Beatrice Lang
Idaho requires a license to perform electrical work, and the process of becoming a licensed electrician takes time and effort. The Idaho Division of Building Safety (IDBS) issues electrical licenses, and there are several types of electrician licenses available in the state. The path to becoming a licensed electrician in Idaho typically begins with registering as an apprentice, which requires a $15 fee and working under the supervision of a licensed journeyman electrician. After gaining the necessary experience and completing the required education, individuals can pursue journeyman or master electrician licenses by passing examinations. The requirements for these licenses vary, and the process may be more straightforward for those with previous experience or licenses from other jurisdictions. Obtaining an Idaho electrical license can provide a competitive advantage and increased earning potential in the job market, making it a rewarding but challenging pursuit.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Is a license required? | Yes |
| Who issues the license? | Idaho Division of Building Safety (IDBS) |
| Who needs to be licensed? | Journeymen, master electricians, electrical contractors, and apprentices (in some cases) |
| Are there different types of licenses? | Yes, the most common are journeyman and master electrician licenses, but specialty licenses are also available |
| What are the requirements for a journeyman license? | Complete an apprenticeship and pass an exam |
| What are the requirements for a master electrician license? | Work as a licensed journeyman electrician for at least four years and pass an exam |
| What are the requirements for an electrical contractor license? | Be a master electrician or employ a full-time master electrician and pass an exam |
| Are there any reciprocity agreements with other states? | Yes, Idaho has reciprocity agreements for journeyman and master electrician licenses with several states, including Montana, Oregon, and Utah |
| What are the fees? | Application fees vary from $15 to $150 depending on the license type; licensing fees are typically $125 |
| How long is the licensing period? | Licenses are valid for three years and must be renewed before the expiration date to avoid additional fees |
| Are there any continuing education requirements? | Yes, journeyman and master electricians must complete 24 hours of continuing education every three years |
| What are the salary expectations? | The average salary for electricians in Idaho is $55,240 per year, with salaries increasing with experience |
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What You'll Learn
Idaho electrician license requirements
To work as an electrician in Idaho, you must obtain a state license. The process of becoming a licensed electrician in Idaho is detailed below.
Apprentice Electrician
To become an apprentice electrician in Idaho, you must be at least 16 years old and submit a notarized application to the state. Registration is valid for one year and costs $15. There are four levels of apprenticeship, each requiring more work experience and training than the last:
- Apprentice Level 1: 2,000 work hours and one year of training at an approved electrical apprentice school
- Apprentice Level 2: 4,000 work hours and two years of training at an approved electrical apprentice school
- Apprentice Level 3: 6,000 work hours and three years of training at an approved electrical apprentice school
- Apprentice Level 4: 8,000 work hours and four years of training at an approved electrical apprentice school
Journeyman Electrician
To become a journeyman electrician in Idaho, you must obtain 6,000 hours of work experience in residential, commercial, and industrial wiring. No more than 75% of those hours can fall into one category. You can also qualify by completing a formal four-year apprenticeship program. Once you have the necessary work experience, you must submit an application to take the journeyman electrician license exam. You must score at least 70% to pass. Licensed journeyman electricians must renew their licenses every three years and complete 24 Continuing Education Credits.
Master Electrician
To become a master electrician in Idaho, you must first work as a licensed journeyman electrician for at least four years. Then, you must submit a notarized application for a master electrician license along with an administrative fee to the Electrical Bureau of the Idaho Division of Building Safety. Once the application is approved, you will receive an Examination Registration Form. The master electrician exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions, and you have five hours to complete it. A passing score is 75%. Licensed master electricians must renew their state licenses every three years.
Electrical Contractor
To register as an electrical contractor in Idaho, you must submit an application and either possess a master electrician certification or hire someone with one. You must also pass the electrical contract exam with a score of at least 75%. Electrical contractors must submit proof of at least $300,000 of liability insurance and maintain worker’s compensation insurance. Electrical contractor licenses must be renewed annually.
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Apprentice electrician registration
To perform electrical work in Idaho, you must obtain a state license. Before you can become a licensed electrician, you must register with the state as an electrical apprentice. To become an apprentice electrician in Idaho, you must be at least 16 years old and submit a notarized application form, along with a $15 registration fee. Most apprenticeship programs require applicants to be at least 18 years old, have a photo ID, maintain reliable transportation, be physically fit, hold a high school diploma or GED, and pass an aptitude test. Idaho offers four apprenticeship levels, depending on the number of hours worked and the level of electrical schooling completed.
Non-union apprenticeship programs are available through the Independent Electrical Contractors of Idaho (IEC). Once you have gained the necessary experience through a state-approved apprenticeship program, you can apply to take the journeyman electrician exam. To be eligible to take this exam, you must obtain 6,000 hours of work experience in residential, commercial, and industrial settings. You must pay a $15 application fee to take the journeyman electrical exam, as well as a $55 licensing fee after you pass. Licensed journeyman electricians must renew their licenses every three years, requiring 24 Continuing Education Credits.
After gaining sufficient experience as a journeyman electrician, you can then apply to become a master electrician. To earn a master electrician license in Idaho, you must log at least four years of on-the-job experience as a journeyman. You must submit the notarized Application for Master Electrician License along with an administrative fee to the Electrical Bureau of the Idaho Division of Building Safety. Once the application is approved, the applicant will receive an Examination Registration Form. Applicants must score 75% or above on the exam before the master electrician license will be issued. Upon passing the exam, applicants must send a $65 check to the Division, after which the Idaho Master Electrician License will be issued.
