Maryland Master Electrician License Requirements (2026)

The Maryland State Board of Master Electricians, housed in the Maryland Department of Labor under Md. Code, Business Regulation §6-101 et seq., licenses master electricians statewide. Maryland licenses master electricians at the state level but does not maintain a state journeyman or apprentice credential — journeyman and apprentice electricians are licensed by the individual counties (Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Montgomery County, Prince George's County, and others all run separate journeyman programs). To qualify for the Maryland Master Electrician license, an applicant must show seven years of experience as an electrician, pass the PSI Master Electrician examination at 70%, and meet the Board's good character standard. The Master Electrician license authorizes the holder to act as the qualifying individual for an electrical contracting business statewide.

Regulatory Body Profile

Maryland State Board of Master Electricians (MD Electrical Board) is the statutory authority responsible for issuing and enforcing this license under Md. Code, Business Regulation §6-101 et seq.; COMAR 09.10. The Maryland Department of Labor houses the occupational boards that license home improvement contractors, master electricians, plumbers, and HVACR contractors statewide, adopts technical codes by reference, and conducts disciplinary proceedings.

Official portal: https://www.dllr.state.md.us/license/elec/
Address: 1100 North Eutaw Street, Baltimore, MD 21201
Phone: (410) 230-6231

The Eligibility Audit

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

Good moral character

The Board reviews each applicant for good moral character. Felony and electrical-related convictions are reviewed individually.

Background investigation

Mandatory criminal history disclosure on the application. The Board may request a full background check before issuing the license.

Experience and Education Standards

A minimum of seven years of experience as a licensed journeyman electrician or equivalent practical electrical work, with at least part of the experience under a licensed master electrician must be documented and verified. Unless the board publishes a different lookback period, applicants should keep payroll, tax, project, or supervisor records that support the claimed experience.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Maryland Board Experience Verification Form signed by each licensed Master Electrician supervisor
County journeyman license records (where applicable)
W-2 statements, pay stubs, or 1099 records covering the qualifying period
Approved electrical apprenticeship completion certificate (where applicable)

Education substitution

Approved electrical apprenticeship and accredited electrical engineering technology coursework substitute for portions of the experience requirement on a sliding scale set by Board rule.

The Exam Syllabus

The exam, administered by PSI Services LLC (under contract to the Maryland State Board of Master Electricians), breaks into the parts shown below — all must be passed before licensure:

Maryland Master Electrician Examination — National Electrical Code, Maryland electrical rules, business and law — 100 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $63 examination fee paid to PSI on the day of testing.

Retake policy: Failed examinations may be re-taken by paying a new $63 fee. Each application remains valid for one year.

Bonding, Insurance & Financial Security

There is no statewide surety bond tied to this credential in the cited record. Bonding can still surface at the project level — permit, license, or public-works bonds — so check before you bid.

General liability

No state-mandated general liability minimum for the master electrician credential. Most counties require $300,000 to $1,000,000 liability for the contracting business.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation insurance is mandatory in Maryland for any business with one or more employees under Md. Code, Labor and Employment §9-402.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement requirement.

Schedule of Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$37
Examination	$63
Initial license	$37
Renewal (every 2 years)	$37

Renewal and Continuing Obligations

The Maryland Master Electrician runs on a 2 years renewal cycle. The current renewal fee is $37. Maryland Master Electrician licenses renew every two years.

Continuing education: No state-mandated continuing education for the Maryland Master Electrician license as of the verified date. Some counties impose CE for the local journeyman credential.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Out-of-State Reciprocity

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

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Virginia	Trade exam waived	Bilateral Maryland–Virginia DPOR reciprocity for active master electricians in good standing.
Delaware	Trade exam waived	Bilateral Maryland–Delaware reciprocity for active master electricians.
West Virginia	Trade exam waived	Bilateral Maryland–West Virginia reciprocity.
Pennsylvania	—	Pennsylvania has no statewide electrician license; Maryland accepts city of Philadelphia and other municipal master credentials.

Reciprocity waives the trade examination but not Maryland-specific application requirements. Reciprocal applicants must still submit experience documentation.

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

The Application Roadmap

Earn county journeyman experience. Maryland does not issue a state journeyman license. Most applicants accumulate experience through a county journeyman license (Baltimore City, Montgomery County, etc.) or an approved apprenticeship.
Document seven years of qualifying experience. The Board requires seven years of practical electrical experience with at least part of it under a licensed master electrician.
Submit the Maryland Master Electrician application. File the application with experience verification, application fee, and good character documentation.
Pass the PSI Master Electrician examination at 70%. Score 70% or better on the 100-question exam covering the NEC, Maryland electrical rules, and business and law.
Receive the Maryland Master Electrician license. The Board issues the license after the exam is passed and all documentation is complete. The license must be renewed every two years.
Register the contracting business. If self-employed, register the contracting business and meet any county-level licensing requirements where you intend to bid.

Recommended Study Materials

These materials are drawn from the regulator's own citations and the references applicants commonly use to prepare. CLR receives no compensation for listing them.

National Electrical Code (NFPA 70), Maryland-adopted edition — National Fire Protection Association. Primary technical reference. Open-book at the PSI test center.
Md. Code, Business Regulation §6-101 et seq. and COMAR 09.10 — State of Maryland. Licensing law and rules.
Tom Henry Master Electrician Exam Prep — Tom Henry Books. Widely used by Maryland applicants for NEC calculation problems.

Pre-Application Checklist

Have each of the following squared away before the packet goes to MD Electrical Board:

☐ Maryland Master Electrician application with $37 fee
☐ Seven years of documented electrical experience
☐ County journeyman license records (where applicable)
☐ PSI Maryland Master Electrician exam pass certificate at 70%+
☐ Good character documentation
☐ Workers compensation coverage certificate (if any employees)
☐ County contractor registration where bidding work

Where Applications Stall

The errors below are the ones that most frequently cost Maryland Electrician applicants time, drawn from the cited board guidance.

Assuming the state issues a journeyman license

Maryland only licenses master electricians at the state level. Journeyman and apprentice work is regulated by counties. Plan the path through county licensing first.

Underestimating the seven-year requirement

Maryland's seven-year experience requirement is one of the longest in the region. Document the experience continuously — gaps can disqualify the application.

Skipping county registration

A Maryland Master Electrician license does not exempt the holder from county-level contractor registration. Each county where work is performed has its own rules.

Studying the wrong NEC edition

Maryland adopts the NEC on a delayed cycle. Confirm the current adopted edition with the Board before purchasing study materials.

Letting the license lapse

A lapsed Master Electrician license automatically suspends any contracting business that depends on it as the qualifying individual.

Other Maryland Trade Licenses

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

Common Questions

Does Maryland issue a state journeyman electrician license?

No. Maryland only licenses master electricians at the state level. Journeyman and apprentice electricians are licensed by individual counties (Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Montgomery County, Prince George's County, and others).

How many years of experience does Maryland require for a Master Electrician?

Seven years of practical electrical experience, with at least part of the experience under a licensed master electrician. Approved apprenticeship and electrical engineering technology coursework can substitute for portions of the requirement.

What is the passing score for the Maryland Master Electrician exam?

70%. The exam is a 100-question PSI examination covering the NEC, Maryland electrical rules, and business and law.

Does Maryland reciprocate master electrician credentials?

Yes. Maryland maintains bilateral reciprocity with Virginia, Delaware, West Virginia, and recognizes Pennsylvania municipal master credentials. Reciprocal applicants still must submit documentation.

How often does the Maryland Master Electrician license renew?

Every two years. Renewal requires payment of the renewal fee.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-05-18 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-16