Licensing
Idaho Electrical Licensing Requirements
Idaho licenses electricians statewide. The journeyman-level credential is the Journeyman Electrician License, issued by the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses — Idaho Electrical Board. It requires at least 8,000 hours of experience.
Source: Idaho State Legislature, checked 2026-10-07
Before you start: You need this state credential before you start electrical work in Idaho.
- Credential
- Apprentice Electrician registration
- Issued by
- Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses
- Fee
- $15 application fee plus $15 license fee (1-year term), per the Electrical Board fee table
Official source · Checked 2026-10-07
Page last reviewed 2026-10-01 against official sources; credential requirements checked 2026-09-06. Confirm with the issuing authority before applying.
Licensed in another state? See reviewed routes into Idaho.
How electrical licensing works in Idaho
Idaho licenses electrical workers and contracting businesses statewide through the Idaho Electrical Board. An individual electrician license authorizes work within its scope; a contractor license authorizes the business and requires a qualified supervising electrician. Apprentice and limited-trainee registrations authorize supervised work.
This page covers nine worker, trainee and contractor credential types. Licensing is exclusively statewide under Idaho Code §54-1002(5), but the job-site authority still controls applicable permits and inspections.
Credential-specific requirements
Requirements differ by credential. Expand any credential for the work or business activity you plan to perform. Issued by Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses — Idaho Electrical Board unless noted.
Apprentice Electrician Registration Individual registration
- Issuing authority
- Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses — Idaho Electrical Board →
- Scope of work
- Learns the residential or journeyman trade while installing electrical wiring, equipment, or apparatus under constant on-the-job supervision.
- Experience or qualification
- Register before working as an apprentice and maintain active registration while earning hours. Submit the completed application and applicable fee; the retained form requests a copy of any out-of-state license. Work requires constant on-the-job supervision. No prior experience threshold is specified in the reviewed registration provisions. The ordinary ratio is one residential/journeyman/master to at most six apprentices in residential work, and one journeyman/master to at most two elsewhere. The ratio exception requires at least 6,000 qualifying apprentice hours and current enrollment in or completion of a board-approved career technical program; constant supervision still applies.
- Examination
- No entrance examination is specified in the reviewed apprentice-registration provisions; later electrician licensure requires its own examination.
- Initial fee
- Board fee table: $15 application fee; $15 license/registration fee, listed separately. The older apprentice form lists a single $15 processing fee; confirm whether the separate application charge applies.
- Renewal
- Idaho Code §54-1008 specifies two years; the board fee table lists one year and a $15 renewal fee. Confirm the issued expiration date, cycle and charge with DOPL. The statute limits apprentice registration to five two-year periods. Keep it active for experience credit. Current electrical rules do not specify numeric CE hours; confirm the credential’s renewal checklist.
- Official application
- Apply / forms →
Journeyman Electrician License Individual license
- Issuing authority
- Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses — Idaho Electrical Board →
- Scope of work
- Personally performs or supervises electrical installation work and may engage in planning, layout, design, or supervision as defined by Idaho law.
- Experience or qualification
- Complete 8,000 qualifying apprentice hours plus an approved four-year sequence of instruction, or eight years/16,000 hours of qualifying electrical installation experience. Experience must comply with the jurisdiction where earned. Appliance repair, motor winding and communications do not count. At most 2,000 limited-installer/trainee hours count. Residential qualifying hours may count toward the work requirement.
- Examination
- Pass the designated examination. Rule 100.02.a permits sitting after the approved four-year instruction sequence or 16,000 experience hours; full licensure still requires qualifying work. PSI’s Idaho-specific journeyman exam has 100 questions, a 70% passing score and 270 minutes; it is open book. DOPL directs exam-based applicants to pass before applying. NASCLA is a separately listed option; confirm the accepted exam.
- Initial fee
- Board fee table: $15 application fee; $55 license/registration fee, listed separately. PSI Idaho-specific examination: $75 per attempt, paid separately; NASCLA pricing is not established here.
- Renewal
- Three-year license term; §54-1008 ties expiration to the birthday, with the period ending on the last day of the month. Board renewal fee: $45. Current electrical rules do not specify numeric CE hours; confirm the credential’s renewal checklist.
