Massachusetts Solar Contractor License Requirements (2026)

Massachusetts issues no standalone solar license. Solar PV is electrical work under M.G.L. Chapter 141 and 527 CMR 12, governed by the Board of State Examiners of Electricians under the Division of Professional Licensure (DPL). Any solar business must employ a Massachusetts Master Electrician (Class A) as qualifying party. Path: Journeyman (Class B) requires 8,000 hours and 600 hours of approved schooling plus a two-part exam; Master adds at least one year as a journeyman, 150 additional schooling hours, and a two-part trade + business/law exam. PV installation must be performed by Massachusetts-licensed electricians per the state model permitting guidance. Solar thermal hot water requires a MA Master Plumber.

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

Board reviews criminal history under M.G.L. Chapter 141.

Background investigation

Mandatory criminal history disclosure on the application.

Experience and Education Standards

At least one year (8,000+ hours) of journey-level work as a Massachusetts Journeyman Electrician (Class B), which itself requires four years and 8,000 hours of qualifying experience plus 600 hours of approved schooling 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

DPL experience affidavits signed by Massachusetts Master Electricians
Certified payroll covering the qualifying period
Approved electrical apprenticeship completion certificate

Education substitution

Three hundred hours of approved electrical schooling are required for the Master Electrician credential.

The Exam Syllabus

Testing is handled by PSI Services LLC (under contract to DPL). The applicant has to pass each part listed here before the credential is granted:

Massachusetts Master Electrician (Class A) Examination — NEC, 527 CMR 12, business and law — 100 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $92 examination fee.

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

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 minimum, but $1M CGL is the de facto industry standard.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation insurance is mandatory under M.G.L. Chapter 152 for any business with employees.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement required.

Schedule of Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$192
Examination	$92
Initial license	$192
Renewal (every 3 years)	$117

Renewal and Continuing Obligations

The Massachusetts Master Electrician (Class A) License runs on a 3 years renewal cycle. The current renewal fee is $117. Massachusetts electrician licenses renew every three years.

Continuing education: Twenty-one hours of DPL-approved CE every three years for Master Electricians.

Downloadable Asset

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

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
New Hampshire	Trade exam waived	Limited DPL–NH reciprocity (verify with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare) for active Master Electricians.
Vermont	Trade exam waived	Limited DPL–VT reciprocity (verify with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare).

DPL maintains limited master-electrician reciprocity (electrical credential only — solar contractor 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 8,000 hours and 600 schooling hours as a Journeyman. Four years of qualifying experience plus 600 hours of approved electrical schooling.
Pass the Journeyman Electrician (Class B) exam. Prerequisite to the Master Electrician credential.
Document one year as a Massachusetts Journeyman. Plus 150 additional hours of approved schooling.
Pass the Master Electrician (Class A) exam at 70%. PSI administers the exam.
File the certificate of insurance. $1M CGL is the industry standard.
Receive the Master Electrician credential. DPL issues the credential after exam pass.
Pull local building and electrical permits per project. Each Massachusetts jurisdiction requires local permits and inspections.

Where Applications Stall

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

Underestimating the schooling requirement

Massachusetts is one of the strictest states — 600 schooling hours for journeyman plus 150 more for master.

Skipping the journeyman step

Direct entry to Master Electrician is not allowed.

Missing the 21-hour CE

Mandatory every three years and audited.

Letting workers compensation lapse

Mandatory under Chapter 152.

Forgetting solar thermal is plumbing

Solar hot water requires the Master Plumber license.

Pre-Application Checklist

Before submitting to BSEE, the applicant should have each of the following ready:

☐ 8,000 hours of journey-level experience plus 600 schooling hours
☐ Massachusetts Journeyman Electrician credential
☐ Additional year as a Journeyman plus 150 schooling hours
☐ Master Electrician (Class A) examination pass
☐ Workers' compensation coverage
☐ $1M commercial general liability insurance (recommended)
☐ Local building and electrical permits per project

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.

NEC Article 690 — Solar Photovoltaic Systems — NFPA. Primary technical reference.
527 CMR 12 — Massachusetts Electrical Code — Mass Department of Fire Services. State amendments to the NEC.
PSI Massachusetts Master Electrician Candidate Information Bulletin — PSI. Free PDF outlining exam content.

Other Massachusetts Trade Licenses

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

Common Questions

Does Massachusetts have a solar license?

No. Solar PV is regulated as electrical work under the Master Electrician (Class A) license.

Is NABCEP required?

No. NABCEP is voluntary in Massachusetts.

How many hours does Massachusetts require?

8,000 hours plus 600 hours of schooling for journeyman, plus one more year and 150 schooling hours for master.

What about solar thermal?

Solar hot water requires a Massachusetts Master Plumber license.

How does the license renew?

Every three years. Twenty-one hours of CE are required.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-06-08 · Next scheduled review 2026-09-06