Maine Solar Contractor License Requirements (2026)

Maine does not issue a standalone solar contractor license. Solar PV installation is regulated as electrical work under 32 M.R.S. §1101 and is administered by the Maine Electricians Examining Board. Any solar business must employ a Master Electrician as the qualifying party. Solar thermal water heating requires a Maine Master Plumber license. NABCEP PV Installation Professional certification is the industry standard but is voluntary in Maine.

Regulatory Body Profile

Licensing for this trade is governed by Maine Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (OPOR), the agency that issues and regulates the credential under 10 MRSA Chapter 219-A (Home Construction Contracts); 32 MRSA Chapter 17 (Electricians); 32 MRSA Chapter 49 (Plumbers). OPOR, within the Maine Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, houses the Electricians Examining Board and the Plumbers Examining Board. Maine does not license general contractors or HVAC contractors at the state level; the Home Construction Contracts Act regulates residential contracts of $3,000 or more and the Maine Fuel Board licenses oil and solid fuel technicians.

Official portal: https://www.maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing/
Address: 35 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0035
Phone: (207) 624-8603

The Eligibility Audit

The applicant must be at least 18 years of age and possess a valid Social Security Number. No Maine residency requirement.

Good moral character

Board reviews criminal history.

Background investigation

Mandatory criminal history disclosure on the application.

Experience and Education Standards

At least two years as a Maine Journeyman Electrician on top of 8,000 hours of apprenticeship has to be evidenced and confirmed. Retain payroll, tax, project, or supervisor records, since the board may audit the experience claimed.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Board experience affidavits signed by Maine Master Electricians
Certified payroll covering the qualifying period
ME-registered apprenticeship completion certificate

Education substitution

ME-registered apprenticeship satisfies the apprenticeship hours.

The Exam Syllabus

Testing is handled by Prometric (under contract to the Board). The applicant has to pass each part listed here before the credential is granted:

Maine Master Electrician Examination — NEC, ME amendments, business and law — 100 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 75%

Examination fee: $85 examination fee.

Retake policy: Failed exams may be retaken after 30 days.

Bonding, Insurance & Financial Security

No license surety bond is mandated statewide here under the cited sources, though project-specific or public-works bonding obligations can still attach to a given job.

General liability

Board requires $500,000 commercial general liability minimum.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation insurance is mandatory under 39-A M.R.S. for any business with employees.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement required.

Schedule of Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$100
Examination	$85
Initial license	$100
Renewal (every 2 years)	$100

Renewal and Continuing Obligations

The Maine Electricians Examining Board Master Electrician License runs on a 2 years renewal cycle. The current renewal fee is $100. Maine Master Electrician licenses renew every two years.

Continuing education: Fifteen hours of Board-approved CE every two years.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Maine Solar License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Out-of-State Reciprocity

For this classification, Maine does not recognize the NASCLA Accredited Examination.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
New Hampshire	Trade exam waived	Limited reciprocity (verify with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare).
Vermont	Trade exam waived	Limited reciprocity (verify with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare).

Maine Electricians Examining Board maintains limited reciprocity (verify directly with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare) with New Hampshire and Vermont.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares Solar license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

The Application Roadmap

Complete a ME electrical apprenticeship. 8,000 hours under a ME Master Electrician.
Pass the Journeyman Electrician exam. Prerequisite to the Master credential.
Document two years as a Journeyman. Required for the Master Electrician exam.
Pass the Master Electrician exam at 75%. Prometric administers the exam.
Apply for the Master Electrician license. File with the application fee.
File the certificate of insurance. $500K CGL minimum.
Pull local building and electrical permits per project. Each ME jurisdiction requires local permits.

Pre-Application Checklist

Ahead of submission to OPOR, confirm every item on this short list:

☐ 8,000 hours of electrical apprenticeship
☐ Maine Journeyman Electrician credential
☐ Two years as a Journeyman
☐ Master Electrician examination pass
☐ $500K commercial general liability insurance
☐ Workers' compensation coverage
☐ NABCEP certification (recommended)

Where Applications Stall

The following pitfalls summarize the issues most likely to delay, return, or derail a Maine Solar application based on the published board instructions and source materials cited on this page.

Missing the 15-hour CE

Mandatory every two years and audited.

Letting workers compensation lapse

Mandatory for any business with employees.

Forgetting solar thermal is plumbing

Solar hot water requires the Master Plumber license.

Skipping local permits

State licensure does not exempt you from city/town permits.

Underestimating the journeyman time

Two full years as a Journeyman are required before the Master exam.

Recommended Study Materials

The list below collects the board's cited references and the materials applicants typically study from. CLR is not paid to recommend any of them.

NEC Article 690 — Solar Photovoltaic Systems — NFPA. Primary technical reference.
32 M.R.S. §1101 — State of Maine. Statutory framework.
Prometric Maine Master Electrician Candidate Information Bulletin — Prometric. Free PDF outlining exam content.

Other Maine Trade Licenses

Looking at a different trade? CLR also publishes these Maine licensing guides:

Common Questions

Does Maine have a solar license?

No. Solar PV is regulated as electrical work under the Master Electrician license.

Is NABCEP required?

No. NABCEP is voluntary in Maine.

How many hours does Maine require?

8,000 hours of apprenticeship plus two years as a Journeyman.

What about solar thermal?

Solar hot water requires a Maine Master Plumber license.

Does Maine reciprocate?

Yes. Maine maintains limited reciprocity (verify directly with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare) with New Hampshire and Vermont.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-06-15 · Next scheduled review 2026-09-13