- Official application
- Apply / forms →
Master Electrician License Individual license
- Issuing authority
- Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses — Idaho Electrical Board →
- Scope of work
- Plans, lays out, or designs electrical installation work, or supervises that planning, layout, or design. May also act as a residential electrician, journeyman electrician or limited electrical installer under §54-1002.
- Experience or qualification
- Work as a licensed journeyman for at least four years (Idaho Code §54-1007(3)). The statute also refers to board-prescribed hours, but the current master rule does not specify a numeric hours threshold; confirm documentation with DOPL. A master need not also hold a journeyman license under rule 100.03.
- Examination
- Pass the designated master examination. PSI’s Idaho-specific master exam has 100 questions, a 75% passing score and 270 minutes; it is open book. NASCLA is a separately listed option; confirm the accepted exam.
- Initial fee
- Board fee table: $15 application fee; $65 license/registration fee, listed separately. PSI Idaho-specific examination: $75 per attempt, paid separately; NASCLA pricing is not established here.
- Renewal
- Three-year license term; §54-1008 ties expiration to the birthday, with the period ending on the last day of the month. Board renewal fee: $45. Current electrical rules do not specify numeric CE hours; confirm the credential’s renewal checklist.
- Official application
- Apply / forms →
Electrical Contractor License Mixed-holder business license
- Issuing authority
- Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses — Idaho Electrical Board →
- Scope of work
- Business authority for a person or entity carrying on electrical contracting work; separate from the supervising electrician's individual credential.
- Experience or qualification
- Designate one qualified supervising electrician who cannot represent another contractor. Provide $300,000 liability insurance and workers’ compensation if applicable. For an individual business owner, §54-1010(2) specifies a full-time journeyman with over 2,000 documented licensed hours or a master; a properly qualified owner may serve. Confirm a residential-only qualifier with DOPL because rule 200.03 uses broader wording.
- Examination
- Pass the designated contractor examination. PSI lists one Electrical Contractor/Limited Electrical Contractor exam: 100 questions, 70% passing score and 240 minutes, open book using DOPL’s business and law manual.
- Initial fee
- Board fee table: $15 application fee; $125 license/registration fee, listed separately. PSI examination: $75 per attempt, paid separately.
- Renewal
- Idaho Code §54-1008 specifies two years; the board fee table lists one year and a $100 renewal fee. Confirm the issued expiration date, cycle and charge with DOPL. Maintain insurance and the designated supervisor; notify DOPL within ten business days if the relationship ends, and do not obtain permits or install until a replacement is designated. Current electrical rules do not specify numeric CE hours; confirm the credential’s renewal checklist.
- Official application
- Apply / forms →
Residential Electrician License Individual license
- Issuing authority
- Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses — Idaho Electrical Board →
- Scope of work
- Personally performs or supervises installation in one- and two-family dwellings, townhouses and multifamily structures up to three stories. Nonresidential work requires apprentice registration and constant journeyman supervision.
- Experience or qualification
- Complete 4,000 qualifying apprentice hours and a board-approved two-year course of related instruction, documented by a provider certificate. Idaho or lawfully obtained out-of-state experience is allowed; these hours can count toward journeyman experience.
- Examination
- Pass the board-approved residential electrician examination. The current PSI Idaho listing and bulletin do not identify residential booking, price, duration or passing-score details; confirm with DOPL before scheduling.
- Initial fee
- Residential application and license fees are not separately identified in the board fee table; confirm the charge with DOPL.
- Renewal
- Three-year license term; §54-1008 ties expiration to the birthday, with the period ending on the last day of the month. Residential renewal fee is not separately identified; confirm with DOPL. Current electrical rules do not specify numeric CE hours; confirm the credential’s renewal checklist.
- Official application
- Apply / forms →
Limited Electrical Installer Trainee Registration Individual registration
- Issuing authority
- Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses — Idaho Electrical Board →
- Scope of work
- Installs restricted-category electrical wiring, equipment, or apparatus under constant on-the-job supervision of a qualified Limited Electrical Installer.
- Experience or qualification
- Register before performing limited-trainee work and maintain a current registration. Work under constant on-the-job supervision within the applicable category. Idaho Code §54-1010(4) sets no trainee supervision ratio; it does not remove the supervision requirement. Initial document checklist remains unconfirmed in the current portal.
