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How to get an electrician license in Virginia

Hours, exam, fees, renewal and continuing education for Virginia, pulled from official VA sources and checked .

Quick answer
  • Licensing body: Virginia Board for Contractors, Tradesmen Program (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation)
  • State journeyman license: Yes (The Board licenses journeyman and master electricians statewide (18VAC50-30). Localities may add their own rules; ask the locality.)
  • Journeyman Electrician: 4 years of practical electrical experience plus 240 hours of formal vocational training. Other routes: 5 years + 160 hours, 6 years + 80 hours, 7 years + 40 hours, or 8 years with no formal training; an associate degree or 2-year certificate in a related field + 2 years; or a related engineering bachelor's degree + 1 year.
  • Exam: open book, via PSI
  • Code edition: Journeyman and master electrician exams (PSI bulletin dated 7/23/2026): NFPA 70, National Electrical Code, 2020 edition, plus NFPA 70E (2024).

Requirements by license

Journeyman Electrician

Experience4 years of practical electrical experience plus 240 hours of formal vocational training. Other routes: 5 years + 160 hours, 6 years + 80 hours, 7 years + 40 hours, or 8 years with no formal training; an associate degree or 2-year certificate in a related field + 2 years; or a related engineering bachelor's degree + 1 year.Source: law.lis.virginia.gov · as of · 18VAC50-30-39 B (effective April 1, 2025).
ExamPSI. Open book. Board approval first, then schedule with PSI at (855) 340-3910. Journeyman electrician portion: 70 items, 210 minutes, passing score 49. Bring your own bound references (NEC 2020, NFPA 70E, Virginia tradesman regulations); no study guides or writing in references.Source: test-takers.psiexams.com · as of · Board page (exam fees, PSI phone): dpor.virginia.gov
Fees
  • Original tradesman license by exam (application): $150
  • Journeyman exam (paid to PSI): $100
  • Renewal (every 3 years): $160
  • Reinstatement (includes renewal): $210
Source: law.lis.virginia.gov · as of · Exam fee: dpor.virginia.gov · Renewal and reinstatement: law.lis.virginia.gov and law.lis.virginia.gov From July 1, 2026, DPOR says certain fees include a separate $7.25-per-year technology fee.
RenewalEvery 3 years. Expires 3 years from the last day of the month it was issued. Renew with the fee and CE before it expires; after 30 days you pay the $210 reinstatement fee instead, and after 24 months you must apply again.Source: law.lis.virginia.gov · as of · Reinstatement: law.lis.virginia.gov
CE to renew3 hours per 3-year renewal
  • Board-approved course on electrical code changes (NEC)
Finish the course before your license expires. If you hold both master and journeyman electrician, one course covers both; each extra trade needs its own course. Providers report your hours to DPOR electronically.
Source: law.lis.virginia.gov · as of · CE list and rules: dpor.virginia.gov

Master Electrician

ExperienceHold a Virginia journeyman electrician license for at least 1 year, or have 9 years of practical electrical experience.Source: law.lis.virginia.gov · as of · 18VAC50-30-39 D.
ExamPSI. Open book. Master electrician portion: 90 items, 270 minutes, passing score 63. Same reference rules as the journeyman exam.Source: test-takers.psiexams.com · as of
Fees
  • Original tradesman license by exam (application): $150
  • Master exam (paid to PSI): $125
  • Renewal (every 3 years): $160
  • Reinstatement (includes renewal): $210
Source: law.lis.virginia.gov · as of · Exam fee: dpor.virginia.gov
RenewalEvery 3 years. Same rules as the journeyman license: expires 3 years from the last day of the month issued; reinstatement fee after 30 days.Source: law.lis.virginia.gov · as of
CE to renew3 hours per 3-year renewal
  • Board-approved course on electrical code changes (NEC)
Finish the course before your license expires. If you hold both master and journeyman electrician, one course covers both; each extra trade needs its own course. Providers report your hours to DPOR electronically.
Source: law.lis.virginia.gov · as of · CE list and rules: dpor.virginia.gov

License types in Virginia

  • Journeyman Electrician (tradesman license)
  • Master Electrician (tradesman license)
Source: test-takers.psiexams.com · as of · Electrical contracting businesses need a separate Board for Contractors contractor license.

Reciprocity (licensed in another state?)

Virginia has licensing or exam agreements, not blanket reciprocity. The Board lists electrical agreements with the District of Columbia (journeyman and master), Kentucky (electrician and master), West Virginia (journeyman and master), Maryland (master), Alabama (electrical contractor to Virginia master), North Carolina (unlimited and intermediate electrical contractor to Virginia master and contractor) and Ohio (master electrical exam and business-and-law exam). You must meet each agreement's terms and send verification from the other state's board.Source: dpor.virginia.gov · as of

What we couldn't confirm yet

We only publish what we can tie to an official source. These items aren't published anywhere we could verify, so ask the office listed:

FAQ

Does Virginia have a state journeyman electrician license?

Yes. The Virginia Board for Contractors licenses journeyman electricians; the standard route is 4 years of practical experience plus 240 hours of vocational training, and you must pass the PSI exam.

Is the Virginia journeyman electrician exam open book?

Yes. All Virginia tradesman exams are open book; the journeyman electrician portion has 70 items in 210 minutes and uses the 2020 NEC.

How do you become a master electrician in Virginia?

You need a Virginia journeyman electrician license for at least 1 year, or 9 years of practical experience, and must pass the PSI master exam.

Does Virginia have electrician license reciprocity?

Virginia has agreements with specific places rather than blanket reciprocity, including the District of Columbia, Kentucky, West Virginia, Maryland, Alabama, North Carolina and Ohio.

Already licensed? See Virginia electrician license renewal & CE requirements.

Other states

Compare every state side by side: license requirements by state · renewal & CE by state.