How To Become A Licensed Electrician In Washington

An electrician’s employment is more than a job; it’s a strong career path. Electrical contractors have a diverse range of job choices and make a decent living. Clients will always require competent trade specialists to build and service power equipment in their households and workplaces, ensuring employment stability.

It requires a while to become an electrician, but you will be paid as you study and acquire experience!

Table of Contents

Types of electrician licenses in WA

These are the major types.

Journeyman Electrician
Master Electrician
Electrical Administrator

Electrical Contractor
Specialty Electrician Contractor

How to Obtain a Washington Electrician’s License?

To become a journeyman engineer, you’ll need to get the requisite job experience and instructional practices.

Check for a journeyman electrician license.
To become a master electrician or an electrical manager, you must first get a senior electrician or an electrical administration license.
Become a self-employed electrician.

Program Prerequisites: Program preconditions differ depending on the kind of licensure. However, most programs demand that you be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or Equivalent, a legal driver’s license, and complete an assessment exam.

On-the-Job Training: You’ll learn about electrical standards, as well as arithmetic and scientific fundamentals, while on the job. Electricians must have excellent vision, hand-eye coordination, and time management abilities. They must also have independence, physical stamina, and logical problem-solving skills. Electricians also study blueprints, circuit diagrams, and other technical papers.

GET THE REQUIRED EXPERIENCE: To begin the process of becoming a qualified electrician, you must first sign up to join the WDLI as an electrical apprentice.

Note: Beginning July 20, 2023, all students must finish a state-approved electrical apprentice program. You can start gaining the requisite 8,000 hours of on-the-job training and 96 hours of training sessions after submitting the $46 electrician apprentice processing fee.

Take The Journeyman Electrician Test:

Once you’ve met the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries’ (WDLI) license criteria, you’re entitled to take the PSI Exams journeyman electrical assessment.

The journeyman electrician test has 77 problems, and a minimum score of 70% is required to pass. For additional information about the licensure test, see the candidate informational bulletin.

Every three years, the journeyman electrician license must be renewed, as well as 24 hours of ongoing training on areas such as:

Eight hours on the most recent updates to the National Electrical Code (NEC).

Four hours on the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) and the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) (WAC)

The remaining 12 hours of CEUs can be used for any authorized course.

Earn A Master Electrician Or Electrical Administrator License

The Washington licensing authority requires working with a journeyman license for at least four years before applying for a master electrician or electrical administration license through a PSI Examinations testing center. There are 100 problems on the master electrician test, and 92 topics on the electrical administration exam, and a qualifying grade of at least 70% is required for both.

Master electricians in Washington must pay $137.90 every three years to renew their license and complete 24 hours of continuing education on topics such as:
Eight sessions on the most recent updates to the National Electrical Code (NEC).

Four hours on the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) and the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) (WAC)
The remaining 12 hours of CEUs can be used for any authorized course.

Get A License To Work As An Individual Electric Contractor:

You can provide your service to the public, recruit electricians, and manage your own company as an impartial electrical contractor in Washington. An electrical contractor’s license does not need an examination; all you would want is a valid master engineer or electric administration license.

Details on the Washington Electrician Licensing Exam

The 77 open-book questions on the Washington electrical journeyman test must be solved in four hours. To pass in Washington, you must get a score of at least 70%, and the WDLI has to practice tests accessible.

The following are examples of exam topics:

Services for wiring and security

Protection against overloads

The importance of anchoring and connecting cannot be overstated.

Methods of cabling
Electrical apparatus

Engines, air conditioning, compressors, and inverters
Machinery
Dangerous environments

Occupations with unique characteristics
Special equipment
Standby & disaster

Special circumstances
Form of communication
Washington’s laws and regulations

Calculations for major loads
Electrical theory and general trade knowledge

The master electrician test has 100 multiple-choice questions that must be answered within seven hours and covers the same topics as the journeyman electrician exam.

To pass the exam, you must have a score of at least 70%. The WDLI has to practice tests accessible.

Electrician Licensing in Washington: How Much Does It Cost?

In Washington, the majority of electrical schools provide two-year programs. In-state students pay $3,461 per year in tuition, including books and other study materials. If you wish to become a journeyman, master electrician, or electrical contractor, you should also pay test and licensure costs.

How long does it take to get an electrician’s license in Washington?

In Washington, a journeyman electrician license needs four years of electrical work experience and 96 hours of academic courses. Before applying for a master electrician license, you must have a valid journeyman electrician license for four years.

Reciprocity

Yes! Oregon and Washington have reciprocity agreements in place.

Renewal

Many students ask:

In Washington, when do I need to renew my electrician’s license?

Your Washington electrical license must be renewed every three years. It will take you about $84 to renew your license.

So every three years, you’ll need to renew your certification and show documentation that you’ve completed 24 hours of authorized continuing education courses during that time.

You can quickly become a master electrician after working as a journeyman mechanic in Washington for at least four years.

Insurance

The insurance plan covers treatment expenditures, healthcare charges, and other expenses. It also pays his lost wages due to his inability to work. It aids in protecting the electrical contractor when one of its employees causes harm to the person while traveling.

As an electrician, you’re undoubtedly exposed to a lot of surprising circumstances (ahem, pun intended). Electrical work is risky and time-consuming. When consumers need new cabling connected, electrical wiring maintenance, or upkeep performed, they call you. It doesn’t concern your area of expertise or what solutions you provide; what counts is that you are equipped and willing to help when a client needs an operator.

Electrician insurance may be reasonably priced. Depending on the insurance carrier, the forms of payment for insurance coverage can be as cheap as $29–$45 per month. According to Contractors Liability, an insurance cost of $1 million per claim/$2 million aggregate coverage can range from $833 to $1,318. However, several factors influence insurance prices for electrical contractors, including:

The state or city in which your company has located The size of your company
Annual revenue/gross sales

A prior claim’s history
The number of people you have, the services you provide, and the dangers you incur as a contractor
Whether or not you drive a company car

You decide on the premiums and insurance limitations.

Final Verdict

If you have a master engineer or an electrical administration certification, you can qualify for electrician licensure to be allowed to provide your services to the people on your own. You can register and pay the $306 cost digitally through the WDLI.

Every three years, you’ll have to pay $230 to update your license online. Contractors are not obligated to participate in continuing education, and this is how to become a licensed electrician in WA.

References

https://commercialinsurance.net/electrical-contractors-insurance?sr=green&kw1=12316752870|117369928013|dsa-19959388920|c|&gclid=CjwKCAjw8sCRBhA6EiwA6_IF4f-1oBpqVY8uCovwvKdm6bp3PWiPH4m8JENu-Z1YU1F02JiqkNCYFhoCPjEQAvD_BwE