Any person or business performing electrical work in the State of Idaho is required to hold a license. Licenses are issued by the Idaho Division of Building Safety. The Division ensures that anyone performing or offering to perform electrical work within the state is both capable and qualified.
As part of the licensing process, contractors are required to meet the Division’s requirements for age, education and work experience; and employ or work under the employment of an experienced individual. Additionally, contractors are required to take and pass a qualifying exam.
License Classifications for Electrical Contractors in Idaho
The Idaho Division of Building Safety offers the following license classifications to Electrical Contractors:
- Apprentice Electrician Registration- allows contractors to learn the trade of electrical work by engaging in the installation of electrical wiring and equipment. All work must be done under the direct supervision of a licensed Journeyman or Master Electrician.
- Journeyman Electrician License- allows contractors to perform the work of installing electrical wiring and equipment. All work must be done under the direct supervision of a licensed Electrical Contractor.
- Master Electrician License- allows contractors to perform the same scope of work as a Journeyman Electrician. Master Electricians may act as the responsible party for all work performed by an Electrical Contractor or Electrical Contracting business once they have held a Journeyman Electrician License for a period of 4 years.
- Electrical Contractor License- allows the individual or business entity to perform electrical contracting services and engage in the business of electrical contracting. All Electrical Contractors must employ at least one, full-time, Master Electrician
- Specialty Trainee Electrician Registration- allows the contractors to learn the specific trade of installing electrical wiring and equipment within their chosen specialty. All work must be done under the direct supervision of a licensed Journeyman or Master Electrician of the same specialty.
- Specialty Journeyman Electrician License- allows contractors to perform the physical work of installing electrical wiring and equipment within their chosen specialty. All work must be done under the direct supervision of a licensed Specialty Electrical Contractor of the same specialty.
- Specialty Electrician Contractor License- allows the individual or business entity to offer and provide specialty electrical contracting services. All Specialty Electrical Contractors are required to employ at least one, full-time, Specialty Electrician who has held a license for at least 2 years.
Specialty Electrician applicants have the option of choosing from the following specialties:
- Well Driller/ Pump Installer
- Manufacturing Assembly
- Refrigeration, Heating & Air Conditioning
- Sign
- Elevator
- Irrigation Sprinkler
- Limited Energy
- Outside Wireman (Lineman)
- Photovoltaic (Solar) Installer
For more information about the license classifications offered and the scope of work they are able to perform, contact the Division at:
800-955-3044
OR
Visit: Idaho Division of Building Safety- Licenses, Electrical
Age, Education, Work Experience and Other Requirements
In order to qualify to take the exam, all contractors are required to submit an application to the Division, proving that they meet the requirements for their chosen license classification:
- Apprentice Electrician and Specialty Trainee Electrician Applicants- must prove that they are at least 16 years of age. In order to maintain registration, they must be employed and work under the direct supervision of a licensed Electrical Contractor/ Specialty Electrician. Applicants are also required to complete/ be enrolled in a Division-approved training program.
- Journeyman Electrician Applicants- must submit notarized documentation showing at least 6,000 hours of work experience as an Electrical Apprentice under the direct supervision of a licensed Journeyman Electrician or Master Electrician. This experience cannot be more than 75% in any one particular field, including residential, commercial or industrial. All applicants are also required to prove that they have completed an approved 4-year electrical apprenticeship program.
- Specialty Journeyman Electrician Applicants- must submit notarized documentation proving at least 2 years/ 4,000 hours of work experience within their chosen specialty.
- Those applying for an Outside Wireman (Lineman) specialty must prove that they have completed an Electrical Lineman apprenticeship program, or equivalent, approved by the U.S. Department of Labor. With this documentation, the applicant does not have to take the examination
- Those applying for a Photovoltaic (Solar) Installer specialty must prove 2 years/ 4,000 hours of work experience, in addition to holding a North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) PV Installer Certificate. With this documentation, the applicant does not have to take the exam.
- Mater Electrician Applicants- must prove that they have held a license and worked as a Journeyman Electrician for a period of at least 4 years/ 8,000 hours.
- Electrical Contractor and Specialty Electrician Contractor Applicants- must have at least one, full-time employee who holds a Master Electrician/ Specialty Electrician license.
For more information about the requirements for each classification, contact the Division at:
800-955-3044
OR
Visit: Electrical Rules and Statutes
Preparing and Submitting an Application
For a copy of the application, please click below and follow the link to the application for the contractor’s chosen license classification:
Idaho Division of Building Safety- Electrical Forms & Applications
Be sure to read all instructions and follow all directions when filling out the application. All supporting documentation proving education and work experience must be notarized.
Electrical Contractors and Specialty Electrical Contractors applying as a business entity are required to have the appropriate Employer Identification Numbers and be registered with the Idaho Secretary of State.
All applications must be signed and notarized.
