Idaho's electrical reciprocity covers journeyman licenses from 18 states: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin and Wyoming. A master license from any state can also transfer if you earned it by exam and held a journeyman license for 4 years. You still file the journeyman application ($70) or master application ($80), and masters may be asked for a passing score on the Idaho master exam at PSI. Contractor licenses aren't covered: contractors pass Idaho's business and law exam and carry $300,000 in liability insurance.
| Quick look | Idaho electrical reciprocity |
|---|---|
| Who licenses you | Idaho Electrical Board, run by the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) |
| Journeyman licenses Idaho accepts | 17 states printed on the journeyman application, plus Oregon under a separate agreement |
| Master licenses Idaho accepts | Any state, if you earned the license by exam and were a journeyman 4+ years (master application) |
| State not covered? | Idaho's universal licensure law (Idaho Code 67-9409) lets you apply with any current, unrestricted license. DOPL may require all or part of the Idaho exam. |
| What you still need | The application and fee: $70 journeyman, $80 master (nonrefundable). Masters: possibly a passing score on the Idaho master exam at PSI. |
| Contractors | No agreement. Pass the PSI business and law exam, carry $300,000 liability insurance and name a supervising electrician. |
| Best Idaho license to carry | Master. DOPL issues a journeyman license with it, so you can use both levels' lists elsewhere. |
Idaho electrical reciprocity: licenses Idaho accepts
Find the row that fits the license you hold now. It must be active. The 17-state list comes from NERA, the National Electrical Reciprocal Alliance, a group of states that accept each other's journeyman licenses.
| Idaho route | Who qualifies | You still need |
|---|---|---|
| Journeyman, 17-state list | A journeyman license earned by exam in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin or Wyoming | The journeyman application and $70 fee. DOPL contacts your board to confirm the license is active, earned by exam and when it was issued. No Idaho exam. |
| Journeyman, Oregon | Oregon General Journeyman (J) counts for Idaho journeyman | The journeyman application and $70 fee, plus Oregon's License Verification Form showing 4 years of apprenticeship school, 8,000 hours and a license earned by exam |
| Master | A master license from any state counts for Idaho master | The master application and $80 fee. A verification from your board showing the license was earned by exam, 4+ years as a journeyman and an active master license. A copy of your license won't do. DOPL may require a passing score on the Idaho master exam at PSI. |
| Universal licensure | A current, unrestricted license from any state | The standard application and the same fees as everyone else. DOPL may require all or part of the PSI Idaho exam. |
| Electrical contractor | No state. No agreement covers this license. | A pass on the PSI business and law exam, $300,000 liability insurance, workers' comp if required, and one supervising electrician |
Idaho's new residential electrician license (Idaho Code 54-1007(5)) has no out-of-state route yet. In August 2026 the Board was still forming a group of experts to write an exam for out-of-state applicants.
Allow extra time. In August 2025, DOPL told the Board its staff were re-evaluating Idaho's reciprocal agreements. In August 2026, the Board asked staff to report on delays in reciprocal licensing, so apply early if you have a start date.
Not from one of the 18 states? Plan on Idaho's PSI exam, which allows the 2020 NEC. JCR's Idaho self-study package preps the Journeyman and Master exams.
What you get for $495: 100 video lessons, a 152-page workbook, a 500+ question mock exam with online access and permanent code tabs. The videos open right after checkout.
What to send DOPL
- The journeyman or master application with "Reciprocal" checked. You can also apply online through eDOPL.
- The processing fee: $70 for journeyman, $80 for master.
- From the 17-state list: nothing extra up front. DOPL gets the proof from your board.
- From Oregon, or applying as a master: a License Verification Form filled out by your board.
- Your Social Security number and an email address. Idaho law requires both.
- A DD-214, if you're a veteran or on active duty.
Taking an Idaho license to another state
Idaho journeymen have a wide network. Each state below sets its own rules, and most want the license held 1 year.
