Electrician license
Vermont electrician license
The Electricians' Licensing Board and the Vermont Division of Fire Safety license electricians statewide. With limited exceptions, anyone doing electrical work in Vermont must be licensed, other than work in a residential building with two or fewer dwelling units and communications circuits. The licenses are Registered Apprentice, Journeyman Electrician, Master Electrician and Type-S Journeyman Electrician (specialist). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Apprentice | Not set in hours | Not confirmed: check with the board | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Journeyman Electrician | Not set in hours | 90 questions, 2023 NEC | $115 for a three-year license (initial and renewal) |
| Master Electrician | Not set in hours | 105 questions, 2023 NEC | $150 for a three-year license (initial and renewal) |
| Type-S Journeyman Electrician (specialist) | 2,000 hours | Yes | $115 per field for a three-year license (initial and renewal) |
How to get each Vermont license
Registered Apprentice
Requirements. Vermont apprentices register with the Apprenticeship Division of the State Department of Labor rather than holding a Board license, and work under the supervision of a master or a journeyman.
Exam. Not confirmed: check with the board
Fees. Not confirmed: check with the board
Source: 26 V.S.A. Chapter 15: Electricians and Electrical Installations.
Journeyman Electrician
Requirements. Finish a Vermont apprenticeship in electrical wiring (instruction and on-the-job work), verified by the Vermont Apprenticeship Council, or show equivalent training the Board accepts, then pass the exam. The Board may let you test once the classroom part is done, but the license is issued only after the work-experience part is complete.
Exam. Required.
| Testing company | Prov |
|---|---|
| Code edition | 2023 NEC |
| Questions | 90 questions |
| Time | 240 minutes (4 hours) |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Code book | Open book: the 2023 NEC, Ugly's Electrical References, the 2025 Vermont Electrical Safety Rules and handwritten NEC notes are permitted. |
| Exam fee | $80, paid to Prov |
| Official bulletin | Prov candidate information bulletin, State of Vermont Fire Safety (VT CIB 2026.11.09, effective October 31, 2026) |
Fees. $115 for a three-year license (initial and renewal)
The exam is 90 questions in nine areas, led by Wiring and Protection (30), Wiring Methods and Materials (20) and Equipment for General Use (15), with 5 questions on Vermont amendments. It is offered in English and Spanish.
Preparing for the Vermont journeyman exam. The Vermont journeyman electrician exam guide covers the format, the code book and the outline, and the free Vermont practice test scores you by subject with no account. The full course is $149, one payment, six months of access.
Sources: Vermont Electrical Safety Rules, 2025 Edition (effective 11/05/2025); 26 V.S.A. Chapter 15: Electricians and Electrical Installations; Electricians' License Application and Instructions, Vermont Division of Fire Safety (June 2026); Prov candidate information bulletin, State of Vermont Fire Safety (VT CIB 2026.11.09, effective October 31, 2026).
Master Electrician
Requirements. Hold a Vermont journeyman license and work as a journeyman for at least two years, or have comparable experience and training the Board accepts, then pass the exam.
Exam. Required.
| Testing company | Prov |
|---|---|
| Code edition | 2023 NEC |
| Questions | 105 questions |
| Time | 300 minutes (5 hours) |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Code book | Open book: bring the 2023 NEC. |
| Exam fee | $80, paid to Prov |
| Official bulletin | Prov candidate information bulletin, State of Vermont Fire Safety (VT CIB 2026.11.09, effective October 31, 2026) |
Fees. $150 for a three-year license (initial and renewal)
The master exam also covers the specialty fields licensed as Type-S, such as lightning rods and fire alarms.
Sources: Vermont Electrical Safety Rules, 2025 Edition (effective 11/05/2025); 26 V.S.A. Chapter 15: Electricians and Electrical Installations; Electricians' License Application and Instructions, Vermont Division of Fire Safety (June 2026); Prov candidate information bulletin, State of Vermont Fire Safety (VT CIB 2026.11.09, effective October 31, 2026).
Type-S Journeyman Electrician (specialist)
Requirements. A specialty license for one field, such as heating systems, outdoor advertising, refrigeration and air conditioning, well pumps, commercial fire alarms or lightning rods. You need a recognized training program plus one year (2,000 hours) of experience in each specialty, then pass that field's exam.
Experience. 2,000 hours.
Exam. Required.
| Testing company | Prov |
|---|---|
| Code edition | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Questions | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Time | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Passing score | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Code book | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Exam fee | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Official bulletin | Prov candidate information bulletin, State of Vermont Fire Safety (VT CIB 2026.11.09, effective October 31, 2026) |
Fees. $115 per field for a three-year license (initial and renewal)
Sources: Electricians' License Application and Instructions, Vermont Division of Fire Safety (June 2026); Vermont Electrical Safety Rules, 2025 Edition (effective 11/05/2025); 26 V.S.A. Chapter 15: Electricians and Electrical Installations.