- Examination
- No entrance examination is specified in the reviewed limited-trainee registration provisions; limited-installer licensure requires its own examination.
- Initial fee
- Board fee table: $15 application fee; $30 license/registration fee, listed separately.
- Renewal
- Three-year registration term. Board renewal fee: $25. Current electrical rules do not specify numeric CE hours; confirm the credential’s renewal checklist.
- Official application
- Apply / forms →
Limited Electrical Installer License Individual restricted-scope license
- Issuing authority
- Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses — Idaho Electrical Board →
- Scope of work
- Installs, alters, repairs, or supervises special electrical classes only within the restricted category for which the person is licensed.
- Experience or qualification
- Document at least 4,000 hours in the same limited category, earned in accordance with that jurisdiction. Outside wireman also requires a U.S. Department of Labor-approved lineman apprenticeship or similar approved program. Solar photovoltaic requires NABCEP photovoltaic installer certification or equivalent. Work for an electrical or limited electrical contractor in the same restricted category.
- Examination
- Pass the examination for the restricted category. PSI’s current bulletin covers nine limited categories; outside-wireman exam arrangements are not identified. Use the selected category bulletin for the score, time and reference list.
- Initial fee
- Board fee table: $15 application fee; $55 license/registration fee, listed separately. PSI bulletin lists $75 per attempt for its listed limited exams; outside-wireman examination cost is unconfirmed.
- Renewal
- Three-year license term; §54-1008 ties expiration to the birthday, with the period ending on the last day of the month. Board renewal fee: $45. Current electrical rules do not specify numeric CE hours; confirm the credential’s renewal checklist.
- Official application
- Apply / forms →
Limited Electrical Contractor License Mixed-holder restricted-scope business license
- Issuing authority
- Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses — Idaho Electrical Board →
- Scope of work
- Business authority for restricted-category electrical contracting work; separate from the Limited Electrical Installer individual credential.
- Experience or qualification
- Designate one supervising electrician for the restricted category who cannot represent another contractor. A limited installer may countersign only within the same category. Provide $300,000 liability insurance and workers’ compensation if applicable. The business license does not replace the supervisor’s individual credential.
- Examination
- Pass the designated contractor examination. PSI lists one Electrical Contractor/Limited Electrical Contractor exam: 100 questions, 70% passing score and 240 minutes, open book using DOPL’s business and law manual.
- Initial fee
- Board fee table: $15 application fee; $125 license/registration fee, listed separately. PSI examination: $75 per attempt, paid separately.
- Renewal
- Idaho Code §54-1008 specifies two years; the board fee table lists one year and a $100 renewal fee. Confirm the issued expiration date, cycle and charge with DOPL. Maintain insurance and the designated supervisor; notify DOPL within ten business days if the relationship ends, and do not obtain permits or install until a replacement is designated. Current electrical rules do not specify numeric CE hours; confirm the credential’s renewal checklist.
- Official application
- Apply / forms →
Provisional Journeyman Electrician License Temporary individual license
- Issuing authority
- Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses — Idaho Electrical Board →
- Scope of work
- A temporary supervised authorization for electrical installation work under the statutory provisional-journeyman definition.
- Experience or qualification
- Document eight years/16,000 hours of qualifying electrical installation experience before passing the journeyman examination. Appliance repair, motor winding and communications are excluded. Submit work verification for the experience claimed.
- Examination
- No passed exam is required for initial provisional issuance. Apply for and take the journeyman exam during the initial six months. Section 54-1007(7) also provides conversion after passing the residential exam; confirm that route before booking.
- Initial fee
- Board fee table: $15 application fee; $55 license/registration fee, listed separately.
- Renewal
- Six-month term. One six-month renewal is available after failing the journeyman exam or showing exceptional circumstances prevented taking it; no further provisional license after one year. Board renewal fee: $45. Current electrical rules do not specify numeric CE hours; confirm the credential’s renewal checklist.
- Official application
- Apply / forms →
Licensed in another state?
Idaho has a reviewed application route for some licenses from 7 states. A route can waive an exam or some experience; you still need the Idaho credential before you work. Expand a state for the routes and their requirements.
