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Electrician · State license

How to become a licensed electrician in Washington, DC

State law and licensing-board sources · Last reviewed October 11, 2026

Journeyman level 8,000 hours on the job + state exam What's a journeyman?

The District of Columbia licenses electricians through the Board of Industrial Trades, part of the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP). You start as a registered apprentice working under a licensed master. To become a journeyman electrician you need at least 8,000 hours over at least 4 years as an apprentice, a class on the District's electrical code taken within the last 2 years, and a passing exam score, unless a completed national apprenticeship lets you skip the exam. A master license adds 4 years as a journeyman. [1][2][3][4]

New to the trade?

Starting from zero in District of Columbia

In the District you start as a registered apprentice electrician working under a licensed master. Get hired by an electrical contractor or accepted into an apprenticeship such as the IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers)/NECA program run by JATC 26 (Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee) or IEC (Independent Electrical Contractors) Chesapeake's open-shop program, then apply online to DLCP for your apprentice registration with proof of that job or school enrollment. DC's own apprenticeship office at the Department of Employment Services (DOES) runs information sessions that walk you through the options. [2][3][8][13][14][17]

  • High school diploma or GED

    Not listed by the District for an apprentice electrician: the law registers apprentices without an exam, and DLCP's instructions say no experience is required. Programs set their own rules: DOES says a diploma or GED (General Educational Development test) is required for most apprenticeship programs The IBEW/NECA Electrical Training Alliance lists a high school education and one year of high school algebra as typical; IEC Chesapeake asks you to upload a high school diploma or GED certificate. [2][3][14][17][19]

  • Minimum age

    The District's occupational licensing law says anyone applying for a license or registration must be at least 18. An older electrical rule still defines an apprentice as at least 16, so confirm with DLCP if you're under 18. The Electrical Training Alliance lists 18 as the typical minimum for union programs. [4][8][19]

  • Register before you start work

    DC rules say no one may employ an unlicensed person to do electrical work, so a helper needs at least the apprentice registration. Apply through DLCP's online application with a 2x2 photo, a government ID and proof of employment or school enrollment Fees are $65 plus $110. [1][3][8]

  • Who you work under

    An apprentice may work only under the direct personal supervision and control of a licensed master electrician or master electrician specialist. [2]

  • Aptitude and math tests

    Union programs typically require a qualifying aptitude test score. JATC 26 schedules aptitude testing after you complete its online application and a Personal Experience Form. IEC Chesapeake requires you to pass a reading and math assessment and an interview. [13][14][19]

  • Driver's license, drug test and documents

    DOES says transportation is required for most construction apprenticeships. Union programs list being drug free. IEC Chesapeake asks for a driver's license or government ID, Social Security card, a letter of recommendation and an OSHA 10 (OSHA 10-hour safety course) construction card, plus a $70 processing fee. [14][17][19]

  • Application windows

    As of October 2026, JATC 26's Inside Wireman application for the 2027 cycle is open until December 31, 2026, or earlier if 4,200 applications are purchased. IEC Chesapeake takes applications year-round To be sure of a seat, apply by July 15 for fall or December 1 for January. [13][14]

  • Pay while you learn

    JATC 26 apprentices start at 45% of the journeyman rate ($27.90 an hour in its table) and get raises as they log hours and school The journeyman rate in Local 26 is $62.00 an hour as of June 1, 2026. IEC Chesapeake enrolls you in classes once you work for an electrical contractor and does not place you with an employer. [12][14]

  • Credit for school or military

    The law also accepts an electrical engineering degree plus 2 years of practical experience certified by a master, or experience the Board deems equivalent. The older DC electrical rule lists 4 years in the Armed Services or Merchant Marine doing electrical work as equivalent experience. [2][8]

  • Still in high school?

    District law lets students in a recognized training program practice a trade as part of a course, under a licensed or qualified teacher. Phelps Architecture, Construction, and Engineering High School, a selective DC public school, offers industry certifications in pathways such as construction and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning). OSSE (Office of the State Superintendent of Education), the District's education agency, runs a paid, credit-bearing Advanced Internship Program for juniors and seniors in career and technical education (CTE) programs, including architecture and construction See OSSE's CTE program resources. No District rule was found that counts high school CTE hours toward a license. [9][20][21][22][23]

Where to apply in District of ColumbiaHow to get an apprenticeshipHelper jobs

Licensing office Board of Industrial Trades, DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) · (202) 671-4500 [1]

