Idaho Electrician Exam

To get licensed in Idaho, electricians are required to take an exam that covers such subjects as circuits, conductors, grounding, lighting and safety. Whether you live in Boise or another city or county, the resources below will help you get started on the path to receive your electrician's license.

Need of a License: All contractors and electricians must be licensed by the Idaho Division of Building Safety.

Qualifications and Exam Requirements

Electrical Contractor
Licenses may be issued to firms or individuals. Applicants must pass an examination and be (or employ) a journeyman electrician who has held a state-issued journeyman or master license for a minimum of two (2) years, and holds a current Idaho license. Individuals holding electrical contractor licenses may not perform actual electrical work unless they are also licensed as a journeyman electrician or have a licensed, qualified journeyman electrician as an electrical supervisor. Electrical contractors must show proof of required insurance.

Specialty Electrical Contractor
Licenses may be issued to firms or individuals. Applicants must pass an examination and be (or employ) a journeyman electrician who has held a state-issued journeyman or master license for a minimum of two (2) years, and holds a current Idaho license. Individuals holding electrical contractor licenses may not perform actual electrical work unless they are also licensed as a journeyman electrician or have a licensed, qualified journeyman electrician as an electrical supervisor. Electrical contractors must show proof of required insurance.

Master Electrician
Licenses may be issued to anyone who has been a licensed journeyman electrician in the State of Idaho for at least four (4) years and received a passing grade on the master journeyman test. Twenty-four hours of continuing education every three (3) years is required.

Journeyman Electrician
In order to be approved for the Idaho State Journeyman Electrician examination notarized documentation of four (4) years (a minimum of 8,000 hours) of work experience as an apprentice electrician making electrical installation under the constant supervision of a qualified journeyman and four (4) years (a minimum of 576 hours) of approved electrical apprenticeship classroom instruction must be submitted.

Specialty Electrician
In order to be approved for the Idaho State Specialty Electrician (elevator, dumbwaiter, escalator, moving walk, sign, manufacturing or assembling equipment, and limited energy) examination notarized documentation of two (2) years (a minimum of 4,000 hours) of work experience within the scope of the specialty, and that experience must be in compliance with the rules of that state in which the experience was obtained.

Apprentice
Qualifying documents for hours of work experience and schooling completed must be submitted prior to each July 1 for an annual re-registration process with the Electrical Bureau. After these requirements of 4 years (or a minimum of 8,000 on-the-job hours) and 576 total hours of classroom training, the apprentice is ready to make application for the journeyman test and upon passing, will be issued an Idaho journeyman electrical license.

How to Apply for the License

An application must be filed for a Contractor license.

To obtain a Master or Journeyman Electrician license, an application must be filed.

Electrical exams are administered by Pearson VUE 1-877-234-6082.

Test Content

The contractor and master electrician exams test on the NEC chapters 1 – 9, statutes and rules and have some math problems.

Contractor Candidate Booklet: Electrical Exam Information Bulletin

Master Electrician Candidate Booklet: Electrical Exams Bulletin

Exam Details

Contractor – The testing company DBS will review your application. If it is approved, you will receive a test packet in the mail and will be registered to test on the ICC website.
Passing Grade: 70%
Exam Details Business & Law: 2 hours; 50 questions Contractors Business and Law Reference Manual

Master Electrician - After your application has been approved, DBS will mail you information explaining how to register for the requested exam.
Passing Grade: 75%
Exam Details: 5 hours; 100 questions

Journeyman Electrician - After your application has been approved, DBS will mail you information explaining how to register for the requested exam.
Passing Grade: 70%
Exam Details: 4 hours; 80 questions

Fees: There are fees to get a license in Idaho.

License Renewal Requirements

Contractor Renewal: Annual, expiring one year from the date of issue unless renewed, revoked or suspended.

Master and Journeyman Electrician Renewal: Triennial expiring 3 years from the date of issue.

Applicable Regulations: All electrical installations are subject to inspection by the Idaho State Electrical Bureau, a department within the Division of Building Safety, or by city electrical departments where the state does not perform inspection services.

Applicable Code: NEC 2017

Contact

Electrical Bureau, Division of Building Safety
1090 E. Watertower Street
Meridian, ID 83642
(208) 334-2183
(208) 334-2165 fax
dbs.idaho.gov