Maryland Solar Contractor License Requirements (2026)

Maryland issues no standalone solar license but residential solar always needs two credentials. Per MHIC guidance, the company that mounts panels (roof or ground) on a Maryland home must hold a Maryland Home Improvement Contractor license through the Maryland Home Improvement Commission. The individual who actually wires the array into the service panel or grid must hold an electrician license — at the state level via the Maryland State Board of Master Electricians under MD Labor (formerly DLLR), and additionally a county/jurisdiction electrician license where required. Solar thermal hot water uses a Maryland Master Plumber. NABCEP PV Installation Professional is voluntary.

Regulatory Body Profile

Licensing for this trade is governed by Maryland Department of Labor — Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (MD DOL), the agency that issues and regulates the credential under Maryland Code, Business Regulation and Business Occupations Articles. 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/
Address: 1100 North Eutaw Street, Baltimore, MD 21201
Phone: (410) 230-6231

The Eligibility Audit

Eligibility begins with two baseline checks: the applicant must be 18 or older and must provide a valid Social Security Number. No Maryland residency requirement.

Good moral character

Board reviews criminal history under Md. Code Bus. Reg. §6-309.

Background investigation

Mandatory criminal history disclosure on the application.

Experience and Education Standards

A minimum of seven years of practical electrical experience, two of which must be in commercial or industrial work 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

Board experience affidavits signed by Maryland Master Electricians
Certified payroll covering the qualifying period
NABCEP PV Installation Professional certification (counts as experience credit)

Education substitution

Approved trade school and engineering degrees substitute for portions of the experience requirement.

The Exam Syllabus

PSI Services LLC (under contract to DLLR) administers the required examination. Each part below must be passed before the license will issue:

Maryland Master Electrician Examination — NEC, business and law — 100 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $63 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

No state minimum; MHIC requires $50,000 personal injury / $50,000 property damage minimum for residential.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation insurance is mandatory under Md. Code Lab. & Empl. Title 9 for any business with employees.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement required.

Schedule of Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$35
Examination	$63
Initial license	$25
Renewal (every 2 years)	$25

Renewal and Continuing Obligations

The Maryland Master Electrician License (State Board of Master Electricians) runs on a 2 years renewal cycle. The current renewal fee is $25. Maryland Master Electrician licenses renew every two years.

Continuing education: No state CE requirement.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Maryland 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, Maryland does not recognize the NASCLA Accredited Examination.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Virginia	Trade exam waived	Limited DLLR–DPOR Master Electrician reciprocity (verify with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare).
Pennsylvania	Trade exam waived	Limited reciprocity (verify with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare) (limited).
West Virginia	Trade exam waived	Limited DLLR–WV reciprocity (verify with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare).

DLLR maintains limited master-electrician reciprocity (electrical credential only — solar contractor reciprocity is rare) with neighboring states.

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

Document seven years of electrical experience. At least two years must be commercial or industrial.
Submit the DLLR Board application. File with the application fee and experience verification.
Pass the Master Electrician exam at 70%. PSI administers the exam.
Register with MHIC for residential work. Required for residential projects over $300.
File the certificate of insurance. MHIC requires $50K/$50K minimum.
Receive the Master Electrician credential. DLLR issues the credential after exam pass.
Pull local building and electrical permits per project. Each Maryland jurisdiction requires local permits.

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.
Md. Code Bus. Reg. Title 6 — State of Maryland. Statutory framework.
PSI Maryland Master Electrician Candidate Information Bulletin — PSI. Free PDF outlining exam content.

Pre-Application Checklist

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

☐ Seven years of documented electrical experience
☐ DLLR Master Electrician application
☐ Pass Master Electrician exam at 70%+
☐ MHIC registration (for residential)
☐ $50K/$50K MHIC insurance minimum
☐ Workers' compensation coverage
☐ Local building and electrical permits per project

Where Applications Stall

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

Skipping MHIC for residential

Residential projects over $300 require MHIC registration in addition to the Master Electrician license.

Missing the commercial hours requirement

Two of the seven years must be commercial or industrial.

Letting MHIC lapse

MHIC registration must stay current to do residential work.

Forgetting workers compensation

Mandatory for any business with employees.

Confusing solar thermal with PV

Solar hot water requires the Master Plumber license.

Other Maryland Trade Licenses

CLR maintains guides for additional Maryland trades; the published ones are listed here:

Common Questions

Does Maryland 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 Maryland.

Do I need MHIC registration?

Yes — MHIC explicitly requires the contractor mounting solar panels on a Maryland home to hold an MHIC license, whether the array is roof- or ground-mounted. Licensed electricians are exempt from MHIC only for their own electrical work.

What about solar thermal?

Solar hot water requires a Maryland Master Plumber license.

Does Maryland reciprocate?

Yes. DLLR maintains limited reciprocity (verify directly with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare) with Virginia, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-06-04 · Next scheduled review 2026-09-02