You must undergo considerable hands-on training and obtain certain licenses if you want to become an electrician in Washington D.C. Each state has its own unique requirements for electrical contractors, and the District of Columbia is no exception. While some states have a single regulatory board or organization for all trades, that isn’t the case in the nation’s capital city. General contractors in Washington D.C. are overseen by the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA), but things differ for electricians.
Operating under the DCRA, the Board of Industrial Trades (BIT) governs asbestos workers, electricians, elevator mechanics, refrigeration and air conditioning technicians, steam engineers, and plumbers in Washington D.C. This board comprises 15 tradespeople who are appointed by the mayor, and they have the power to “establish bonding and insurance requirements, subcategories of licensure, education, and experience requirements for licensure, and other requirements” for these six trades.
The BIT has determined that electricians must undergo an electrician apprenticeship or take four years of college courses combined with practical experience before you are even eligible to apply for a journeyman license. And that’s just the first step if you want to become a master electrician, which requires several more years of experience and another licensing exam. Whether you’re an experienced electrician moving to the District of Columbia from another state or are looking for more information on how to get started in this career, here’s everything you need to know about becoming an electrical contractor in Washington D.C.
Washington D.C. Electrician License Reciprocity
Some states offer license reciprocity for electrician contractors. Depending on the state you’re moving to, and the state in which you obtained your electrician’s license, you may be able to move and begin working without going through any additional licensing or applications. For instance, if you have an electrical license in Alaska and you want to work as an electrician in Colorado, your license will be recognized and you do not have to get a new one.
Unfortunately, Washington D.C. has no direct license reciprocity for any trades, including electricians, with other states. However, the Occupational and Professional Licensing Administration (OPLA) does allow you to apply to transfer your license from your home state to Washington D.C. via endorsement or examination. You must complete an application and pay a non-refundable $65 fee to the BIT. If your application is approved, you can then transfer your license over.
Washington D.C. Master Electrician License Requirements
Master electrician is the highest level of the trade you can attain in Washington D.C. Master electricians can design and implement electrical systems, supervise journeymen and apprentices, and manage entire electrical projects. They can work on more complex, “big-picture” projects than journeyman electricians. Master electricians are also responsible for having customer service skills, the ability to manage a crew of electricians, and knowledge of building codes and safety regulations, in addition to the basics of electrical work.
To become a master electrician in Washington D.C., you must meet all the requirements to work as a licensed journeyman electrician. To apply to take the master electrician contractor exam, you must also have:
- Education and Training: You need to work as an electrician for at least eight years. Four of those years can be as an apprentice, but at least four of them must be spent working as a licensed journeyman.
- Exam Application: You must be approved before you can take the master licensing exam. Complete the exam application and submit it, along with the other necessary application materials, including certification of completion, transcripts, employment verification, and Certificate of Moral Character.
- Application Fee: You must pay an application fee of $260, by either a check or money order, to the testing agency. They must be made payable to Pearson VUE.
All application materials and fees can be sent to Pearson VUE at:
Department DC-EL
Metro-Plex I, Suite 250
8401 Corporate Drive
Landover, MD 20785
If your application is approved, you are eligible to take the master electrician licensing exam. Pearson VUE will send further instructions and information regarding the examination, including its location, date, and time.
Master Electrician Exam
The master electrician exam is similar to the journeyman exam, though it is slightly longer. Instead of 80 questions in four hours, you have five hours to complete 100 multiple choice questions. It is also open book, and you can use the 2011 National Electrical Code or any edition of Ugly’s Electrical Reference during the exam. You will need to get at least 70 percent of the questions correct to pass.
Once you pass the exam, you must complete and submit an application for a professional master license with the BIT. This can be done using their online licensing portal, under the same account used for your journeyman license. If they approve your application, you have officially been licensed as a master electrician in Washington D.C. Though there are no continuing education requirements, you must renew your license every odd-numbered year. You will receive an official notice in the mail three months before your license expires.
Washington D.C. Electrical Insurance Requirements
Washington D.C. does not require master electricians to carry any form of liability insurance. However due to the many risks involved with the trade, it is highly recommended licensed electricians obtain liability insurance anyway.
