Washington electrician exam
Washington electrician and administrator exams are administered by PSI for Labor & Industries. Electrician candidates need an L&I approval letter first. You must score 70% or better on each section. Expect NEC plus Washington RCW 19.28 / WAC 296-46B content — bring industry references you know how to use.
Verified on: 2026-09-14 · Board source
From the board
- Electrical Examination To become a certified electrician, master electrician, electrical administrator, or telecommunications administrator you must pass the appropriate Washington state examination related to the work you will be doing.
- The examination is not about what you have memorized.
- You will need to be familiar with reference material used in the industry.
- In addition to the National Electrical Code (NEC) and WAC/RCW, many candidates bring in other copyrighted materials such as a keywo
- Board page: Electrical Examination - Lni.wa.gov
Eligibility before you book
- Electricians and masters: finish experience / training, then apply to L&I
- L&I mails an approval letter with scheduling instructions and an Exam Unique ID
- You cannot schedule a PSI electrician exam without that letter
- Administrator exams: schedule with PSI directly (no L&I pre-approval)
- Administrator certification alone does not authorize trade electrical work
Journey-level (01) path note
- Since July 1, 2023, most new (01) paths require registered apprenticeship
- Limited grandfathering through July 1, 2026 for trainees who already had 3,000 hours (or an approved two-year school path) before July 1, 2023
- Out-of-state licenses by exam, large out-of-state hour totals, and certain military paths have separate routes
- Specialty certificates (02, 06, and others) are not the same as (01)
Scheduling with PSI
- Create an account at test-takers.psiexams.com/walaborind
- Enter the Exam Unique ID as WLI_ID_Number — do not reuse an old SSN-based account from before July 2023
- PSI usually receives L&I approval within about two business days of the letter date
- Phone: (855) 834-8751 (Pacific hours published by PSI)
- Download the current PSI Candidate Information Bulletin from L&I for sites, fees, and accommodations
One-year window and retakes
- One year from the electrician approval letter to pass the exam listed in that letter
- First attempt in a period must include all exam sections
- Passed sections stay credited only inside that same one-year period
- Typical wait: at least 14 days between attempts (before three failures)
- After three failures in a period: wait 90 days between further attempts
- If the year expires without a full pass: reapply to L&I for a new approval
- Administrators: the one-year clock starts on your first attempt
What to study and bring
- Pass each section at 70% or higher
- Know your references — not pure memorization
- Expect NEC (edition in the current bulletin; recent bulletins have cited 2020), RCW 19.28, and WAC 296-46B
- Many candidates also bring NEC keyword indexes, formula guides, and theory handbooks
- Two IDs (one valid government photo ID with signature)
- Cancel or reschedule at least two days ahead or you risk forfeiting the fee
Out-of-state and military
- Out-of-state: often a notarized letter from the other board confirming active license, type, exam-based issuance, and hours
- Example for general journey level: 8,000 hours with 4,000 commercial / industrial
- Military: typically DD-214 / VMET plus an electrical training certificate record
- Use L&I's exceptions guidance — another state's card is not automatic reciprocity
After you pass
- Finish remaining L&I certification or contractor assignment paperwork
- Failed sections: wait the required interval, then retake what you still need inside the same one-year window when allowed
Related: Renewal and CE · Get licensed
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