Short answer: Virginia’s Board for Contractors (DPOR) issues a journeyman tradesman license with the electrical designation. You need education plus experience, such as 240 training hours and four years, or eight years of experience alone. Then you pass PSI’s open-book exam: 70 items, 210 minutes, 49 correct, on the 2020 NEC. Finishing an approved apprenticeship can exempt you from the exam, but only if DPOR confirms your sponsor holds an exam exemption.
10 of the 70 scored items are on Virginia rules. PSI tests standards of practice, conduct, renewal, definitions, qualification and revocation. Our Virginia rules module is an independent printable PDF: 40 practice questions with explained answers linked to the official Virginia text, 4 printable drills and the PSI exam blueprint. It covers Virginia rules, not the NEC. Instant download, US$19 once.
Tsai Electro is an independent learning site. Not affiliated with the Virginia Board for Contractors, the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) or PSI. NEC is a registered trademark of NFPA. This page summarizes the official pages we opened in October 2026. Confirm every requirement with the Board before you apply.
Who issues the license
The Board for Contractors, part of DPOR, licenses individual tradesmen through its Tradesmen program. You hold a journeyman tradesman license with the Electrical (ELE) designation (DPOR Tradesmen page). The law is Code of Virginia Title 54.1, Chapter 11, Article 3 (Chapter 11), and the Board’s rules are 18VAC50-30, the Individual License and Certification Regulations (18VAC50-30).
A tradesman is anyone who does electrical work for the general public for pay (Code of Virginia § 54.1-1128). You do not need your own license while you work under the supervision of a tradesman licensed in that trade (Code of Virginia § 54.1-1129). That is how helpers and apprentices build their years.
Virginia journeyman electrician license requirements
You must be at least 18 and document your identity, training and experience (18VAC50-30-30). To be approved for the journeyman exam, you need one of these education and experience pairs (18VAC50-30-39 B):
| Education | Practical experience in the trade |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree in an engineering curriculum related to the trade | 1 year |
| Associate degree, or a certificate from at least a two-year program in a tradesman-related field | 2 years |
| 240 hours of formal vocational training | 4 years |
| 160 hours of formal vocational training | 5 years |
| 80 hours of formal vocational training | 6 years |
| 40 hours of formal vocational training | 7 years |
| None | 8 years |
Up to 40 hours of Board-approved continuing education can count toward the vocational training hours (18VAC50-30-48). Experience is proven with reference letters from employers, contractors, building officials, inspectors or clients (18VAC50-30-47), and the application asks for the Board’s Individual Experience Verification form.
Notice that Virginia counts years, not hours. The regulation does not say how many work hours make one year of practical experience; confirm with the Board for Contractors (DPOR Tradesmen page) before you count years. If you are comparing states that count hours, see our journeyman hours by state guide. We also found no journeyman to apprentice ratio in Article 3 or in the 18VAC50-30 sections we read.
The apprenticeship route can replace the exam
If you finish an apprenticeship program approved by the Commissioner of the Department of Workforce Development and Advancement, you do not have to take the journeyman exam (Code of Virginia § 54.1-1131 and 18VAC50-30-50 B). You prove it with a certificate of completion or another official document.
The current application form adds a caution: your Virginia sponsor “MAY be a sponsor that has been granted an exemption to examination”, and DPOR verifies that status (Tradesman Exam and License Application, v8, 07/01/2026). So ask your sponsor before you count on skipping the exam. The form also has a question for apprenticeships finished in another state; check with the Board whether that route waives the exam for you.
Virginia journeyman electrician license application
- Pick your qualifying route on the Tradesman Exam and License Application: exam, reciprocity or apprenticeship program.
- Attach your experience verification form, transcripts or certificates, and your ID.
- Pay the application fee to the Treasurer of Virginia.
- Wait for Board approval. DPOR says pre-approval from the Board is required to sit for the exam (DPOR Tradesmen page).
- After approval, register with PSI and pay the exam fee.
An application not completed within 12 months of receipt must be filed again (18VAC50-30-25). The form says any applicant doing work over $1,000 must contact the Board about a Virginia contractor license. That is a separate business license, not your journeyman license.
The Virginia journeyman electrician exam
PSI runs the exam for DPOR. Candidate bulletin 476 (revised 7/23/2026) sets out the Journeyman Electrician portion (PSI bulletin 476).
| Item | Virginia Journeyman Electrician exam |
|---|---|
| Vendor | PSI |
| Scored items | 70 |
| Time | 210 minutes |
| Passing score | 49 correct (70%) |
| Virginia rules items | 10 of 70 |
| Code items | 60 of 70, on the 2020 NEC |
| Books | Open book: 2020 NEC, NFPA 70E, Board regulations |
| Fee | $100, paid to PSI |
| Format | Test center or remote proctor |
The 10 rules items cover Standards of Practice (3), Standards of Conduct (2), Renewal and Reinstatement (2), Definitions (1), Qualification for Licensure (1) and Revocation of Licensure (1). The largest code areas are Conductors and Cables (7), Raceways and Boxes (7), Grounding and Bonding (6), Service and Feeders (5) and Motors and Controls (5). Safety has 4 items, and NFPA 70E is on the reference list for it. The bulletin does not print a 70E edition year; its NFPA link points to the 2024 edition.
