Construction / Electrician License / Maine
- Maine
- Electrician License
- Journeyman & Master
- Updated Oct 2026
How to Get Your Maine Electrician License
Here’s what it takes to become a licensed journeyman or master electrician in Maine: the hours you need, the open-book exams, how to apply and how to stay licensed.
Last updated October 27, 2026 from Maine Electricians’ Examining Board requirements
Application fee
$150
License fee paid when you apply, plus $21 background check and $90 Prov exam
Exam time
3–4 hrs
3 hrs journeyman, 4 hrs master
Time to get license
2+ yrs
Journeyman: at least 4,000 trainee hours
Continuing ed
Up to 5 hrs
Before each renewal
Overview
Do you need a Maine electrician license?
Yes. In Maine, electrical installation work is done by licensed electricians. Journeymen work for a master electrician, limited electrician or electrical company, and only masters can run an electrical installation business.
License required when
- You make electrical installations for pay
- You want to work as a journeyman under a master, limited electrician or electrical company
- You want to run your own electrical installation business (master license)
Common exceptions
- Licensed trainees and journeymen-in-training working under a licensed master electrician
- Licensed electricians from New Hampshire and Vermont may qualify through reciprocity
Penalties for unlicensed work
Our source doesn’t list specific penalty amounts. In general, the Board can refuse, suspend or revoke licenses and refer unlicensed work for enforcement, so get licensed before you take on electrical jobs.
Your fast-track Maine electrician license checklist
The Maine application, one page
- Trainee license and supervised hours documented
- Hours signed off by your supervising master electrician
- Online application to the Board for exam approval
- Exam booked with Prov
- NEC tabbed and ready for exam day
Types
Maine electrician license types and classifications
Maine issues two main electrician licenses. Most people start as a trainee, move up to journeyman, then qualify for master.
JRY
Most common
Journeyman Electrician
Makes electrical installations while employed by a master electrician, limited electrician or electrical company.
Exam
Journeyman exam
Limit
Must work for a master or company
MST
Run a business
Master Electrician
Can engage in the business of installing electrical systems.
Exam
Master exam
Limit
None stated
Requirements
Maine electrician license requirements, class by class
Both licenses are built on supervised hours in electrical installations, then a state exam.
| Requirement | Journeyman | Master |
|---|---|---|
| Experience | 2 yrs with 4,000 hrs as a licensed trainee under a master | 1 yr with 2,000 hrs as a licensed journeyman |
| Additional hours | 2,000 hrs as a journeyman-in-training, within 4 yrs of that license | Or 4 yrs with 8,000 hrs as a licensed trainee under a master |
| Exam | Journeyman exam, 80 questions | Master exam, 100 questions |
| Exam approval | Board pre-approval required | Board pre-approval required |
| Minimum age | Not stated | Not stated |
| Application fee | $150 license fee plus $21 background check | $150 license fee plus $21 background check |
Steps
How to get your Maine electrician license, step by step
- Log your supervised hoursBefore you apply
Work as a licensed trainee (and, for the journeyman path, a journeyman-in-training) under a licensed master electrician until you meet the hours for your license. - Apply to the Board for exam approvalBefore the exam
Submit your application online to the Maine Electricians’ Examining Board. You need approval before you can schedule the exam. - Schedule your examAfter approval
Once approved, the Board sends scheduling information, and you book the exam through Prov. - Pass the state examExam day
The journeyman exam is 80 questions in 3 hours. The master exam is 100 questions in 4 hours. Bring your NEC. - Apply for your licenseAfter you pass
Finish your license application with the Board once your exam is passed and your hours are documented.
Exam
What to expect on the Maine electrician exam
Maine has one exam for each license level. You can bring the National Electrical Code, so knowing your way around it matters as much as memorizing it.
