Electrician license
Maine electrician license
The Maine Electricians' Examining Board, part of the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation, examines and licenses electricians statewide: master, journeyman, limited, journeyman-in-training, apprentice and helper electricians. It also issues electrical permits. The licenses are Apprentice Electrician, Helper Electrician, Journeyman Electrician, Master Electrician and Limited Electrician, House Wiring. Each is below with its hours, exam, fees and official source, followed by how to apply, renewal, reciprocity and the official license lookup.
Licenses at a glance
| License | Experience | Exam | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice Electrician | Not set in hours | No exam | $25 license fee plus a $21 criminal background check fee; renewal is $25 every two years |
| Helper Electrician | Not set in hours | No exam | $25 license fee plus a $21 criminal background check; renewal is $25 every two years |
| Journeyman Electrician | 8,000 hours | 80 questions, 2026 NEC | $150 license fee plus a $21 SBI background report fee; renewal is $150 every two years |
| Master Electrician | 12,000 hours | 100 questions, 2026 NEC | $150 license fee plus a $21 SBI background report fee; renewal is $150 every two years |
| Limited Electrician, House Wiring | 4,000 hours | 50 questions | $150 license fee plus a $21 SBI background report fee; renewal is $150 every two years |
How to get each Maine license
Apprentice Electrician
Requirements. You must be enrolled in a registered apprenticeship program (U.S. Department of Labor or a recognized state apprenticeship agency) and send a copy of your apprenticeship agreement with the application. Apprentices work under the direct supervision of a master, journeyman or limited electrician.
Exam. No exam for this license.
Fees. $25 license fee plus a $21 criminal background check fee; renewal is $25 every two years.
Sources: Maine Revised Statutes Title 32, Chapter 17: Electricians (current through October 1, 2026); Electricians' Examining Board: Apprentice Electrician.
Helper Electrician
Requirements. No exam or schooling is needed to get the license. A helper must be employed by a master electrician, limited electrician or electrical company and work under the direct supervision of a master, journeyman or limited electrician.
Exam. No exam for this license.
Fees. $25 license fee plus a $21 criminal background check; renewal is $25 every two years.
Sources: Electricians' Examining Board: Helper Electrician; Maine Revised Statutes Title 32, Chapter 17: Electricians (current through October 1, 2026).
Journeyman Electrician
Requirements. The main route is 8,000 work hours as a licensed apprentice plus a 576-hour course of study (an approved apprenticeship program counts); apprentices may take the exam after 4,000 hours. Helpers need 8,000 hours plus the 576-hour course, and there are routes for career and technical education, community college and corrections programs. Before the license is issued you also need a 45-hour National Electrical Code course taken within the last 2 years.
Experience. 8,000 hours.
Exam. Required.
| Testing company | Prov |
|---|---|
| Code edition | 2026 NEC |
| Questions | 80 questions |
| Time | 180 minutes (3 hours) |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Code book | Open book: bring the 2026 NEC. The American Electrician's Handbook, Maine Laws and Rules and Mike Holt's electrical theory textbook are also permitted. |
| Exam fee | $90, paid to Prov when you register |
| Official bulletin | Prov candidate information bulletin, Maine Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (ME CIB 2026.11.09, effective October 31, 2026) |
Fees. $150 license fee plus a $21 SBI background report fee; renewal is $150 every two years.
The exam covers ten areas, with the most questions on Wiring and Protection (16), Wiring Methods and Materials (12), Equipment for General Use (12), Motors and Controls (11) and General Electrical Theory (10).
Preparing for the Maine journeyman exam. The Maine journeyman electrician exam guide covers the format, the code book and the outline, and the free Maine practice test scores you by subject with no account. The full course is $149, one payment, six months of access.
Sources: Maine Revised Statutes Title 32, Chapter 17: Electricians (current through October 1, 2026); Electricians' Examining Board: Journeyman Electrician; Electricians' Examining Board: Examinations; Prov candidate information bulletin, Maine OPOR (ME CIB 2026.11.09, effective October 31, 2026).
Master Electrician
Requirements. Either 4,000 work hours as a licensed journeyman, 6,000 hours as a journeyman-in-training, or 12,000 hours as a licensed helper or apprentice, plus the 576-hour course of study in each case. You also need a 45-hour National Electrical Code course within 2 years before you apply for the license.
Experience. 12,000 hours.
Exam. Required.
| Testing company | Prov |
|---|---|
| Code edition | 2026 NEC |
| Questions | 100 questions |
| Time | 240 minutes (4 hours) |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Code book | Open book: bring the 2026 NEC. |
| Exam fee | $90, paid to Prov |
| Official bulletin | Prov candidate information bulletin, Maine Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (ME CIB 2026.11.09, effective October 31, 2026) |
Fees. $150 license fee plus a $21 SBI background report fee; renewal is $150 every two years.
Sources: Maine Revised Statutes Title 32, Chapter 17: Electricians (current through October 1, 2026); Electricians' Examining Board: Master Electrician; Electricians' Examining Board: Examinations; Prov candidate information bulletin, Maine OPOR (ME CIB 2026.11.09, effective October 31, 2026).
Limited Electrician, House Wiring
Requirements. 225 hours of electrical education and 4,000 hours of work experience. The license covers one-family and two-family dwellings, including manufactured homes. Maine also issues limited licenses for low energy, outdoor signs, refrigeration, traffic signals, water pumps, gasoline dispensing and cranes.
