$153
Limited Electrical ContractorBusiness that installs, alters or repairs restricted categories of electrical work adopted by the board, only within the licensed category.4–Yes2$153

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for several of the Idaho electrician licenses on this page, so they are shown once here, with the licenses they apply to. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

1. Every license level (all 9)

Fees

FeeAmountPaid to
Application fee$153Idaho Electrical Board

How to apply

  1. Create a DOPL online customer account and file the license application on eDOPL (after passing the exam where one is required).5 edopl.idaho.gov3
Apply online
edopl.idaho.gov3

Renewal

Renew online
edopl.idaho.gov3

From another state

Military service members, veterans and spouses: DOPL gives service members, veterans and spouses expedited processing and credit for relevant military training (Idaho Code 67-9401 to 67-9407); active members may get renewal fee waivers (67-2606).6

2. Every license level except Residential Electrician

How to apply

  1. Pay the $15 application fee and the license fee shown in the board fee table.3

3. Every license level except Apprentice Electrician (registration), Electrical Contractor and Limited Electrical Contractor

Renewal

When it expires
Renew during the final month of the licensing period (DOPL also allows renewal up to 60 days before expiry); outstanding civil penalties, permit fees and correction notices must be cleared first.7
If it expires
An expired license or registration can be revived within one year of the end of the licensing period by paying the revival (reinstatement) fee plus any outstanding civil penalties and permit fees.8

4. Every license level except Apprentice Electrician (registration), Limited Electrical Installer Trainee and Provisional Journeyman Electrician

Fees

The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee; check it with the exam provider, PSI5, when you schedule.

How to apply

  1. Register with PSI online, schedule and pay for the Idaho exam, and bring your own reference materials.5

5. Journeyman Electrician, Limited Electrical Installer Trainee, Limited Electrical Installer and Master Electrician

Renewal

How often
Every 3 years3

6. Journeyman Electrician, Limited Electrical Installer, Residential Electrician and Master Electrician

From another state

Route
Reciprocity agreements
What the board says
DOPL may license electricians from states with at least equal qualifications without a written exam, on the Idaho Electrical Board's recommendation and payment of the fee.1
States on Idaho's list
The pages cited here give no list of partner states for this route; the board's words above say who qualifies. Ask the board which states it has agreements with.
Conditions
Applicant must prove qualifications at least equal to Idaho's exam requirements.1

7. Journeyman Electrician, Provisional Journeyman Electrician and Limited Electrical Installer

Fees

FeeAmountPaid to
Initial license fee$553Idaho Electrical Board

8. Journeyman Electrician, Limited Electrical Installer and Master Electrician

Renewal

Renewal fee
$453 (Per 3 years term)
Late renewal
Reinstatement fee: $553 (expired license revived within 1 year)

9. Journeyman Electrician, Residential Electrician and Master Electrician

Renewal

Required topics
Statutory hook: renewal requires proof of any continuing education the board has established for journeyman and master electricians.9

10. Apprentice Electrician (registration), Limited Electrical Installer Trainee and Provisional Journeyman Electrician

Requirements

Exam
Not required142

From another state

Route
No reciprocity
What the board says
No reciprocity route is published for this registration or license; Idaho Code 54-1007(6) reciprocity covers electricians licensed in other states.1

11. Apprentice Electrician (registration), Electrical Contractor and Limited Electrical Contractor

Renewal

How often
Every 2 years3
When it expires
DOPL is moving licenses with renewal periods shorter than two years to a 2-year cycle from October 30, 2026; business licenses then expire on the original issue date and individual registrations on the holder's birthday, and renewal fees double to cover two years.7

12. Limited Electrical Installer Trainee, Limited Electrical Installer and Limited Electrical Contractor

Requirements

Also required
Restricted categories in IDAPA 24.39.10.200.05: elevator/escalator; sign; manufacturing or assembling equipment; limited energy; irrigation sprinkler; well driller and installer; water pump installer; refrigeration, heating and air-conditioning; outside wireman (lineman apprenticeship); solar photovoltaic (NABCEP or equivalent).2

13. Apprentice Electrician (registration) and Limited Electrical Installer Trainee

Fees

FeeAmountPaid to
Initial license fee$303Idaho Electrical Board

Renewal

Late renewal
Reinstatement fee: $303 (expired license revived within 1 year)

14. Electrical Contractor and Limited Electrical Contractor

Requirements

Insurance
Proof of $300,000 liability insurance and workers' compensation insurance if applicable, before the license is issued.4
Business requirements
Must designate one supervising electrician (master, journeyman, residential or limited installer) who cannot represent any other contractor; the contractor's scope equals the supervising electrician's.2
Business requirements
If the supervising electrician leaves, notify DOPL in writing within 10 business days; no permits or installations until a new one is designated.2
Business requirements
An individual contractor may act as their own supervising electrician if they hold an active master, journeyman, residential or limited installer license.2

