Idaho Electrician License Requirements (2026)

The Idaho Electrical Board, housed within the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL), licenses all electrical work in the state under Idaho Code Title 54 Chapter 10. Idaho issues individual credentials at three levels — Registered Apprentice, Journeyman Electrician, and Master Electrician — and a separate Electrical Contractor license for businesses. All electrical installations in Idaho are governed by the National Electrical Code (NEC) as adopted by the Idaho Electrical Board.

Governing Authority

This license is issued and enforced by Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) pursuant to Idaho Code Title 54 (Chapters 10 Electrical, 26 Plumbing, 45 Public Works Contractors, 50 HVAC, 52 Idaho Contractor Registration). DOPL houses the Idaho Contractors Board, Electrical Board, Plumbing Board, and HVAC Board. It issues public works contractor licenses, contractor registrations, and individual trade licenses statewide, administers examinations, and handles discipline.

Official portal: https://dopl.idaho.gov/
Address: 11341 W. Chinden Blvd., Bldg. 4, Boise, ID 83714
Phone: (208) 334-3233

Eligibility Requirements

An applicant qualifies only after meeting the age floor of 18 and producing a valid Social Security Number. No Idaho residency requirement.

Good moral character

DOPL reviews criminal and disciplinary history. Felonies are reviewed individually.

Background investigation

Criminal history disclosure required on the application.

Experience & Education Matrix

Eligibility requires four years and 8,000 hours of electrical construction work performed as a Registered Apprentice under the direct supervision of an Idaho-licensed Journeyman or Master Electrician, plus completion of an approved 576-hour related classroom training program, documented and independently verifiable. Payroll, tax, project, and supervisor records are the usual proof the board will accept.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Idaho Electrical Board apprentice hours affidavit signed by the supervising journeyman or master
Approved apprenticeship school transcripts (576 classroom hours)
W-2 or payroll records covering the qualifying period

Education substitution

Completion of an Idaho Electrical Board approved electrical trade school program may substitute for a portion of the on-the-job hours at the Board's discretion.

Examination Structure

Idaho Electrical Board (examinations administered by DOPL) runs the examination for this credential. Issuance is contingent on passing every part below:

Idaho Journeyman Electrician Examination — National Electrical Code, Idaho electrical law and rules — 100 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 75%
Idaho Master Electrician Examination — NEC, theory, calculations, Idaho law — 100 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 75%

Examination fee: $60 examination fee per attempt paid to DOPL.

Retake policy: Failed examinations may be retaken by paying a new $60 fee. Candidates who fail three consecutive attempts must complete additional Board-approved training before retesting.

Insurance & Financial Security

This credential carries no state-level surety bond requirement under the cited sources. Individual jobs may still trigger a permit or public-works bond, which should be verified before bidding.

General liability

Individual journeyman and master licenses carry no insurance requirement. Idaho Electrical Contractor licenses require general liability insurance meeting Board rules.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation is mandatory under Idaho Code Title 72 for any electrical business with employees.

Additional financial requirements

Not required for individual journeyman or master credentials.

Application and License Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$60
Examination	$60
Initial license	$60
Renewal (every year)	$40

Maintenance & Renewal

Expect to renew the Idaho Journeyman and Master Electrician License every year. Renewal currently costs $40. Journeyman and Master licenses renew annually on the licensee's birthday.

Continuing education: Sixteen hours of Idaho Electrical Board approved continuing education, including NEC updates, each renewal cycle.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Idaho Electrician License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and Endorsement

Idaho does not accept the NASCLA Accredited Examination for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Montana	Journeyman and Master trade exams waived	Active Montana journeyman or master in good standing.
Oregon	Journeyman trade exam waived	Active Oregon general journeyman in good standing.
Wyoming	Trade exam waived	Active Wyoming journeyman or master in good standing.
Utah	Trade exam waived	Active Utah journeyman or master in good standing.

Idaho Electrical Board maintains bilateral reciprocity agreements with several neighboring states for journeyman and master credentials.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares Electrician license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

Step-by-Step Application Roadmap

Register as an Idaho Apprentice Electrician. File the DOPL apprentice registration before starting work. Renew annually.
Complete 8,000 hours and 576 classroom hours. Four years of supervised work plus approved related classroom training.
Submit the Idaho Journeyman Electrician application. Include the hours affidavit and classroom transcripts with the $60 exam fee.
Pass the Journeyman examination at 75%. NEC and Idaho law and rules closed-book reference except for the NEC.
Work two years as an Idaho Journeyman. Accumulate 4,000 hours of journey-level experience before applying for Master.
Pass the Master Electrician examination at 75%. Advanced NEC, theory, calculations, and Idaho law.
Obtain an Idaho Electrical Contractor license (if self-employed). File a separate Board application with insurance proof.

Study and Reference Materials

The references below are either cited by the board, used during the application, or standard preparation for the trade. They are listed purely for convenience — CLR earns no commission on any of them.

National Electrical Code (current Idaho-adopted edition) — National Fire Protection Association. Primary reference. Open-book on the exam.
Idaho Code Title 54 Chapter 10 and IDAPA 24.39.10 — State of Idaho. Idaho electrical law and rules.
Tom Henry's Key Word Index to the NEC — Tom Henry. Common study aid for finding NEC articles quickly.

Common Filing Mistakes

Drawn from the board instructions and sources cited on this page, the pitfalls below are the ones most likely to slow down or sink a Idaho Electrician application.

Working unregistered

Performing any electrical work in Idaho without at least a Registered Apprentice credential is a disciplinary violation.

Missing classroom hours

The 576 related classroom hours are mandatory. On-the-job hours alone do not qualify.

Failing to renew apprentice registration

Apprentice registrations must be renewed annually; lapsed registrations invalidate accumulated hours.

Confusing the journeyman and master paths

Master requires 4,000 additional hours of journey-level work after obtaining the journeyman credential.

Skipping continuing education

Sixteen hours of Board-approved CE per year is mandatory. DOPL audits randomly.

Pre-Submission Checklist

These are the pieces to lock down before filing with DOPL:

☐ Idaho Apprentice Electrician registration before starting work
☐ 8,000 hours of supervised electrical construction experience
☐ 576 hours of approved related classroom training
☐ Idaho Journeyman Electrician application with $60 fee
☐ Passing score (75%) on the Journeyman examination
☐ Additional 4,000 journey-level hours for Master eligibility
☐ Passing score (75%) on the Master examination

Other Idaho Trade Licenses

Should the Electrician path not apply, these other Idaho trade guides from CLR may help:

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work as an electrician in Idaho without a license?

No. Every person performing electrical work must hold at least a Registered Apprentice credential and work under a licensed journeyman or master.

How many hours does Idaho require for the Journeyman exam?

Four years and 8,000 hours of supervised experience plus 576 hours of approved classroom training.

Which code does Idaho use?

The National Electrical Code (NEC) as adopted by the Idaho Electrical Board.

Does Idaho reciprocate with other states?

Yes. Idaho has bilateral agreements with Montana, Oregon, Wyoming, and Utah.

How often do Idaho electrician licenses renew?

Every year. Continuing education is required.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-04-19 · Next scheduled review 2026-07-18