Virginia licenses Journeyman and Master Electricians statewide through the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) and the Board for Contractors. This guide covers the experience/education paths to qualify, what's on the PSI exam, which NEC edition it uses, and the exact rules for tabs, highlighting, and notes.
Quick Answer: What Do You Need?
| Licensing authority | Virginia Board for Contractors, via the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) |
| Testing provider | PSI Services LLC |
| Minimum age | 18 |
| Experience needed (Journeyman) | 1 to 8 years depending on formal education/training — see the table below |
| Application fee | $150 (original license by exam) |
| Exam fee | $100 (Journeyman) / $125 (Master) |
| Exam format | Journeyman: 70 items, 210 min, 49 correct to pass. Master: 90 items, 270 min, 63 correct to pass. |
| NEC edition | 2020 |
Journeyman Eligibility: Education & Experience Paths
Per DPOR regulation 18VAC50-30-39(B), you qualify for the Journeyman Electrician exam through any one of these education/experience combinations:
| Education | Practical Experience Required |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree in an engineering curriculum related to the trade | 1 year |
| Associate degree or certificate from a 2-year tradesman-related program | 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 |
Experience must be verified by reference letters from building officials, inspectors, employers, contractors, engineers, architects, or clients attesting to your work in the trade. Education is verified with a transcript or diploma.
Master Electrician Eligibility
Per 18VAC50-30-39(D), you qualify for the Master Electrician exam through any one of:
- Holding a valid Journeyman Electrician license for at least 1 year; or
- 9 years of practical experience in the electrical trade (no journeyman license required).
The Apprenticeship Exemption
If you successfully complete an electrical apprenticeship program approved by the Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement (or registered with the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training), you're exempt from the Journeyman exam entirely — submit your certificate of completion instead. This is a meaningful shortcut worth knowing about before you register for an exam you may not need to take.
How to Apply
- File a written application with DPOR, accompanied by the $150 fee, along with documentation of identification, vocational training, and experience.
- DPOR reviews the application; incomplete applications must be finished within 12 months or a new application is required.
- Disclose any felony or non-marijuana misdemeanor convictions in any jurisdiction — the Board may deny licensure at its discretion, with a right to further review.
- Once approved, register with PSI at test-takers.psiexams.com/vacon or by phone, and pay the exam fee ($100 Journeyman / $125 Master).
- Choose a test center or remote-proctored exam, and sit for your exam.
What Is on the Exam?
| Subject Area | Journeyman Items | Master Items |
|---|---|---|
| Standards of Practice / Conduct / Renewal / Definitions / Qualification / Revocation | 10 | 10 |
| General Electrical Knowledge | 3 | 4 |
| Requirements for Electrical Installations | 2 | 3 |
| Electrical-Electronic Fundamentals | 2 | 5 |
| Branch Circuits | 4 | 7 |
| Service and Feeders | 5 | 8 |
| Grounding and Bonding | 6 | 8 |
| Conductors and Cables | 7 | 7 |
| Raceways and Boxes | 7 | 7 |
| Special Occupancies / Special Equipment | 5 | 6 |
| Electrical Signs, Motors and Controls, Utilization Equipment, Lighting | 12 | 17 |
| Low Voltage, Communications, Fire/Alarm Systems | 3 | 4 |
| Safety | 4 | 4 |
| Total | 70 items, 210 min, 49 to pass | 90 items, 270 min, 63 to pass |
A small number of unscored experimental questions (roughly 10% of the total) may also appear; they count toward your time but not your score.
What NEC Edition Does Virginia Use?
Per PSI's current bulletin (revised 7/23/2026), the electrical exam uses the 2020 NEC (NFPA 70). Unlike several states we've covered, Virginia's reference list is notably short and current — just the NEC itself, NFPA 70E, and the Board's own regulations. There's no lingering multi-cycle-old edition or unresolved code-adoption gap here.
What Books Are Allowed?