Fees

FeeAmountPaid to
Initial license fee$2503Idaho Electrical Board
Processing fee to convert inactive license to active$308Idaho Electrical Board

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

How to apply

  1. Designate one supervising electrician and provide proof of $300,000 liability insurance (and workers' compensation if applicable).2

Renewal

Renewal fee
$2003 (Per 2 years term)
Late renewal
Reinstatement fee: $2253 (expired license revived within 1 year)
If it expires
An expired license or registration can be revived within one year of the end of the licensing period by paying the revival (reinstatement) fee plus any outstanding civil penalties and permit fees.8
Contractors renewing must show $300,000 liability insurance and workers' compensation if applicable.8
Contractors not working in Idaho can renew on inactive status for one year at a time; reactivation needs the $30 processing fee and proof of insurance.8

From another state

Route
No reciprocity
What the board says
Idaho Code 54-1007(6) reciprocity applies to electricians, not contractor businesses; no contractor reciprocity is published.1

Who needs a Journeyman Electrician license

Performs or supervises the physical installation of electrical wiring and equipment, and plans, lays out or designs such wiring.4

Work that does not need this license:

  • No license needed for a property owner doing noncommercial electrical work on their own primary or secondary residence and associated outbuildings.10
  • No license needed for a maintenance electrician doing like-for-like maintenance and replacement on the employer's own premises.10

Requirements for a Journeyman Electrician license

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2, group 3, group 4, group 5, group 6, group 7, group 8 and group 9 under Applies to every license level.

Education or training
Four-year sequence of related instruction for electrical apprentices approved by the Idaho Division (State Board) of Career Technical Education, evidenced by a certificate from an approved provider (route (a) only).1
Who may teach it: Board-approved apprenticeship programs (colleges, JATCs, employers) are listed by DOPL.11
Alternative: 16,000 hours of electrical experience replaces the course.2
Experience
At least 8,000 hours of on-the-job training2
Route (a): 8,000 hours as an apprentice making electrical installations plus completion of a 4-year sequence of instruction approved by Idaho Career-Technical Education.2
Supervision: Apprentice hours count only while registered with DOPL as an apprentice, under constant on-the-job supervision of a residential, journeyman or master electrician.1
Substitute: No more than 2,000 hours earned as a limited electrical installer or trainee count; appliance repair, motor winding and communications work do not count.2
Experience
At least 16,000 hours of on-the-job training2
Route (b): 16,000 hours (8 years) of electrical experience, without the apprenticeship course.1
Exam
Idaho journeyman electrician examination2
Given by: PSI5
When you can take it: After completing the approved 4-year course or 16,000 hours of experience.2
Also required
Workers who were not registered as apprentices can ask the board to credit unregistered hours with an Active Registration Waiver Request filed with the journeyman application (W-2s or military records required).12

How to apply

Temporary or provisional license
A provisional journeyman license (6 months) is available to applicants with 16,000 hours who have not yet passed the exam.2

Renewal and continuing education

Renewal planner

Enter the expiration date printed on your Idaho Journeyman Electrician license. The count is worked out on your device from today's date; nothing is sent anywhere.

Apprentice Electrician registration

Learns the trade while installing under constant on-the-job supervision of a residential, journeyman or master electrician; must be registered with DOPL for hours to count.4

Requirements

Education or training
Enrolment in board-approved related instruction (apprenticeship program) leading to the journeyman or residential course certificate.1
Who may teach it: Board Approved Apprenticeship Programs list (DOPL).11
Also required
High school students in a board-recognized program doing supervised residential work under permit are exempt from apprentice registration, but those hours do not count toward apprentice work requirements.10

Renewal

Renewal fee
$303 (Per 2 years term)
If it expires
An expired license or registration can be revived within one year of the end of the licensing period by paying the revival (reinstatement) fee plus any outstanding civil penalties and permit fees.8
Apprentice registration renewal requires proof of the apprentice instruction and work requirements set by the board.8

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2, group 10, group 11 and group 13 under Applies to every license level.

Limited Electrical Installer Trainee

Installs restricted categories of wiring under constant on-the-job supervision of a qualified limited electrical installer.4

Renewal

Renewal fee
$253 (Per 3 years term)

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2, group 3, group 5, group 10, group 12 and group 13 under Applies to every license level.

Provisional Journeyman Electrician

Works under constant on-the-job supervision of a residential, journeyman or master electrician while waiting to pass the residential or journeyman exam.4

Requirements

Experience
At least 16,000 hours of on-the-job training2
16,000 hours of electrical experience; exam not yet passed.2

Renewal

How often
Every 6 months3
Renewal fee
$453 (Per 6 months term)

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2, group 3, group 7 and group 10 under Applies to every license level.

Limited Electrical Installer

Installs, alters and repairs special classes of electrical wiring within one restricted category adopted by the board; must be employed by a contractor in the same category.4

Requirements

Experience
At least 4,000 hours of on-the-job training2
4,000 hours of work experience in the same limited category.2
Substitute: Outside wireman applicants need a completed lineman apprenticeship (US DOL approved or similar); solar PV applicants need NABCEP PV installer certification or equivalent.2
Exam
Idaho limited electrical installer examination (by category)1
Given by: PSI5

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2, group 3, group 4, group 5, group 6, group 7, group 8 and group 12 under Applies to every license level.

