Electrical licenses & certificates

You must have a valid electrical certificate or license from us to do electrical work in Washington. Electrical work has a broad definition and covers a wide range of electrical activities. It can be as big as multi-million dollar industrial power distribution and controls or as small as limited energy camera or speaker system.

Businesses who wish to engage in the electrical construction or telecommunication trade are required to become licensed with the department.

Individuals performing electrical installations or working in the electrical construction trade are required to be certified as electricians or master electricians. Those learning the electrical construction trade are required to hold an electrical training certificate.

Licensing & certification

Trainee

To learn to be an electrician, you need to begin as a trainee. An electrical trainee must have a trainee certificate and work under the supervision of a certified electrician. For trainees learning to become (01) journey level electricians, learn about electrical apprenticeship completion requirements.

Electrician

To become a certified general journey level or specialty electrician, you must have the required experience and education and pass the appropriate exam. These individuals are certified to work for a licensed electrical contractor performing electrical installations and supervise electrical trainees.

Electrical administrator

To become an electrical administrator, you must pass a qualifying exam. Electrical administrators make sure an electrical contractor's work follows the electrical laws and rules. Administrators are not certified to work as an installer in the electrical trade, unless they also carry an electrician certificate, or electrical trainee certificate and work under the supervision of a certified electrician.

Telecommunications administrator

To become a telecommunications administrator, you must pass a qualifying exam. Telecommunication administrators make sure a telecommunication contractor's electrical work follows electrical laws and rules.

Electrical contractor

To do electrical work, you must get an electrical contractor license from us. You must have a valid UBI number, either a $4,000 bond or assignment of savings, and a designated master electrician or administrator. The master electrician or electrical administrator’s responsibility is to make sure the company follows the appropriate laws and rules.

Telecommunications contractor

To engage in the business of doing telecommunications work, you must get a telecommunications contractor license from us. You must have a valid UBI number, either $4,000 Electrical/telecommunications bond or assignment of savings, and a minimum of $170,000 general liability insurance. A designated telecommunications administrator’s responsibility is to make sure that the company follows the appropriate laws and rules.

Master electrician

To become a master electrician, you must have the required experience as a certified Washington electrician and take and pass the appropriate exam. Master electricians are certified to act as an administrator to make sure an electrical contractor's work follows the electrical laws and rules. They may also work with the tools of the trade performing electrical installations and provide supervision of electrical trainees.

Office locations

Find an office location near you.