Important Washington licensing fact: the 01-General Journey Level Electrician certificate is an individual electrician certification. It is not an electrical contractor business license. A certified 01 electrician may perform all types of electrical and telecommunications installations within the scope allowed by Washington law, but a business that contracts for regulated electrical work must separately meet Washington electrical contractor licensing requirements.
Washington has two broad electrician certification levels: general journey level and specialty electrician. The 01-General Journey Level Electrician is the broad statewide journey-level certification.
L&I states that a general journey level electrician may perform all types of electrical and telecommunications installations within Washington's electrical laws and rules. That makes the 01 certificate much broader than a specialty electrician certificate.
Because the 01 certificate has broad work authority, Washington uses substantial training, supervised experience, education, and examination requirements before certification. For new in-state candidates after June 30, 2026, the normal route is completion of a registered 01 journey-level apprenticeship program or another pathway specifically recognized by L&I.
Certification authority: Washington State Department of Labor & Industries.
Testing provider: PSI.
Credential: 01-General Journey Level Electrician.
NEC & Theory: 60 questions, 3 hours.
Washington Codes: 17 questions, 1 hour.
Passing standard: 70%.
Format: open book.
Current PSI NEC basis: National Electrical Code, 2020.
Washington law and rule basis: RCW 19.28 and WAC 296-46B.
Current in-state route: registered journey-level electrical apprenticeship or another specifically recognized qualifying pathway.
Work scope: all types of electrical and telecommunications installations allowed under the 01-General scope.
For exam-specific preparation matching the current PSI code basis, review the Washington 2020 Journeyman Electrician Exam Prep Package .
Washington's 01 path is now strongly tied to registered apprenticeship for new in-state candidates. The exam comes after the required training and experience, not before it.
| Step | Requirement | What to Verify |
|---|---|---|
| Enter a Qualifying 01 Path | Washington L&I | For new in-state candidates after June 30, 2026, complete a registered 01 journey-level electrical apprenticeship or another specifically recognized pathway |
| Complete Required Education | Apprenticeship / L&I | Complete the classroom and related instruction required by the qualifying program |
| Complete Required Work Experience | Supervised Electrical Work | Complete the practical work-experience requirements established by the approved apprenticeship or recognized qualifying pathway |
| Verify L&I Records | Eligibility | Confirm that required education and experience are properly recorded before applying for examination |
| Apply for the 01 Exam | Washington L&I | Submit the current application and required documentation before scheduling with PSI |
| Receive Exam Approval | L&I Approval | Wait for eligibility confirmation and PSI scheduling instructions |
| Pass NEC & Theory | PSI Section | 60 questions, 3 hours, current PSI 2020 NEC basis |
| Pass WA Codes | PSI Section | 17 questions, 1 hour, RCW 19.28 and WAC 296-46B |
| Complete the Exam Period | Washington Rules | Pass all required sections within the applicable PSI/L&I examination period |
| Renew the Certificate | Every 3 Years | Complete 24 approved CE hours, including 8 code-update hours and 4 RCW/WAC hours |
Use current Washington L&I, the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin, RCW 19.28, and WAC 296-46B as the final authority for qualification, exam content, testing rules, code editions, and renewal.
| Verified Point | Authority | Current Result |
|---|---|---|
| Certification authority | Washington L&I | Electrical Program |
| Testing provider | Washington L&I | PSI |
| Credential | Washington L&I | 01-General Journey Level Electrician |
| NEC & Theory | Current PSI Outline | 60 questions, 3 hours |
| WA Codes | Current PSI Outline | 17 questions, 1 hour |
| Passing score | Washington L&I / PSI | 70% |
| Exam format | Current PSI Bulletin | Open book |
| Current PSI NEC basis | Current PSI Bulletin | 2020 National Electrical Code |
| Washington law / rule basis | Current PSI Bulletin | RCW 19.28 and WAC 296-46B |
| Current field NEC | Washington L&I | 2023 NEC as of October 2026 |
| 2026 NEC effective date | Washington L&I | Scheduled for December 31, 2026 |
| New in-state qualification rule | Washington L&I | After June 30, 2026, new 01 candidates normally complete a registered journey-level apprenticeship or another recognized qualifying route |
| 01 work scope | Washington L&I | All types of electrical and telecommunications installations allowed by Washington law |
| Renewal cycle | Washington L&I | 3 years |
| Continuing education | Washington L&I | 24 hours total, including 8 hours of NEC update and 4 hours of RCW/WAC |
October 2026 code-cycle warning: Washington currently enforces the 2023 NEC for field installations, but PSI's current electrician exam bulletin still bases exam code questions on the 2020 NEC. The 2026 NEC is scheduled to replace Washington's 2023 NEC on December 31, 2026. Check PSI before your test because the exam update can happen on a different schedule.
The current 01-General electrician exam is divided into two sections: NEC & Theory and Washington Codes. Together they contain approximately 77 scored questions.
The NEC & Theory section contains 60 questions and allows 3 hours. The largest technical category is Wiring Methods with approximately 10 questions.