Experience. 4,000 hours.
Exam. Required.
| Testing company | Prov |
|---|---|
| Code edition | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Questions | 50 questions |
| Time | 180 minutes (3 hours) |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Code book | Open book. |
| Exam fee | $65, paid to Prov |
| Official bulletin | Prov candidate information bulletin, Maine Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (ME CIB 2026.11.09, effective October 31, 2026) |
Fees. $150 license fee plus a $21 SBI background report fee; renewal is $150 every two years.
Sources: Maine Revised Statutes Title 32, Chapter 17: Electricians (current through October 1, 2026); Electricians' Examining Board: Limited Electrician; Prov candidate information bulletin, Maine OPOR (ME CIB 2026.11.09, effective October 31, 2026); Electricians' Examining Board: Examinations.
How to apply
Send an examination application to the Electricians' Examining Board online. Once the Board approves it you get an email with an exam approval notice explaining how to schedule with Prov; a score from an exam taken without Board approval is void. Apply on the official site.
Source: Electricians' Examining Board: Examinations.
Renewal and continuing education
| Renewal | Every two years, counted from the date you were first licensed. |
|---|---|
| Continuing education | Journeyman, master and limited electricians complete a 15-hour course on the current National Electrical Code, as adopted by the Board, for each renewal. |
Sources: Electricians' Examining Board: Journeyman Electrician; Electricians' Examining Board: Limited Electrician.
Reciprocity with other states
Journeyman licenses by agreement with New Hampshire, Vermont, North Dakota, Idaho, Oregon and Wyoming; master licenses with New Hampshire and Vermont. You must have passed that state's written exam and worked as an electrician for at least six years.
Sources: Electricians' Examining Board: Journeyman Electrician; Electricians' Examining Board: Master Electrician.
Look up a Maine electrician license
To check that an electrician or contractor is licensed, use the official Electricians' Examining Board online licensing portal (license verification).
Good to know
Maine adopted the 2026 NEC for electrical installations begun on or after July 1, 2026, and the journeyman and master exams now reference the 2026 NEC.
Maine has no separate electrical contractor license in the Board's list of licenses; a master electrician is the license for running an electrical business.
The statute also allows the Board to issue any of its licenses by endorsement to people licensed elsewhere, and its reciprocity section requires at least 8,000 hours of licensed work in a state with equivalent standards.
Sources: Maine Electricians' Examining Board home page; Electricians' Examining Board: Master Electrician; Maine Revised Statutes Title 32, Chapter 17: Electricians (current through October 1, 2026).
Common questions
Who issues electrician licenses in Maine?
The Maine Electricians' Examining Board, part of the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation, examines and licenses electricians statewide: master, journeyman, limited, journeyman-in-training, apprentice and helper electricians. It also issues electrical permits.
How do I get a journeyman electrician license in Maine?
Journeyman Electrician: The main route is 8,000 work hours as a licensed apprentice plus a 576-hour course of study (an approved apprenticeship program counts); apprentices may take the exam after 4,000 hours. Helpers need 8,000 hours plus the 576-hour course, and there are routes for career and technical education, community college and corrections programs. Before the license is issued you also need a 45-hour National Electrical Code course taken within the last 2 years. Send an examination application to the Electricians' Examining Board online. Once the Board approves it you get an email with an exam approval notice explaining how to schedule with Prov; a score from an exam taken without Board approval is void.
How many hours do you need to become a journeyman electrician in Maine?
8,000 hours for the Journeyman Electrician.
How many questions are on the Maine journeyman electrician exam?
80 questions in 180 minutes (3 hours), and the passing score is 70%.
Does Maine accept electrician licenses from other states?
Journeyman licenses by agreement with New Hampshire, Vermont, North Dakota, Idaho, Oregon and Wyoming; master licenses with New Hampshire and Vermont. You must have passed that state's written exam and worked as an electrician for at least six years.
How often does a Maine electrician license renew?
Every two years, counted from the date you were first licensed. Continuing education: Journeyman, master and limited electricians complete a 15-hour course on the current National Electrical Code, as adopted by the Board, for each renewal.
How do I look up an electrician license in Maine?
Use the official Electricians' Examining Board online licensing portal (license verification) at https://www.pfr.maine.gov/almsonline/almsquery/welcome.aspx?board=4220
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from Maine's own licensing board, statute or rule, or the testing company the board names. Where a fact could not be confirmed from one of them, the page says to check with the board. Rules and fees change: confirm with the board before you apply.
- Maine Electricians' Examining Board home page, opened November 11, 2026
- Electricians' Examining Board: Journeyman Electrician, opened November 11, 2026
- Electricians' Examining Board: Master Electrician, opened November 11, 2026
- Electricians' Examining Board: Apprentice Electrician, opened November 11, 2026
- Electricians' Examining Board: Helper Electrician, opened November 11, 2026
- Electricians' Examining Board: Limited Electrician, opened November 11, 2026
- Electricians' Examining Board: Examinations, opened November 11, 2026
- Maine Revised Statutes Title 32, Chapter 17: Electricians (current through October 1, 2026), opened November 11, 2026
- Prov candidate information bulletin, Maine OPOR (ME CIB 2026.11.09, effective October 31, 2026), opened November 11, 2026
Electrician license requirements in every state · How to become an electrician · Journeyman electrician license · Master electrician license
Last verified November 11, 2026.