| State | Idaho license it accepts | You still need |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | Idaho journeyman counts for Alaska's reciprocal Electrician Journeyman certificate | License held 1 full year. A $50 application fee plus a $200 certificate fee (Alaska requirements). No exam. |
| Arkansas | Idaho journeyman counts for Arkansas journeyman. An Idaho master also gets the Arkansas journeyman. | Your original Idaho license, earned by exam in Idaho and held 1 year |
| Colorado | Idaho journeyman or master counts for a Colorado journeyman license | License earned by state exam and held 1 year |
| Maine | Idaho journeyman counts for Maine journeyman | Idaho written exam passed. At least 6 years working as an electrician |
| Montana | Idaho journeyman or master counts for the same Montana level | The Montana application and $190 fee. A verification of every license you've held. No exam. |
| Nebraska | Idaho journeyman counts for Nebraska journeyman | Exam score of 75% or higher. License held 1 year |
| New Hampshire | Idaho journeyman or master counts for the same New Hampshire level | 1 year of experience at that level |
| New Mexico | Idaho journeyman counts for New Mexico's journeyman electrician certificate (EE-98J) | License held 1 year in Idaho. $75 application fee paid to PSI |
| North Dakota | Idaho journeyman counts for North Dakota journeyman | License held 1 year. 8,000 hours. An 8-hour code class approved by North Dakota (required because Idaho has no CE) |
| Oklahoma | Idaho journeyman counts for Oklahoma journeyman | License held 1 year. Grandfathered licenses don't count |
| Oregon | Idaho journeyman counts for Oregon General Journeyman (J) | 4 years of apprenticeship school (576 hours) and 8,000 hours. An Idaho master license counts as meeting this. |
| South Dakota | Idaho journeyman counts for South Dakota journeyman. Idaho master counts for South Dakota Electrical Contractor. |
License earned by exam and active 1 year |
| Texas | Idaho journeyman counts for Texas journeyman | 8,000 hours supervised by a master. License held 1 year. $30 fee |
| Utah | Idaho journeyman counts for Utah journeyman. Idaho master counts for Utah master. |
License held 1 year. Masters also pass the Utah Master Electrician Law and Rule exam. |
| Wyoming | Idaho journeyman counts for Wyoming journeyman ($100). Idaho master counts for Wyoming master ($200). |
Exam score of 70% or higher (journeyman) or 75% (master), license held 1 year. 8,000 on-the-job and 576 school hours. 16 CE hours. Masters add 4 years as a journeyman. One time only. |
| Vermont | Idaho journeyman or master counts for the same Vermont level | At least 3 years licensed in good standing in Idaho |
| Virginia | Idaho journeyman or master counts for the same Virginia tradesman license, through universal license recognition | License held 1 year and earned by exam. $171.75 fee on the tradesman ULR application. DPOR may require an exam on Virginia law. |
| Louisiana | An Idaho electrical exam you passed counts toward a Louisiana contractor license. Louisiana picks the classification. | An exam that wasn't waived or grandfathered. The Louisiana Business and Law course and a financial statement showing $50,000 net worth. Residential licenses also need $100,000 liability insurance and workers' comp. |
Idaho lawmakers removed the electrical CE requirement from the Board's rules in 2025, per the May 2025 Board minutes. That's why North Dakota asks Idaho applicants for an 8-hour code class. Wyoming asks every reciprocal applicant for 16 CE hours, whatever their state.
No reciprocity for Idaho electricians here
- Washington: reciprocal certificates go to Oregon licensees only.
- Iowa and Minnesota: Idaho isn't on either list.
- Wisconsin: journeyman reciprocity covers Iowa and New Hampshire only.
For the rest of the country, use JCR's 50-state reciprocity table.
Neighbors with JCR guides: Montana reciprocity guide and New Mexico reciprocity guide. Testing next door instead? See JCR's Montana electrical license and Nevada electrical license guides.
Every Idaho licensing step is in JCR's Idaho electrical license guide. Exams in all states are on the state requirements page.
Steps to get an Idaho license by reciprocity
- Match your license to a route in the table above.
- Download the journeyman or master application, or start one in eDOPL.
- From Oregon, or applying as a master? Send your board a License Verification Form now. It's the slowest piece.
- Check "Reciprocal," name your state and sign the certification.
- Email it to customer-service@dopl.idaho.gov, or mail it with the fee.
- State not covered? Apply under universal licensure, and be ready to sit some or all of the PSI exam.
Idaho reciprocity FAQ
Does Idaho have reciprocity with Oregon?
Yes, for journeymen, in both directions. Under the Idaho–Oregon agreement, you need 4 years of apprenticeship school (at least 576 classroom hours), 8,000 hours under a journeyman, and a license earned by exam.
Does Idaho have reciprocity with Washington?
No. Washington isn't on Idaho's journeyman list, and Washington gives reciprocal certificates only to Oregon licensees. A Washington electrician can apply under Idaho's universal licensure law, but DOPL may require the exam.
Do I have to take an exam to transfer my license to Idaho?
Not if you're a journeyman from one of the 18 accepted states. Masters may be asked for a passing score on the Idaho master exam at PSI. Under universal licensure, DOPL may require all or part of the Idaho exam.
Can I transfer my Utah electrical license to Idaho?
A Utah master can use Idaho's master route with 4 years as a journeyman. Utah journeymen aren't on Idaho's list, so universal licensure is their route. Going the other way is easier: Utah accepts Idaho journeyman and master licenses.
Is an Idaho journeyman license good in Montana?
Yes. Montana lists Idaho journeyman and master licenses as a match for its own. You pay $190 and send license verifications, with no exam.
Why do some states ask Idaho electricians for extra code classes?
Idaho no longer requires continuing education. North Dakota wants an approved 8-hour code class from states without CE. Wyoming asks every reciprocal applicant for 16 CE hours, 8 of them on code.
Sitting for Idaho's PSI exam instead? Get ready with JCR
Idaho's journeyman and master exams allow the 2020 NEC. JCR's Idaho self-study package teaches fast code lookups and the theory and calculation problems on the PSI exam. The same material yields a 93% pass rate for JCR classroom students.
It costs $495. Open the videos and digital practice exams right after checkout, and the workbook ships the same business day. Most students budget 6–8 weeks at about an hour a night.
Curious where you stand? Try the free practice questions.
More Idaho guides
Agency pages JCR checked
- DOPL journeyman application (rev. Aug 2, 2024)
- DOPL master application (rev. June 15, 2024)
- Idaho–Oregon journeyman agreement
- DOPL electrical exams (PSI)
- Idaho Code 54-1007
- Idaho Code 54-1013
- Idaho Code 67-9409
- Idaho Electrical Board minutes
- Montana substantial equivalency determinations
- New Hampshire qualifying jurisdictions
- North Dakota reciprocal requirements
- Wyoming electrical licensing
JCR checked these routes against each agency's own forms, rules and statutes on October 13, 2026. DOPL is re-evaluating its agreements, so confirm your route with Idaho DOPL before you apply.