Overcurrent Protection and Grounding & Bonding contain about 6 questions each. Services and Special Occupancies contain about 4 questions each. Several other NEC categories contain one to three questions.
The NEC & Theory section also contains about 7 General Trade Knowledge & Theory questions. These can involve basic electrical relationships, trade calculations, practical installation knowledge, and concepts that require understanding rather than simple article lookup.
The Washington Codes section contains approximately 17 questions and allows 1 hour. Study RCW 19.28 and WAC 296-46B as their own exam subject, not as the book you remember exists three days before the test.
Study the two exam sections separately. NEC & Theory requires code navigation plus electrical understanding. Washington Codes requires familiarity with state-specific laws and administrative rules. Both matter, and both deserve their own practice.
Wiring Methods: practice Chapter 3 navigation, raceways, cables, boxes, fittings, supports, wet and dry locations, conductor installation, and wiring-method limitations.
Overcurrent Protection: review devices, ratings, conductor protection, tap rules, location, series ratings, and special overcurrent requirements.
Grounding and Bonding: practice services, grounding electrode systems, equipment grounding, bonding, separately derived systems, and conductor sizing.
Services: review service conductors, disconnecting means, service equipment, clearances, ratings, grounding, and supply-side requirements.
Special Occupancies and Equipment: practice hazardous locations, health-care spaces, marinas, temporary installations, special equipment, emergency systems, and other specialized NEC chapters.
Washington Laws & Rules: study certification, contractor responsibilities, supervision, permits, inspections, trainee requirements, work scopes, enforcement, and Washington amendments.
For final exam-specific preparation, review the Washington 2020 Journeyman Electrician Exam Prep Package while PSI continues to list the 2020 NEC as its code-question basis.
The Washington 01 exam tests two different kinds of navigation. One asks, "Where is this in the NEC?" The other asks, "What does Washington require?" Mixing the references is a great way to become very efficient at finding the wrong answer.
Washington 01 Journeyman preparation for NEC navigation, electrical theory, and Washington-specific rules.
Move from apprenticeship through L&I eligibility, two-section PSI testing, state certification, and continuing education.
For new in-state candidates after June 30, 2026, the normal route is completion of a registered 01 journey-level apprenticeship program.
Finish the classroom and related instruction established by the apprenticeship or other qualifying pathway.
Build the required practical electrical experience under the rules governing your qualifying program.
Make sure your required education, experience, and eligibility documentation are properly recorded before applying for examination.
Submit the current Washington application and wait for L&I approval before scheduling through PSI.
Complete 60 questions in three hours and meet Washington's current passing standard.
Complete 17 questions in one hour, using RCW 19.28 and WAC 296-46B as the main state-law and rule references.
Renew every three years and complete 24 hours of approved continuing education, including required NEC update and RCW/WAC hours.
The current PSI outline totals approximately 77 scored questions across the two electrician sections. The bars compare each published knowledge area with the 17-question Washington Laws & Rules section.
Largest study blocks: Washington Laws & Rules contains about 17 questions, Wiring Methods about 10, General Trade Knowledge & Theory about 7, and both Overcurrent Protection and Grounding & Bonding about 6 each. Those five areas account for approximately 46 of 77 questions.
Washington electrical certification examinations are open book. Use the newest PSI bulletin as the final authority for reference editions, allowed markings, tabs, copies, and calculators.
| Reference | Primary Study Use | Preparation Focus |
|---|---|---|
| National Electrical Code, 2020 | Current PSI basis for electrician code questions, including services, protection, grounding, wiring methods, equipment, motors, occupancies, special systems, and communications | NEC & Theory |
| RCW 19.28 - Electricians and Electrical Installations | Washington electrical law, certification, contractor requirements, enforcement, and statutory responsibilities | Washington Codes |
| WAC 296-46B - Electrical Safety Standards, Administration, and Installation | Washington certification rules, work scopes, supervision, permits, inspections, amendments, examinations, and administrative requirements | Washington Codes |
| Electrical Theory and Calculation Study Materials | Ohm's law, power, trade math, conductor calculations, motors, loads, voltage drop, and general journey-level theory | General Trade Knowledge & Theory |
Current-code versus exam-code reminder: the 2023 Washington Journeyman Study Guide + NEC Combo supports current Washington installation-code study, while the current PSI bulletin still identifies the 2020 NEC as the exam code basis. The 2026 Washington Journeyman Study Guide + NEC Combo supports the upcoming code cycle, but do not assume PSI has switched until the bulletin says so.
Current PSI reference rules: Washington examinations are open book. Copyrighted references must follow the bulletin's originality and marking rules. Permanent tabs are permitted under current rules, removable notes are not, and references may not contain personal writing. Always verify the newest bulletin before test day.
Washington L&I states that a general journey level electrician may perform all types of electrical and telecommunications installations within the scope of Washington law. That is the broad 01 certification.
The certificate applies to the individual electrician. It demonstrates that the holder has completed the required qualifying pathway and passed the state certification examination.
A Washington electrical contractor is different. The contractor license belongs to the business and carries separate bonding, insurance, assignment, licensing, and compliance requirements.
