Washington Electrician License Renewal (L&I)

Last reviewed October 2026 · 4 min read

Washington electricians hold a certificate of competency from the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I). It renews every three years and expires on your birthday, after 24 hours of approved continuing education. Renew late and the fee doubles; leave it more than 90 days and you retest. Electrical contractor licenses run on their own two-year cycle with a $4,000 bond, and trainee certificates renew every two years.

At a glance

Renews every: 3 years: an electrician certificate expires on your birthdate and is renewed on or before it. A first certificate expires on your birthdate at least two and not more than three years after it was issued
Renewal window: Apply on or before the expiration date, and no more than 90 days before it
Continuing education: 24 hours of approved CE, including 8 hours on code changes (code update) and 4 hours on RCW 19.28 and its WAC rules: at least 8 hours for each year of the certificate period, which you don't have to take in separate years. The same class can't be counted twice
Renew: Online through L&I's manage licenses and certifications page, with the last 4 digits of your Social Security number and your 12-digit certificate number. Pay by credit/debit card or electronic check. L&I mails a renewal letter that acts as your certificate for 30 days
Not working in Washington?: If you renew before the certificate expires, you can pay the renewal fee without the CE: the certificate goes inactive until L&I validates the required CE
Renewing late: Fees double after expiration. Within 90 days after expiration you can renew without a retest by paying the late fee; after 90 days the certificate can't be renewed and you retest
Electrical contractors: The license expires 24 calendar months after it was issued and is renewed every 2 years. It needs a $4,000 electrical contractor's surety bond (or assignment of savings) and an assigned administrator or master electrician; without either, L&I suspends the license
Renewing a contractor license online: Needs a current bond or assignment of savings, a current administrator assigned, and no outstanding unpaid citations. Expired more than 90 days, you can't renew online and contact L&I instead
Contractor insurance: L&I encourages electrical contractors to carry general liability insurance but doesn't keep records of it
Trainees: Training certificates renew every 2 years, after 48 hours of approved basic trainee classes. Notarized affidavits of experience for the prior two years must reach L&I within 180 days after each expiration date, or you lose credit for those hours. The deadline doesn't apply to hours worked while registered in a Washington or recognized Oregon apprenticeship program. It's not lawful to work in the trade on an expired certificate

Fees: L&I charges renewal fees by certificate type and lower fees for renewals completed online. This guide doesn't list them: check L&I's current fees when you renew.

Working with an expired, suspended or inactive contractor license can bring citations and fines.

How to renew

Check your certificate's expiration date (your birthdate in the renewal year) and whether L&I's records show your CE credit; contact your course provider if hours are missing.
Finish 24 hours of approved CE: 8 on code changes and 4 on RCW 19.28 and its rules, with no class counted twice.
Renew online through L&I within the 90 days before your birthdate, with your SSN's last 4 digits and your 12-digit certificate number.
Contractors: keep the $4,000 bond current and an administrator or master electrician assigned, and clear any unpaid citations before renewing online.
Trainees: finish the 48 hours of basic trainee classes, and get your notarized affidavits of experience to L&I within 180 days of each expiration (not needed for hours worked as a registered apprentice).

Still tracking this in a spreadsheet? On a paid plan, get emailed 90, 60, 30, 7 and 1 days before it expires, by default.

Start free

Deadline checklist

6 months outCount your approved CE hours toward the 24 (8 code update, 4 RCW/WAC) and book the rest.
90 days outThe renewal window opens: renew online with L&I once all 24 hours show up.
30 days outNot renewed yet? Renew now, before your birthdate, and keep the renewal letter L&I mails: it acts as your certificate for 30 days.
BirthdateYour certificate expires. After this the fee doubles; after 90 more days you retest.

Put this renewal in your calendar

Know your expiration date? Download a free calendar file with reminders before it, no sign-up needed. It's made in your browser: nothing you type is sent to us (your browser keeps it only if you follow the sign-up link, for your new ledger). A Google Calendar button sends just that one event to Google.

The file covers one date: once you renew, make a new one. How to add it to your calendar

The license isn't the only thing expiring

Most lapses that cost contractors work aren't the license itself. They're one of these, renewing on a different date:

Your electrical contractor license (every 2 years) and its $4,000 bond
Your trainees' training certificates and their affidavits of experience
General liability insurance policy
Workers' compensation policy (or exemption)
Certificates of insurance (COIs) you've given to clients and GCs
Commercial auto insurance

LicenseLedger keeps every one of those dates in one place and emails you before each one expires, with reminders far enough ahead to finish CE and paperwork.

Track your renewal dates free

Frequently asked questions

How often do you renew a Washington electrician certificate?

Every 3 years: an electrician certificate expires on your birthdate and is renewed on or before it. You can apply no more than 90 days before the expiration date.

How many CE hours do Washington electricians need?

24 hours of approved CE, including 8 hours on code changes and 4 hours on RCW 19.28 and its WAC rules.

What happens if my Washington electrician certificate expires?

Fees double after expiration. Within 90 days after expiration you can renew without a retest by paying the late fee; after 90 days you retest.

How often does a Washington electrical contractor license renew?

Every 2 years: it expires 24 calendar months after it was issued. It needs a $4,000 surety bond (or assignment of savings) and an assigned administrator or master electrician.

Official sources

Rules, fees and CE requirements change. Confirm the current requirements with the official source before you renew:

Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), Electrical Program

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Other Washington guides

All Washington guides on one page

Electrician guides for other states

Compare electrician license renewals across states

Get a reminder before this renewal is due

Add this license, your insurance policies and the COIs you collect from subs to LicenseLedger, and get an email before each one expires. Free for up to 3 records, no credit card required.

