In Idaho, electricians will have better careers due to the projected 24.2% job growth by 2024.
For this reason, many young individuals want to enter this profession.
Below, you’ll learn how to become a licensed electrician in Idaho.
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- Potential Salary
- How to Become a Licensed Electrician in Idaho
- Electrical Training Programs and Schools in Idaho
Potential Salary
With a good job outlook, electricians in Idaho can receive better-than-average salaries.
Here’s their salary information as of May 2021 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
Mean Wage:
- Annually – $52,180
- Hourly – $25.09
| Percentile | Average Annual Wage |
| 10% | $29,770 |
| 25% | $38,140 |
| 50% | $48,420 |
| 75% | $62,550 |
| 90% | $78,520 |
Annual Salary Range:
Average Salary of Electricians in Idaho
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Boise | $45,496 |
| Nampa | $45,016 |
| Pocatello | $41,669 |
| Idaho Falls | $43,657 |
| Meridian | $45,448 |
| Coeur d'Alene | $47,183 |
| Twin Falls | $42,005 |
| Lewiston | $47,338 |
| Caldwell | $44,968 |
| Moscow | $47,183 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boise City, ID | 2,250 | $55,130 | $26.51 | $77,320 | $38,630 |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | 520 | $54,390 | $26.15 | $77,030 | $37,780 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | 410 | $57,310 | $27.55 | $90,960 | $37,560 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | 200 | $82,460 | $39.64 | $144,830 | $44,260 |
| Pocatello, ID | 170 | $50,460 | $24.26 | $75,410 | $37,570 |
| Twin Falls, ID | 270 | $51,760 | $24.89 | $75,230 | $37,550 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
How to Become a Licensed Electrician in Idaho
The ID Division of Building Safety (DBS) regulates and issues the licenses of electricians.
- Apprentice
- Journeyman electrician
- Master electrician
- Electrical contractor
- Specialty licenses
- Limited trainee electrician
- Limited electrical installer
- Limited electrical contractor
Specialty electricians will choose from the following specialty categories for their license:
- Elevator
- Sign
- Manufacturing/assembling
- Limited energy
- Irrigation sprinkler
- Well driller/pump installer
- Refrigeration, heating, and air conditioning
- Outside wireman (lineman)
- Photovoltaic (solar) installer
Becoming an Apprentice Electrician
Unlike other states, Idaho has different levels of apprenticeship according to the completed experience and education requirements.
- Apprentice – a first-time applicant with no verified experience and approved education yet
- Apprentice level 1 – a registered apprentice who completed 2,000 hours of verified work experience and one year of approved education
- Apprentice level 2 – a registered apprentice who completed 4,000 hours of verified work experience and two years of approved education
- Apprentice level 3 – a registered apprentice who completed 6,000 hours of verified work
experience and three years of approved education - Apprentice level 4 – a registered apprentice who completed 8,000 hours of verified work experience and four years of approved education
Apprentices in level 4 or who have completed 16,000 hours of verified work experience can qualify for the journeyman exam.
Qualifications
DBS has simple requirements for the state registration of apprentice electricians.
For first-timers, you only need to be at least 16 years old.
For registered apprentices, you need to show proof of completion of the required experience and education to advance your level.
State Registration Application
If this is your initial application, you need to submit the following:
- Completed and notarized application form
- Copy of your valid ID
- Registration fee – $15
If you’re applying to advance your apprentice level, then submit the following:
- Above-stated requirements
- Completed and notarized work verification form signed by your employer
State Registration Renewal
Your registration as an apprentice electrician is only valid for one year.
To apply for renewal, you must pay the renewal fee of $15 and submit any of the following:
- Proof of completing 24 hours of approved continuing education courses
- Eight hours must be an NFPA 70E course
- Remaining hours can be about code updates, code-related, or industry-related courses
- Certificate of completion for one year of approved education
- *Official letter on school letterhead stating that you have completed at least 24 hours of class time for the current renewal period
*Applicable only if you have yet to complete the electrical program for the academic year.
