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Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Electricians · checked 2026-10-20
Massachusetts Electrician License Requirements
Statewide individual licenses for journeyman and master electricians. Master Electrician: 5 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
- 1J · Journeyman Electrician 4 years
- 2M · Master Electrician 5 years
License levels in Massachusetts
The Massachusetts path has 2 steps on this page: Journeyman Electrician and Master Electrician. The source counts experience in hours and classroom instruction separately; the "time from start" column turns those hours into full-time years at 2,000 hours a year.
| Level | Experience | Classroom | Time from start | Exam | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J Journeyman Electrician | 8,000 hours | 600 h | 4 years | Yes (PSI) | Application $31; License $104; Exam (PSI) $135 |
| M Master Electrician | 1 year at the prior level | 150 h | 5 years | Yes (PSI) | Application $66; License $155; Exam (PSI) $135 |
Journeyman Electrician (J)
600 hours of Board-approved education and 8,000 hours of work over at least four years under a licensed Massachusetts journeyman. Source: Mass.gov, Apply for an individual electrical or systems license.
Master Electrician (M)
A Massachusetts journeyman license, at least one year of work experience and 150 hours of Board-approved education. Source: Mass.gov, Apply for an individual electrical or systems license.
Exam
2 of the 2 levels listed here require an exam: Journeyman Electrician and Master Electrician. The source does not print a pass mark. Testing vendor named: PSI. The PSI exam fee is $135 in total: $80 for the trade portion and $55 for the business and practical portion. Re-examination costs the same, split by the portion retaken.
Fees
- Journeyman Electrician: application $31, license $104, exam (psi) $135 ($270 together).
- Master Electrician: application $66, license $155, exam (psi) $135 ($356 together).
Reciprocity
The Massachusetts source names 1 partner state for electrician licenses: New Hampshire. Mass.gov: "Massachusetts has a reciprocity agreement with New Hampshire." Terms are in 237 CMR 15. Source: Mass.gov, Apply for an individual electrical or systems license.
Seen from the other side: New Hampshire lists Massachusetts among its partners on its own board page (New Hampshire). Each state applies its own conditions, so read both pages.
How Massachusetts compares
Among the 10 states on this site that state a minimum time to the top electrician credential, Massachusetts ranks 5 of 10 from shortest (4 years) to longest (6 years). Ohio sets the same 5 years. The classroom requirement here peaks at 600 hours.
Same trade elsewhere: Connecticut · New Hampshire · Maine · Vermont · Rhode Island. All states side by side: Electrician license requirements by state.
Other trades in Massachusetts
- Plumber: Master Plumber: 5 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
- HVAC: Refrigeration Technician: 3 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
- General contractor: Unrestricted Construction Supervisor: 3 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
All covered trades on one page: Massachusetts trade licenses.
Background reading: From apprentice to master: how long each state takes · Trade license reciprocity between states.
Questions
Who issues the electrician license in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Electricians (Division of Occupational Licensure). Statewide individual licenses for journeyman and master electricians.
How long does it take to qualify for the Master Electrician in Massachusetts?
5 years by this site's count. A Massachusetts journeyman license, at least one year of work experience and 150 hours of Board-approved education.
Does Massachusetts have electrician license reciprocity?
Yes, with New Hampshire. Mass.gov: "Massachusetts has a reciprocity agreement with New Hampshire." Terms are in 237 CMR 15.
What are the Massachusetts electrician license fees?
Journeyman Electrician: application $31, license $104, exam (psi) $135. Master Electrician: application $66, license $155, exam (psi) $135.
Sources and last checked
| What | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Issuing authority | Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Electricians (Division of Occupational Licensure) | 2026-10-20 |
| J requirements | Mass.gov, Apply for an individual electrical or systems license | 2026-10-20 |
| M requirements | Mass.gov, Apply for an individual electrical or systems license | 2026-10-20 |
| Law cited | 237 CMR 13 (eligibility) and 237 CMR 15 (licensure without examination) | 2026-10-20 |
This page summarises what the Massachusetts source said on 2026-10-20. It is general information, not legal advice; the board's own page and the statute are the authority and can change. Confirm with Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Electricians before applying. The free official route is the board itself: its page, application forms and staff answer eligibility questions.