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You put in a lot of work to become a licensed electrician in Virginia, including meeting requirements for hours of vocational training and /or years of experience before passing a rigorous state exam. Now that you’re working as a journeyman or master electrician, you’re in the clear, right?

Not completely. The state of Virginia requires many licensed professionals, including electricians, to regularly accrue continuing education hours and renew their licenses. This ensures that you stay up to date with changing codes so you can provide the best service for your customers.

What are the requirements, and how can you find a reliable program for continuing education?

Requirements to Renew Your Electrical License

Licenses and renewals are issued by the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulations (DPOR), although the Board of Contractors has been tasked with regulating renewals. There are a few things you should know about in order to facilitate the renewal process.

First, you are required to renew your license every three years, and you must complete three hours of continuing education to do so. Any course you take must be approved by the DPOR, and it has to cover changes to the National Electric Code (NEC).

It is imperative that you know the deadline for renewal and that you complete your education and submit related fees prior to your current license expiring. Fees and proof of continuing education must be received by the due date — the postmark date doesn’t count.

Submitting payment online will eliminate this potential snafu, and you can either log in to your existing account or choose the quick pay option. Failure to meet your license renewal deadline will result in additional late fees, and you won’t legally be allowed to practice once your license expires.

The Board of Contractors does allow a 30-day grace period, but there will still be a reinstatement fee. If you miss the reinstatement deadline, you will have to reapply for a license, including meeting all associated requirements.

What to Look for in a Renewal Program

The most important requirement for any continuing education program for license renewal is that it is approved by the DPOR. You’ll want to look for courses designed to accommodate working professionals. The course should include the convenience of self-paced, online learning that you can access at any time on a range of devices.

It helps if the course is designed by industry experts and educators, delivering exactly what you need to succeed. Lifetime access is a nice bonus that allows you to refer back to course materials for reference or a refresher.

For license renewal, you’ll also want to make sure you choose a program that supplies an instant certificate of completion for your records and submits immediate notification to the state on your behalf, ensuring speedy renewal.

Are you ready to get your Virginia electrical license renewal underway? RocketCert is the ultimate resource for maintaining your professional license. Contact us now to learn more about the renewal process and what we can do for you.