Idaho Electrician License Reciprocity Guide

• ✓Licensed 1+ year in your home stateLicense must be current and in good standing.
• ✓8,000 hours of documented experience
• ✓No exam for reciprocal applicantsReciprocal applicants exempt from Idaho exam if original license was obtained by examination in home state.
• ✓Experience affidavitRequired with the application.
• ✓Letter of good standingRequest one from your home-state board.

Idaho DOPL maintains reciprocal agreements but publishes them via a downloadable Reciprocal Information document at dopl.idaho.gov. Partner list here is compiled by cross-referencing states that reciprocate with Idaho (MT, WY, UT, SD all list ID as a partner). Contact DOPL at (208) 334-3233 to verify current status of any specific state. Idaho's 3-year license term is longer than most states (typically 1-2 years). CE requirement is substantial: 24 hours per 3-year cycle with 16 hours on Idaho Code specifically. Idaho is unusual in accepting a 16,000-hour "qualifying experience" path in addition to the standard 8,000-hour + apprenticeship path — helpful for those with informal or non-registered experience.

1. Complete the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) — Idaho Electrical Board reciprocal application — official application.
2. Attach proof of 1+ year of licensure, your experience affidavit, and your letter of good standing.
3. Submit to Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) — Idaho Electrical Board, 11341 W. Chinden Blvd., Bldg. 4, Boise, ID 83714.
4. Questions? Call (208) 334-3233. Allow 4–8 weeks for processing.

Registration fee

Contact board — Apprentice registration fee not publicly documented in general fee schedules — contact DOPL directly.

Renewal

Not published

License duration

4 years

Employer requirements

Must be employed by a licensed ID electrical contractor and enrolled in a Board-approved 4-year instructional program. Apprentice registration must remain ACTIVE — lapsed hours do not count.

1. Secure employment with a licensed ID electrical contractor 2. Register with Idaho DOPL as apprentice — KEEP REGISTRATION ACTIVE 3. Enroll in Board-approved 4-year instructional program 4. Accumulate 8,000 hours of practical experience under supervision 5. Apply for journeyman exam upon completion of hours + instructional program

Apprentice application →

CRITICAL RULE: apprentice hours worked while your registration is LAPSED do NOT count toward the 8,000-hour OJT requirement. Renewal must be timely.

Apprentice rules change often — confirm with Idaho before relying on this summary.

If you're from a non-reciprocal state, ID requires:

• Journeyman: 8,000 hours apprentice electrical-installation experience + Board-approved 4-year instructional sequence, OR 16,000 hours qualifying electrical experience. Pass 100-question, 270-minute exam (75% passing).
• Master: Four years as licensed journeyman + Board-prescribed work hours. Same exam format.
• License term: 3 years
• Continuing education: 24 hours per 3-year cycle (16 Idaho Code + 8 NEC/approved)

Note: apprentice hours worked while apprentice registration is LAPSED do not count toward OJT.

Idaho DOPL state license covers Boise, Meridian, Idaho Falls, Nampa, Coeur d'Alene, and all ID cities. No additional municipal electrician licenses.

These states accept your Idaho license: Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Arkansas, Montana, South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado, North Dakota, Oregon, New Mexico, Maine.

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Current openings in Idaho: Journeyman Electrician jobs.

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