Electrician License in Washington: Fees, Requirements & Startup Costs
Quick answer: Electrical contracting in Washington is licensed by the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), Electrical Program under RCW 19.28. A new business needs a General Electrical Contractor (01) license and must assign a certified electrical administrator or a master electrician to that license. The initial contractor application is $353.90 and the assignment of the administrator or master is $53, per the WAC 296-46B-909 fee schedule. A $4,000 surety bond or savings assignment is also required. Local electrical permits and inspections still apply.
Two credentials: the contractor license and the qualifier
Washington separates the business license from the individual who qualifies it. The General Electrical Contractor (01) license is held by the business and covers all types of electrical and telecommunications installations. The contractor cannot operate without an assigned administrator or master electrician, and the work itself must be performed by certified electricians. That means a new company files for the contractor license and separately arranges the assignment of a qualified individual.
The General Electrical Administrator (01) is the individual credential most owners pursue first. It may be designated as the responsible administrator for a general electrical contractor. A general master electrician is the alternative qualifier. The administrator certificate is not a contractor license and does not by itself authorize a business to contract for electrical work.
Licensing in Washington
Jurisdiction: state
Authority: Washington Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), Electrical Program
L&I licenses electrical contractors under RCW 19.28; a contractor must assign a certified electrical administrator or master electrician. Work must be performed by certified electricians.
General Electrical Contractor (01)
BUSINESS State electrical contractor license for all types of electrical and telecommunications installations; requires assigned administrator or master electrician and $4,000 bond.
| Fee | Amount | Period (years) |
|---|---|---|
| Initial general or specialty electrical contractor license, in person/by mail/fax | $353.90 OFFICIAL FEE Source — app.leg.wa.gov | 2 |
| Assignment of electrical administrator or master electrician to contractor | $53 OFFICIAL FEE Source — app.leg.wa.gov | — |
| Electrical contractor renewal fully completed online | $306.20 OFFICIAL FEE Source — app.leg.wa.gov | 2 |
Exam: Not listed here
Bond: $4,000 OFFICIAL FEE Source — lni.wa.gov
Renewal and CE: Renewal period: 2 years · Source
General Electrical Administrator (01)
INDIVIDUAL May be designated as responsible administrator for the general electrical contractor; alternative qualifier is a general master electrician.
| Fee | Amount | Period (years) |
|---|---|---|
| Original electrical administrator certificate, excluding telecommunications | $160 OFFICIAL FEE Source — app.leg.wa.gov | — |
| Administrator certificate renewal online | $175.70 OFFICIAL FEE Source — app.leg.wa.gov | 3 |
Exam: Provider: PSI · Source
Experience: No work-experience prerequisite stated for administrator examination on L&I administrator page.
Renewal and CE: Renewal period: 3 years · Source
Local note: Local electrical permits and inspections may apply.
Data notes
A general Master Electrician may serve as an alternative qualifier. Its exam application and original certificate cost $204.60.
Verified: 2026-09-25
Fees a new business pays in year one
The initial general or specialty electrical contractor application is $353.90 when made in person, by mail, or by fax. Assigning the administrator or master electrician designation to the contractor costs $53 and is nonrefundable. An original electrical administrator certificate, excluding telecommunications, is $160. If the qualifier route is a general master electrician instead, the exam application and original certificate is $204.60 under the same WAC section.
Renewal fees are not starting costs. The contractor license renews every two years, and the administrator certificate renews every three years. Budget the first-year figures above, then plan for renewal later. The startup costs page explains how license fees sit alongside tools, a vehicle, and insurance in the opening budget.
Startup Cost Calculator
Estimated startup cost: $8,000–$10,400
Estimated startup cost: $8,000–$10,400. Break-even at about 7 jobs per month.
| Licensing & exam fees | $406.90 OFFICIALLicense details |
|---|---|
| Business formation (state filing) | $180 OFFICIAL |
| Insurance (first year) | $730–$940 MARKET ESTIMATEGeneral liability |
| Vehicle acquisition | $0 YOUR INPUTYour existing vehicle; acquisition cost $0Vehicle price sources |
| Tools & equipment | $30 MARKET ESTIMATEStarter kit items
|
| Software (first year) | $590–$2,250 MARKET ESTIMATEPublished monthly list price × 12Software price sources
|
| Launch marketing | $1,500 YOUR INPUTYour input — default: 3 months × $500 |
| Payroll reserve | $0 CALCULATEDBLS median wage × 173 hours/month × employees × employer taxes and ECEC benefits × working-capital months |
| Working capital | $4,550–$5,050 CALCULATEDMonthly overhead excluding payroll (shown separately) × working-capital months |
| Permits & compliance | $0 YOUR INPUTYour input — default $0; local requirements may apply |
Monthly overhead: $1,500–$1,700 · Annual operating: $18,200–$20,100 · Break-even: 7 jobs/month
Vehicle operating per month: $760 CALCULATED
Phone and admin per month: $150 YOUR INPUT
Show formula
Startup total is the sum of available first-year cost lines. Monthly overhead includes insurance, software, marketing, vehicle operating, phone and admin, and payroll. Break-even jobs = monthly overhead ÷ (average ticket × gross margin).
Exam and experience
The administrator examination is delivered by PSI, as listed on the L&I electrical administrator page. The official sources reviewed for this page do not list the PSI exam fee, so confirm the current charge with PSI before scheduling. L&I states no work-experience prerequisite for the administrator examination. The official sources reviewed for this page do not list a separate education requirement for the administrator path.
Because the contractor license depends on an assigned qualifier, line up the administrator or master electrician before filing. An application without an assignable qualifier does not produce contracting authority.
Bond and insurance
A general electrical contractor must carry a $4,000 surety bond or make an assignment of savings, as stated on the L&I electrical contractor page. The official sources reviewed for this page do not list a liability insurance amount for the contractor license, so verify any coverage requirement with L&I and with the insurer before quoting work. The bond is a separate cost from the application fee and should be arranged before the license is expected to issue.
Renewal and continuing education
The contractor license renews on a two-year cycle; renewing fully online costs $306.20. The administrator certificate renews on a three-year cycle; renewing fully online costs $175.70. The official sources reviewed for this page do not list exact continuing-education hours for either credential, so confirm the current requirement with L&I before the renewal window opens. Put both renewal dates on the operating calendar so an active job does not outlast the authority to perform it.
Local permits and inspections
Local electrical permits and inspections may apply in addition to the state license. Permit rules, who may apply, and inspection scheduling are set by the city or county with jurisdiction over the job address. A state contractor license does not establish a uniform local permit policy. Ask each jurisdiction what the address requires and add permit time and inspection returns to the estimate.
For a broader comparison of credentials, read the electrician license requirements by state and the electrician business guide. Sibling pages for California and Georgia show how other states split business and individual licensing.
Last updated: September 25, 2026