State license

Iowa Journeyman Electrician License

Written by a licensed IBEW journeyman electrician

Last updated: October 24, 2026

Iowa licenses Class A journeyman electricians at the state level. The Electrical Examining Board, part of DIAL, issues the license after you pass a PSI exam with 70% correct. The standard route is a registered apprenticeship, a passing exam score, and 4 years of experience as an apprentice electrician. The license fee is $75 for a 3-year term.

The facts, from the source

Who licenses: Iowa Electrical Examining Board, Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing (DIAL) (dial.iowa.gov)
Exam vendor: PSI (test-takers.psiexams.com)
Exam (questions/time): 80 scored items plus 8 non-scored items (88 total). 180 minutes for the 80 scored items plus 30 minutes for the 8 non-scored items. Single exam, computer-based. (test-takers.psiexams.com)
Open book / references: Open book. Allowed: NFPA 70 NEC 2023 edition or NFPA 70 NEC Handbook 2023. It must be bound (spiral, or hole-punched in a binder). Permanent tabs only (no Post-its). Highlighting, underlining and indexing are allowed before the exam; no writing during it. Not allowed: Ugly's Electrical References. An online calculator is provided; you may bring a non-programmable silent calculator. (test-takers.psiexams.com)
Passing score: 70% correct (test-takers.psiexams.com)
NEC edition: 2023 NEC with Iowa amendments (481 IAC 404.3(103)) (legis.iowa.gov)
Experience required: Class A journeyman (481 IAC 401.2(6)): complete a registered apprenticeship program, pass the exam (70 or higher) within 24 months of applying, and have 4 years of experience as an apprentice electrician. Other routes: a current Class B holder who passes the exam; an out-of-state licensed journeyman or master (plus 18 hours of continuing education and 1,000 hours in Iowa as an unclassified person); 16,000 hours of electrical work while Iowa-licensed (with minimum category hours, 4,000 within the last 5 years, and 54 hours of continuing education); a residential electrician plus 4,000 commercial or industrial hours; or an approved postsecondary electrical program plus 6,000 hours of work while licensed. (legis.iowa.gov)
Fees: Journeyman Class A or B license $75 for a 3-year term (481 IAC 401.3), not due until after you pass. No separate application fee is stated. Apprentice or unclassified license $20 per year. (legis.iowa.gov)
Reciprocity: DIAL lists reciprocal agreements with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Requirements: you passed a state-sponsored exam with 70% or higher, held the license 1 year (not expired, suspended or revoked), have not previously failed the Iowa exam, and meet other Iowa requirements (481 IAC 401.2(14)). (legis.iowa.gov)

What’s on the exam

Content percent: General Electrical Knowledge 13; Wiring and Protection 25; Wiring Methods and Materials 19; Equipment for General Use 19; Special Occupancies 13; Special Equipment 6; Special Conditions 6. The bulletin notes the total may not equal 100 because of rounding.

Confirm these with the board

Exam fee: confirm with PSI when you schedule

Iowa Electrical Examining Board, Dept. of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing (DIAL) ↗

Checked twice against the board and exam bulletin, October 24, 2026

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Facts on this page trace to primary sources or first-hand IBEW Local 134 experience — see sources & methodology.