Colorado Reciprocity
- If you hold
- Colorado journeyman electrician license (Colorado State Electrical Board, DORA DPO), obtained by examination
- You can apply for
- Idaho journeyman electrician license by reciprocal application (Idaho Electrical Board, DOPL)
To apply:
- must have tested for the current license (exam-tested Colorado journeyman license)
- must have held it one year
- must show proof of 4 years schooling & OJT
- License Verification completed by the state of licensure; reciprocal application type with processing fee
Limits:
- evidence caveat: the live DOPL reciprocal-state PDF is HTTP 404 as of 2026-09-18; the naming evidence is the archived official document, so treat currency as unconfirmed until DOPL verifies
- journeyman credential only; Idaho's reciprocal list offers no master reciprocity with Colorado (Wyoming is the only Journeyman & Master state) and no CO contractor credential is named
- the Idaho license must be issued before work; the examination waiver is not authority to work
Reciprocity. Official source 1 · Official source 2 · Checked 2026-09-18.
Maine Reciprocity
- If you hold
- Maine Journeyman Electrician license (Maine Electricians' Examining Board, 32 M.R.S. ch. 17), exam-based
- You can apply for
- Idaho Journeyman Electrician license by the Reciprocal (NERA) pathway (Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, Idaho Electrical Board)
To apply:
- hold a current Maine Electricians' Examining Board (MEEB) license obtained by examination (not grandfathered or waived)
- be in good standing with no disciplinary action or open complaints in Maine
- apply under the Reciprocal application type with the $70.00 processing fee (non-refundable)
- allow DOPL Licensing to verify with Maine: status of license (must be Active), proof of licensure by examination, and the date the license was issued
Limits:
- journeyman tier only: the companion Master Electrician application's Reciprocity Pathway names no states (its $80.00 pathway requires proof of licensure by examination, a journeyman license held a minimum of 4 years, and an active master license, but does not name Maine or any other state)
- the Idaho journeyman license must be issued before work; the reciprocal pathway is not authority to work
Reciprocity. Official source · Checked 2026-09-26.
Montana Reciprocity
- If you hold
- Montana journeyman electrician license (Montana State Electrical Board, Montana DLI), obtained by examination
- You can apply for
- Idaho journeyman electrician license by reciprocal application (Idaho Electrical Board, DOPL)
To apply:
- must have tested for the current license (exam-tested Montana journeyman license)
- must have held it one year
- must show proof of 4 years schooling & OJT
- License Verification Form completed by the state of licensure showing licensure by examination, minimum holding period and active status; reciprocal application type with processing fee
Limits:
- evidence caveat: the live DOPL reciprocal-state PDF is HTTP 404 as of 2026-09-18; the naming evidence is the archived official document, so treat currency as unconfirmed until DOPL verifies
- journeyman credential only; Idaho's reciprocal list offers no master reciprocity with Montana (Wyoming is the only Journeyman & Master state) and no MT contractor credential is named
- the Idaho license must be issued before work; the examination waiver is not authority to work
Reciprocity. Official source 1 · Official source 2 · Official source 3 · Checked 2026-09-18.
Oklahoma Reciprocity
- If you hold
- Oklahoma Journeyman Electrician license (Oklahoma Construction Industries Board, CIB; Okla. Stat. tit. 59, Section 1701 et seq.), exam-based (PSI)
- You can apply for
- Idaho Electrical Journeyman license via the Reciprocal application type (Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, Idaho Electrical Board; Idaho Code Title 54, Chapter 100; IDAPA 07.03.01)
To apply:
- apply under the Reciprocal application type and pay the $70.00 non-refundable processing fee (same fee as Initial)
- currently hold an electrical journeyman license in a named reciprocal state (Oklahoma is named) and identify the state on the form
- DOPL Licensing contacts the issuing state (Oklahoma CIB) to verify 'Status of license (Must be Active)'
- a 'License Verification Form from another state, if applicable' is on the applicant checklist
Limits:
- journeyman tier only: the journeyman application's reciprocal pathway is journeyman-level and no Idaho contractor application naming Oklahoma was found live
- the older closed-list document 'LICENSES THAT IDAHO WILL RECIPROCATE - ELECTRICAL' returned HTTP 404 and was not relied on; the live application form governs
- the reciprocal pathway bypasses the general pathways (board-approved apprenticeship school + 8,000 hours, or 16,000 hours work experience, NASCLA/PSI exam)
Reciprocity. Official source · Checked 2026-09-28.