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Washington D.C. Journeyman Electrician License Requirements
In Washington D.C., journeyman status is the first level of electrician contractor you can become; it’s the first step you have to take before you can become a master electrician. As a journeyman electrician, you’re no longer an apprentice, so you can legally work without the supervision of a master. Journeyman electricians can work with electrical wires, fixtures, and systems in residential, commercial, and industrial settings. Unlike master electricians, they cannot design or plan initial electrical systems.
There are a few requirements you must fulfill before you are qualified to become a journeyman electrician in Washington D.C.:
- Education and Training: You need either 8,000 hours of experience over the course of at least four years as an apprentice electrician, or a degree in electrical engineering from an accredited college or university and two years of supervised practical experience as an electrician.
- Exam Application: You must be approved by before you can take the journeyman licensing exam. Complete the exam application and submit it, along with the other necessary application materials, including certification of completion, transcripts, employment verification, and Certificate of Moral Character.
- Application Fee: You must pay an application fee of $260, by either a check or money order, to the testing agency. They must be made payable to Pearson VUE.
All application materials and fees can be sent to Pearson VUE at:
Department DC-EL
Metro-Plex I, Suite 250
8401 Corporate Drive
Landover, MD 20785
If your application is approved, you are eligible to take the journeyman electrician licensing exam. Pearson VUE will send further instructions and information regarding the examination, including its location, date, and time.
Journeyman Electrician Exam
You must pass the journeyman electrician examination in order to apply for your license. The journeyman exam lasts for four hours and is comprised of 80 multiple choice questions. It is open book, and you are allowed to use the 2011 National Electrical Code or any edition of Ugly’s Electrical Reference during the exam. You must get 70 percent of the questions correct to pass.
Once you pass the exam, you must complete and submit an application for a professional license with the BIT. If they approve your application, you have officially been licensed as a journeyman electrician in Washington D.C. Though there are no continuing education requirements, you must renew your license every odd-numbered year. You will receive an official notice in the mail three months before your license expires.
Electrician Apprenticeship Requirements
Becoming an apprentice is the primary way of gaining the experience needed to become a journeyman electrician. To become a licensed apprentice, you simply have to pay a non-refundable $65 application fee and prove your enrollment in an apprenticeship or technical program to the BIT.
As an apprentice, you can only work under the supervision of a licensed master electrician. This is how you will gain hands-on experience and training. Most apprenticeships also require you to spend time in the classroom, learning electrical theory.
Washington D.C. Apprentice Electrician Jobs
You can find either union or non-union electrician apprenticeships in Washington D.C. To find a union apprenticeship, go to the Washington D.C. Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee. Located just outside the city limits in Lanham, Maryland, they offer comprehensive apprenticeships and training for a number of different industries, including electricians.
For non-union apprenticeships, consult any trade organization or group in the D.C. area. The Independent Electrical Contractors Chesapeake Area Chapter is a great place to start, though they only have locations in Dulles, Virginia and Laurel, Maryland. The Department of Employment Services also maintains a list of non-union electrician apprentice sponsors in the D.C. area.
Some employers may also list apprenticeships on job-hunting websites, such as Indeed, Monster, or ZipRecruiter. They may have additional opportunities for electrician apprenticeships in Washington D.C. or in nearby areas.
Electrician Trade Schools in Washington D.C.
Enrolling in a trade school or other technical program is another way to complete the training and education needed to obtain a journeyman license. Currently, there are no electrician trade programs within Washington D.C. proper, but there is one nearby.
- Lincoln Tech: Lincoln Tech is a private, for-profit vocational institution with locations in 14 different states, including Columbia, Maryland. At this location, they offer an Electrical and Electronic Systems Technology program that takes 47 weeks to complete. For tuition rates and additional information, see the Contact Us page on their website.
There are other options for schools and vocational programs in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia, as well as online programs. However, if you are interested in any of these other programs, be sure you can still pursue licensure in Washington D.C. even if your training occurs out-of-state.
For More License and Career Guides
To find out how to become an Electrical Contractor in another state, start here.
For information on other trades in Washington DC, click on a link below to learn more about the licensing requirements:
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