To work as an electrician in Virginia, you must hold a tradesman license issued by the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR). This guide outlines the specific requirements and steps for securing your Journeyman or Master Electrician license, from documenting your experience to passing the required exams and maintaining your credentials.
Do You Need an Electrician License in Virginia?
Yes, Virginia's Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) issues tradesman licenses to individual electricians and firm-level contractor licenses to electrical contracting businesses. The licensing pathways are set out in 18VAC50-30 and the DPOR Board for Contractors / Board for Tradesmen pages; the specific scope of work and any statutory exemptions should be confirmed with DPOR before bidding or performing electrical work.
Individual electricians must obtain a Journeyman or Master Electrician tradesman license to perform electrical work. A separate business entity that offers electrical contracting services to the public must obtain a Class A, B, or C contractor license from the Board for Contractors; the specific specialty designations available for electrical work and any Qualified Individual requirements are set out on the DPOR Board for Contractors page — confirm the current specialty rules with the Board before bidding firm-level electrical work.
Virginia Electrician License Types and Tiers
Virginia's DPOR offers two primary license tiers for individual electricians, each with a distinct scope of work.
Journeyman Electrician License
A Journeyman Electrician is an individual licensed by DPOR to perform electrical work consistent with the Journeyman trade classification set out in 18VAC50-30; the full operational scope of the Journeyman classification is defined in the Tradesmen Regulations (18VAC50-30) and the relevant National Electrical Code provisions adopted by Virginia.
Master Electrician License
A Master Electrician is the higher individual classification under 18VAC50-30, above Journeyman. The full operational scope of the Master classification (including any authority to plan, lay out, or supervise electrical installations) is defined in the Tradesmen Regulations and any DPOR guidance documents.
Class A, B, and C Contractor Licenses (with Electrical Specialty)
Class A, B, and C contractor licenses are for business entities (and sole proprietors), not individuals (per the DPOR Board for Contractors page). The class (A, B, or C) determines the monetary value of the projects the firm can undertake. The full requirements for firm-level contractor licensing — including any specialty designations and Qualified Individual requirements — are set out on the DPOR Board for Contractors page and the applicable Board for Contractors Regulations; confirm the specific electrical specialty designation and Qualified Individual rules with the Board before bidding firm-level electrical work.
Virginia Electrician License Requirements: Experience & Education
To qualify for an electrician license in Virginia, you must be at least 18 years of age (per 18VAC50-30-30) and document a specific combination of practical work experience and formal vocational training per 18VAC50-30-39.
The Virginia Board for Contractors outlines the following experience-and-education paths to qualify for a Journeyman Electrician license (per 18VAC50-30-39.B):
- A bachelor's degree in an engineering curriculum related to the trade plus one year of practical experience.
- An associate degree or a certificate of completion from at least a two-year program in a tradesman-related field plus two years of practical experience.
- 240 hours of formal vocational training in the trade plus four years of practical experience.
- 160 hours of formal vocational training in the trade plus five years of practical experience.
- 80 hours of formal vocational training in the trade plus six years of practical experience.
- 40 hours of formal vocational training in the trade plus seven years of practical experience.
- No formal vocational training plus eight years of practical experience.
To qualify for a Master Electrician license, you must meet one of the following criteria (per 18VAC50-30-39.D):
- Have held a valid journeyman license in the trade for which licensure is desired for a minimum of one year.
- Have nine years of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired.
Experience must be verified by reference letters from employers or supervisors on the forms specified in 18VAC50-30-47, included with the license application.
The Virginia Electrician Licensing Exam (PSI)
All Virginia tradesman licensing examinations for electricians are administered by PSI (per the DPOR Tradesmen Program page, dpor.virginia.gov/Boards/Tradesmen). The exam content, format, passing score, number of portions, time limits, and approved reference materials are published in the current PSI Virginia Tradesmen Candidate Information Bulletin, which is linked from the DPOR Tradesmen Program page. Candidates should consult that bulletin for the figures applicable to the Journeyman and Master exams before scheduling.
Exam Administrator and Locations
PSI administers the exams at testing centers in Charlottesville, Richmond, Roanoke, Vienna, and Virginia Beach, Virginia, as well as in Johnson City, TN and Salisbury, MD (per the DPOR Tradesmen Program page). You can find the current locations and schedule your exam through PSI after DPOR approves your application.
How to Register for the Exam
You must first have your license application approved by the DPOR before you are eligible to register for the exam. Once approved, you will receive a notification with instructions on how to schedule your test date and location with PSI.
Exam Fees
Exam fees are paid directly to PSI and are separate from the DPOR application fee. The current PSI exam fees for Virginia tradesman electrician licenses, per the DPOR Tradesmen Program page, are:
- Journeyman Tradesman exam: $100
- Master Tradesman exam: $125
Refer to the current PSI Virginia Tradesmen Candidate Information Bulletin for any updated figures before scheduling.