Oregon Reciprocity
- If you hold
- Oregon General Journeyman Electrician license (Oregon Building Codes Division, ORS 479.610 et seq., OAR 918-282), exam-obtained
- You can apply for
- Idaho Journeyman Electrician license by reciprocity (Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, Idaho Electrical Board; Idaho Code §54-1007)
To apply:
- hold an Oregon journeyman electrician license issued by examination that is 'current, active, and in good standing' (no pending disciplinary actions, restrictions or limitations from disciplinary action)
- have qualified for the Oregon examination by completing four years of electrical apprenticeship vocational education (576 classroom hours minimum) and a minimum of four years (8,000 hours) in the electrical trade under the direct supervision of a licensed journeyman electrician
- have passed an examination in Oregon with the minimum score required by the reciprocating state
- apply through the DOPL Electrical Journeyman License Application 'Reciprocity Pathway' with a License Verification Form completed by the state of licensure
- pay all required fees to Idaho for application and licensure ($55 application / $45 original license / $55 renewal, 3-year) and meet any other administrative application requirements in statute or rule
Limits:
- an Oregon General Supervising Electrician is covered only by the agreement's II.C deemed-qualification clause ('shall be deemed to have met the experience and education requirements of II. B') and receives an Idaho JOURNEYMAN certificate — no master-tier reciprocity exists under the agreement
- Oregon limited classifications are not covered by the agreement and follow DOPL's standard application/examination pathways
- the agreement may be terminated by either party on 30 days' notice
Reciprocity. Official source 1 · Official source 2 · Checked 2026-09-29.
South Dakota Reciprocity
- If you hold
- South Dakota journeyman electrician license (South Dakota Electrical Commission, DLR), exam-earned under SDCL 36-16
- You can apply for
- Idaho journeyman electrician license by reciprocity (Idaho Electrical Board, DOPL; Idaho Code Title 54, Ch. 50 / IDAPA 07.03.01)
To apply:
- have tested for the current license (SD journeyman licenses are exam-earned per SDCL 36-16)
- have held the license one year
- show proof of 4 years schooling and OJT
- verify the current agreement with BCRE-Licensing ([email protected], (208) 334-3233) before applying, because DOPL has removed the document from its live site
Limits:
- journeyman only: Idaho's list offers master reciprocity with Wyoming alone - no SD master or contractor route is named
- the supporting document is an archived official copy (Internet Archive capture 2024-02-07 of DOPL's own PDF); DOPL publishes no live successor reciprocity state list
- the Idaho license must be issued before work; the examination waiver is not authority to work
Reciprocity. Official source 1 · Official source 2 · Checked 2026-09-19.
Wyoming Reciprocity · 2 routes
- If you hold
- Wyoming journeyman electrician license (Wyoming Department of Fire Prevention & Electrical Safety), obtained by examination
- You can apply for
- Idaho journeyman electrician license by reciprocal application (Idaho Electrical Board, DOPL)
To apply:
- must have tested for the current license (exam-tested Wyoming journeyman license)
- must have held it one year
- must show proof of 4 years schooling & OJT
- License Verification Form completed by the state of licensure showing licensure by examination, minimum holding period and active status; reciprocal application type with $80.00 processing fee
Limits:
- evidence caveat: the live DOPL reciprocal-state PDF is HTTP 404 as of 2026-09-17; the naming evidence is the archived official document, so treat currency as unconfirmed until DOPL verifies
- the Idaho license must be issued before work; the examination waiver is not authority to work
Reciprocity. Official source 1 · Official source 2 · Official source 3 · Checked 2026-09-17.
- If you hold
- Wyoming master electrician license (Wyoming Department of Fire Prevention & Electrical Safety), obtained by examination
- You can apply for
- Idaho master electrician license by reciprocal application (Idaho Electrical Board, DOPL)
To apply:
- must have tested for the current license (exam-tested Wyoming master electrician license)
- must have held it one year
- must show proof of 4 years schooling & OJT
- Reciprocity Pathway: License Verification Form from the state of licensure showing proof of licensure by examination, proof the journeyman license has been held a minimum of 4 years, and active master status; $80.00 processing fee
Limits:
- evidence caveat: the live DOPL reciprocal-state PDF is HTTP 404 as of 2026-09-17; the naming evidence is the archived official document, so treat currency as unconfirmed until DOPL verifies
- the Idaho license must be issued before work; the examination waiver is not authority to work
Reciprocity. Official source 1 · Official source 2 · Official source 3 · Checked 2026-09-17.
