New Hampshire Electrician License Requirements (2026) | Official Electricians Board Guide

The New Hampshire Electricians Board, administered by the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) under RSA 319-C, licenses every individual performing electrical work in the state. The board issues three tiers — Apprentice Electrician (working under supervision while accumulating hours), Journeyman Electrician (independent installer working under a master's license), and Master Electrician (qualified to design, supervise, and pull permits). New Hampshire adopts the National Electrical Code by reference through the State Building Code, and the Electricians Board exam is administered by PSI Services.

The Licensing Authority

Licensing for this trade is governed by New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) — trade boards (OPLC), the agency that issues and regulates the credential under New Hampshire RSA 319-C (Electricians), RSA 329-A (Plumbers), RSA 153 (Mechanical/Gas Fitters); administrative rules Elec 100–600, Plu 100–600, Saf-C 6000 series. New Hampshire does not license general contractors at the state level. Trade boards under the OPLC umbrella license individual electricians, plumbers, and gas fitters statewide. Mechanical/HVAC work intersects the Gas Fitters Board (for fuel gas piping) and local mechanical permitting; pure HVAC ductwork is not separately state-licensed. New Hampshire is unusual in the Northeast for combining strict individual trade licensing with no general contractor license at all — accountability for general construction sits at the municipal building department and through civil contract law. Home improvement contractors are not registered or bonded by the state; consumer protection runs through RSA 358-A (Consumer Protection Act) enforced by the Attorney General. Always confirm current rules with OPLC and the local building official before bidding work. Overview of the New Hampshire licensing landscape: New Hampshire takes a deliberately light-touch approach to construction trades regulation compared to its neighbors. There is no statewide general contractor license, no statewide home improvement contractor registration program (unlike Massachusetts HIC or Rhode Island contractor registration), and no statewide building permit. Instead, the state relies on three pillars. First, the building code: New Hampshire adopted the State Building Code under RSA 155-A, which incorporates the International Building Code, International Residential Code, International Mechanical Code, International Plumbing Code, International Energy Conservation Code, and the National Electrical Code by reference. The State Fire Marshal enforces the State Building Code in jurisdictions that have not adopted local enforcement, while most populated municipalities run their own building departments and issue their own permits. Second, individual trade licensing: the Electricians Board, the Plumbers Board, and the Mechanical Licensing Board (Gas Fitters) license journeyman and master tradespeople under their respective statutes. These licenses are personal to the individual and follow the worker between jobs and between employers. Third, consumer protection law: home improvement disputes are handled through RSA 358-A and standard contract law, not through a state license bond pool. What this means in practice for contractors: a self-employed builder in New Hampshire can legally bid and build a single-family home without any state-issued license, provided every electrical worker on site holds a current Electricians Board license, every plumber holds a current Plumbers Board license, every gas fitter holds a current Gas Fitters Board license, the project clears the local building department permit, and the work passes all required inspections. The contractor may still need a federal EIN, state business registration with the Secretary of State, business profits and enterprise tax accounts with the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration, and (if hiring) workers compensation coverage under RSA 281-A. The Department of Labor enforces workers compensation aggressively, and uninsured employers face stop-work orders. Municipal nuances matter. Manchester, Nashua, Concord, Portsmouth, Dover, and Keene each operate full building departments with their own permit application packets, contractor sign-in requirements, and inspection schedules. Some towns require the contractor to be listed on the permit; some require proof of insurance before issuing the permit; a few smaller towns have no building inspector at all and rely on the State Fire Marshal. Always call the building department before assuming a project does not need a permit. Electrical and plumbing permits are typically pulled by the licensed tradesperson, not the general contractor, and the inspection is performed by the municipal inspector or by the State Electrical or State Plumbing inspector in unincorporated areas. Reciprocity is meaningful here. The Electricians Board holds reciprocal agreements with several New England states for master and journeyman credentials, as does the Plumbers Board. The Mechanical Licensing Board recognizes equivalent gas fitter credentials from neighboring states on a case-by-case basis. Reciprocal applicants still pay New Hampshire fees, submit a New Hampshire application, and in most cases sit for the New Hampshire-specific portion or the full New Hampshire exam. Renewal cycles vary by board (electricians and plumbers renew on a three-year cycle; gas fitters renew on a two-year cycle), and continuing education requirements are set by each board. Because New Hampshire publishes most rules and forms only on the OPLC website and the General Court statute pages, contractors should bookmark oplc.nh.gov and gencourt.state.nh.us and check both before paying any fee or scheduling an exam. Rates and fee amounts in this guide should be confirmed directly with the relevant board before submitting payment.

