How to get an electrician license in West Virginia: the official requirements
The Journeyman Electrician license, the experience and training it takes, the exam and how to apply, from the West Virginia State Fire Marshal.
In West Virginia, the state electrical license for individual electricians is issued by the West Virginia State Fire Marshal. The Journeyman Electrician license, issued by the West Virginia State Fire Marshal. A journeyman does electrical work installing wires, conduits, apparatus, equipment, fixtures and other appliances, subject to supervision by a master electrician, and may not design any part of an electrical system. Electrical work for compensation or hire in West Virginia needs a license issued by the State Fire Marshal. Apprentice or trainee registration: Start as an electrician's assistant/helper, directly assisting a journeyman or master electrician under direct supervision. Helpers may not do any electrical work unsupervised or in hazardous areas, and one master or journeyman may supervise no more than three helpers on the job site. Experience and training: One of three routes: at least 1 year of experience as an assistant/helper doing electrical work under a master or journeyman electrician; or completion of a U.S. Department of Labor registered electrical apprenticeship program; or completion of a state Board of Education approved electrical vocational program of at least 1,080 hours, with all its final written and practical tests passed and an affidavit of competency from the program instructor. Licensing exam: A journeyman exam is required before the license is issued. Questions come from the National Electrical Code, a passing grade is at least 70%, and you must be 18 to take the exam or be licensed. Bring the written authorization form to the exam site. How to apply: Apply to the State Fire Marshal for the journeyman exam (the online license portal takes electrician applications) at least 10 working days before the next scheduled exam, giving the license class, the application review fee and a history of your experience and qualifications. You then get a written authorization form for testing; after you pass and pay the license fee, the license is issued.
West Virginia electrician license requirements
| Requirement | West Virginia |
|---|---|
| License you apply for | The Journeyman Electrician license, issued by the West Virginia State Fire Marshal. A journeyman does electrical work installing wires, conduits, apparatus, equipment, fixtures and other appliances, subject to supervision by a master electrician, and may not design any part of an electrical system. Electrical work for compensation or hire in West Virginia needs a license issued by the State Fire Marshal. |
| Apprentice or trainee registration | Start as an electrician's assistant/helper, directly assisting a journeyman or master electrician under direct supervision. Helpers may not do any electrical work unsupervised or in hazardous areas, and one master or journeyman may supervise no more than three helpers on the job site. |
| Experience and training | One of three routes: at least 1 year of experience as an assistant/helper doing electrical work under a master or journeyman electrician; or completion of a U.S. Department of Labor registered electrical apprenticeship program; or completion of a state Board of Education approved electrical vocational program of at least 1,080 hours, with all its final written and practical tests passed and an affidavit of competency from the program instructor. |
| Classroom hours | Not stated in the official source we read. Check with the West Virginia State Fire Marshal. |
| Licensing exam | A journeyman exam is required before the license is issued. Questions come from the National Electrical Code, a passing grade is at least 70%, and you must be 18 to take the exam or be licensed. Bring the written authorization form to the exam site. |
| How to apply | Apply to the State Fire Marshal for the journeyman exam (the online license portal takes electrician applications) at least 10 working days before the next scheduled exam, giving the license class, the application review fee and a history of your experience and qualifications. You then get a written authorization form for testing; after you pass and pay the license fee, the license is issued. |
| Background check | Not stated in the official source we read. Check with the West Virginia State Fire Marshal. |
| State fees | Exam application review fee: $25.00, not returnable. License renewal: $50.00 per year. Exam fees paid to a testing agent are not included here. |
| License term | Electrician licenses expire on June 30 each year; the State Fire Marshal renews them annually or for up to three years at a time. |
| Continuing education | Not stated in the official source we read. Check with the West Virginia State Fire Marshal. |
Where the official source we read does not state something, the table says so rather than guessing. Fees shown are the licensing authority's own. Fees charged by exam vendors, schools, apprenticeship programs, fingerprint vendors and application portals are not included.
This page covers the electrical license issued by the state. Cities and counties can have their own registration, permit or license rules; ask the local building department where you will work.
How to get licensed in West Virginia
- Work as an electrician's assistant/helper under a journeyman or master electrician (or complete a registered apprenticeship or an approved 1,080-hour vocational program).
- Apply for the journeyman exam with the $25 review fee and your experience history at least 10 working days before the exam date.
- Take your written authorization form to the exam site.
- Pass the National Electrical Code exam with at least 70%.
- Pay the license fee to be issued the license.
- Renew before June 30 each year (or for up to three years at a time).
Go further
Requirements state by state.
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Questions people ask
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How this page is built
Each fact on this page comes from the West Virginia State Fire Marshal and the rules it publishes (sources named below), read on the dates shown, with the exact wording we relied on kept on file. Requirements and fees change; the West Virginia State Fire Marshal's current instructions govern. We re-read each state's sources every six months (next review by May 10, 2027).
- Not legal advice.
- Licensing rules can change. Verify current requirements with the issuing agency.
- Fees shown are the licensing authority's own. Fees charged by exam vendors, schools, apprenticeship programs, fingerprint vendors and application portals are not included.
- This page covers the electrical license issued by the state. Cities and counties can have their own registration, permit or license rules; ask the local building department where you will work.
- This page covers the individual license named above. Master, contractor, specialty, sign, residential, limited and out-of-state (reciprocity) licenses have their own rules.
- West Virginia State Fire Marshal, 103CSR5 Legislative Rule, Electrician Licensing Rules (effective May 1, 2024), official source, read Nov 9, 2026.
- West Virginia Office of the State Fire Marshal, Regulatory and Licensing Division, official source, read Nov 9, 2026.