Plain answers to the questions we hear most — with links to the official Washington L&I pages.
Those 24 hours must include:
Two limits to know: no more than 4 hours of credit is allowed for behavioral health and wellness training, and you cannot get credit for the same class twice in one 3-year renewal cycle. The same 24-hour requirement applies to electricians, master electricians, and electrical administrators.
Source: L&I — Basic Classroom Instruction & Continuing Education
BCI courses must be taught in person — instructor and students physically in the classroom — and cover the NEC, electrical theory, or Washington electrical laws and rules. Note: not every GPSEW class is approved for trainees; the class schedule marks which ones count.
Sources: L&I — BCI & Continuing Education • L&I — Electrical Trainee
Use L&I's lookup tool — it shows your certificate status and the education credits posted to your record:
Course providers have 7 days after a class to post your credit, so a class you just finished may take a few days to appear.
GPSEW's classes are L&I-approved and held in Kent, Everett, and Silverdale:
L&I also publishes statewide lists of every approved CE and BCI course on its education page.
CEU and Basic Trainee classes are FREE for IBEW members and Associate Members. Open to the public too — non-member tuition is listed on the schedule. Joining as an Associate Member is $75.00/year and includes free continuing education and Basic Trainee classes. Starting fall quarter 2026, AHA First Aid and OSHA 10 classes are offered to Associate Members at a $60 member rate (still free for IBEW members) — about half the private going rate for First Aid and a fraction of in-person OSHA 10 pricing:
It is free for IBEW Local 46 members and $60 for Associate Members; non-member tuition is listed on the schedule. You must attend both full days to receive your card.
Sources: L&I — Electrical Examination • PSI — Washington L&I Candidate Information
Oregon approves continuing education courses for one code cycle at a time. Oregon's new cycle started on October 1, 2026, and GPSEW classes are not yet approved for Oregon credit under it. We'll post here when Oregon credit is available again. Washington L&I credit is not affected.
To check the Oregon hours already on your record, use Oregon BCD's continuing education page.
Sources: Oregon BCD — 2026 Oregon Electrical Specialty Code • OAR 918-035-0020 (course approval term)
L&I announces many of them in its monthly Electrical Currents newsletter. We keep a plain-language summary of each issue, including the Dec 31, 2026 switch to the 2026 NEC:
Electrical Currents, the short version
Two policies apply to everyone attending GPSEW classes, effective summer quarter 2026:
Full details:
Attendance Policy (PDF) Illness Policy (PDF)
Email us at classes@ibew46.com — or for licensing questions, contact the L&I Electrical Program directly at 360-902-5269 or ElectricalProgram@Lni.wa.gov.
Requirements above come from Washington L&I and PSI, the state's testing vendor — always confirm current rules at the links provided. Last reviewed: October 2026.