Residential Electrician

Installs or supervises electrical wiring in a residential setting (1-2 family dwellings, townhouses, multi-family up to 3 stories); may work elsewhere only as a registered apprentice under a journeyman.4

Requirements

Education or training
2 years1
Two-year course of related instruction for residential electrical apprentices approved by the Idaho Electrical Board and Career Technical Education.1
Experience
At least 4,000 hours of on-the-job training1
4,000 hours of electrical experience as an Idaho-registered apprentice (or per the rules of the jurisdiction where earned); the hours also count toward journeyman.1
Exam
Idaho residential electrician examination1
Given by: PSI5

How to apply

  1. Pay the $15 application fee and the license fee (the residential fee is not shown in the board table).3

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 3, group 4, group 6 and group 9 under Applies to every license level.

Master Electrician

Plans, lays out or designs electrical installations, or supervises that work.4

Requirements

Experience
At least 4 years1
At least 4 years working as a licensed journeyman electrician, plus any hours set by board rule.1
License you must hold first: Licensed journeyman electrician experience; once issued, a master does not also need to hold a journeyman license (DOPL issues one at no cost).2
Exam
Idaho master electrician examination1
Given by: PSI5

Fees

FeeAmountPaid to
Initial license fee$653Idaho Electrical Board

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2, group 3, group 4, group 5, group 6, group 8 and group 9 under Applies to every license level.

Electrical Contractor

Business that installs or contracts to install wiring, equipment or apparatus carrying electric current; includes maintenance and repair work unless exempt.4

Requirements

Exam
Idaho electrical contractor examination2
Given by: PSI5

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2, group 4, group 11 and group 14 under Applies to every license level.

Limited Electrical Contractor

Business that installs, alters or repairs restricted categories of electrical work adopted by the board, only within the licensed category.4

Requirements

Exam
Idaho limited electrical contractor examination2
Given by: PSI5
Business requirements
A limited installer may only countersign a limited contractor application within the same restricted category.2

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2, group 4, group 11, group 12 and group 14 under Applies to every license level.

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire an electrician in Idaho, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in Idaho is on the Idaho license lookup page.

Look up a license
edopl.idaho.gov3
File a complaint
edopl.idaho.gov3

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

Rule changes since January 2024

  • November 6, 2026: Apprentice registration moved to a 2-year term: fee table now shows $30 license / $30 renewal / $30 reinstatement for 2 years.3 Contractor moved to a 2-year term: $250 license / $200 renewal / $225 reinstatement.3 Limited Contractor moved to a 2-year term: $250 license / $200 renewal / $225 reinstatement.3

Common questions

How long does it take to get a Journeyman Electrician license in Idaho?

The rules set at least 8,000 hours of on-the-job training2 before you can be licensed. The board does not publish how long it takes to process an application.

Can I transfer my electrician license to Idaho?

The Idaho Electrical Board publishes this route for the Journeyman Electrician license: reciprocity agreements1. Conditions and forms.

How often do you renew a Journeyman Electrician license in Idaho?

Every 3 years3. The renewal fee is $453.

Electrician licenses in other states

Sources

Every number and rule above links to one of these official pages. Select a footnote number to read the board's own words.

  1. Idaho Code 54-1007 Issuance of licenses - ReciprocityIdaho State LegislatureChecked November 7, 2026
  2. IDAPA 24.39.10 Rules of the Idaho Electrical BoardIdaho Office of the Administrative Rules CoordinatorChecked November 7, 2026
  3. Idaho Electrical Board (home, fee table)Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional LicensesDated November 6, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
  4. Idaho Code 54-1003A DefinitionsIdaho State LegislatureChecked November 7, 2026
  5. Program Information and ExamsIdaho Division of Occupational and Professional LicensesDated August 5, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
  6. Military Service Members & SpousesIdaho Division of Occupational and Professional LicensesChecked November 7, 2026
  7. Big changes are on the way (biennial licensure)Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional LicensesDated October 8, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
  8. Idaho Code 54-1013 Renewal of licenses or registrationsIdaho State LegislatureChecked November 7, 2026
  9. Idaho Administrative Bulletin Vol. 24-10 (Oct 2, 2024), Docket 24-3910-2402 proposed rule, pp. 272-275Idaho Office of the Administrative Rules CoordinatorDated October 2, 2024Checked November 7, 2026
  10. Idaho Code 54-1016 ExemptionsIdaho State LegislatureChecked November 7, 2026
  11. Board Approved Apprentice ProgramsIdaho Division of Occupational and Professional LicensesChecked November 7, 2026
  12. Active Registration Waiver RequestIdaho Division of Occupational and Professional LicensesChecked November 7, 2026