Idaho electrical license and insurance requirements

Idaho electrical license and insurance requirements

Jessica Crosby
By Jessica Crosby
Dec 9, 2024
1 min read
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If you’re thinking about getting your Idaho electrical license, we will explain how to get your electrician license, what requirements you need to satisfy, what insurance is required, and more.

Jump ahead to learn about:

Do you need an Idaho electrical license to be an electrician?

In Idaho, you need a license to be an electrician. You can progress your electrician’s license to different levels, from apprentice to journeyman, master electrician and electrical contractor.

The Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) issues electrical licenses in the state with the Idaho Electrical Board. There are many different license types available:

  • Apprentice electrician: Individuals learning the trade under the supervision of a licensed journeyman or master electrician.
  • Provisional journeyman: Individuals who have completed the 16,000 hours of electrical experience but have not yet passed the examination.
  • Journeyman electrician: Completed four years (8,000 hours) of work experience. Authorized to perform or supervise electrical installations under the direction of an electrical contractor.
  • Master electrician: Held an active journeyman license for four years. Qualified to plan, lay out, and supervise electrical installations.
  • Electrical contractor: Entities or individuals offering electrical contracting services. Must be or employ a licensed master electrician.
  • Limited trainee: Individuals training in a specialized area of electrical work under the supervision of a licensed limited electrical installer.
  • Limited installer: Completed two years (4,000 hours) of work experience. Specialists authorized to perform specific types of electrical work (i.e., sign electrical, elevator electrical)
  • Limited contractor: Contractors specializing in specific categories of electrical work, corresponding to the limited installer license.

How long does it take to get your electrician license?

Your initial electrician license will be at the journeyman level. To become a journeyman electrician, you need four years of school experience and 8,000 hours of work experience. Alternatively, you can get 16,000 hours of documented work experience.

Four years after obtaining a journeyman license, you can apply and pass the master electrician exam to gain this license.

Insurance requirements for an Idaho electrical license

Contractors must have electrician insurance to be licensed in Idaho. Insurance needs can vary depending on your business situation. For example, you may need insurance for employees, vehicles and buildings. Here are some common insurance policies for electricians.

Workers’ Compensation insurance

You must have workers’ compensation insurance if you have employees in Idaho. Workers’ comp helps cover employee accidents, workplace injuries, lost wages and medical care.

To get an electrical contractor license, you must show proof of a workers’ comp policy if you have employees.

Learn more about workers’ compensation for contractors.

General Liability insurance

If you’re working on a client’s property and it gets damaged, general liability insurance can help pay for damages. It also helps cover non-employee injuries and advertising injuries.

To get your electrical contractor license in Idaho, you must have $300,000 in liability insurance.

Learn more about general liability insurance for contractors.

Commercial Property insurance

Commercial property insurance can help cover your work property, including physical spaces you own or rent, inventory and equipment.

Business Owner’s Policy

A business owner’s policy, or BOP insurance, provides broad coverage of general liability and commercial property policies combined in a single, cost-efficient bundle. It can help cover damage that you or your employees may accidentally cause to another person’s property and help protect your business equipment in the event of a fire or other covered event.

Tools and Equipment insurance

With tools and equipment insurance, you have coverage for repairing and replacing your work gear. It also helps cover damage, theft and loss.

Commercial Auto insurance

Ensure your work vehicle has commercial auto insurance. It can help cover repairs, towing and other accident-related costs.

Having auto coverage is required in Idaho. Minimum coverage limits include:

  • Bodily injury: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
  • Property damage: $15,000

How to get an electrician license in Idaho

To begin your career as an electrician, you must apply for an electrical apprentice license. This will allow you to gain training to apply for a journeyman license. You must pay a $15 fee and complete training at one of the following schools:

  • College of Southern Idaho
  • College of Western Idaho
  • College of Eastern Idaho
  • Idaho State University
  • Lewis-Clark State College
  • North Idaho College
  • Porter House Inc. (Shelley and Mountain Home locations)
  • IEC Idaho
  • Southwest Idaho Electrical JATC
  • Eastern Idaho Electrical JATC
  • DC Electric Inc.
  • Treasure Valley Community College
  • Faith Technologies Incorporated

Idaho journeyman electrician license

You need the following work experience and training to get your journeyman electrician license:

  • Obtain 8,000 hours of work experience and four years of schooling; OR
  • 16,000 work experience with no schooling

From there, you must register and pass the journeyman electrician exam through PSI. The open-book exam covers Idaho statutes, the National Electrical Code (NEC) and electrical theory and technology. You must have a passing score of at least 70%.