District of Columbia electrician license at a glance

Who issues licenses
DC Board of Industrial Trades, Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection DLCP [1][18]
Apprentice registration
No exam or experience $65 application plus $110 for up to 2 years; proof of employment or school enrollment [1][2][3]
Journeyman experience
8,000 hours over at least 4 years as an apprentice, plus a District electrical code class within the last 2 years [2][3]
Journeyman exam
PSI (a testing company), 80 multiple-choice questions, 4 hours, open book, $52 Waived if you completed a nationally certified apprenticeship [2][3][11]
Master experience
Journeyman requirements plus 4 years as a journeyman DLCP's instructions say 8 years and 16,000 hours in all [2][3]
License fees
$65 application $110 apprentice or journeyman, $120 master, $120 contractor (each for up to 2 years) [1]
Renewal
All electrician licenses expire November 30 of odd-numbered years [1][3]
Reciprocity
Journeyman and master electricians licensed by exam in Maryland or Virginia [1][3]
Minimum age
18 under the District's occupational licensing law An older electrical rule says 16 [4][8]
On this page
  1. At a glance
  2. Starting from zero
  3. The license pathway
  4. Who needs a license in the District
  5. The license ladder: apprentice to master
  6. The exam
  7. Fees and renewal
  8. Union and open-shop apprenticeships in the District
  9. If you're licensed in another state
  10. Steps to get licensed
  11. Where to get the hours
  12. Licensed in another state?
  13. Questions people ask

The license pathway in District of Columbia

  1. 1

    Apprentice Electrician

    • $65 application plus $110 (up to 2 years)
    • Expires November 30 of odd-numbered years; $110 renewal

    Your entry registration. DLCP registers you without an exam once you show proof of employment or school enrollment. You may work only under the direct personal supervision and control of a licensed master electrician or master electrician specialist. [1][2][3]

  2. 2

    Journeyman Electrician

    • 8,000 hours on the job
    • 4 years of experience
    • A class on the District's electrical code (Title 12C DCMR) within 2 years before you apply
    • Yes: PSI, 80 multiple-choice questions, 4 hours, open book, $52 (waived after a nationally certified apprenticeship)
    • $65 application plus $110 (up to 2 years)
    • Expires November 30 of odd-numbered years; $110 renewal

    You qualify with at least 8,000 hours over at least 4 years as an apprentice (or an electrical engineering degree plus 2 years of practical experience certified by a master), the code class and the exam. A journeyman certificate from a national certifying organization, such as a trade organization or labor union, can replace the exam and experience requirements. [1][2][3][11]

  3. 3

    Master Electrician

    • 4 years of experience
    • District electrical code class within 2 years before you apply
    • Yes: PSI, 100 multiple-choice questions, 5 hours, open book, $52
    • $65 application plus $120 (up to 2 years)
    • Expires November 30 of odd-numbered years; $155 renewal

    Can lay out, direct and supervise the work of other electricians, and is the person a contractor must designate. You must meet the journeyman requirements and work at least 4 years as a journeyman; DLCP's instructions list 8 years and 16,000 work hours in all. [1][2][3][8][10][11]

  4. 4

    Electrical Contractor

    • $65 application plus $120 (up to 2 years)
    • Expires November 30 of odd-numbered years; $180 renewal

    A business license, not a personal one, with no exam. The company must be registered and in good standing with DLCP, designate a DC-licensed master electrician, and post surety bonds: $4,000 for the company and $2,000 for the master (regular voltage). [1][10]

Who needs a license in the District

DC law makes electrician a licensed occupation, and no one may practice a licensed occupation without a current license, certificate or registration. The law covers anyone who designs, installs, maintains, alters, repairs, removes or inspects electrical wiring and equipment in buildings or on public and private space. Elevators and similar conveyances are covered by a separate license.

DC's electrical rules also say no one may employ an unlicensed person to do electrical work, which is why even beginners register as apprentices. The rules exempt some work, such as a homeowner doing electrical work in the home they own and live in with the required permit, and minor repairs like replacing sockets, receptacles or switches at existing outlets where you regularly work.

Federal government employees acting in their official duties are also outside the District licensing law. [5][6][7][8][9]

The license ladder: apprentice to master

DLCP's application instructions describe the experience a little differently from the law: 4 years and 8,000 work hours for the journeyman exam, and 8 years and 16,000 work hours for the master exam. DC also issues low-voltage licenses for work at 49 volts and below. An older DC electrical rule (17 DCMR 218) still says 4,000 hours over 4 years for an electrician; the statute sets 8,000 hours, and DLCP's instructions follow the statute.

