Idaho Journeyman Electrician License

Two Routes, One Exam

Idaho's Journeyman Electrician license can be reached through two distinct pathways, but both converge at the same point: the NASCLA Journeyman Electrician exam administered by PSI.

The schooling pathway requires 8,000 hours of supervised on-the-job training plus 576 hours of approved classroom instruction over four years. Six state-approved institutions deliver this coursework — College of Western Idaho, College of Southern Idaho, College of Eastern Idaho, Idaho State University, Lewis-Clark State College, and North Idaho College.

The experience-only pathway demands 16,000 hours of verified work experience. No classroom requirement, but the hours must span residential, commercial, and industrial installations, with no single category exceeding 75% of the total.

Submitting Your Work Verification

Before DOPL will authorize you to sit for the exam, every hour of your OJT must be documented on official Work Verification Forms. Each employer and supervising electrician must sign the form under penalty of perjury, certifying the hours are accurate and that supervision standards were met.

Common reasons DOPL rejects verification forms: the supervising electrician did not hold an active license during the period claimed, fields were left blank (supervisor's license number, business email, or phone), or the applicant claimed overtime hours without paycheck stubs to back them up.

If a former employer refuses to sign your form, do not submit an incomplete application — DOPL will reject it immediately. Instead, retrieve W-2 forms or certified payroll records through your employer's HR department or a CPA, and submit those alongside a formal letter to DOPL requesting a state review of your experience.

The NASCLA Exam Through PSI

Once DOPL approves your hours, you register for the exam through the PSI testing portal. The exam fee is $75, and PSI operates testing centers in Boise, Coeur d'Alene, and Pocatello. Book your appointment four to six weeks in advance to get your preferred date and location.

The Journeyman exam is 100 questions. The available exam materials list either a 270- or 300-minute time limit, so confirm the current PSI bulletin before your appointment. You need a score of 70% to pass. It is open-book — you may bring a printed copy of the 2023 National Electrical Code — but there are strict rules: the NEC must be hole-punched and held in a 3-ring binder, with only permanent tabs and highlights allowed. Sticky notes, loose papers, and Post-its are prohibited, and writing in the book is not permitted.

The exam covers general electrical knowledge, wiring methods, grounding and bonding, equipment specifications, and branch circuit calculations. PSI prints your pass/fail result immediately after you finish.

After You Pass

Passing the exam does not automatically give you a license. You still need to log into your DOPL account, submit the final Journeyman license application, and pay $15 in processing fees plus a $55 license fee ($70 total).

Your Journeyman license currently renews every three years, though DOPL is transitioning to a biennial cycle based on your birth year. And as of 2025, Idaho eliminated continuing education requirements for Journeyman and Master renewals — you no longer need 24 hours of CE classes to renew a Journeyman or Master license.

What Comes Next

After holding an active Journeyman license for four consecutive years, you can apply for the Master Electrician credential. Under House Bill 153 (effective July 1, 2025), renewing your Master license automatically renews your Journeyman at no additional charge.

The Idaho Electrician License Guide includes application packet checklists and a PSI testing prep checklist so you can organize your NEC binder, track your verification forms, and submit your application in the right sequence.

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