1.1 Washington 01 Electrician Licensing Pathway & Exam Structure
Key Takeaways
- The Washington 01 general journey level certificate covers all phases and types of electrical and telecommunications installations (WAC 296-46B-920(1)).
- Since July 1, 2023, the usual route to the 01 exam is an 8,000-hour RCW 49.04 electrical apprenticeship with at least 4,000 hours of new commercial or industrial work (RCW 19.28.191(1)(c)).
- The PSI exam has two sections: NEC and theory (60 questions, 3 hours) and Washington codes (17 questions, 1 hour); each must be passed with at least 70 percent.
- PSI's current bulletin bases code questions on the 2020 NEC and the current RCW 19.28 and WAC 296-46B; the first sitting of the 4-hour 01 exam costs $75.
- You have one year from your L&I approval letter to pass every section; you wait 14 days after a failure, and 90 days between attempts after three failures in that year.
Who regulates the 01 certificate
Electrical licensing in Washington is run by the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) under RCW 19.28 (the statute) and WAC 296-46B (L&I's rules). The general journey level electrician (01) certificate "encompasses all phases and all types of electrical and telecommunications installations" (WAC 296-46B-920(1)). An 01 electrician can therefore do the work of any of Washington's 14 specialty certificates, such as 02 residential or 06 limited energy (see Section 13.1).
Who may sit for the 01 exam
Washington moved to an apprenticeship-based model for 01 certification on July 1, 2023 (L&I). Under RCW 19.28.191(1)(c), a candidate must have one of the following:
| Route | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Washington apprenticeship | Complete the work experience and education of an 8,000-hour electrical construction trade apprenticeship approved under RCW 49.04. At least 4,000 hours must be new industrial or commercial installations, and no more than 4,000 hours may come from specialties. |
| Out-of-state apprenticeship | An equivalent 8,000-hour apprenticeship in another jurisdiction (4,000 hours new industrial or commercial) |
| Out-of-state license | A journey level certificate obtained by examination in a state requiring at least 8,000 hours of supervised experience (4,000 new industrial or commercial) |
| Long experience | At least 16,000 hours of out-of-state experience (4,000 new industrial or commercial) |
| Military | 8,000 hours of electrical construction experience in a U.S. armed forces construction battalion |
Other rules that affect eligibility:
- Classroom hours: candidates for an 8,000-hour certificate need 96 hours of in-class education (RCW 19.28.205). Classroom training in an approved apprenticeship counts.
- Transition allowance (closed): trainees with 3,000 hours before July 1, 2023 could qualify without an apprenticeship only if L&I received their exam application before July 1, 2026.
- School credit: a two-year electrical construction program at a public community or technical college, or an accredited not-for-profit trade school, can substitute for up to two years of apprenticeship work experience (RCW 19.28.191(1)(e)).
- Military experience may count for up to 50 percent of the required experience (L&I).
Section 13.2 covers trainee certificates, supervision ratios, and affidavits of experience.
Applying and scheduling
- Confirm your hours in L&I's Verify tool. Do not apply until you qualify.
- Apply to L&I. Use In-State Application form F626-001-000 (it may be mailed with your final affidavit of experience) or Out-of-State Application form F626-009-000. The current WAC 296-46B-909 fee for a journey level application is $114.60, of which $44.20 is nonrefundable once submitted.
- Get your approval letter. It includes an Exam Unique ID. PSI usually enters your approval within two business days.
- Create a PSI account at test-takers.psiexams.com/walaborind, enter the Exam Unique ID in the WLI_ID_Number field, and schedule online or by phone at (855) 834-8751. Schedule the exam named in your letter. Scores from other exams do not count.