- National Electrical Code, NFPA 70, 2020 edition
- Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, NFPA 70E, 2024 edition
- Virginia Board for Contractors' Individual License and Certification Regulations (freely downloadable from DPOR's site — no need to buy a printed copy)
Note: except for Code books, you may use later editions of other references as they become available — but for the NEC specifically, the exam is based only on the 2020 edition listed.
Tabs, Highlighting, and Notes
Virginia's rule is direct: references may be highlighted, underlined, and/or indexed prior to the exam, but must otherwise be completely unmarked — no writing in them, ever, before or during the exam. There's no state-specific carve-out for pre-exam margin notes here. Permanent tabs are fine; temporary tabs are not allowed and must be removed before testing begins. No loose papers may accompany your references, and anything you write on during the exam — including scratch materials — cannot leave the room afterward.
One distinctive detail: at in-person test centers, PSI provides an LCD writing tablet at check-in for scratch notes during the exam (returned at check-out) — rather than paper scratch paper used in most other states. Remote-proctored candidates get no scratch paper at all.
Testing Locations (Including Two Out of State)
PSI's bulletin states plainly that "Virginia candidates can test only at the examination centers listed... They are not allowed to test out-of-state." Worth knowing: two of the listed "Virginia" centers are physically located outside Virginia — Salisbury, Maryland and Johnson City, Tennessee — evidently included as convenient options for candidates near the state border. The remaining centers are in Alexandria, Fredericksburg, Harrisonburg, Charlottesville, Richmond, Roanoke, Stafford, Tazewell, Vienna, and Virginia Beach. A remote-proctored option is also available if none of these are convenient.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Original tradesman license (by exam) | $150 |
| Journeyman exam fee | $100 |
| Master exam fee | $125 |
| Additional tradesman designation | $105 |
| Renewal (tradesman license, every 3 years) | $160 |
| Reinstatement | $210 |
All fees are nonrefundable and non-prorated.
Retesting Rules
You cannot rebook an exam the same day you took it, due to score processing. Depending on seat availability, unsuccessful candidates may retest as soon as 2 business days later — there's no extended mandatory waiting period or required remedial coursework for a first or second retake.
Renewal & Continuing Education
Electrician (and other tradesman) licenses expire 3 years from the last day of the month issued — longer than most other credentials DPOR issues, which run on 2-year cycles. As a condition of renewal, licensees must complete 3 hours of continuing education per trade designation held, covering applicable building code changes, from a Board-approved provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Journeyman license before I can get a Master license?
No — you can qualify for the Master exam either by holding a Journeyman license for at least 1 year, or by having 9 years of practical experience in the trade directly, without ever holding a Journeyman license.
What NEC edition should I study?
The 2020 edition, per PSI's Virginia bulletin as of our last check.
Can I write notes in my codebook before the exam?
No. Virginia requires references to be completely unmarked except for highlighting, underlining, or indexing done before the exam. No pre-written notes of any kind are allowed.
Is an apprenticeship enough to skip the exam?
Yes, for the Journeyman exam specifically — completing a Commissioner-approved apprenticeship program exempts you from taking it.
Does Your Book Spot USA guarantee I'll pass?
No. We sell official, correctly-prepared reference materials — no book or study guide can guarantee an exam result, and we don't claim otherwise.
Get the Correct Codebook
Virginia's exam uses the 2020 NEC specifically — here's the matching edition, tabbable and exam-ready.
Ordering for a crew or training program? Request bulk pricing.
Official Sources
- Virginia Board for Contractors — Individual License and Certification Regulations (18VAC50-30), last updated August 1, 2025
- PSI Services LLC — Commonwealth of Virginia DPOR Individual License and Certification Candidate Information Bulletin, revised 7/23/2026
- Code of Virginia, Title 54.1, Chapter 11 (through the 2025 General Assembly session)
Your Book Spot USA is not affiliated with the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, the Board for Contractors, PSI Services LLC, or NFPA. Candidate bulletins and licensing rules change — this page reflects our verification as of the date above. Spot something outdated? Let us know and we'll correct it.
