Electrician License from Pennsylvania to Washington: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Does Washington accept a Pennsylvania electrician license?
There is no Pennsylvania state license to carry to Washington: Pennsylvania 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: Pennsylvania issues no statewide journeyman or master electrician license, so there is no Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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
Pennsylvania to Washington (this page): No state license to transfer.
Washington to Pennsylvania (the reverse move): No state license to transfer.
Pennsylvania issues no statewide journeyman electrician license, so neither direction is a state-license transfer.
- Does coming from Pennsylvania matter?
Coming from Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania.
- Fee and processing
Pennsylvania issues no statewide journeyman electrician license, so there is no Pennsylvania 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; Pennsylvania sets none at state level because it issues no statewide journeyman electrician license.
- Exam rules on record
Washington and Pennsylvania 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
- Pennsylvania (the reverse move): Not applicable — Pennsylvania issues no statewide electrician license, so there is no state journeyman exam to waive or transfer; each municipality that licenses electricians sets its own exam and standards, and local licenses generally do not transfer between Pennsylvania municipalities
What changes, Pennsylvania → Washington
| Pennsylvania (current) | Washington (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Experience hours | — | 8,000 |
| Application fee | No statewide license, so no state fee; municipal license and exam fees vary by city and are not published statewide | $114.60 ($114.60 reciprocal application fee ($44.20 non-refundable after submission); paid by check or money order (no online payment)) |
| Processing time | No statewide license; processing depends on the individual municipality | L&I does not publish a decision timeframe for reciprocal certificates |
| Licensing authority | None — no statewide electrician licensing board (licensing is municipal). State building-code oversight: Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, Bureau of Occupational and Industrial Safety (Uniform Construction Code) | 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 Pennsylvania license or your documented experience: Pennsylvania 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)
- PA Dept. of Labor & Industry — Contractor Licensing (Commonwealth has no licensure for most construction trades; keeps no records of municipal licenses) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- PA Dept. of Labor & Industry — Uniform Construction Code (home) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · Corrections log · spot an error? hello@licensereciprocity.com