Great News for Oregon and Washington IBEW Members: Reciprocity is Back!

State of Oregon and State of Washington Reciprocity

As many of you know, Oregon and Washington have been working together for the last several years to reinstate reciprocity between our two states. Today, we are happy to announce all of that hard work has paid off and reciprocity is once again available for Oregon and Washington journey-level electricians!

Our business manager Garth Bachman encourages members to take advantage of this new reciprocity.

“It's actually a really big deal that has been worked on for years and is going to be good for Oregon and Washington workers. It removes the hurdle of getting dual tested by the other state. It provides more work opportunities so I would absolutely do it!”

The Oregon Building Codes Division and the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) signed a reciprocal agreement that allows general journey-level electricians who have obtained a license in one state to apply for a license in the other state. The new agreement went into effect on August 17, 2020.

What Reciprocity Means for IBEW Local 48 Members

This change is important because it removes a big hurdle for Oregon and Washington workers, mainly, the requirement for workers to get dual tested. From now on, if you choose to work in Oregon or Washington, all you will need to do is complete a short application and pay the reciprocating state’s fees.

This is a big win and an excellent opportunity for electrical workers in Oregon and Washington, providing more work opportunities with a lot less hassle. We highly recommend taking advantage of it!
Please find below the contact info for Cheri Alamani and Graham Roney with BCD, they are the point persons for questions regarding Oregon/Washington Reciprocity.

Cheri Alamani #503-378-4162

Graham Roney #503-378-5324

How to Get Started

For more information about the new Oregon / Washington agreement, click here.

To learn more about how reciprocity works for IBEW Local 48 members, click here.

Additional info: https://www.ibew48.com/get-involved/current-events/oregonwashington-reci...