Format
Open book, NEC allowed
Questions
80 or 100
Passing score
Not stated
Exam vendor
Prov
Scoring & content
- Journeyman: 80 questions, 3 hours
- Master: 100 questions, 4 hours
- Topics include theory, wiring protection, wiring methods, motors and controls, special occupancies and communication systems
- Your NEC can be tabbed, highlighted, underlined and written in
- Nothing can be stapled, taped, glued or inserted into the book
Retake policy
- Our source doesn’t state a retake policy
- Check with the Board or Prov before you schedule a retake
- Pre-approval is required before scheduling any exam
Exam references · Open book
Maine lets you bring the National Electrical Code into the Journeyman and Master Electrician exams. The book can be tabbed, written in, highlighted or underlined, but nothing can be stapled, taped, glued or otherwise inserted into it.
| Book | Edition | Use |
|---|---|---|
| NFPA 70: National Electrical Code (NEC) | 2023 | Allowed in exam |
Prep
Best Maine electrician exam prep, compared
We haven’t compared prep courses for this exam yet.
Costs
How much does a Maine electrician license cost?
| Item | Type | Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| License fee (paid with application) | Fixed | $150 |
| Background check (SBI report) | Fixed | $21 |
| Exam fee (Prov) | Fixed | $90 |
| National Electrical Code book | Variable | Varies |
| State fees and exams | Excludes the NEC book and coursework | $261 |
Fees from the Maine Electricians’ Examining Board journeyman and master license pages and the Prov candidate information bulletin, checked October 2026.
Reciprocity
Does Maine accept out-of-state electrician licenses?
Maine has reciprocity agreements with two neighboring states.
New Hampshire — reciprocity agreement
Licensed New Hampshire electricians may qualify for a Maine license under the agreement. Check with the Board for what you need to submit.
Vermont — reciprocity agreement
Licensed Vermont electricians may qualify for a Maine license under the agreement. Check with the Board for what you need to submit.
All other states — no agreement
Apply as a new applicant, document your hours and pass the Maine exam.
Local
Do Maine cities and counties have their own electrician licensing rules?
Your electrician license comes from the state. Local permits and inspections can still apply where you work.
State handles
- Trainee, journeyman and master electrician licenses
- Exam approval and testing through Prov
- Continuing education before renewal
- Reciprocity with New Hampshire and Vermont
City & county handle
- Electrical permits where required
- Local inspections
- Local business registration
Governance
Who regulates electricians in Maine
Licensing authority
Maine Electricians’ Examining Board
Part of the Office of Professional & Occupational Regulation, Maine Department of Professional & Financial Regulation
Oversight responsibilities
- Issues trainee, journeyman and master electrician licenses
- Approves applicants to sit for the exams
- Sets continuing education for renewal
- Handles reciprocity with New Hampshire and Vermont
Maintenance
How to renew your Maine electrician license and keep it active
Maine journeyman and master electrician licenses renew every two years for a $150 fee, and you need continuing education before you renew. Renewing up to 90 days late adds a $50 late fee.
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
CE hours
Up to 5
Renewal fee
$150
Late penalty
$50 (up to 90 days late)
Renewing your license?
See the Maine CE guide: hours, deadline, required topics and how to renew.
FAQ
Maine electrician license FAQs
How many hours do I need to become a journeyman electrician in Maine?
At least two years with 4,000 hours as a licensed trainee under a master electrician, plus 2,000 hours as a journeyman-in-training earned within four years of getting that license.
How do I become a master electrician in Maine?
You need one year with 2,000 hours as a licensed journeyman, or four years with 8,000 hours as a licensed trainee under a master. Then you pass the 100-question master exam.
Is the Maine electrical exam open book?
Yes. You can bring the National Electrical Code, and it can be tabbed, highlighted and written in. Nothing can be stapled, taped or glued into it.
Who gives the Maine electrician exam?
Prov. You need approval from the Maine Electricians’ Examining Board before you can schedule.
Does Maine have electrician reciprocity?
Yes, with New Hampshire and Vermont. Electricians from other states apply as new applicants.
Does Maine require continuing education for electricians?
Yes. You need up to 5 hours of continuing education before each renewal.
Sources
Official sources for the Maine electrician license
- Maine Electricians’ Examining Board, licensing requirements
- Maine Office of Professional & Occupational Regulation
- Prov, Maine electrician exam information
- NFPA 70, National Electrical Code
- Maine Electricians’ Examining Board, Journeyman Electrician fees
- Maine Electricians’ Examining Board, Master Electrician fees
- Prov, State of Maine OPOR Candidate Information Bulletin
Last updated October 27, 2026. Spot something out of date? Tell us.
Exam Insiders is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the Maine Electricians’ Examining Board.