Massachusetts Electrician License Requirements (2026)

Massachusetts electricians are licensed by the Board of State Examiners of Electricians (BSEE) under MGL Chapter 141 and 237 CMR. The Board issues Journeyman Electrician (Class B), Master Electrician (Class A) — required to operate as an electrical contracting business — and several specialty licenses including Systems Technician (Class D) for low-voltage work. The Massachusetts Electrical Code (527 CMR 12) adopts NFPA 70 with state amendments. Unlike many states, the Board administers its trade examinations in-house rather than through PSI or Prometric. Journeyman applicants must complete 8,000 hours of qualifying field experience plus 600 hours of classroom instruction at a Board-approved electrical school. Master applicants must hold the Journeyman license for at least one year and pass a separate Master examination.

Regulatory Body Profile

Licensing for this trade is governed by Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Electricians (BSEE), the agency that issues and regulates the credential under MGL Chapter 141; 237 CMR (Board rules); Massachusetts Electrical Code (527 CMR 12, adopting NFPA 70). The Board of State Examiners of Electricians licenses Journeyman (Class B), Master (Class A), and specialty electricians, administers the trade examinations in-house, and enforces the Massachusetts Electrical Code.

Official portal: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/board-of-state-examiners-of-electricians
Address: 1000 Washington Street, Suite 710, Boston, MA 02118
Phone: (617) 727-9931

The Eligibility Audit

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

Good moral character

The Board conducts a fitness review on every applicant. Felony convictions and prior license revocations are reviewed individually under 237 CMR 13.

Background investigation

Mandatory CORI release on the application.

Experience and Education Standards

The experience bar is 4 years of Journeyman (Class B): 8,000 hours of practical electrical experience under a licensed Master Electrician plus 600 hours of classroom instruction at a Board-approved school. Master (Class A): hold the Journeyman license for at least one year of full-time work, and it must be backed by verifiable records — typically payroll, tax, project, or supervisor documentation covering the claimed period.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Board Experience Verification Form signed by each licensed Master Electrician supervisor
Certified payroll records, W-2 statements, or 1099 records covering the qualifying period
Transcript from a Board-approved electrical school showing 600 classroom hours
Approved electrical apprenticeship completion certificate (where applicable)

Education substitution

A two-year associate degree in electrical technology from an approved school may substitute for up to 4,000 hours of field experience under 237 CMR 13.04.

The Exam Syllabus

Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Electricians (administered in-house) administers the required examination. Each part below must be passed before the license will issue:

Journeyman Electrician (Class B) Examination — Massachusetts Electrical Code, NEC, theory, and Massachusetts electrical rules — 80 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 70%
Master Electrician (Class A) Examination — business and law, Massachusetts Electrical Code, advanced calculations — 50 questions, 180 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $97 examination fee per attempt paid to the Division of Professional Licensure.

Retake policy: Failed examinations may be re-taken at the next scheduled Board sitting by paying a new $97 fee. The Board administers exams several times per year in Boston.

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

The Board does not impose a state-level general liability minimum on individual licensees. Master Electricians operating as a contracting business typically carry $1,000,000/$2,000,000.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation insurance is mandatory in Massachusetts under MGL Chapter 152 for any business with one or more employees.

Additional financial requirements

No state-level net worth requirement. Master Electricians operating an electrical contracting business must register the business with the Board and identify a licensed Master as the qualifying individual.

Schedule of Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$97
Examination	$97
Initial license	$117
Renewal (every 3 years)	$78

Renewal and Continuing Obligations

The Massachusetts Master Electrician (Class A) and Journeyman Electrician (Class B) runs on a 3 years renewal cycle. The current renewal fee is $78. Both Class A and Class B licenses renew on the same three-year cycle. Lapsed licenses cannot perform electrical work until reinstated.

Continuing education: Twenty-one hours of approved continuing education each three-year renewal cycle, including the mandatory Massachusetts Electrical Code Update Course adopted with each new NEC cycle.

Downloadable Asset

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

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
New Hampshire	Trade exam waived	Bilateral agreement for Master Electricians in good standing for at least one year.
Rhode Island	Trade exam waived	Bilateral agreement for Master Electricians and Journeyman Electricians in good standing.
Maine	Trade exam waived	Bilateral agreement for Master Electricians in good standing for at least one year.
Connecticut	Limited	Limited reciprocity reviewed case by case by the Board.

