Virginia Electrician License Reciprocity
By License Tier — Journeyman and Master are genuinely different
Last researched August 25, 2026
Virginia treats these two license tiers differently — read each section below carefully.
The reciprocity rules for Journeyman and Master electricians are separately sourced and may cover different qualifying states. See each section below for the full, separately-sourced details.
Journeyman Electrician
Reciprocity Available
Reciprocity RulesVirginia has real, named bilateral reciprocal examination agreements for the Journeyman Electrician license with exactly two states: Kentucky (Journeyman Electrician <-> VA Journeyman) and West Virginia (Journeyman <-> VA Journeyman). Maryland's agreement is Master-only and does NOT cover Journeyman — a Maryland Journeyman certificate does not qualify under this reciprocal agreement. A separate Universal License Recognition (ULR) pathway may independently apply to applicants from other states — see universalLicenseRecognitionStatus.
Source: Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors ↗Licensing BoardVirginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors
Source: Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors ↗Exam RequirementEven reciprocal applicants must still sit for the Virginia-specific exam section (state law and building code amendments) — only the national portion of the exam is waived.
Source: Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors ↗Experience RequirementNot yet confirmed
Application FeeNot yet confirmed
Processing TimeNot yet confirmed
Universal License Recognitiontrue
Source: Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors ↗Master Electrician
Reciprocity Available
Reciprocity RulesVirginia has real, named bilateral reciprocal examination agreements for the Master Electrician license with exactly three states: Kentucky (Master <-> VA Master), Maryland (Master Electrical Tradesman <-> VA Master — Master-only, this agreement does not cover Journeyman), and West Virginia (Master <-> VA Master). A separate Universal License Recognition (ULR) pathway may independently apply to applicants from other states — see universalLicenseRecognitionStatus.
Source: Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors ↗Licensing BoardVirginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors
Source: Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors ↗Exam RequirementEven reciprocal applicants must still sit for the Virginia-specific exam section (state law and building code amendments) — only the national portion of the exam is waived.
Source: Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors ↗Experience RequirementNot yet confirmed
Application FeeNot yet confirmed
Processing TimeNot yet confirmed
Universal License Recognitiontrue
Source: Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors ↗