Official portal: https://www.oplc.nh.gov/
Address: 7 Eagle Square, Concord, NH 03301
Phone: (603) 271-2152

Baseline Eligibility

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

Good moral character

The Electricians Board reviews criminal history disclosures and can deny or condition a license for fraud, violence, or prior license discipline. Petitions for review are decided case by case.

Background investigation

Mandatory criminal history disclosure on the application. The board may request court records for any disclosed offense.

Experience and Education Requirements

The experience bar is 4 years of apprentice: registered with the board while working under a licensed master. Journeyman: typically four years and 8,000 hours of qualifying electrical experience under a licensed master, or completion of an approved apprenticeship program. Master: typically two additional years of journey-level experience after the journeyman credential. Confirm current hour totals with the board before applying., 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

Electricians Board Experience Verification Form signed by each supervising master electrician
Apprenticeship completion certificate from a US Department of Labor or NH-recognized program
W-2, 1099, or pay records covering the qualifying period
Trade school or community college transcripts for any claimed education credit

Education substitution

Approved apprenticeship programs and accredited electrical trade school coursework substitute for portions of the experience requirement under board rules. The exact substitution ratio is set by the Electricians Board and should be confirmed before relying on it.

The Licensing Examination

Testing is handled by PSI Services LLC under contract to the New Hampshire Electricians Board. The applicant has to pass each part listed here before the credential is granted:

New Hampshire Journeyman Electrician Examination — National Electrical Code, NH electrical rules, theory and calculations — 80 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 75%
New Hampshire Master Electrician Examination — NEC, NH electrical rules, business and law (Master applicants only) — 100 questions, 300 minutes, passing score 75%

Examination fee: PSI examination fees are set by PSI and posted in the New Hampshire Electrician Candidate Information Bulletin. Confirm the current fee with PSI before scheduling.

Retake policy: Failed examinations may be re-taken by paying a new exam fee through PSI. Each application remains valid for the period stated by the board (typically one year).

Financial Security and Insurance

No statewide contractor license surety bond is required for this credential in the cited sources. Project-specific, permit, or public-works bonds may still apply, so confirm bonding before bidding a given job.

General liability

The Electricians Board does not impose a state-level general liability minimum on individual licensees. Self-employed electricians typically carry $1,000,000 per occurrence as a market standard.

Workers' compensation

Workers compensation coverage is mandatory under RSA 281-A for any employer with one or more employees, including part-time. Sole proprietors with no employees are exempt but may elect coverage.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement is required by the Electricians Board.

Fee Schedule

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$150
Examination	$100
Initial license	$150
Renewal (every 3 years)	$150

License Renewal

The New Hampshire Master Electrician (Apprentice, Journeyman, Master) must be renewed every 3 years. The fee to renew is presently $150. New Hampshire electrician licenses renew on a three-year cycle. Lapsed licenses may require reinstatement fees and reapplication.

Continuing education: Continuing education in the National Electrical Code is required each renewal cycle. The exact hour total is set by the Electricians Board — confirm current requirements before renewal.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity Map

New Hampshire grants no NASCLA reciprocity for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Maine	Master and Journeyman exams	Reciprocal recognition of Maine Electricians Examining Board credentials in good standing. Confirm current terms with the NH board.
Vermont	Master and Journeyman exams	Reciprocal recognition of Vermont Electrical Licensing Board credentials in good standing.
Massachusetts	Master and Journeyman exams	Recognition of Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Electricians credentials on a case-by-case basis.

