StateLicensed

Electrician License Requirements in Massachusetts

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
600 hrs
Upfront cost
$330
Exam
Journeyman Electrician Examination, Part I, Journeyman Electrician Examination, Part II (Applied Portion)
Renewal cycle
Every 3 years
Issuing board
Board of State Examiners of Electricians (Division of Occupational Licensure)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Pass a criminal background check. No minimum age is published on the Board's application materials found in this research pass. A DOL CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) background check form is part of the standard application packet for all Board licenses. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 600 hours of training at a state-approved program. 600 hours of Board-approved education plus 8,000 hours of work experience over at least 4 years under a licensed Massachusetts Journeyman, to sit for the Journeyman exam. A 15-hour Code-Update Class is also required as part of the education component. Work experience is documented on Employment Certification Form 272, signed by the supervising licensee. [1]

  3. 3

    Journeyman Electrician Examination, Part I

    Pass the Journeyman Electrician Examination, Part I. 70 multiple-choice questions, open-book, 180 minutes, 70% (49 correct) required to pass The $226 application/exam fee submitted to PSI covers both Part I and Part II of the journeyman exam and does not include the separate license-issuance fee. Retrieved via archive.org snapshot dated 2025-09-01 of the Board's PSI Candidate Information Bulletin (bulletin itself last updated 1/23/2018) because the live mass.gov PDF returns HTTP 403 to automated fetches. Fee recorded as null here to avoid double-counting the same charge twice in this record's upfront-cost total: the $226 is a combined application/examination fee and is already counted under the application fee. [2]

  4. 4

    Journeyman Electrician Examination, Part II (Applied Portion)

    Pass the Journeyman Electrician Examination, Part II (Applied Portion). 30 questions, open-book, 60 minutes, 70% (21 correct) required to pass Part II fee is included in the single $226 application/exam fee covering both parts (see Part I entry); both parts may be taken the same day and are scored independently — candidates may retake just the failed part (up to 6 times in 1 year from application approval). Retrieved via archive.org snapshot dated 2025-09-01. [2]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Board of State Examiners of Electricians (Division of Occupational Licensure) with the $226 application fee. Typical processing time: 30-90 days for application review/approval (varies by applicant volume and complications such as out-of-state credentials). [2]

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Board of State Examiners of Electricians (Division of Occupational Licensure) issues your Journeyman Electrician License for Massachusetts.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] $226
License fee [3] $104
Renewal fee [3] $78
Journeyman Electrician Examination, Part I [2] None specified
Journeyman Electrician Examination, Part II (Applied Portion) [2] None specified
Late renewal penalty [3] $57
Duplicate license [3] $17

Application fee ($226, paid to PSI) covers exam registration and does not include the license fee. License fee ($104) is paid at the PSI test center directly after passing, non-refundable/non-transferable, cash or personal checks not accepted. Renewal fee ($78 per 3-year cycle, all licenses renew on 31-Jul on a triennial schedule) confirmed on the Division of Professional Licensure's current fee schedule.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 3 years.

Renewal cycle is 3 years (all licenses expire/renew on 31-Jul). A 15-hour Code-Update Class is required as part of initial licensure, but the Board's public renewal materials found in this research pass did not state a distinct recurring CE-hour figure tied specifically to each 3-year renewal, so ceHours is left null pending direct confirmation from the Board's renewal instructions.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Massachusetts has a reciprocity agreement with New Hampshire only, covering both Journeyman and Master licensure — and only for candidates who obtained their NH license by examination in NH, not by NH's own reciprocity/endorsement from a third state. No multistate electrician licensure compact exists for this occupation, so compacts is empty.

1 state-approved training provider in Massachusetts — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

  • $226
  • $104
Total$330

Frequently asked questions

How much experience and education do I need before I can sit for the journeyman exam?

8,000 hours of work experience over at least 4 years under a licensed Massachusetts Journeyman, plus 600 hours of Board-approved education including a 15-hour Code-Update Class.

What does the journeyman exam cost and who administers it?

PSI Examination Services administers the exam under Board contract. The application/exam fee is $226 for both parts; a separate $104 license fee is paid at the test center after passing.

How is the journeyman exam structured?

Two independently-scored, open-book parts: Part I is 70 questions in 180 minutes (70% to pass), and Part II (Applied Portion) is 30 questions in 60 minutes (70% to pass). Both may be taken the same day.

How long does it take to get my application approved?

The Board's PSI vendor states average review time is 30-90 days, depending on applicant volume and any preexisting circumstances (e.g. out-of-state credentials or a police record) that require extra review.

Does Massachusetts offer reciprocity with other states?

Only with New Hampshire, and only for Journeyman/Master licensees who obtained their NH license by examination in NH (not via NH's own reciprocity from a third state).

Sources

  1. [1] mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-an-individual-electrical-or-systems-license — accessed 2026-07-11
  2. [2] mass.gov/doc/electrician-exam-bulletin/download — accessed 2026-07-11
  3. [3] licensing.reg.state.ma.us/public/dpl_fees/dpl_fees_results.asp — accessed 2026-07-11
  4. [4] mass.gov/how-to/renew-your-electrician-systems-technician-or-systems-contractor-license — accessed 2026-07-11
  5. [5] mass.gov/info-details/electricians-faqs-for-applications — accessed 2026-07-11