Start free

How LicenseLedger works for electricians

Not ready to sign up? Get the free tracking spreadsheet

Washington Electrician License Renewal (L&I)

Last reviewed October 2026 · 4 min read

At a glance

Renews every: 3 years: an electrician certificate expires on your birthdate and is renewed on or before it. A first certificate expires on your birthdate at least two and not more than three years after it was issued
Renewal window: Apply on or before the expiration date, and no more than 90 days before it
Continuing education: 24 hours of approved CE, including 8 hours on code changes (code update) and 4 hours on RCW 19.28 and its WAC rules: at least 8 hours for each year of the certificate period, which you don't have to take in separate years. The same class can't be counted twice
Renew: Online through L&I's manage licenses and certifications page, with the last 4 digits of your Social Security number and your 12-digit certificate number. Pay by credit/debit card or electronic check. L&I mails a renewal letter that acts as your certificate for 30 days
Not working in Washington?: If you renew before the certificate expires, you can pay the renewal fee without the CE: the certificate goes inactive until L&I validates the required CE
Renewing late: Fees double after expiration. Within 90 days after expiration you can renew without a retest by paying the late fee; after 90 days the certificate can't be renewed and you retest
Electrical contractors: The license expires 24 calendar months after it was issued and is renewed every 2 years. It needs a $4,000 electrical contractor's surety bond (or assignment of savings) and an assigned administrator or master electrician; without either, L&I suspends the license
Renewing a contractor license online: Needs a current bond or assignment of savings, a current administrator assigned, and no outstanding unpaid citations. Expired more than 90 days, you can't renew online and contact L&I instead
Contractor insurance: L&I encourages electrical contractors to carry general liability insurance but doesn't keep records of it
Trainees: Training certificates renew every 2 years, after 48 hours of approved basic trainee classes. Notarized affidavits of experience for the prior two years must reach L&I within 180 days after each expiration date, or you lose credit for those hours. The deadline doesn't apply to hours worked while registered in a Washington or recognized Oregon apprenticeship program. It's not lawful to work in the trade on an expired certificate

Fees: L&I charges renewal fees by certificate type and lower fees for renewals completed online. This guide doesn't list them: check L&I's current fees when you renew.

Working with an expired, suspended or inactive contractor license can bring citations and fines.

How to renew

Check your certificate's expiration date (your birthdate in the renewal year) and whether L&I's records show your CE credit; contact your course provider if hours are missing.
Finish 24 hours of approved CE: 8 on code changes and 4 on RCW 19.28 and its rules, with no class counted twice.
Renew online through L&I within the 90 days before your birthdate, with your SSN's last 4 digits and your 12-digit certificate number.
Contractors: keep the $4,000 bond current and an administrator or master electrician assigned, and clear any unpaid citations before renewing online.
Trainees: finish the 48 hours of basic trainee classes, and get your notarized affidavits of experience to L&I within 180 days of each expiration (not needed for hours worked as a registered apprentice).

Still tracking this in a spreadsheet? On a paid plan, get emailed 90, 60, 30, 7 and 1 days before it expires, by default.

Start free

Deadline checklist

6 months outCount your approved CE hours toward the 24 (8 code update, 4 RCW/WAC) and book the rest.
90 days outThe renewal window opens: renew online with L&I once all 24 hours show up.
30 days outNot renewed yet? Renew now, before your birthdate, and keep the renewal letter L&I mails: it acts as your certificate for 30 days.
BirthdateYour certificate expires. After this the fee doubles; after 90 more days you retest.

Put this renewal in your calendar

The file covers one date: once you renew, make a new one. How to add it to your calendar

The license isn't the only thing expiring

Most lapses that cost contractors work aren't the license itself. They're one of these, renewing on a different date:

Your electrical contractor license (every 2 years) and its $4,000 bond
Your trainees' training certificates and their affidavits of experience
General liability insurance policy
Workers' compensation policy (or exemption)
Certificates of insurance (COIs) you've given to clients and GCs
Commercial auto insurance

LicenseLedger keeps every one of those dates in one place and emails you before each one expires, with reminders far enough ahead to finish CE and paperwork.

Track your renewal dates free

Frequently asked questions

How often do you renew a Washington electrician certificate?

Every 3 years: an electrician certificate expires on your birthdate and is renewed on or before it. You can apply no more than 90 days before the expiration date.

How many CE hours do Washington electricians need?

24 hours of approved CE, including 8 hours on code changes and 4 hours on RCW 19.28 and its WAC rules.

What happens if my Washington electrician certificate expires?

Fees double after expiration. Within 90 days after expiration you can renew without a retest by paying the late fee; after 90 days you retest.

How often does a Washington electrical contractor license renew?

Every 2 years: it expires 24 calendar months after it was issued. It needs a $4,000 surety bond (or assignment of savings) and an assigned administrator or master electrician.

Official sources

Rules, fees and CE requirements change. Confirm the current requirements with the official source before you renew:

Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), Electrical Program

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Other Washington guides

All Washington guides on one page

Electrician guides for other states

Compare electrician license renewals across states

Get a reminder before this renewal is due

Add this license, your insurance policies and the COIs you collect from subs to LicenseLedger, and get an email before each one expires. Free for up to 3 records, no credit card required.

Start free

How LicenseLedger works for electricians

Not ready to sign up? Get the free tracking spreadsheet