New Hampshire historically maintains reciprocal arrangements with other New England states for master and journeyman electricians. Reciprocal applicants still complete a New Hampshire application and pay New Hampshire fees, and may be required to sit for the New Hampshire-specific exam portion. Confirm current terms with the Electricians Board before relying on reciprocity.

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 Licensing Roadmap

Register as an Apprentice Electrician. File the apprentice registration with the Electricians Board before performing any electrical work. Apprentices must work under direct supervision of a licensed master.
Accumulate qualifying hours. Log experience under a licensed master, typically four years and 8,000 hours for the Journeyman path, or complete a recognized apprenticeship program.
Submit the Journeyman application. File the Journeyman application with experience verification, education records, and the application fee.
Pass the PSI Journeyman examination. Score at the board-set passing percentage on the NEC-based Journeyman exam delivered by PSI.
Work as a Journeyman to qualify for Master. Accumulate the additional journey-level hours required for the Master Electrician credential, typically two years.
Pass the PSI Master examination. Score at the board-set passing percentage on the Master exam, which adds business and law content to the NEC and NH rules portions.
Receive the Master Electrician license. OPLC issues the license after the exam is passed. Renew on the board's three-year cycle.

Before Filing: A Checklist

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

☐ Apprentice Electrician registration filed with the Electricians Board
☐ Documented qualifying hours under a licensed master
☐ Application form, application fee, and experience verification
☐ PSI Journeyman or Master exam pass certificate
☐ Workers compensation policy if employing other workers
☐ Continuing education tracking for renewal

Common Application Pitfalls

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

Working before registering as an apprentice

Apprentices must be registered with the board before performing any electrical work. Unregistered work counts against future applications and can trigger discipline.

Studying the wrong NEC edition

New Hampshire adopts the NEC on a delayed cycle. Confirm the currently adopted edition with the State Fire Marshal before buying study materials.

Missing continuing education

NEC continuing education is mandatory for renewal. Missing it blocks renewal and may force reinstatement.

Assuming Massachusetts or Maine experience transfers automatically

Reciprocity is real but not automatic. Out-of-state applicants still file an NH application, pay NH fees, and may need to sit for the NH portion.

Letting the master license lapse mid-project

A lapsed master license invalidates permits and supervision. Renew on time and confirm with the OPLC license lookup before bidding new work.

Preparation Resources

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), New Hampshire-adopted edition — National Fire Protection Association. Primary technical reference. Open-book at the PSI test center.
Mike Holt Master/Journeyman Exam Prep — Mike Holt Enterprises. Widely used NEC exam prep with NH-relevant calculation problems.
New Hampshire RSA 319-C and Electrician administrative rules — New Hampshire General Court / OPLC. Licensing law and rules.

Other New Hampshire Trade Licenses

For a different New Hampshire credential, see these companion guides published by CLR:

Answers to Common Questions

Who licenses electricians in New Hampshire?

The New Hampshire Electricians Board, administered by the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) under RSA 319-C, licenses all electricians statewide.

What are the New Hampshire electrician license tiers?

Apprentice (registered, working under direct supervision), Journeyman (independent installer working under a master's license), and Master Electrician (may design, supervise, and pull permits).

What code does New Hampshire use for electrical work?

New Hampshire adopts the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70) by reference through the State Building Code under RSA 155-A. Confirm the currently adopted edition before studying.

Does New Hampshire reciprocate electrician licenses?

New Hampshire historically maintains reciprocal arrangements with other New England states. Reciprocal applicants still file an NH application and may need to sit for the New Hampshire portion. Confirm current terms with the Electricians Board.

How often does the New Hampshire electrician license renew?

On a three-year cycle set by the Electricians Board, with continuing education in the National Electrical Code as required by the board's rules.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-06-14 · Next scheduled review 2026-09-12