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Journeyman electrician license
To work as an electrician in Idaho, you must obtain a state license. While the process of becoming an electrician takes time, you can get paid while you learn and gain experience. The first step is to register with the state as an electrical apprentice. To become an electrical apprentice, you must be at least 16 years old, submit a notarized application, and pay a $15 registration fee. The average salary for an electrician apprentice in Idaho is $22.48 per hour, with $6,000 in overtime per year.
Once you have completed your apprenticeship, you can apply for a Journeyman Electrician License. To obtain this license, you must complete and submit the notarized Application for Journeyman Electrician License, along with the application fee, to the Division of Building Safety in Meridian, Idaho. After your application is approved, you will receive an Examination Registration form, which you must complete and deliver to the testing service. The electrical exams are administered by Pearson VUE. The Journeyman Electrician License fee is $55, and the renewal fee is $45.
Every three years, Journeyman Electricians are required to take 16 hours of code updates and eight hours of industry-related courses, totaling 24 hours of continuing education. Idaho has journeyman electrician licensing reciprocity with the following states: Montana, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Texas.
After working as a licensed journeyman electrician for at least four years, you can apply for a Master Electrician License. To obtain this license, you must submit the notarized Application for Master Electrician License, along with an administrative fee, to the Electrical Bureau of the Idaho Division of Building Safety. You must also include a copy of your photo ID. Once your application is approved, you will receive an Examination Registration Form. Upon passing the exam, send a check for $65 to the Division, and the Idaho Master Electrician License will be issued. The Master Electrician License renewal fee is $45.
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Master electrician license
To become a master electrician in Idaho, you must first obtain a journeyman electrician license. This requires registering as an apprentice with the state, completing 6,000 hours of work experience, and passing the journeyman electrician exam.
Once you have your journeyman license, you must hold it for a minimum of four years before you can apply to take the master electrician exam. The master electrician exam is four hours long and consists of 90 multiple-choice questions, with a passing score of 75%. The exam is open-book, and you can use Ugly's Electrical Reference by George V. Hart as a resource.
After passing the exam, you can apply for your master electrician license by submitting the notarized application, proof of holding the journeyman license for four years, and paying a $65 application fee. The Idaho Division of Building Safety will issue your license, which must be renewed every three years.
License renewal requires 24 Continuing Education Credits, including eight hours each of National Electrical Code (NEC) changes, industry-related training, and other code-related training. If you plan to employ other electricians, you will need to become an electrical contractor, which requires additional registration and licensing.
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Electrical contractor license
Idaho requires a license to perform electrical work. The process of becoming an electrician takes time, but you get paid while you learn and gain experience. The Idaho Division of Building Safety (IDBS) issues electrical licenses. Before you begin the path to becoming an electrician in Idaho, you must register with the state as an electrical apprentice. To become an electrical apprentice, you must be at least 16 years old, submit a notarized application, and pay a $15 registration fee.
The state of Idaho offers three classifications for electrical contractor licenses: Journeyman Electrician, Master Electrician, and Electrical Contractor. To qualify for a Journeyman Electrician license, you must pass an examination. There are three ways to qualify for the exam: complete four years of training at an approved electrical apprentice school and 8,000 hours of supervised work experience; complete 16,000 hours or more of supervised work experience as an apprentice; or for in-state apprentices, complete four years of training at an approved electrical apprentice school and 6,000 hours of supervised work experience, but they will need to work an additional 2,000 hours after passing the exam to be licensed as journeymen. The examination consists of 80 multiple-choice questions, and you have four hours to complete it. A passing grade is 70%.
To qualify for a Master Electrician license, you must first work as a licensed journeyman electrician for at least four years. You must then submit the notarized Application for Master Electrician License along with an administrative fee to the Electrical Bureau of the Idaho Division of Building Safety. Once the application is approved, the applicant will receive an Examination Registration Form. The exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions, and you have five hours to complete it. A passing score is 75%.
To qualify for an Electrical Contractor license, you must complete and submit the notarized Application for Electrical Contractors License to the State of Idaho, Division of Building Safety, Electrical Bureau, along with the $15 application fee. When the Board approves your application, you will receive an examination registration form. The exam must be passed with a score of 70% or better. You must then provide proof of $300,000 in liability insurance and workers' compensation insurance. Finally, send the $125 license fee to the Electrical Bureau. All electrical contractor licenses must be renewed annually by July 1st following the date of issue. There is a $100 renewal fee, and you must update your proof of insurance.
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Frequently asked questions
To obtain an Idaho electrical license, you must be at least 16 years old and submit a notarized application along with a $15 registration fee. To qualify for the license, you must pass an examination. There are different types of electrician licenses in Idaho, including apprentice, journeyman, master electrician, and electrical contractor. Each type has specific requirements, such as completing an apprenticeship, gaining work experience, and passing exams.
An Idaho electrical license provides proof of your experience and skill in the electrical trade. It is required by law in Idaho to perform electrical work legally. Having a license allows you to operate a business, advertise your services, obtain insurance, pull building permits, and bid on projects. It also increases your earning potential and gives you a competitive advantage in the job market.
The Idaho electrical exam is comprehensive and designed to test your knowledge and skills in the electrical trade. The exam for a journeyman electrician license consists of 80 multiple-choice questions to be completed in four hours, while the master electrician exam has 100 multiple-choice questions to be completed in five hours. A passing score for both exams is typically 75% or above.
Idaho has reciprocal licensing agreements with several states, including Montana, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Texas. If you have a current license from one of these states, you may be exempt from certain requirements or have an easier path to obtaining an Idaho electrical license. Additionally, Idaho offers specialty electrical licenses for those providing specific electrical contracting services.
