License path
Idaho contractor exam prep
Idaho contractors are licensed by the Idaho DOPL — State Electrical Board. Most classifications sit a trade paper plus Law & Business. Need only the business paper? It is sold standalone. If you buy a Idaho classification that sits that exam, that paper is half off where we offer it.
Confirm question count, time, open-book rules, and passing score on the live board bulletin before you sit. We do not publish a single Q-count for every classification on this page, and we do not guarantee a passing result.
Getting your Idaho contractor license? Contractor Pathway offers an original, exam-focused study guide and four full-length practice exams for every Idaho classification that requires a state board exam — currently 6 courses across Electrical, Plumbing and HVAC / Mechanical. Choose your classification below and study with 30-, 60-, or 90-day access at $99, $129, and $169.
Who licenses contractors in Idaho
These are the Idaho classifications we build exam prep for, each licensed by its responsible board:
| Trade area | Licensing authority | Exam basis |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical | Idaho Division of Building Safety | National Electrical Code (NEC) |
| Plumbing | Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses | Adopted plumbing & fuel-gas codes |
| HVAC / Mechanical | Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses | Mechanical & fuel-gas codes, EPA 608 |
Always confirm the current code edition, experience requirements, fees, and passing score with the board and testing vendor before you schedule. Contractor Pathway is an independent exam-prep provider and is not affiliated with any Idaho board or testing vendor.
How to get licensed in Idaho
Idaho licenses the electrical, plumbing and HVAC trades through the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) and its trade boards. The electrical requirements below are set in the Rules of the Idaho Electrical Board, IDAPA 24.39.10.
- Journeyman electrician: two routes, and one is defined in statute. Idaho Code 54-1007(4) is explicit: a person who demonstrates eight years of work experience — a minimum of 16,000 hours making electrical installations on the job qualifies to apply for the journeyman licence. The alternative, under 54-1007(2), is to sit the examination as a registered apprentice who has completed the related instruction approved by the Idaho State Board for Career Technical Education and worked the number of hours prescribed by the Idaho Electrical Board — that hour figure is set by Board rule, so confirm the current number with the Board before you count on it.
- Master electrician: four years as a journeyman. An applicant for the master licence must hold at least four years’ experience as a licensed journeyman before sitting the exam.
- Sit the exam on the adopted code. Idaho’s electrical examinations are built on the National Electrical Code edition Idaho has adopted, and are open book. The HVAC and plumbing boards publish their own exam bulletins with the question counts, time limits and permitted references for each licence.
- Renew with continuing education on a three-year cycle. Journeymen and master electricians complete at least 24 hours of continuing education in every three-year period between renewals: 8 hours of code update covering changes to the National Electrical Code, and the remaining 16 hours in any combination of code-update, code-related or industry-related training.
Source: Idaho Electrical Board and the Rules of the Idaho Electrical Board (IDAPA 24.39.10); exam specifics from the Board’s published program information and exam bulletins. Also: Idaho Code 54-1007. Contractor Pathway is an independent exam-preparation provider and is not affiliated with DOPL.
Choose your Idaho classification
Each course includes a comprehensive study guide — often 10,000 words or more — worked calculations, code-section breakdowns, common exam traps, a glossary, and a 30/60/90-day study plan — plus four full-length practice exams matched to the topic weightings of the Idaho test.
Idaho contractor licensing — FAQ
Does Idaho require a contractor exam?
It depends on the trade. Idaho uses a split system: general contractors, remodelers, and roofers simply REGISTER with the Idaho Contractors Board (no exam) for projects over $2,000, while the specialty trades must pass exams.
What does Idaho general-contractor registration require?
Proof of $300,000 in general liability insurance and a small registration fee (around $50) – and no trade exam – for any construction work exceeding $2,000 in labor and materials.
Which Idaho licenses require passing an exam?
The specialty trades – electrician, plumber, and HVAC – are licensed through the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) and do require passing exams.
Which Idaho licenses do you build courses for?
The exam-based specialty trades (electrical, plumbing, HVAC). If you only need general-contractor registration, you may not need an exam at all – confirm with the Idaho Contractors Board / DOPL.
How long should I study for the Idaho exam?
Most candidates do well on a 30-, 60-, or 90-day plan depending on experience, which is why we offer access at all three terms ($99 / $129 / $169). Each guide includes a day-by-day study plan.