Once you pass, you may apply for an electrical journeyman license online.

License application requirements include:

  • Pasing exam score
  • Work verification form
  • Certificate of completion from apprenticeship program (if applicable)
  • $70 application fee

Idaho master electrician license requirements

When you’re ready to move to a master electrician license, you must hold a journeyman license for four years. You must also pass your NASCLA exam and apply.

License application requirements include:

  • Pasing exam score
  • License verification form (if applicable)
  • $80 application fee

Electrical contractor license requirements

Both individuals and business entities can become licensed electrical contractors in Idaho.

Individual applicants must have the following:

  • Completed 2,000 hours of work while holding an electrical journeyman license; OR
  • Hold an active Idaho master license

An entity contractor must have the following:

  • Applicant must be a supervisory employee
  • The entity must employ at least one active Idaho-licensed electrical journeyman or master electrician

All applicants must pass the Idaho electrical contractor exam administered by the state. First, you must apply for the license and provide work verification if applicable. If approved to sit for the exam, the DOPL will provide information for scheduling the electrical exam at one of their offices.

Once you pass the exam, you must submit proof of:

Limited electrial licenses

In Idaho, limited licenses authorize individuals to perform specialized electrical work within specific categories. These licenses are designed for professionals focusing on particular areas of electrical installations, ensuring they possess the necessary expertise for specialized tasks. These include:

  • Elevator, dumbwaiter, escalator, or moving-walk
  • Sign electrical
  • Manufacturing or assembling equipment
  • Limited energy
  • Irrigation sprinkler
  • Well driller and water pump
  • Refrigeration, heating, and air-conditioning (HVAC)
  • Outside wireman (Lineman)
  • Solar photovoltaic

To get a limited electrical installer license, applicants must have at least two years (4,000 hours) of work experience in the specific category under the supervision of a licensed electrician.

When applying, they also must provide:

  • Work verification forms
  • Certificate of completion from a related apprenticeship (if applicable)
  • Documentation of photovoltaic installer certification (if applicable)
  • $80 application fee

Similar to an electrical contractor license, limited electrical contractor applicants must hold an active limited electrical installer license and pass the contractor exam. Upon passing the exam, they must also provide proof of liability insurance and workers’ comp.

Idaho electrical license renewal requirements

In Idaho, you must keep your license current and cannot work with an expired license. You can renew online by going to the trades renewal page. Journeyman and master electrician licenses expire every three years. Electrical contractor licenses expire every year.

For masters and journeymen, renewals are contingent on completing 24 hours of continuing education requirements.

If you’re in the military, you may be able to get a waiver of renewal fees and eased registration requirements.

Electrical license reciprocity in Idaho

The state of Idaho has license reciprocity for electricians in Oregon and Wyoming.

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How NEXT supports Idaho electricians

NEXT helps small business owners get the insurance they need. We can help you get affordable and reliable electrician insurance that satisfies Idaho’s requirements.

We do business online. That means you can apply for coverage and get a certificate of insurance. You can bring unlimited digital copies of your insurance to each job site.

Get an instant quote online today.

Do you want to work as an electrical contractor in another U.S. state? Learn what states require licenses in our guide to electrician license requirements.

This information has been provided as a service. It is correct and up-to-date to the best of our knowledge; however, it is in no way intended to offer legal advice and you must always consult with local authorities before you make any business decisions. Regulations and requirements may change at any time.

Jessica Crosby
About the author

Jessica spent over a decade working in education before moving into content marketing. She has worked on content marketing campaigns in the edtech, real estate, and personal finance sectors. She has a passion for working with companies that take the time to educate their customers. When she’s not working, she’s probably outside with her two kids.

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