Compare with other places on the electrician hub and in journeyman vs. master. [2][3][8][10]

The exam

DLCP uses PSI. You can schedule online at psiexams.com or by phone at (855) 557-0616.

PSI's DC bulletin (updated August 2022) lists the journeyman exam at 80 multiple-choice questions in 4 hours and the master exam at 100 questions in 5 hours. Both are open book and cost $52. The bulletin lists the 2011 National Electrical Code (NEC, the national wiring rulebook) and Ugly's Electrical Reference as the journeyman references, and DLCP's instructions name the same books. Check the current references with PSI before you buy books.

With proof that you completed a nationally certified apprenticeship, you can skip the journeyman exam. The law also accepts a journeyman certificate from a national certifying organization, including a labor union, and those applicants don't have to take a separate District law exam. [1][2][3][4][11]

Fees and renewal

The Board of Industrial Trades lists a $65 application fee for electricians. A license costs $110 for an apprentice or journeyman, $120 for a master and $120 for a contractor, each for up to 2 years. Renewals are $110 for apprentices and journeymen, $155 for masters and $180 for contractors, with a $50 late fee. A temporary journeyman license is $110 for up to 60 days. PSI's exam fee of $52 is separate.

Every electrician license expires on November 30 of odd-numbered years, whenever you got it. Application fees are not refundable. [1][3][11]

Union and open-shop apprenticeships in the District

Union training for DC-area electricians runs through JATC 26, the joint program of IBEW Local 26 and NECA (National Electrical Contractors Association). Its Inside Wireman program requires 8,000 hours of on-the-job training and 800 hours of classroom instruction, and you apply online through its TradeSchool portal, then complete a Personal Experience Form and an aptitude test.

Open-shop routes include IEC Chesapeake and ABC (Associated Builders and Contractors) of Metro Washington's CraftMasters program. Both expect you to be working for a contractor while you take classes.

The District's own apprenticeship office at DOES says most programs want a diploma or GED, some give an aptitude test, and transportation is usually required. More background: electrician apprenticeships, union vs. non-union and the aptitude test. [12][13][14][15][16][17]

If you're licensed in another state

DLCP accepts journeyman and master electricians licensed in Maryland and Virginia by reciprocity, without the DC exam. Your license must have been earned by examination and be current, active and in good standing. You upload a letter of good standing from the state where you tested, and the letter must say you got your license by exam. Apply through DLCP's online portal.

DC law also lets the Board waive the exam for someone licensed in a state with standards at least as high as the District's that admits DC licensees the same way. If you're licensed elsewhere, ask DLCP before you apply. See our reciprocity guide. [1][3][4]

Steps to get licensed in District of Columbia

  1. Get hired or accepted into an apprenticeship

    Find work with an electrical contractor or apply to a program such as JATC 26 or IEC Chesapeake. DLCP needs proof of employment or school enrollment to register you. [3][13][14]

  2. Register as an apprentice electrician

    Apply through DLCP's online application with a 2x2 photo and a government ID. The application fee is $65 and the apprentice license is $110 for up to 2 years. There is no exam. [1][2][3]

  3. Work 8,000 hours under a master and take the code class

    Log at least 8,000 hours over at least 4 years under a licensed master, and finish a class on the District's electrical code within 2 years before you apply. Ask each master for an employment verification letter. [2][3]

  4. Apply for the journeyman license

    Submit tax records, employment verification letters and your code class certificate. If you completed a nationally certified apprenticeship, send your certificate of completion to waive the exam. [3]

  5. Pass the PSI exam

    Schedule with PSI online or at (855) 557-0616. The journeyman exam is 80 questions, 4 hours, open book, $52. [1][11]

  6. Work toward master

    After at least 4 years as a journeyman, apply for the master electrician license and take the 100-question master exam. [2][11]

Where to get the hours

Programs that train electricians in or for District of Columbia, from their own official pages. Listed by type, not ranked.

Licensed in another state?

  • Journeyman and Master Electrician: MD, VA

    DLCP says journeyman and master electricians licensed in Maryland and Virginia can get a DC license without the exam. You must have earned your license by examination and hold a current, active license in good standing, and you upload a letter of good standing from the state where you tested. [1][3]

Also listed by: Delaware, Maryland, Utah, Virginia (their own boards list District of Columbia as a partner; check both sides before you move).