There is a $15 application fee for all applicants. Upon passing the exam, contractors will receive further instructions for paying the appropriate licensing fees.
When an examination is not required, the contractor must pay the license/registration fee at the time they submit their application:
- Apprentice Registration- $50
- Specialty Electrician Trainees- $30
Mail the completed application, along with all the required documents and fees to:
State of Idaho Division of Building Safety
1090 East Watertower Street, Suite 150
Meridian, ID 83642
Once the Division accepts the contractor’s application, they will receive approval to take the exam. All contractors are required to take the exam within 60 days of their application being approved.
For questions about completing and submitting the application, call the Division at:
800-955-3044
The Examination Process
The Division will send information about the examination, once they have approved the contractor’s application. The Division’s Exam Information Bulletin contains all the information needed to schedule and prepare for the exam.
To view a copy of the bulletin, please visit:
Electrical Exams Information Bulletin
Contractors are required to take and pass the exam in order to receive their license. The computer-based, multiple-choice test is open-book. The bulletin contains a list of references that are allowed into the testing center on the day of the exam.
Contractors must call the Division between the hours of 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday in order to schedule their test:
800-955-3044
*Contractors must schedule their exam at least 2 business days before their desired test date.
The cost to take the exam is $75. Contractors must pay the non-fundable exam fee at the time that they schedule their test. The Division accepts payments in the form of credit card (Visa or Mastercard), cash or check.
There are 3 testing center locations:
- Meridian
- Coeur d’Alene
- Pocatello
Be sure to arrive early on the day of the exam to allow time for check-in. All examinees are required to bring a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, passport or military ID.
*Anyone arriving late to the exam will be turned away and exam fees will be forfeited.
Scores are issued on the day of the exam, before the contractor leaves the testing center. The minimum passing score for Electrical Contractors and Master Electricians is 75%. All other license classifications must pass the exam with a minimum score of 70%.
Those who do not pass the exam must contact the Division for further instructions.
Upon passing the exam, contractors are required to pay the appropriate licensing fees to receive their license. License fees are as follows:
- Electrical Contractors- $125
- Specialty Electrical Contractor- $125
- Journeyman Electrician- $55
- Specialty Journeyman Electrician- $55
- Master Electrician- $65
Additionally, all Electrical Contractors and Specialty Electricians are required to prove that they hold liability insurance in the amount of $300,000, as well as workers compensation insurance in order to receive their license.
For more information about the exam or the examination process, please call the Division at:
800-955-3044
OR
Email: customer.service@dbs.idaho.gov
How Long is an Idaho Electrical Contractor License Valid?
The license term for contractors in Idaho depends on the classification that the contractor holds:
- Apprentice Registration- good for 5 years
- Specialty Electrician Trainees- good for 3 years
- Electrical Contractor and Specialty Electrician License- good for a period of 1 year
- All Other License Classification- good for a period of 3 years
Licenses expire on the date that they were originally issued.
The cost to renew a license is:
- Electrical Contractors and Specialty Electricians- $100
- Master Electrician- $45
- Journeyman Electrician and Specialty Journeyman Electrician- $45
- Specialty Electrician Trainee- $30
- Apprentice Registration- $50
In order to renew a Master or Journeyman-level license, all contractors are required to complete 24 hours of continuing education courses upon renewal. All courses must be approved by the Division in order to count toward the requirement.
To view a list of approved courses and providers, please visit:
Idaho Approved Continuing Education Providers
Continuing education hours may be broken up as follows:
- 16 hours covering the most current National Electric Code changes, with 8 hours of industry-related coursesOR
- 8 hours covering the most current National Electric Code changes, with 8 hours of industry-related courses and 8 hours of code-related courses.
For more information about renewing a license, contact the Division at:
800-955-3044
OR
Email: customer.service@dbs.idaho.gov
Table of Fees
| Fee | What is it For? | When is it Due? |
| $15 | Application Fee for all applicants | Upon submitting the license application |
| $50 | Cost to register as an Apprentice | Upon submitting the license application |
| $30 | Cost to register as a Specialty Trainee | Upon submitting the license application |
| $75 | Cost to take the exam for all applicants | Upon calling the Division to schedule the exam |
| $125 | License fee for Electrical Contractors and Specialty Electricians | Upon passing the exam |
| $55 | License fee for Journeyman and Specialty Journeyman | Upon passing the exam |
| $65 | License fee for Master Electricians | Upon passing the exam |
| $100 | License Renewal fee for Electrical Contractors and Specialty Electricians | Every year upon renewal |
| $45 | License Renewal fee for Journeyman, Specialty Journeyman and Master Electricians | Every 3 years upon renewal |
| $30 | Renewal fee for Specialty Electrician Trainees | Every 3 years upon renewal |
| $50 | Renewal fee for Apprentice Electricians | Every 5 years upon renewal |