Idaho Electrical Licensing Statutes and Rules
Who regulates electrical work in Idaho
Electrical licensing in Idaho is governed by state statute (Idaho Code Title 54, Chapter 10) and by rules administered through the Idaho Division of Building Safety with an electrical board providing industry oversight. Because the requirements are set by statute and rule rather than by city ordinance, the same license categories apply statewide, although local jurisdictions may contract for inspection services. Always confirm the currently adopted edition of the NEC and the specific hour and continuing-education numbers in the board's current rules, because those change by rulemaking.
License categories
Idaho issues licenses at several levels: apprentice, journeyman, master, and electrical contractor. An apprentice must be registered in an approved apprenticeship program and may work only under supervision. A journeyman may perform electrical work unsupervised within the scope of the license. A master demonstrates additional experience and is the qualifying individual for contractor licensure. A contractor license is required to bid, offer to perform, or contract for electrical work - a journeyman working directly for a property owner is not a substitute for a licensed contractor on a project that requires one.
Compliance points that appear in questions
- Permits and inspections are required before work is concealed.
- Working outside the scope of a license, or allowing an unlicensed person to perform regulated work, is a violation subject to civil penalty.
- Licenses are renewed on a set cycle with continuing education; lapsed licenses may require reinstatement.
- Advertising and contracting must identify the licensed contractor accurately.
Rule of thumb
When a question asks who may legally do the work, answer in this order: is a contractor license required for the project, is the individual licensed at the right level, and is the work permitted and inspected? Missing any one of the three is a violation even if the installation is Code-compliant.