Virginia Electrician License Application Process
The application process for a Virginia electrician license is set out on the official Tradesman Exam and License Application (form A501-2710EXLIC) and the DPOR Tradesmen Program page. Per those sources, the process generally follows this order: submit the application to DPOR with the application fee; DPOR reviews the application and, if approved, notifies the applicant that they are eligible to sit for the exam; the applicant then registers with PSI to schedule the exam; after passing the exam, DPOR issues the license. Confirm the current process and any updated sequencing directly with DPOR before applying.
- Meet Experience Requirements: Document the required years of practical experience and hours of vocational training for your desired license (Journeyman or Master), per 18VAC50-30-39.
- Complete the Application Form: Fill out the official Tradesman Exam and License Application (form A501-2710EXLIC). Ensure all sections are complete and accurate.
- Gather Documentation: Collect all necessary supporting documents, including your completed Experience Verification Forms and any transcripts from vocational training programs.
- Pay Application Fee: Include the application fee ($150 for an original tradesman license by examination per 18VAC50-30-90) with your submission. The fee must be paid by check or money order payable to the "Treasurer of Virginia" (per the application form).
- Submit Application: Mail your completed application, supporting documents, and fee to the DPOR address listed on the form.
- Wait for DPOR Approval: DPOR reviews your application. If approved, you will receive a notification with instructions on how to schedule your exam with PSI.
- Pass the Required Exam: After DPOR approval, register and pass the appropriate PSI examination for your license type ($100 Journeyman Tradesman or $125 Master Tradesman per the DPOR Tradesmen Program page).
Fees and Costs for a Virginia Electrician License
Obtaining an electrician license in Virginia includes a $150 DPOR application fee, separate exam fees paid to PSI, and a $160 renewal fee every three years.
Application Fees
- Original Tradesman License by Examination: $150 (per 18VAC50-30-90)
- Additional Tradesman Designation: $105 (per 18VAC50-30-90)
Exam Fees (paid directly to PSI)
- Journeyman Tradesman exam: $100 (per DPOR Tradesmen Program page)
- Master Tradesman exam: $125 (per DPOR Tradesmen Program page)
Renewal Fee
- Tradesman license renewal: $160 (per 18VAC50-30-120, every three years)
Other Potential Costs
Additional costs may include purchasing required codebooks like the NEC for exam study and paying for vocational training or exam preparation courses.
Insurance and Bonding Requirements
Virginia does not require a separate contractor bond for individual Journeyman or Master tradesman electrician licenses. For firm-level Class A, B, and C contractor applicants, a surety bond is required of Class A and B applicants only (per the DPOR Board for Contractors page). Confirm the current bond and financial-verification requirements directly with the Board for Contractors.
Virginia Electrician License Renewal & Continuing Education (CE)
Yes, Virginia requires electricians to complete 3 hours of continuing education (CE) specific to the electrical discipline per 18VAC50-30-120 and the DPOR Tradesmen Program page, with the renewal cycle tied to the license's issue date.
Renewal Cycle
Per 18VAC50-30-120.A, electrician tradesman licenses "will expire three years from the last day of the month in which they were issued as indicated on the license." The renewal notice is mailed by the Board outlining the renewal procedures; failure to receive the notice does not relieve the regulant of the obligation to renew (per 18VAC50-30-120.H). CE must be completed before the expiration date.
Continuing Education Requirements
- Hours Required: 3 hours of CE for electricians (per the DPOR Tradesmen Program page and 18VAC50-30-120.C).
- Course Content: The course must be approved by the DPOR and cover updates to the National Electrical Code (NEC).
- Finding a Provider: The DPOR maintains a list of approved CE providers on its website.
Renewal Fees
The renewal fee for a Tradesman license is $160, per 18VAC50-30-120.G. The renewal fee must accompany the renewal application; consult the current DPOR Tradesmen Program page for any updates.
Virginia Electrician License Reciprocity and Endorsement
Virginia offers individual tradesman license endorsement through the Universal License Recognition (ULR) path, which is available for applicants who hold a current, substantially equivalent license in another state (per the DPOR Tradesmen Program page, dpor.virginia.gov/Boards/Tradesmen, which lists the Tradesmen ULR Application as an available application type).
The reciprocity/examination-waiver agreements the DPOR Board for Contractors page references with North Carolina (RBC/CBC) and Ohio (Business and Law) apply to firm-level contractor licensing examinations, not to individual Journeyman or Master electrician license reciprocity. For individual electrician reciprocity, use the Tradesmen ULR path; verify your specific out-of-state license qualifies with DPOR before applying.