Electrician licenses in
Washington
Washington licenses electricians statewide.
Search Washington electrician licenses (opens official site)
Official search run by Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), Electrical Program at secure.lni.wa.gov.
What the license should say
In Washington you'll see one of these on an electrician's card, bid or truck:
- Electrical Contractor license (general 01 or specialty)
- Business; general (01) contractors may perform all electrical and telecommunications installations, specialty contractors only their category.
- Master Electrician certificate
- Individual who may act as a contractor's administrator, do installation work and supervise trainees.
- General Journey Level Electrician (01)
- Individual certified to perform all types of electrical and telecommunications installations.
- Residential Specialty Electrician (02)
- Individual specialty certificate limited to residential work; 4,000 hours of experience.
- Electrical Administrator certificate
- Individual certified by exam and assigned to an electrical contractor to ensure compliance with electrical law; required for every electrical contractor unless a designated master electrician fills the role; does not itself authorize electrical work.
Hiring a company, not a person?
Electrical contractor license from L&I with a $4,000 surety bond or assignment of savings and a certified, assigned electrical administrator or master electrician.
Doing it yourself
RCW 19.28.261 lets an owner do electrical work on property they own, except on a new building intended for rent, sale or lease or property offered for sale within 12 months of purchase.
Before you hire
- Contractor licensing in Washington (small-job limits, bonds, permits)
- How to check a license in Washington, step by step
- Before-you-hire checklist (one page, free PDF)
- File a complaint about an electrician (opens official site)
Keep this handy
We'll email you the one-page before-you-hire checklist, plus occasional tips on hiring safely.