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Massachusetts electrical license renewal
Massachusetts electrical licenses renew every 3 years. Master (Class A) and journeyman (Class B) electricians need 21 hours of continuing education every 3 years, and the renewal fee is $78 to $117 depending on the license.
- 1Renewal cycle 3 years
- 2CE hours 21 h per 3 years
- 3Renewal fee $78 to $117
- 4Late fee not printed
When Massachusetts electrical licenses renew
Licenses run on a three-year cycle that ends on July 31: 237 CMR 12.01 defines the License Renewal Year as "July 31st every third year, commencing July 31, 1989". Renewal opens in eLIPSE 90 days before the July 31 expiration date. Renewals are filed online in eLIPSE; incomplete applications are held open for 180 days and then treated as abandoned.
Continuing education hours
The Massachusetts source sets 2 different CE rules depending on the license held. The "per year" column divides the hours by the length of the CE period so states with different cycles can be compared.
| License holders | Hours | Period | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master (Class A) and journeyman (Class B) electricians | 21 | every 3 years | 7 |
| Systems contractors (Class C) and systems technicians (Class D) | 21 | every 3 years | 7 |
Master (Class A) and journeyman (Class B) electricians. 15 hours on 527 CMR 12.00 (the Massachusetts Electrical Code) and related law and business topics from a Board-approved provider, plus 6 hours of professional development the licensee chooses (Electrical Code, business, law, first aid, safety, Building Code and related topics), which need not come from an approved provider.
Systems contractors (Class C) and systems technicians (Class D). The same 15 plus 6 split; the 15 approved hours focus on the applicable chapters of 527 CMR 12.00 and the adopted edition of NFPA 72.
Renewal fees
| License | Renewal fee |
|---|---|
| Journeyman and systems technician renewal | $78 |
| Master electrician and systems contractor renewal | $117 |
The renewal page prints no late fee. A license that lapses is reinstated through a separate reinstatement application in eLIPSE.
Exemptions and conditions
- A journeyman or systems technician license issued in the 90 days before the renewal date is exempt from CE for that cycle (237 CMR 17.01(2)(c)).
- A licensee who has not completed the hours is not eligible to renew (237 CMR 17.01(3)).
How Massachusetts compares
Counted per year, the heaviest CE load on this Massachusetts page is 7 hours. Of the 7 renewal rules this site has read, that ranks 1 of 7 from most to fewest hours a year (MA electrical 7 h a year; CT plumbing 2.5 h a year). Comparing hours a year is rough: a state with a longer cycle lets the hours be taken in one block, and several states set lower figures for limited or apprentice licenses, as the table above shows.
All renewal rules read so far: trade license renewal by state.
Getting the Massachusetts license in the first place
Renewal keeps an existing license current; it does not replace the initial requirements. For a first license: Master Electrician: 5 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam. The Massachusetts electrical license requirements page lists every level, the experience hours, the exam and the fees from the Massachusetts board. The lettered classes are explained on a page of their own.
Questions
How many CE hours does a Massachusetts electrical license renewal need?
Master (Class A) and journeyman (Class B) electricians: 21 hours every 3 years. Systems contractors (Class C) and systems technicians (Class D): 21 hours every 3 years. 15 hours on 527 CMR 12.00 (the Massachusetts Electrical Code) and related law and business topics from a Board-approved provider, plus 6 hours of professional development the licensee chooses (Electrical Code, business, law, first aid, safety, Building Code and related topics), which need not come from an approved provider.
How often do Massachusetts electrical licenses renew?
Licenses run on a three-year cycle that ends on July 31: 237 CMR 12.01 defines the License Renewal Year as "July 31st every third year, commencing July 31, 1989". Renewal opens in eLIPSE 90 days before the July 31 expiration date.
What does it cost to renew a Massachusetts electrical license?
Journeyman and systems technician renewal $78; Master electrician and systems contractor renewal $117. The renewal page prints no late fee. A license that lapses is reinstated through a separate reinstatement application in eLIPSE.
Who is exempt from Massachusetts electrical CE?
A journeyman or systems technician license issued in the 90 days before the renewal date is exempt from CE for that cycle (237 CMR 17.01(2)(c)). A licensee who has not completed the hours is not eligible to renew (237 CMR 17.01(3)).
Sources and last checked
| What | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Renewal fees, eLIPSE window, 180-day rule | Mass.gov, Renew your electrician, systems technician, or systems contractor license | 2026-10-25 |
| 21 hours in the three years before renewal | Mass.gov, Continuing education providers for electricians (last updated September 16, 2026) | 2026-10-25 |
| 15 plus 6 hour split, course focus by class, new-license exemption | 237 CMR 17.00, Continuing education (Mass.gov PDF) | 2026-10-25 |
| License Renewal Year: July 31 every third year | 237 CMR 12.00, Definitions (Mass.gov) | 2026-10-25 |
This page summarises what the Massachusetts sources said on 2026-10-25. Renewal fees, deadlines and CE rules change; verify with the board (Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Electricians (Division of Occupational Licensure)) before renewing. General information, not legal advice.