Contractor License from Texas to Washington: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-08-07 · source: Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) — Electrical Licensing & Certification, Plumber Certification, and Contractor Registration ↗
A contractor license transfers from Texas to Washington by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) — Electrical Licensing & Certification, Plumber Certification, and Contractor Registration, verify your Texas license, and meet Washington's endorsement requirements. Washington does not license general or specialty contractors by examination — L&I registers them under RCW 18.27, so there is no contractor exam and no contractor-level reciprocity; every firm files a fresh registration with a surety bond and liability insurance. Trade certification is separate and narrow: the 01 General Journey Level electrician certificate can be obtained by reciprocity from Oregon only, and Washington master (01) certificates cannot be obtained by reciprocity at all. Journey-level plumber certification can be obtained by reciprocity from Idaho only, which waives the Washington plumber exam. HVAC is not separately licensed statewide..
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
Washington does not have a trade agreement covering Texas for the selected trade, so this move runs on Washington's case-by-case endorsement process. If you do commercial general-building work, check whether Washington accepts the NASCLA exam — passing it once can replace the trade exam here and in about fourteen other states. Electricians should check Washington's NERA status.
What changes, Texas → Washington
| Texas (current) | Washington (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $30–$115 (Fees differ by agency and trade: TDLR journeyman electrician $30 and master electrician $45; TSBPE reciprocal license verification $40 non-refundable, plus the IdentoGO fingerprint fee; TDLR ACR out-of-state application $115. There is no state general-contractor license fee because Texas does not license general contractors.) | $114.6–$242.7 (Electrical reciprocal 01 General Journey Level application $114.60, of which $44.20 is non-refundable after submission; online payment is not available, checks only. Plumber journey-level certification $242.70 on the Idaho reciprocal path (the $202.10 exam fee is avoided). Contractor registration, which is a separate non-reciprocal filing, is $150.20.) |
| Processing time | No single figure applies. TSBPE states a reciprocal plumbing license arrives by US mail within 30 days of the completed online application and payment; TDLR publishes no processing time for electrician or ACR reciprocity. | L&I does not publish a processing-time range for reciprocal trade applications; set null rather than estimated. |
| Licensing authority | Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (electricians, air conditioning and refrigeration) and Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (plumbers); no state general-contractor license | Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) — Electrical Licensing & Certification, Plumber Certification, and Contractor Registration |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Washington sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Washington's current requirements on the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) — Electrical Licensing & Certification, Plumber Certification, and Contractor Registration website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) — Electrical Licensing & Certification, Plumber Certification, and Contractor Registration (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Electrical: hold an Oregon Supervising Electrician license or an Oregon General Journeyman (J) license earned through an Oregon 8,000-hour apprenticeship, obtained by Oregon examination.
- Electrical: the Oregon license must be current and active with no violations or conditions in the past three years.
- Electrical: never have held a Washington 01 General Journey Level certificate, or failed its exam, within the past two years.
- Plumbing: email a copy of the active Idaho journey-level card and a government-issued photo ID to L&I.
- Contractors must register with L&I and post a $30,000 (general) or $15,000 (specialty) surety bond plus liability insurance.
- Pay the fees ($114.6–$242.7 (Electrical reciprocal 01 General Journey Level application $114.60, of which $44.20 is non-refundable after submission; online payment is not available, checks only. Plumber journey-level certification $242.70 on the Idaho reciprocal path (the $202.10 exam fee is avoided). Contractor registration, which is a separate non-reciprocal filing, is $150.20.)) and allow L&I does not publish a processing-time range for reciprocal trade applications; set null rather than estimated..
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Washington accept a Texas contractor license?
A contractor license transfers from Texas to Washington by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) — Electrical Licensing & Certification, Plumber Certification, and Contractor Registration, verify your Texas license, and meet Washington's endorsement requirements. Washington does not license general or specialty contractors by examination — L&I registers them under RCW 18.27, so there is no contractor exam and no contractor-level reciprocity; every firm files a fresh registration with a surety bond and liability insurance. Trade certification is separate and narrow: the 01 General Journey Level electrician certificate can be obtained by reciprocity from Oregon only, and Washington master (01) certificates cannot be obtained by reciprocity at all. Journey-level plumber certification can be obtained by reciprocity from Idaho only, which waives the Washington plumber exam. HVAC is not separately licensed statewide..
What still applies even if reciprocity covers my trade?
Washington's business and law exam, financial statement, bond, and registration — reciprocity waives the trade exam only, not these.
What does the Texas-to-Washington move cost and how long does it take?
$114.6–$242.7 (Electrical reciprocal 01 General Journey Level application $114.60, of which $44.20 is non-refundable after submission; online payment is not available, checks only. Plumber journey-level certification $242.70 on the Idaho reciprocal path (the $202.10 exam fee is avoided). Contractor registration, which is a separate non-reciprocal filing, is $150.20.); processing L&I does not publish a processing-time range for reciprocal trade applications; set null rather than estimated..
Would the NASCLA exam help for this move?
If you do commercial general-building work, possibly — about 15 states accept the NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building exam toward licensure. Check whether Washington is one on the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) — Electrical Licensing & Certification, Plumber Certification, and Contractor Registration site.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-08-07.
- WA L&I — Application for a Reciprocal 01 General Journey Level Electrician Certificate, form F500-148-000 rev. 07-2026 (Oregon only; $114.60; master cannot be reciprocated) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- WA L&I — Plumber Certification: Get or Renew Your Certification (reciprocates with Idaho; certification $242.70, exam $202.10) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- WA L&I — Register as a Contractor (RCW 18.27 registration, $150.20, $30,000/$15,000 bonds) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- TDLR — Transfer Your Out-of-State Electrician License to Texas (master and journeyman reciprocal states; $45/$30 fees; hour requirements) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- TDLR — Licensing Reciprocity for Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (Georgia and South Carolina license-to-class mapping) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- TDLR — Out of State Applicants, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration ($115 fee; insurance minimums; exam may still be required) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- TSBPE — Reciprocal License Verification Request (Louisiana and Arkansas only; $40 fee; IdentoGO fingerprints; per-state conditions) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- TSBPE — Reciprocal License Agreement with Louisiana (~30 days by mail) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-08-07
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