How to apply
Mail a signed, notarized paper application with the license fee and employer affidavits of experience to the Division of Fire Safety in Waterbury. The Board reviews applications at its meetings (send yours at least two weeks before), and an approval to test is valid for three years; then you schedule and pay for the exam with Prov. Apply on the official site.
Sources: Electricians' License Application and Instructions, Vermont Division of Fire Safety (June 2026); Vermont Electrical Safety Rules, 2025 Edition (effective 11/05/2025).
Renewal and continuing education
| Renewal | Every three years. Licenses expire on the last day of a month set by the Board, and a lapsed license can be renewed within one year with a $25 late fee. |
|---|---|
| Continuing education | Journeyman and master electricians complete 15 hours of Board-approved instruction on the National Electrical Code in the 36 months before renewal; Type-S holders complete 8 hours on their specialty. Every licensee also completes the Vermont Energy Goals education module. |
Sources: Vermont Electrical Safety Rules, 2025 Edition (effective 11/05/2025); 26 V.S.A. Chapter 15: Electricians and Electrical Installations.
Reciprocity with other states
Reciprocal agreements cover residents of New Hampshire and Maine. Vermont is also a member of the National Electrical Reciprocal Alliance (NERA): a license held in good standing for one year in a NERA state can be used to apply. Otherwise, a master or journeyman license held in good standing for three years in a state with equivalent standards that grants Vermont the same privilege qualifies for a Universal license without an exam.
Source: Vermont Electrical Safety Rules, 2025 Edition (effective 11/05/2025).
Look up a Vermont electrician license
To check that an electrician or contractor is licensed, use the official Vermont Open Data: List of All Licensed Electricians.
Good to know
Vermont's 2025 Electrical Safety Rules took effect November 5, 2025, and the licensing exams now test on the 2023 NEC.
If you fail the exam you can retake it twice more on the same approval. After a third failure you must reapply and complete at least 8 hours of NEC education or an exam prep course first.
Sources: Vermont Division of Fire Safety: Electricians; Vermont Electrical Safety Rules, 2025 Edition (effective 11/05/2025).
Common questions
Who issues electrician licenses in Vermont?
The Electricians' Licensing Board and the Vermont Division of Fire Safety license electricians statewide. With limited exceptions, anyone doing electrical work in Vermont must be licensed, other than work in a residential building with two or fewer dwelling units and communications circuits.
How do I get a journeyman electrician license in Vermont?
Journeyman Electrician: Finish a Vermont apprenticeship in electrical wiring (instruction and on-the-job work), verified by the Vermont Apprenticeship Council, or show equivalent training the Board accepts, then pass the exam. The Board may let you test once the classroom part is done, but the license is issued only after the work-experience part is complete. Mail a signed, notarized paper application with the license fee and employer affidavits of experience to the Division of Fire Safety in Waterbury. The Board reviews applications at its meetings (send yours at least two weeks before), and an approval to test is valid for three years; then you schedule and pay for the exam with Prov.
How many questions are on the Vermont journeyman electrician exam?
90 questions in 240 minutes (4 hours), and the passing score is 70%.
Does Vermont accept electrician licenses from other states?
Reciprocal agreements cover residents of New Hampshire and Maine. Vermont is also a member of the National Electrical Reciprocal Alliance (NERA): a license held in good standing for one year in a NERA state can be used to apply. Otherwise, a master or journeyman license held in good standing for three years in a state with equivalent standards that grants Vermont the same privilege qualifies for a Universal license without an exam.
How often does a Vermont electrician license renew?
Every three years. Licenses expire on the last day of a month set by the Board, and a lapsed license can be renewed within one year with a $25 late fee. Continuing education: Journeyman and master electricians complete 15 hours of Board-approved instruction on the National Electrical Code in the 36 months before renewal; Type-S holders complete 8 hours on their specialty. Every licensee also completes the Vermont Energy Goals education module.
How do I look up an electrician license in Vermont?
Use the official Vermont Open Data: List of All Licensed Electricians at https://data.vermont.gov/Government/Licensed-Electricians/byw8-gs7z/data
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from Vermont'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.
- Vermont Division of Fire Safety: Electricians, opened November 11, 2026
- Vermont Electrical Safety Rules, 2025 Edition (effective 11/05/2025), opened November 11, 2026
- 26 V.S.A. Chapter 15: Electricians and Electrical Installations, opened November 11, 2026
- Electricians' License Application and Instructions, Vermont Division of Fire Safety (June 2026), opened November 11, 2026
- Prov candidate information bulletin, State of Vermont Fire Safety (VT 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.