Just as with many states, Idaho has rules and regulations on becoming a licensed general contractor, plumber, electrician, or any variant of the sort. For Idaho, electricians will need to properly acquire hands-on work experience and/or classroom hours, and pass an examination to become a journeyman electrician.
This means you will have to start an apprenticeship to work your way up to a journeyman electrician so you then can decide if you want to take your electrician career further – becoming a master electrician, electrical contractor, or any other type of advanced electrical professional.
Idaho Electrical License Reciprocity
The Idaho Division of Building Safety offers reciprocity agreements for a journeyman license in the following states:
Colorado
Maine
Montana
Nebraska
New Hampshire
New Mexico
North Dakota
Oklahoma
Oregon
South Dakota
Texas
Utah
Wyoming
Electricians looking for reciprocity in Idaho must have tested for the current license, held it for at least a year, and have proof of four years of schooling/on-the-job training.
Idaho Journeyman Electrician License Requirements
The application for an electrical journeyman license in Idaho will ask you to be qualified in one of three ways:
- Provide proof of the completion of four years at an approved electrical apprenticeship school and 8,000 hours of work experience.
- Provide evidence of eight years (16,000 hours) of work experience.
- In-state applicants can provide evidence of four years at an approved electrical apprenticeship school, documentation of 6,000 hours of work experience as an Idaho electrical apprentice, and an additional 8,000 hours of work experience after passing the exam.
Applicants must submit a notarized application attached to a $15 non-refundable fee in order to be approved for the electrical journeyman license test.
Electrical Journeyman Exam
All electrical exams, including the journeyman electrician exam, will be administered through one of three locations:
Meridian Office
1090 E. Watertower St., Ste. 150
Meridian, ID 83642
Office Hours: M-F 8:00 – 5:00 (MST)
Coeur d’Alene Office
1250 Ironwood Dr., Ste. 220
Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814
Office Hours: M-F 7:00 – 4:00 (PST)
Blackfoot Office
155 N. Maple St.
Blackfoot, ID 83221
Office Hours: M-F 8:00 – 5:00 (MST)
To schedule an exam, call (800) 955-30442 days before you would like to take the test. Applicants have 90 days before they are expected to take this test. The test will be done on a computer and is open-book. To sit down and take the test, you will need:
- Photo ID
- Approved references.
To pass the test, journeyman electricians will need a score of 70% or better. The test will cost you $75, a fee that is nonrefundable. For more information, refer to the Idaho Division of Building Safety Electrical Exams Information Bulletin.
Idaho Electrical Insurance Requirements
The state of Idaho requires working electrical contractors and limited electrical contractors to carry liability insurance and workers’ compensation insurance.
Use the tool below to request a FREE insurance quote from our partner’s:
Electrician Apprenticeship Requirements
An apprentice electrician will install electrical and wiring equipment under the supervision of a qualified journeyman, among other activities. Naturally, to become a journeyman electrician — and later on a master electrician — you must register and fulfill the requirements of an electrical apprentice.
Electrical apprentice hopefuls must qualify for registration, which involves:
- Being at least 16 years old;
- Completing a notarized application;
- Paying a $15 nonrefundable license registration fee.
There are four levels of apprenticeship that the Idaho Division of Building Safety requires before you become a journeyman. These levels require a certain amount of work experience and schooling.
Level 1: 2,000 hours of verified work experience, and one year at an approved school.
Level 2: 4,000 hours of verified work experience, and two years at an approved school.
Level 3: 6,000 hours of verified work experience, and three years at an approved school.
Level 4: 8,000 hours of verified work experience, and four years at an approved school.
Essentially, an apprenticeship will consist of submitting 8,000 hours of work experience in four years of schooling. Only then, can you qualify to test to become an Idaho journeyman.
Idaho Electrical Apprentice Jobs
Many electrical apprenticeship jobs can be found online. Keep an eye on the following job boards for apprentice jobs in Idaho:
Electrical Trade Schools in Idaho
A list of Idaho Electrical Board and Idaho CTEC approved electrical apprenticeship schools includes:
College of Southern Idaho
315 Falls Avenue
PO Box 1238
Twin Falls, ID, 83303-1238
(208) 733-9554
College of Western Idaho, Nampa Campus Academic Building
5500 E. Opportunity Dr.
P.O. Box 3010
Nampa, ID 83687
(208) 562-3000
College of Eastern Idaho
1600 South 25th East
Idaho Falls, ID 83404
(208) 524-3000
Idaho State University
921 South 8th Avenue
Pocatello, ID 83209
(208) 282-3372
IEC Idaho
5920 Victory Road
P.O. Box 16541
Boise, ID 83715
(208) 608-4662
Lewis Clark State College
500 8th Avenue
Lewiston, ID 83501
(208) 792-527
North Idaho College
1000 W. Garden Ave.
Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814
(208) 769-3300
Southwest Idaho Electrical JATC
12302 W. Explorer Dr.
Suite 130
Boise ID 83713
(208) 384-0538
Eastern Idaho Electrical JATC
8450 South 5th Ave.
Pocatello, ID 83204
(208) 232-4300
Treasure Valley Community College, Ontario Campus
650 College Blvd
Ontario, OR 97914
(541) 881-8822
Treasure Valley Community College, Caldwell Center
205 S 6th Ave
Caldwell, ID 83605
(208) 454-9911
Idaho Professional License Search
To validate a professional license and/or credentials or to look up an electrician in Idaho, visit the Idaho Division of Building Safety license search database.
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 Idaho, click on a link below to learn more about the licensing requirements:
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