Reciprocal applicants still must submit a Board application, pay the fee, and disclose any disciplinary history. Reciprocity does not waive the Massachusetts Electrical Code amendments review.

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

Enroll in a Board-approved electrical school. Complete 600 classroom hours over the qualifying period. The 600 hours can be completed before or concurrently with the 8,000 field hours.
Accumulate 8,000 hours under a Master Electrician. Document field experience using the Board Experience Verification Form, signed by each supervising Master Electrician.
Submit the Journeyman Electrician application. File with the Board including school transcript, experience verification, CORI release, and $97 exam fee.
Pass the in-house Journeyman examination at 70%. Open-book exam covering the Massachusetts Electrical Code, NEC, theory, and Massachusetts amendments. Administered by the Board in Boston.
Receive the Class B license. The Board issues the Journeyman license after the exam is passed and renewal cycle begins.
Work one year as a Journeyman. A minimum of one year of full-time Journeyman experience is required before applying for the Master examination.
Pass the Master Electrician (Class A) examination. Submit the Master application and pass the separate business and law plus advanced calculations exam to qualify as a Master and operate an electrical contracting business.

Pre-Application Checklist

Have each of the following squared away before the packet goes to BSEE:

☐ Board-approved electrical school transcript showing 600 classroom hours
☐ Experience Verification Form documenting 8,000 hours under a Master Electrician
☐ Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Electricians application with $97 fee
☐ CORI release form
☐ Journeyman (Class B) exam pass certificate at 70%+
☐ Master (Class A) application after one year of Journeyman experience
☐ Workers compensation coverage certificate for any business with one or more employees

Where Applications Stall

These are the recurring mistakes that most often delay or reject a Massachusetts Electrician application, based on the official instructions cited here.

Skipping the 600 classroom hours

Field experience alone does not qualify. The Board requires 600 hours of classroom instruction at an approved school, separately documented from the 8,000 field hours.

Studying NFPA 70 without Massachusetts amendments

The Massachusetts Electrical Code amends the NEC in several areas — bonding, services, and AFCI requirements differ. Candidates who study only the unamended NEC fail Massachusetts-specific questions.

Assuming PSI administers the exam

The Board administers all electrician exams in-house in Boston. Out-of-state applicants familiar with the PSI process are sometimes surprised by the limited exam dates.

Applying for Master too early

The Board requires at least one full year of full-time Journeyman experience after the Class B license is issued. Time worked as an apprentice or unlicensed helper does not count.

Missing the Code Update Course

Each new NEC adoption cycle includes a mandatory Code Update Course that counts toward CE. Renewals submitted without it are rejected.

Recommended Study Materials

The following references are cited by the regulator, used in the application process, or commonly used to prepare for the trade scope. Listed for reader convenience; CLR receives no compensation for these recommendations.

Massachusetts Electrical Code (527 CMR 12) — current adopted edition with state amendments — Massachusetts Department of Fire Services. Primary technical reference. Open-book at the Board exam.
National Electrical Code (NFPA 70) — Massachusetts adopted edition — National Fire Protection Association. The state amendments override NFPA 70 in several sections — know which.
Tom Henry Electrical Exam Prep — Massachusetts edition — Tom Henry Books. Widely used by Massachusetts candidates for NEC calculation problems.

Other Massachusetts Trade Licenses

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

Common Questions

What is the difference between a Class A and Class B electrician in Massachusetts?

Class B is the Journeyman Electrician — authorized to perform electrical work under the supervision of a Master. Class A is the Master Electrician — authorized to supervise journeymen and operate an electrical contracting business.

How many hours of experience does Massachusetts require?

8,000 hours of practical field experience plus 600 hours of classroom instruction at a Board-approved school for the Journeyman license. One additional year as a licensed Journeyman is required for the Master license.

Who administers the Massachusetts electrician exam?

The Board of State Examiners of Electricians administers the exam in-house in Boston, not PSI or Prometric. Exams are scheduled several times per year.

Does Massachusetts reciprocate electrician licenses?

Yes, with New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Maine, and (limited) Connecticut. Reciprocal applicants must still submit a Board application and disclose any disciplinary history.

How often does the Massachusetts electrician license renew?

Every three years. Renewal requires twenty-one hours of approved continuing education including the current Code Update Course on the Massachusetts Electrical Code.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-05-30 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-28