How Long Does It Take to Become an Electrician in Washington State?

Becoming an electrician in Washington State is a lengthy process that requires a great deal of commitment. To be certified, you must have at least 8,000 hours of documented experience as an electrical apprentice under the supervision of a certified drive-level electrician. Of those 8,000 hours, 4,000 must be spent working in commercial or industrial facilities and you must be supervised for at least 75% of the time. Once you have fulfilled the necessary hours and gained the required experience, you can apply for an official electrician's license in Washington.

If you have been certified as an electrician for at least four years, you can then apply for a master electrician certificate. The master electrician exam and the electrical administrator exam will cover the same topics as the officer exam. If you are certified as a master electrician or electrical administrator, you can then apply for a license as an electrical contractor to be able to offer your services independently.