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Virginia Board for Contractors · checked 2026-10-21
Virginia Electrician License Requirements
Statewide tradesman license issued by the Board for Contractors. Journeyman and master electrician tradesman licenses are set out in the board's tradesman regulations (18 VAC 50-30). Master Electrician Tradesman: 5 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
- 1J · Journeyman Electrician Tradesman 4 years
- 2M · Master Electrician Tradesman 5 years
License levels in Virginia
The Virginia path has 2 steps on this page: Journeyman Electrician Tradesman and Master Electrician Tradesman. The source states the time in years.
| Level | Experience | Classroom | Time from start | Exam | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J Journeyman Electrician Tradesman | 4 years | 240 h | 4 years | Yes | Original tradesman license $150 |
| M Master Electrician Tradesman | 1 year at the prior level | — | 5 years | Yes | Original tradesman license $150 |
Journeyman Electrician Tradesman (J)
One of seven education and experience pairings: 240 hours of formal vocational training in the trade with four years of practical experience (the route used for the time shown here); 160 hours with five years; 80 hours with six years; 40 hours with seven years; no formal training with eight years; an associate degree or two-year certificate with two years; or a bachelor's degree in a related engineering curriculum with one year. Then the board-approved exam. Source: 18 VAC 50-30-39, Qualifications for examination approval (tradesman).
Master Electrician Tradesman (M)
A valid journeyman license in the trade for at least one year, or nine years of practical experience in the trade (residential HVAC and residential plumber tradesmen qualify after three years), then the board-approved exam. Source: 18 VAC 50-30-39, Qualifications for examination approval (tradesman).
Exam
2 of the 2 levels listed here require an exam: Journeyman Electrician Tradesman and Master Electrician Tradesman. The source does not print a pass mark.
Fees
- Journeyman Electrician Tradesman: original tradesman license $150.
- Master Electrician Tradesman: original tradesman license $150.
The $150 original tradesman license fee is the same by examination or without; an additional tradesman designation is $105 and exchanging a locality-issued card for a state license is $110. Exam fees are set separately in 18 VAC 50-30-100, which was not read. Fee source: 18 VAC 50-30-90, Fees for licensure (tradesman).
Reciprocity
The Virginia sources read for this trade name no reciprocity agreement and no route for out-of-state licensees.
Seen from the other side: Alabama and Maryland list Virginia among their partners on their own board pages (Alabama, Maryland). Each state applies its own conditions, so read both pages.
How Virginia compares
Among the 24 states on this site that state a minimum time to the top electrician credential, Virginia ranks 14 of 24 from shortest (2 years) to longest (9 years). Massachusetts, Ohio, Minnesota and North Dakota set the same 5 years. The classroom requirement here peaks at 240 hours.
Same trade elsewhere: California · Texas · Florida · Ohio · Georgia. All states side by side: Electrician license requirements by state.
Other trades in Virginia
- Plumber: Master Plumber Tradesman: 5 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
- HVAC: Master HVAC Tradesman: 5 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
- General contractor: Class A Contractor: 5 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
All covered trades on one page: Virginia trade licenses.
Background reading: From apprentice to master: how long each state takes · What the license fees add up to.
Questions
Who issues the electrician license in Virginia?
Virginia Board for Contractors, Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR). Statewide tradesman license issued by the Board for Contractors. Journeyman and master electrician tradesman licenses are set out in the board's tradesman regulations (18 VAC 50-30).
How long does it take to qualify for the Master Electrician Tradesman in Virginia?
5 years by this site's count. A valid journeyman license in the trade for at least one year, or nine years of practical experience in the trade (residential HVAC and residential plumber tradesmen qualify after three years), then the board-approved exam.
Does Virginia have electrician license reciprocity?
The Virginia sources read name no reciprocity agreement for this trade.
What are the Virginia electrician license fees?
Journeyman Electrician Tradesman: original tradesman license $150. Master Electrician Tradesman: original tradesman license $150.
Sources and last checked
| What | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Issuing authority | Virginia Board for Contractors, Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) | 2026-10-21 |
| J requirements | 18 VAC 50-30-39, Qualifications for examination approval (tradesman) | 2026-10-21 |
| M requirements | 18 VAC 50-30-39, Qualifications for examination approval (tradesman) | 2026-10-21 |
| Law cited | 18 VAC 50-30-39 (qualifications) and 18 VAC 50-30-90 (fees); Code of Virginia Title 54.1, Chapter 11 | 2026-10-21 |
This page summarises what the Virginia source said on 2026-10-21. It is general information, not legal advice; the board's own page and the statute are the authority and can change. Confirm with Virginia Board for Contractors before applying. The free official route is the board itself: its page, application forms and staff answer eligibility questions.