How the exam is built
The PSI Candidate Information Bulletin (dated 10/30/2025) lists the 01 general electrician exam as two sections:
| Section | Questions | Time | Passing score |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEC & Theory | 60 | 3 hours | 70% (42 correct) |
| WA Codes (RCW 19.28 and WAC 296-46B) | 17 | 1 hour | 70% (12 correct) |
| Total | 77 | 4 hours | Each section scored separately |
The NEC and theory section breaks down by article group (PSI says the numbers are approximate):
| Knowledge area | Questions | Covered in this guide |
|---|---|---|
| NEC 90: Introduction | 1 | 1.2 |
| NEC 100-110: General requirements | 3 | 1.2, 3.1 |
| NEC 200-225 and 280-285: Wiring and protection | 3 | 5.1, 5.2, 5.4, 7.2, 7.3 |
| NEC 230: Services | 4 | 7.1 |
| NEC 240: Overcurrent protection | 6 | 5.3, 5.5 |
| NEC 250: Grounding and bonding | 6 | 6.1-6.3 |
| NEC 300-398: Wiring methods | 10 | 3.2, 3.3, 4.1-4.4 |
| NEC 400-427 and 455-480: Electrical equipment | 3 | 8.1, 8.2 |
| NEC 430-450: Motors, HVAC, generators, transformers | 3 | 9.1-9.3 |
| NEC 490: Equipment over 600 volts (PSI's label; the 2020 NEC title says over 1000 volts) | 1 | 8.3 |
| NEC 500-516: Hazardous locations | 2 | 10.1 |
| NEC 517-590: Special occupancies | 4 | 10.2, 10.3 |
| NEC 600-695: Special equipment | 3 | 11.1-11.3 |
| NEC 700-702: Emergency and standby systems | 2 | 12.1 |
| NEC 705-780: Special conditions | 1 | 12.2 |
| NEC 800-830: Communication systems | 1 | 12.2 |
| General trade knowledge and theory | 7 | 2.1-2.3, 7.3, 9.3 |
| Total | 60 |
The 17 Washington codes questions are drawn from RCW 19.28 and WAC 296-46B (Chapter 13). Up to 10 unscored "experimental" questions may also appear, and the time spent on them does not count against the exam time (PSI).
Which code edition?
The PSI bulletin and L&I's exam page say law, rule, and code questions are based on the current RCW 19.28 and WAC 296-46B and the 2020 NEC. L&I's list of items to bring names the "National Electrical Code book (2020 edition)." Field installations are different: WAC 296-46B-010 has enforced the 2023 NEC since April 1, 2024, and the 2026 NEC takes effect December 31, 2026. This guide teaches 2020 NEC section numbers for the exam and points out Washington amendments where they differ. Check your approval letter and the current PSI bulletin before you buy a codebook, because the exam edition can change.
Fees, scoring, and retests
- PSI fees are billed by exam hours: 1 hour $45, 2 hours $55, 3 hours $65, 4 hours $75. The full 01 exam (4 hours) is $75. A retest of only the WA Codes section (1 hour) is $45; a retest of only the NEC and theory section (3 hours) is $65. Fees are nonrefundable and good for one year (PSI bulletin).
- Scores appear on screen at the end. If you fail, you get a diagnostic report by content area.
- One-year exam period: it begins on the date of your L&I approval letter. Your first attempt must include all sections. Within the year you retake only the sections you failed. Sections passed in one period do not carry into a new one (L&I; WAC 296-46B-960(3)).
- Waiting periods: wait 14 days after a failed attempt. If you fail any section three times within a one-year period, you must wait 90 days between attempts until you pass (L&I; WAC 296-46B-960(9)-(10)).
- Score review: a written challenge must reach the chief electrical inspector within 20 days of the exam, with the review fee (Section 13.5).
After you pass
L&I issues the certificate. Depending on your pass date and birthday, the first certificate lasts 25 to 36 months (L&I). After that you renew every three years with 24 hours of approved continuing education: at least 8 hours of NEC changes and 4 hours of RCW 19.28 and WAC 296-46B (WAC 296-46B-970).
Pass-rate data
Neither L&I nor PSI publishes a pass rate for the 01 exam. Treat any percentage you see quoted elsewhere as unofficial.
A candidate registered as an electrical trainee in 2024 and wants to take the 01 journey level exam in 2027 on in-state experience. Under RCW 19.28.191(1)(c), what must the candidate have completed?
How is the Washington 01 general journey level electrician exam divided according to the PSI bulletin?
A candidate passes NEC and theory but fails Washington codes on the first attempt, four months after the L&I approval letter. What applies under L&I's exam rules?