Taking your Idaho license elsewhere
Reviewed routes for Idaho licensees, with requirements on each receiving state's page:
- Colorado: Idaho journeyman electrician license (or Idaho master electrician certificate used as a journeyman-class credential) (Idaho DOPL Electrical Bureau), obtained by passing the state examination → Colorado journeyman electrician certificate by reciprocity (NERA) (Colorado State Electrical Board, DPO/DORA) (reciprocity)
- Maine: Idaho journeyman electrician license (Idaho DOPL Electrical Bureau), obtained by passing a written examination → Maine journeyman electrician license by reciprocity (Maine Electricians' Examining Board, OPFR/DPFR) (reciprocity)
- Montana: Idaho Journeyman Electrician license → Montana Journeyman Electrician license (endorsement)
- Montana: Idaho Master Electrician license → Montana Master Electrician license (endorsement)
- Nebraska: Idaho journeyman electrician license (Idaho DOPL Electrical Bureau), state examination with a score of 75% or greater, verifiable by the issuing state → Nebraska journeyman electrician license by reciprocity (Nebraska State Electrical Division / State Electrical Board) (reciprocity)
- New Hampshire: Idaho journeyman electrician license (Idaho DOPL Electrical Bureau), exam-required under Idaho Code 54-10 → New Hampshire journeyman electrician license by endorsement (NH Electricians' Board, OPLC; HB 594 / RSA 310:17, Plc 313.24) (reciprocity)
- New Hampshire: Idaho master electrician license (Idaho DOPL Electrical Bureau), exam-required under Idaho Code 54-10 → New Hampshire master electrician license by endorsement (NH Electricians' Board, OPLC; HB 594 / RSA 310:17, Plc 313.24) (reciprocity)
- New Mexico: Idaho journeyman electrician license (Idaho DOPL Electrical Bureau) → New Mexico EE-98J journeyman certificate by reciprocity (NM RLD Construction Industries Division, Electrical Bureau) (reciprocity)
- North Dakota: Idaho Journeyman Electrician license → North Dakota Journeyman Electrician license (reciprocity)
- Oklahoma: Idaho Journeyman Electrician license → Oklahoma reciprocal Electrical Journeyman license; final category determined by CIB (reciprocity)
- Oregon: Idaho journeyman electrician license (Idaho DOPL Electrical Bureau / Idaho Division of Building Safety), exam-based, current and in good standing → Oregon General Journeyman Electrician (J) license by reciprocity (Oregon Building Codes Division, DCBS; ORS 670.380 agreement BCD# 73-0-468) (reciprocity)
- South Dakota: Idaho journeyman electrician license (Idaho DOPL Electrical Bureau), earned by examination → South Dakota journeyman electrician license (JM) by reciprocity (South Dakota Electrical Commission, DLR) (reciprocity)
- South Dakota: Idaho master electrician license (Idaho DOPL Electrical Bureau), earned by examination → South Dakota master electrician / electrical contractor license (EC) by reciprocity (South Dakota Electrical Commission, DLR) (reciprocity)
- Texas: Idaho Journeyman Electrician license → Texas Journeyman Electrician license (reciprocity)
- Wyoming: Idaho Journeyman Electrician license → Wyoming Journeyman Electrician license (exam waiver)
- Wyoming: Idaho Master Electrician license → Wyoming Master Electrician license (exam waiver)
Choosing the right credential
Start with apprentice registration for supervised residential or general electrical training. Residential electricians work in one- and two-family dwellings, townhouses and multifamily buildings up to three stories. For nonresidential work, a residential electrician must work as a registered apprentice under constant journeyman supervision. Residential qualifying experience can count toward the journeyman work requirement.
Journeyman applicants can qualify through approved instruction plus apprentice experience or through the longer experience-only route. Master applicants need at least four years working as a licensed journeyman. A provisional license is a temporary supervised route for applicants with 16,000 qualifying hours who have not passed the exam; it is not an unrestricted journeyman license.