Becoming a Journeyman Electrician
Qualifications
You must meet these requirements to obtain your license:
- Have met the experience and education requirements; any of the following:
- Four years (8,000 hours) of verified work experience and four years of approved electrical apprenticeship
- Eight years (16,000 hours) of verified work experience
- Registered as an Apprentice Level 4
- Successfully pass the journeyman electrician licensure exam
License Application
To apply, you must submit the following for approval to sit for the exam:
- Completed and notarized application form
- Completed and notarized work verification form signed by your employer
- Copy of your valid ID
- Application fee – $15
Upon their approval, you have 90 days to take the exam.
If you pass, the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) will issue your journeyman electrician license.
Exam Details
DBS will administer the exam, which will cost $75.
It will be an open-book exam, with only the approved references allowed to bring to the testing center.
You will answer 80 questions in four hours.
You need to score at least 70% to pass the exam.
License Renewal
Your journeyman electrician license will expire after three years.
To renew, you must complete the following:
- 24 hours of approved CE courses
- Eight hours on code update
- Remaining hours can be a combination of code updates, code-related, or industry-related courses
- Renewal fee – $45
Note: If you attend board and negotiated rule meetings, you can receive up to four CE credits.
Becoming a Master Electrician
Qualifications
DBS has simple requirements for master electrician applicants.
- At least four years of holding an ID journeyman electrician license
- Successfully pass the master electrician licensure exam
License Application
To apply, you must submit the following for approval to sit for the exam:
- Completed and notarized application form
- Copy of your valid ID
- Application fee – $15
Upon passing the exam, DOPL will issue your master electrician license.
Exam Details
The master electrician licensure exam will have an exam fee of $75.
It will be an open-book exam, with only the approved references allowed to bring to the testing center.
You will answer 90 questions in four hours.
You need to score at least 75% to pass the exam.
License Renewal
Your master electrician license will expire after three years.
The renewal requirements will be the same as those of journeymen.
Please see the journeyman electrician license renewal section for details.
Becoming an Electrical Contractor
Qualifications
You can apply for an electrical contractor license as an individual or as an entity.
If you’ll apply as an individual, you must meet these requirements to qualify for the license:
- You must be the individual to be licensed
- Holds an ID master electrician license or employs one
- Successfully pass the electrical contractor licensure exam
If applying as an entity, the requirements are as follows:
- You’re a full-time supervisory employee of the entity, serving as their representative for the exam
- Employ a full-time ID licensed master electrician who’ll supervise all electrical works
- Successfully pass the electrical contractor licensure exam
License Application
To apply, you must submit the following for approval to sit for the exam:
- Completed and notarized application form
- Copy of your valid ID if applying as an individual
- Application fee – $15
Upon passing the exam, DOPL will issue your electrical contractor license after submission of the following:
- Completed authorized signatures for contractor license form
- Proof of $300,000 liability insurance
- Proof of worker’s compensation insurance or a statement of exemption
- License fee – $125
Exam Details
The electrical contractor licensure exam will have an exam fee of $75.
It will be an open-book exam, with only the approved references allowed to bring to the testing center.
You will answer 80 questions about the statutes and rules in four hours.
You need to score at least 75% to pass the exam.
License Renewal
Your electrical contractor license will expire after one year.
To renew, you must submit the following:
- Proof of current liability and worker’s compensation insurance
- Renewal fee – $100
Becoming a Limited Electrical Trainee
Qualifications
Like apprentice electricians, limited electrical trainees need to register with DBS.
To qualify, you must work under the constant supervision of a specialty journeyman of the same specialty category.
License Application
To apply, you must submit the following:
- Completed and notarized application form
- Copy of your valid ID
- Registration fee – $30
License Renewal
Your registration as a limited electrician trainee will expire after three years.
To renew, you must submit the following:
- Completed and notarized work verification form signed by your employer showing at least 2,000 hours of work experience
- Renewal fee – $25
Becoming a Limited Electrical Installer
Qualifications
DBS requires you to meet these requirements:
- For all specialty categories except outside wireman (lineman)
- At least two years (4,00 hours) of verified work experience for the chosen specialty category
- Successfully pass the limited electrical installer exam
- Additional requirement for photovoltaic (solar) installer
- Holds a North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) PV Installer Certificate
Meanwhile, outside wireman (lineman) will only have to complete an electrical lineman apprenticeship program approved by the U.S. Department of Labor.