Open the reciprocity map · How reciprocity works

AlaskaAK MaineME VermontVT New HampshireNH WashingtonWA IdahoID MontanaMT North DakotaND MinnesotaMN IllinoisIL WisconsinWI MichiganMI New YorkNY Rhode IslandRI MassachusettsMA OregonOR NevadaNV WyomingWY South DakotaSD IowaIA IndianaIN OhioOH PennsylvaniaPA New JerseyNJ ConnecticutCT CaliforniaCA UtahUT ColoradoCO NebraskaNE MissouriMO KentuckyKY West VirginiaWV VirginiaVA MarylandMD DelawareDE ArizonaAZ New MexicoNM KansasKS ArkansasAR TennesseeTN North CarolinaNC South CarolinaSC District of ColumbiaDC OklahomaOK LouisianaLA MississippiMS AlabamaAL GeorgiaGA HawaiiHI TexasTX FloridaFL
DC Listed here (agreement or endorsement) Lists DC

Questions people ask

How many hours do you need to be a journeyman electrician in DC?

At least 8,000 hours over at least 4 years as an apprentice, plus a class on the District's electrical code within the last 2 years and a passing exam score. A completed nationally certified apprenticeship can replace the exam. [2][3]

Do I need a license to be an electrician's helper in DC?

Yes. DC rules say no one may employ an unlicensed person to do electrical work, so register as an apprentice electrician with DLCP. There's no exam; you need proof of employment or school enrollment, and fees are $65 plus $110. [1][3][8]

Is the DC journeyman electrician exam open book?

Yes. PSI's bulletin lists 80 multiple-choice questions in 4 hours, open book, for $52, with the NEC and Ugly's Electrical Reference as references. [3][11]

Does DC accept Maryland or Virginia electrician licenses?

Yes, for journeymen and masters who earned their Maryland or Virginia license by exam and hold it in good standing. You upload a letter of good standing from that state. [1][3]

Sources (23)
  1. Board of Industrial Trades, DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  2. D.C. Code § 47-2853.92, Eligibility requirements (electricians), Council of the District of Columbia. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  3. Electrician License (Low and Regular Voltage): Application Instructions, DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, Board of Industrial Trades. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  4. D.C. Code § 47-2853.12, License, certification, and registration criteria; waiver, Council of the District of Columbia. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  5. D.C. Code § 47-2853.02, License, certification, and registration criteria, Council of the District of Columbia. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  6. D.C. Code § 47-2853.04, Regulated non-health related occupations and professions, Council of the District of Columbia. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  7. D.C. Code § 47-2853.91, Scope of practice for electricians, Council of the District of Columbia. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  8. 17 DCMR Chapter 2, Electrical Licensing and Bonding (§§ 203, 204, 206, 218, 299), DC Office of Documents and Administrative Issuances (DCRegs). Accessed October 11, 2026.
  9. D.C. Code § 47-2853.03, Scope of subchapter, Council of the District of Columbia. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  10. Trade Contractor Licensing (All Trades), DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, Board of Industrial Trades. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  11. Washington D.C. Contractor/Trades Candidate Information Bulletin (updated 8/25/2022), PSI Services LLC. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  12. Inside Wireman 'A' Apprenticeship Program, Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committee (JATC 26). Accessed October 11, 2026.
  13. Inside Wireman "A" Apprentice: Apprentice Application 2027, Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committee (JATC 26). Accessed October 11, 2026.
  14. How to Apply Now to the Apprenticeship Program, IEC Chesapeake. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  15. Apprenticeship and Skills Training, ABC of Metro Washington. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  16. CraftMasters Apprenticeship Prospect Application, ABC of Metro Washington. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  17. How to Be an Apprentice, DC Department of Employment Services. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  18. D.C. Code § 47-2853.06, Establishment of boards, Council of the District of Columbia. Accessed October 11, 2026.
  19. About Apprenticeship Training, electrical training ALLIANCE (IBEW/NECA). Accessed October 11, 2026.
  20. Phelps Architecture, Construction, and Engineering High School, My School DC (District of Columbia public school lottery). Accessed October 11, 2026.
  21. Mayor Bowser and OSSE Invite Residents to Explore Education and Professional Development Opportunities in the New Year, Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). Accessed October 11, 2026.
  22. Mayor Bowser Calls on Employers to Host DC High School Student Interns this School Year, Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). Accessed October 11, 2026.
  23. Career and Technical Education Providers, Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). Accessed October 11, 2026.