Electrician License from Oregon to Washington: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) - Electrical Program ↗
Yes — Washington has a reciprocity arrangement covering Oregon license holders. Apply to the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) - Electrical Program under its reciprocity/endorsement track; typically you skip the national exam and complete state-specific requirements only.
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Verdict
Reciprocity agreement
Oregon is on Washington's journeyman reciprocity list, which puts this move on the fast track: Washington waives its journeyman exam for electricians who earned a qualifying Oregon license by examination, held it at least a year, and meet the experience hours. Two conditions decide whether you actually qualify — your Oregon license must have come from an exam, not a grandfather clause, and it must be current. The list is also revocable; the verification date on this page is when we last confirmed Oregon on it, and the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) - Electrical Program is the live source.
What changes, Oregon → Washington
| Oregon (current) | Washington (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Training hours | 8,000 | 8,000 |
| Application fee | $100 ($100 nonrefundable reciprocal electrical license application fee; same fee for General Journeyman (J) and General Supervising/Master (S)) | $114.6 ($114.60 reciprocal application fee ($44.20 non-refundable after submission); paid by check or money order (no online payment)) |
| Processing time | BCD does not publish a processing time for reciprocal license applications | L&I does not publish a decision timeframe for reciprocal certificates |
| Licensing authority | Oregon Building Codes Division (BCD) — Department of Consumer and Business Services | 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
- Confirm Washington's current requirements on the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) - Electrical Program website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the reciprocity application to the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) - Electrical Program (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Hold a current Oregon General Journeyman (J) license earned through an Oregon 8,000-hour apprenticeship, or an Oregon Supervising Electrician License, obtained by Oregon examination.
- The Oregon license must be current and active with no violations or conditions within the past 3 years.
- Must never have held a Washington (01) certificate and must not have failed a Washington (01) exam in the last 2 years.
- License verification (Part C) must be completed by the Oregon Building Codes Division.
- Pay the fees ($114.6 ($114.60 reciprocal application fee ($44.20 non-refundable after submission); paid by check or money order (no online payment))) and allow L&I does not publish a decision timeframe for reciprocal certificates.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Washington accept a Oregon electrician license?
Yes — Washington has a reciprocity arrangement covering Oregon license holders. Apply to the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) - Electrical Program under its reciprocity/endorsement track; typically you skip the national exam and complete state-specific requirements only.
Which exam will I take moving from Oregon to Washington?
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 does the Oregon-to-Washington move cost and how long does it take?
$114.6 ($114.60 reciprocal application fee ($44.20 non-refundable after submission); paid by check or money order (no online payment)); processing L&I does not publish a decision timeframe for reciprocal certificates.
What could disqualify me even though Oregon is on Washington's list?
A Oregon license you were grandfathered into rather than earning by exam, a license held less than a year, or falling short of the experience-hour minimum — Washington's reciprocity is conditional, not automatic.
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)
- Oregon BCD — Reciprocal licenses ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Oregon BCD — Reciprocal Electrical License Application (form 440-4794e: states, $100 fee, OAR 918-030-0045 qualifications) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]