PSI may add one to ten unscored experimental items. They do not count toward your score, but they do use your exam time.
Book rules are strict. You bring your own references. You may highlight, underline and index them before the exam. Tabs must be permanent; removable tabs are not allowed. A book with any writing in it is not allowed, and study guides and sample exams are banned. Test center candidates get an LCD writing tablet for notes. Handheld calculators are on PSI’s prohibited list. We did not find whether PSI gives an on-screen calculator, or whether books are allowed in a remote session; check with PSI before you book.
Your score shows on screen at the end. If you fail, PSI says you may be able to retest within two business days, depending on space. The $100 fee is not refundable and is valid for one year from payment.
NEC edition: Virginia still tests on the 2020 NEC
Virginia’s current building code is the 2021 Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC), effective January 18, 2024. It references the 2020 NFPA 70 (13VAC5-63-10; DHCD codes page). PSI bulletin 476 lists the 2020 NEC and says code questions are based only on that listed edition. So bring a 2020 NEC, not a 2023 or 2026 book.
Virginia also amends the NEC (13VAC5-63-300). It rewrites NEC 334.10(2) and 334.10(3) on where NM cable may be used, rewrites 700.12(F)(2)(6) on emergency lighting at exit doors, and deletes 210.8(F). PSI says a state code overrides the national one when they conflict.
A change is coming, but it has no date yet. DHCD’s 2024 code cycle draft moves the reference from the 2020 to the 2023 NEC (2024 VCC base document; 2024 cycle page). Town Hall still lists the NOIRA stage for 13VAC5-63 (Town Hall). We found no effective date, and no PSI notice of an exam switch. If you test in 2027, recheck the bulletin.
Fees
| Fee | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Application, exam route | $171.75 | DPOR, with the application |
| Journeyman exam | $100 | PSI, after Board approval |
| Renewal, every three years | $160 plus DPOR technology fee | DPOR |
| Reinstatement, within 24 months of expiry | $210 (includes renewal fee) | DPOR |
The regulation sets the original license fee at $150 (18VAC50-30-90). Since July 1, 2026, DPOR adds a technology fee of $7.25 per year under 2026’s House Bill 30, and the application form shows $171.75. That matches $150 plus three years of $7.25 ($21.75); the split is our own arithmetic. Renewal is $160 under 18VAC50-30-120; DPOR says “certain fees” carry the technology fee, so check DPOR for the renewal total. Reinstatement is in 18VAC50-30-130.
About the exam fee: PSI and DPOR both list $100 today. The regulation now caps the journeyman exam at $200 (18VAC50-30-100, amended effective March 11, 2026), while DPOR’s older compiled copy of the rules still shows a $100 cap. The cap is a ceiling, not the price. First license cost if you pass the first time: $171.75 + $100 = $271.75.
Renewal and continuing education
A tradesman license is valid for three years (Code of Virginia § 54.1-1132). Electrician licenses expire three years from the last day of the month they were issued. Each renewal needs three hours of continuing education for each designation, from a Board-approved provider (18VAC50-30-120). Electrical courses must cover the current National Electrical Code (18VAC50-30-220).
Two official sources disagree. The DPOR FAQ still says CE must be done “during the two-year term of the license”, and that you must reapply if the fee and CE are not in within one year. The current regulation says a three-year term and allows reinstatement for up to 24 months after expiry. We follow the regulation text, but call the Board if your dates are close.
Renewal after the expiry date is possible for 30 days without the reinstatement fee. You still may not work on an expired license during those 30 days, and DPOR has no inactive or retired status.
Virginia journeyman electrician license reciprocity
Virginia handles out-of-state electricians in two ways:
- Board agreements. The Board’s list names the District of Columbia (journeyman and master electrical, license and exam reciprocity), Kentucky (electrician license, exam reciprocity) and West Virginia (journeyman and master electrical, exam reciprocity) at the journeyman level (reciprocal agreements list). You must meet all terms of the agreement and send verification from the other board.
- Substantial equivalence. An out-of-state license can be accepted if the Board finds its standards and exam substantially equivalent. Separately, a currently valid out-of-state journeyman license lets you apply to sit for the Virginia journeyman exam (18VAC50-30-70).
Either way, the form asks for a Certification or Letter of Good Standing from your current board.
Where candidates get stuck
- Testing before approval. You cannot book PSI until the Board approves your application.
- Writing in the book. Any writing gets the book refused at check-in. Highlight, underline and use permanent tabs only.
- Wrong NEC edition. Code questions are on the 2020 NEC. A 2023 or 2026 book can give different answers and section numbers.
- The 10 rules items. Many candidates study only the NEC. Bring the Board regulations and know where renewal, reinstatement and conduct rules sit.