An Electrical Contractor or Limited Electrical Contractor license is separate from the supervising worker's license. A Facility Account is an employer authorization for work on its own premises by appropriately licensed employees, not a personal electrician credential. Like-for-like maintenance exemptions do not authorize general contracting or unrestricted new installations.
Limited electrical categories
Limited installers and contractors must stay within their licensed category. Rule 200.05 lists the following boundaries; it does not make one limited license valid for all categories.
| Category | Work boundary |
|---|---|
| Elevator, dumbwaiter, escalator or moving-walk | Equipment and wiring beyond the machine-room disconnect, directly serving the equipment in its shaft and machine room. |
| Sign | Equipment and wiring on the secondary side of a disconnect on or within sight of the sign. |
| Manufacturing or assembling equipment | Integral equipment and accessory wiring on the load side of its disconnect; service and feeders by others. The modular-building wiring exception remains separate. |
| Limited energy | Specified alarm, signaling and control systems outside one- and two-family dwellings, subject to statutory exemptions. Communication systems and landscape sprinkler controls listed in rule 200.05.d.i are excluded. |
| Irrigation sprinkler | Wiring and controls beyond the irrigation-machine disconnect; the disconnect is installed by others. |
| Well driller and installer | Named separately in rule 200.05.f, which gives no detailed work boundary. Confirm the authorized work with DOPL before selecting this category. |
| Water pump installer | Pump circuits generally to the load side of the disconnect; specific domestic pumps and residential wastewater systems may include the disconnect under rule 200.05.g. |
| Refrigeration, heating and air conditioning | Factory-assembled packaged units, generally to the load side of the disconnect; the disconnect is installed by others. |
| Outside wireman | Qualifying overhead/underground distribution, transmission, substations and switchyards above 600 volts; requires an approved lineman apprenticeship or similar program. |
| Solar photovoltaic | DC systems through the inverter, or micro-inverter/AC systems through the AC combiner; requires NABCEP photovoltaic installer certification or equivalent. |
The older installer form combines well-driller and water-pump selection, while current rules and PSI list them separately. Confirm the category in the current application. These are category boundaries within limited credentials, not ten interchangeable licenses. See rule 200.05 for the complete restrictions.
Renewal and source differences
For apprentices and both contractor types, Idaho Code §54-1008 lists two-year terms, while the board's current fee table lists one year. Use the expiration on your issued credential and confirm the next renewal date and charge in DOPL before paying. Residential fees are not separately identified in that table.
The current electrical rules do not specify a numeric continuing-education requirement. This page does not carry forward older 24-hour requirements; confirm the current renewal checklist for your credential. The rules allow a master to work without also holding a journeyman license, while §54-1007(3) still describes issuing both together; ask DOPL how your records will be maintained.
Before you apply
Keep apprentice registration active while earning hours, and retain work-verification records and approved-course certificates. Use the board's approved apprentice programs when selecting instruction. For contractors, arrange the supervising electrician and proof of $300,000 liability insurance plus workers' compensation when applicable. Rule 200.03 includes residential supervisors, but §54-1010(2) specifies a full-time journeyman with more than 2,000 licensed hours or a master for an individual business owner; confirm any proposed residential-only qualifier with DOPL.
For an exam-based license, review DOPL's examination instructions and select the exact examination at PSI before booking. The current bulletin lists Idaho and limited-category exams; residential and outside-wireman booking details remain unconfirmed. NASCLA options also appear in PSI; do not assume they have the same fees or rules as the Idaho-specific exam.
Apply through DOPL, follow the official renewal instructions, or search Idaho license records. For a project, check electrical permits and inspections. An out-of-state license does not automatically authorize Idaho work: §54-1007(6) permits an Idaho examination waiver for accepted equivalent qualifications, but a current credential-specific state agreement list could not be confirmed. This page was re-verified against dopl.idaho.gov on October 1, 2026.
Cite this page
- Title
- Idaho Electrical Licensing Requirements
- URL
- https://tradesdir.com/electrical/licensing/idaho
- Information checked
- 2026-10-01
Suggested citation: Idaho Electrical Licensing Requirements. Trades Directory. https://tradesdir.com/electrical/licensing/idaho (information checked 2026-10-01).