Journeyman versus contractor: the 01 certificate lets the individual perform broad electrical work within Washington's certification rules. It does not by itself create an electrical contracting business license. The electrician and the business are related, but Washington does not treat them like two labels on the same breaker.
Washington separates trainees, journey-level electricians, specialty electricians, Master Electricians, administrators, and electrical contractors.
| Credential | Main Purpose | Typical Qualification | Important Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Trainee / Apprentice | Build supervised electrical education and experience | Training certificate or registered apprenticeship status under applicable Washington rules | Work is supervised and does not equal journey-level certification |
| 01-General Journey Level Electrician | Perform all types of electrical and telecommunications installations allowed by Washington law | Complete the qualifying journey-level apprenticeship or another recognized route and pass the 01 exam | Broad individual electrician certification |
| Specialty Electrician | Perform electrical work limited to a specific Washington specialty | Meet specialty-specific education, experience, and examination requirements | Scope is narrower than 01-General |
| Master Electrician | Higher-level certification and possible designated master role for an electrical contractor | For General Master, at least four years as a Washington 01 journey-level electrician plus Master examination | Can take designated master responsibility for a contractor |
| Electrical Contractor | Operate the business that contracts for regulated electrical work | Separate business licensing, bonding, insurance, and administrator/master assignment requirements | Business license, not an individual electrician certificate |
Post-June 2026 rule: Washington's earlier trainee transition ended after June 30, 2026. For new in-state 01 candidates, the normal route is now completion of a registered journey-level apprenticeship before the certification exam, subject to any specifically recognized L&I exceptions or equivalency paths.
Build NEC navigation, Washington law knowledge, electrical theory, calculation accuracy, and two-section testing stamina.
The Washington 01 exam is challenging because the certification has a very broad work scope. The examination expects candidates to understand the NEC, electrical theory, general trade knowledge, and Washington-specific laws and rules.
The NEC & Theory section gives 180 minutes for 60 questions. The Washington Codes section gives 60 minutes for 17 questions. Both work out to roughly three minutes per question.
Three minutes can be plenty when you recognize the topic, know which reference owns the answer, and understand the code language. It disappears quickly when you start browsing the index with the enthusiasm of someone looking for a missing screwdriver in the dark.
Wiring Methods, Washington Laws & Rules, Grounding and Bonding, Overcurrent Protection, and General Trade Knowledge & Theory make up a large share of the published outline. Those areas deserve repeated practice.
The state-code section is easy to underestimate because it has fewer questions. Do not. You still need to pass the required exam sections, and Washington-specific questions are difficult to answer by guessing from the NEC.
Exam-day code reminder: Washington's current field installation code is the 2023 NEC, but the current PSI bulletin still identifies the 2020 NEC as the exam code basis. Check the newest PSI information before bringing your final code book.
Want instructor-led support? Review the 2026 Washington Journeyman Electrician Instructor-Led NEC Study Package .
Want flash-card practice? Review the Washington Journeyman Electrician Study Guide + Flash Card Combo .

This Washington-specific 1 Exam Prep image directly matches the 01-General Journeyman Electrician exam-preparation topic and uses the 2020 NEC edition currently identified by PSI for exam code questions.
• Washington 01-General Journey Level Electrician
• Washington L&I certification process
• PSI-administered examination
• 60-question NEC & Theory section
• 17-question Washington Codes section
• 70% passing standard
• Open-book testing
• Current PSI 2020 NEC basis
• RCW 19.28 and WAC 296-46B
• Wiring methods, grounding, overcurrent, services, and theory
• Washington-specific code and licensing preparation
Washington 01 success takes more than owning a code book. Know how the NEC is organized, know the state rules, and practice both sections until the references feel familiar enough to stop fighting back.
Washington 01 Certification
Current Qualification Path
01 Exam Basics
Exam Topics
Code Editions and Open-Book Rules
Renewal and Career Progression
1 Exam Prep
This 1 Exam Prep electrical video is embedded from the Washington Journeyman Electrician product page. Use it to reinforce code-navigation habits, open-book testing strategy, electrical study organization, and Washington-specific preparation.
Washington Journeyman study tip: use the video for strategy, then practice NEC & Theory and WA Codes as separate exam sections. Your code-navigation speed and your Washington-law familiarity both need to survive the clock.
Combine current Washington L&I and PSI information with 1 Exam Prep study guides, NEC products, practice exams, calculation resources, Washington licensing guidance, and code-cycle study options.
Final verification rule: use the newest PSI bulletin for exam sections, question counts, time, passing standards, reference rules, and the NEC edition used to write exam questions. Use Washington L&I, RCW 19.28, and WAC 296-46B for eligibility, apprenticeship, certification scope, renewal, continuing education, and current field-code requirements.
Build faster NEC navigation, stronger Washington law and rule knowledge, better electrical theory, confidence with wiring methods, overcurrent protection, grounding, services, motors, special occupancies, special equipment, communications, and the full certification path for the Washington 01-General Journey Level Electrician credential.
Questions? Call 877-775-9400
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Washington Journeyman Electrician Exam Prep