- Apprenticeship assumptions. Not every sponsor’s completion waives the exam. DPOR verifies the sponsor.
- Working unlicensed. Practicing as a tradesman without a license is a Class 1 misdemeanor (Code of Virginia § 54.1-1135).
Moving to Texas later? The Texas path is different: TDLR, 8,000 hours and its own exam. See our Texas journeyman license guide.
Virginia journeyman electrician practice test: check yourself
Our own practice questions. Answers below each.
- You answer 47 of the 70 scored items correctly. Do you pass? Answer: No. You need 49 correct, so you are 2 short.
- You have 160 hours of formal vocational training. How many years of practical experience do you need? Answer: Five years.
- Your license was issued March 10, 2026. When does it expire, and how much electrical CE do you need to renew? Answer: March 31, 2029, three years from the last day of the month of issue. You need 3 hours of Board-approved CE on the NEC.
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A formulas and tables reference
Ugly’s Electrical References, 2026 Edition. This is a pocket reference for formulas, conversions and tables. It is not the code book, and it follows the 2026 NEC, while Virginia’s exam uses the 2020 NEC, so you still need a 2020 NFPA 70 for code questions. PSI bulletin 476 does not list or name Ugly’s; it allows reference books but bans study guides. Ask PSI before you bring it into the exam room.
FAQ
What are the Virginia journeyman electrician license requirements?
Be at least 18 and meet one education and experience pair, such as 240 hours of vocational training and four years of experience, or eight years of experience with no training. Then pass the PSI exam or complete an approved apprenticeship.
How many questions are on the Virginia journeyman electrician exam?
70 scored items in 210 minutes, and you need 49 correct. PSI may add up to ten unscored items that use your time.
Is the Virginia electrical exam open book?
Yes. Bring your own 2020 NEC, NFPA 70E and the Board regulations. Books may be highlighted and permanently tabbed but must have no writing.
Does Virginia have reciprocity for journeyman electricians?
Only through Board agreements, such as with the District of Columbia, Kentucky and West Virginia, or if the Board finds your license substantially equivalent. Otherwise you take the Virginia exam.
Sources checked October 2026
- DPOR Tradesmen page (Board for Contractors): https://www.dpor.virginia.gov/Boards/Tradesmen
- Tradesman Exam and License Application, v8, 07/01/2026: https://www.dpor.virginia.gov/sites/default/files/boards/Tradesman/A501-2710EXLIC.pdf
- Tradesman licensing information and application instructions: https://www.dpor.virginia.gov/sites/default/files/boards/Tradesman/Tradesman%20Application%20Instructions.pdf
- Board for Contractors reciprocal agreements list: https://www.dpor.virginia.gov/sites/default/files/boards/Tradesman/Tradesmen%20reciprocal%20agreements.pdf
- PSI candidate bulletin 476, revised 7/23/2026: https://test-takers.psiexams.com/api/content/bulletin/476
- Code of Virginia Title 54.1, Chapter 11: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title54.1/chapter11/
- Code of Virginia § 54.1-1128: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title54.1/chapter11/section54.1-1128/
- Code of Virginia § 54.1-1129: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title54.1/chapter11/section54.1-1129/
- Code of Virginia § 54.1-1131: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title54.1/chapter11/section54.1-1131/
- Code of Virginia § 54.1-1132: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title54.1/chapter11/section54.1-1132/
- Code of Virginia § 54.1-1135: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title54.1/chapter11/section54.1-1135/
- 18VAC50-30 index: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency50/chapter30/
- 18VAC50-30-25: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency50/chapter30/section25/
- 18VAC50-30-30: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency50/chapter30/section30/
- 18VAC50-30-39: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency50/chapter30/section39/
- 18VAC50-30-47: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency50/chapter30/section47/
- 18VAC50-30-48: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency50/chapter30/section48/
- 18VAC50-30-50: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency50/chapter30/section50/
- 18VAC50-30-70: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency50/chapter30/section70/
- 18VAC50-30-90: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency50/chapter30/section90/
- 18VAC50-30-100: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency50/chapter30/section100/
- 18VAC50-30-120: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency50/chapter30/section120/
- 18VAC50-30-130: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency50/chapter30/section130/
- 18VAC50-30-220: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency50/chapter30/section220/
- 13VAC5-63-10 (USBC, 2020 NFPA 70): https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title13/agency5/chapter63/section10/
- 13VAC5-63-300 (Virginia changes to NFPA 70): https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title13/agency5/chapter63/section300/
- DHCD codes page: https://www.dhcd.virginia.gov/codes
- DHCD 2024 code development cycle: https://www.dhcd.virginia.gov/2024-code-development-cycle
- DHCD 2024 VCC base document: https://www.dhcd.virginia.gov/sites/default/files/DocX/2024-code-development-cycle/2024-vcc-base-document.pdf
- Virginia Regulatory Town Hall, Board of Housing and Community Development: https://townhall.virginia.gov/L/ViewBoard.cfm?BoardID=61
