Journeyman and master electrician license and test requirements in West Virginia — what the state requires, who gives the exam, which NEC edition it is written on, the fees, and how to sign up. Free — no account needed.
Meet one path: 8,000 hours / 4 years of above-ground electrical work experience, OR a U.S. DOL-approved apprenticeship, OR 1,080+ hours of a WV Dept. of Education-approved vocational course. Pass the Journeyman exam (about 42 multiple-choice questions plus 4 calculations; 80% to pass).
Requires 10,000 hours / 5 years of above-ground electrical work across residential, commercial, and industrial. Pass the Master exam (about 50 multiple-choice questions plus 6 calculations, including complex service/load calculations; 80% to pass).
Kevin's Electrical Prep Course is built by a licensed master electrician, instructor and electrical inspector: 630+ practice questions with every math problem worked out step by step, timed practice exams, video lessons and drive-along audio. Both code books included — NEC 2023 and NEC 2026. So you study the edition West Virginia actually tests on — the NEC 2023. $200 for 6 months, and a pass guarantee.
See the course & take 15 free sample questions → Get 6-month access — $200West Virginia uses PSI as its testing provider. Licensing is handled by Office of the West Virginia State Fire Marshal - Regulatory and Licensing Division.
2023 NEC (all WV electrical exams reference the 2023 NEC effective Jan 1, 2026)
Journeyman (PSI): ~42 multiple-choice + 4 calculations, 4 hours, open book, 80% to pass. Master (PSI): ~50 multiple-choice + 6 calculations (complex service/load calcs), open book, 80% to pass. NEC 2023 as of Jan 1, 2026. Note the high 80% threshold.
$47.50 (PSI) trade exam; $25 nonrefundable exam fee filed with application (most exam types) · License/app: Journeyman license $115; Master license $150
Meet one path: 8,000 hours / 4 years of above-ground electrical work experience, OR a U.S. DOL-approved apprenticeship, OR 1,080+ hours of a WV Dept. of Education-approved vocational course. Pass the Journeyman exam (about 42 multiple-choice questions plus 4 calculations; 80% to pass).
Requires 10,000 hours / 5 years of above-ground electrical work across residential, commercial, and industrial. Pass the Master exam (about 50 multiple-choice questions plus 6 calculations, including complex service/load calculations; 80% to pass).
Journeyman: Meet one path: 8,000 hours / 4 years of above-ground electrical work experience, OR a U.S. DOL-approved apprenticeship, OR 1,080+ hours of a WV Dept. of Education-approved vocational course. Pass the Journeyman exam (about 42 multiple-choice questions plus 4 calculations; 80% to pass). Master: Requires 10,000 hours / 5 years of above-ground electrical work across residential, commercial, and industrial. Pass the Master exam (about 50 multiple-choice questions plus 6 calculations, including complex service/load calculations; 80% to pass).
Bilateral reciprocity for active journeyman/master electricians in good standing with Virginia (DPOR), Kentucky, and Ohio; contractor reciprocity limited to Ohio. Submit the reciprocity application plus fee to the State Fire Marshal. link
Statewide through the State Fire Marshal's Office (Charleston). Applications/renewals submitted via the online license portal (sfm-permit-public.wvoasis.gov). PSI has administered WV licensing exams since Nov 1, 2022 (schedule via PSI, 855-539-0708). Higher 80% passing threshold than most states. As of Jan 1, 2026 exams based on NEC 2023.
Everything above is kept current, but West Virginia can change a fee, a form or an exam provider at any time — and the state's own site is always the live answer. Before you register, click through and confirm:
These open West Virginia's official pages in a new tab. Nothing on this site replaces what your state board publishes.