Electrician License from Florida to Washington: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Does Washington accept a Florida electrician license?
There is no Florida state license to carry to Washington: Florida issues no statewide journeyman electrician license. Washington does license this work, so ask the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) - Electrical Program whether it credits a local license or your documented experience; otherwise you qualify as a new applicant.
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Verdict
No state license to transfer
The issue on this move is the starting point: Florida issues no statewide journeyman or master electrician license, so there is no Florida state license for Washington to verify, endorse or reciprocate. Washington does license electricians, through the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) - Electrical Program, and it licenses out-of-state electricians by endorsement — but that route starts from a state license. Ask the board, in writing, whether it credits a local Florida license or your documented hours; otherwise plan for its new-applicant route and exam. Washington waives its (01) general journey level exam only for eligible Oregon licensees; applicants from every other state must meet Washington's 8,000-hour experience and classroom requirements and pass the Washington (01) examination.
What's different between Florida and Washington
Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into Washington. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.
- Route, each way
Florida to Washington (this page): No state license to transfer.
Washington to Florida (the reverse move): No state license to transfer.
Florida issues no statewide journeyman electrician license, so neither direction is a state-license transfer.
- Does coming from Florida matter?
Coming from Florida matters here: only 13 of 50 origins (the other 49 states and DC) get this result for a move into Washington.
The others get: licensure by endorsement (36) and reciprocity agreement (1).
- Reciprocity agreements
Washington's reciprocity agreement list names 1 state (Oregon), not including Florida.
- Fee and processing
Florida issues no statewide journeyman electrician license, so there is no Florida state license application fee or processing time to compare with Washington's.
- Experience hours
Washington's first-time-applicant standard is 8,000 hours of documented experience for the journeyman license; Florida sets none at state level because it issues no statewide journeyman electrician license.
- Exam rules on record
Washington and Florida carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.
- Washington (this move): Washington waives its (01) general journey level exam only for eligible Oregon licensees; applicants from every other state must meet Washington's 8,000-hour experience and classroom requirements and pass the Washington (01) examination
- Florida (the reverse move): Florida issues no statewide journeyman electrician license, so there is no state journeyman exam to waive or transfer; journeyman competency cards are issued locally by counties/municipalities. At the state level DBPR licenses electrical CONTRACTORS and offers license-by-endorsement for a certified contractor who passed a substantially equivalent exam, but that is a contractor credential, not journeyman
What changes, Florida → Washington
| Florida (current) | Washington (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Experience hours | — | 8,000 |
| Application fee | No state journeyman license, so no state journeyman fee; local journeyman-card fees vary by county/municipality. DBPR contractor-endorsement fees are separate and apply only to the contractor license, not to a journeyman | $114.60 ($114.60 reciprocal application fee ($44.20 non-refundable after submission); paid by check or money order (no online payment)) |
| Processing time | Not applicable - Florida issues no statewide journeyman license | L&I does not publish a decision timeframe for reciprocal certificates |
| Licensing authority | Florida Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board (DBPR ECLB) | Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) - Electrical Program |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Washington sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Review Washington's requirements on the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) - Electrical Program website (linked below) — rules change.
- Ask the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) - Electrical Program whether it credits a local Florida license or your documented experience: Florida issues no statewide journeyman electrician license, so there is no state license to verify.
- Otherwise apply as a new applicant: meet Washington's education/experience requirements and pass the exams it requires.
- Submit the application with fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.
Official links
Related guides
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- WA L&I - Electrician (licensing, exams, education) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- WA L&I - Application for a Reciprocal 01 General Journey Level Electrician Certificate (F500-148-000) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Florida DBPR — Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board (Certified vs Registered contractor licensing) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Florida DBPR — Electrical Contractors FAQs (endorsement: substantially equivalent exam / 10-year option) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Florida Statutes Sec. 489.511 — Examinations; prerequisites; licensure by endorsement ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
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