For this specialty category, you won’t have to take any licensure exam.
License Application
To apply, you must submit the following for approval:
- Completed and notarized application form
- Completed and notarized work verification form signed by your employer
- Copy of your valid ID
- Application fee – $15
If you pass the exam, DOPL will issue your limited electrical installer license.
For outside wireman (lineman), DOPL will issue your license after they approve your application.
Exam Details
To take the limited electrical installer licensure exam, you will have to pay an exam fee of $75.
It will be an open-book exam, with only the approved references allowed to bring to the testing center.
Here are the details of the exam per specialty category:
- Elevator – 60 questions in three hours
- Sign – 40 questions in two hours
- Manufacturing/assembling – 40 questions in two hours
- Limited energy – 40 questions in two hours
- Irrigation sprinkler – 40 questions in two hours
- Well driller/pump installer – 40 questions in two hours
- Refrigeration, heating, and air conditioning – 40 questions in two hours
- Photovoltaic (solar) installer – 60 questions in three hours
You need to score at least 70% to pass the exam.
License Renewal
Your limited electrical installer license will expire after three years.
To renew, you must complete the following:
- What’s listed on the renewal notice given
- Renewal fee – $45
Becoming a Limited Electrical Contractor
Qualifications
You can apply for a limited electrical contractor license as an individual or as an entity.
If applying as an individual, you must meet these requirements:
- You must be the individual to be licensed
- Holds a two-year ID limited electrical installer license or employs one in the same specialty category as the limited electrical contractor
- Successfully pass the limited electrical contractor licensure exam
If applying as an entity, the requirements are as follows:
- You’re a full-time supervisory employee of the entity, serving as their representative for the exam
- Employ a full-time two-year ID limited electrical installer license holder in the same specialty category as the limited electrical contractor who’ll supervise all electrical works
- Successfully pass the limited electrical contractor licensure exam
License Application
To apply, you must submit the following for approval to sit for the exam:
- Completed and notarized application form
- Completed and notarized work verification form signed by your employer
- Copy of your valid ID if applying as an individual
- Application fee – $15
If you pass the exam, DOPL will issue your limited electrical contractor license after submission of the following:
- Completed authorized signatures for contractor license form
- Proof of $300,000 liability insurance
- Proof of worker’s compensation insurance or a statement of exemption
- License fee – $125
Exam Details
To take the limited electrical contractor licensure exam, you will have to pay an exam fee of $75.
It will be an open-book exam, with only the approved references allowed to bring to the testing center.
You will answer 80 questions about the statutes and rules in four hours.
You need to score at least 70% to pass the exam.
License Renewal
Your limited electrical contractor license will expire after one year.
The renewal requirements will be the same as those of electrical contractors.
Please see the electrical contractor license renewal section for details.
Electrical Training Programs and Schools in Idaho
To be an electrician, you need to receive the appropriate training.
You can obtain this in two ways:
- Enroll in a technical school and then become an apprentice
- Directly join a union- or non-union-sponsored apprenticeship program
Through a technical school, you can earn a degree or certificate after completion.
The school can also assist you in landing entry-level jobs or apprenticeships.
You can contact one of these companies for such a position:
- Magic Valley Electric in Twin Falls
- Affordable Electric in Athol
- Same Day Electric in Bois
Meanwhile, through the union or non-union sponsors, you can become an apprentice straight from high school.
You can apply for a union-sponsored apprenticeship program through the local Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC).
For non-union-sponsored apprenticeship programs, you can apply through the local Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) chapter.
7 Electrician Schools in Idaho
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Eastern Idaho Technical College | 1600 South 25th Street East, Idaho Falls, ID 83404 |
| College of Western Idaho | 5500 East Opportunity Drive, Nampa, ID 83687 |
| Idaho State University | 921 South Eighth Ave, Pocatello, ID 83209 |
| IEC of Idaho | 5920 Victory Road, P.O. Box 16541, Boise, Idaho 83715 |
| JATC of Southwestern Idaho | 121 East 34th Street, Boise, ID 83714 |
| JATC of Eastern Idaho Electrical | 8450 S 5th Ave, Pocatello, ID 83204 |
| North Idaho College | 1000 W Garden Ave, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814 |
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