Construction / Electrician License / New Hampshire
- New Hampshire
- Electrician License
- Journeyman & Master
- Updated Oct 2026
How to Get Your New Hampshire Electrician License
How to qualify for a New Hampshire journeyman or master electrician license, pass the open-book exam and keep your license current, based on the New Hampshire Electricians’ Board requirements.
Last updated October 27, 2026 from New Hampshire Electricians’ Board requirements
Application fee
$110–$198
Application and 2-year license; plus $90 exam fee
Exam time
4.5–5 hrs
4.5 hrs journeyman, 5 hrs master
Time to get license
~4 yrs
8,000 hrs plus 600 hrs of school for journeyman
Continuing ed
15 hrs
Before each 2-year renewal
Overview
Do you need a New Hampshire electrician license?
Yes. New Hampshire requires electricians to be licensed before any bidding or electrical work takes place. Journeymen install the work under a master, and masters can run their own electrical business.
License required when
- You install electrical wires, conduits, apparatus, fixtures or other electrical equipment
- You bid on electrical work in New Hampshire
- You hire or employ others to do electrical work as a business (master license)
- You make electrical installations for your own account as a principal or side business (master license)
Common exceptions
- Journeymen don’t need a master license, but must be employed by a master electrician and work under a master’s direction and supervision
- Apprentices build their hours working under a journeyman or master electrician licensed by the Board
Penalties for unlicensed work
Our sources don’t list specific penalties. In general, the Electricians’ Board can refuse, discipline or revoke licenses, and the state’s rules (Elec 300–400 and RSA 319-C) govern who may do electrical work.
Your fast-track New Hampshire electrician license checklist
The New Hampshire application, one page
- 8,000 hours as an apprentice to a licensed electrician
- 600 hours of electrical school, including 24 hours of safety
- Board approval to sit for the exam
- Passing score on the ProV journeyman exam
- 2,000 journeyman hours before the master exam
- 15 hours of CE before each renewal
Types
New Hampshire electrician license types and classifications
New Hampshire licenses electricians at two levels. You start as a journeyman, then move up to master after 2,000 more hours in the field.
JRY
Most common
Journeyman Electrician
Installs electrical wires, conduits, apparatus, fixtures and other equipment while employed by and supervised by a master electrician.
Exam
Journeyman exam
Limit
Master supervision
MST
Top tier
Master Electrician
Works for another master, or hires others to do electrical work as a business, or makes installations for their own account.
Exam
Master exam
Limit
No work limit stated
Requirements
New Hampshire electrician license requirements, class by class
The journeyman license is about hours and schooling. The master license builds on it: pass the journeyman exam, then log 2,000 hours as a journeyman.
| Requirement | Journeyman | Master |
|---|---|---|
| Experience | 8,000 hrs as an apprentice to a licensed journeyman or master | 2,000 hrs as a journeyman doing electrical installations |
| Schooling | 600 hrs, including 24 hrs of electrical safety (or an electrical associate degree) | Not stated |
| Other routes | 10 yrs licensed in another jurisdiction, or a previous NH exam | Pass the journeyman exam first |
| Exam | 110 questions, 4.5 hrs, open book | 125 questions, 5 hrs |
| Continuing ed | 15 hrs per renewal | 15 hrs per renewal |
| Application & license fee | $110 (2 years) | $198 (2 years) |
| Exam fee | $90 | $90 |
Steps
How to get your New Hampshire electrician license, step by step
- Log your apprenticeship hoursBefore you apply
Work 8,000 hours as an apprentice to a journeyman or master electrician licensed by the Board. - Finish your electrical schoolingBefore you apply
Complete 600 hours of electrical school, including at least 24 hours on safety, in blocks of 150 hours a year (with 6 hours of safety each), or earn an associate or higher degree in an electrical curriculum. - Apply to the Electricians’ BoardBefore the exam
Contact the New Hampshire Electricians’ Board at 603-271-0145 to apply to sit for the exam. You need pre-approval before you can schedule. - Schedule and pass your examExam day
Book through ProV (866-720-7768). Test centers are in larger cities around the state, and the exam is open book. - Get your journeyman licenseAfter you pass
Complete your license application through the Electricians’ Board. - Move up to master2,000 more hrs
After 2,000 hours as a journeyman, take the 125-question master exam and apply for your master license.
Exam
What to expect on the New Hampshire electrician exam
Each level has its own exam, given by ProV. New Hampshire’s exams are open book, and you can tab and highlight the approved references.
Format
Open book
Questions
110 / 125
Passing score
Not stated
Exam vendor
ProV
Scoring & content
- Journeyman: 110 questions, 4.5 hours
- Master: 125 questions, 5 hours
- Topics include services, feeders, branch circuits, wiring methods, motors and generators, special occupancies and administrative rules
- References include the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70), New Hampshire NEC amendments and the Elec 300–400 rules (RSA 319-C)
- References may be tabbed and highlighted
Retake policy
- Retake rules aren’t stated in our sources
- Pre-approval from the testing agency is required before you schedule
- Contact ProV at 866-720-7768 for scheduling and retake details
- Anyone who previously took the NH journeyman or master exam has a separate route to the journeyman license
Exam references · Open book
New Hampshire’s Journeyman and Master Electrician exams are open book: the approved references can be tabbed, highlighted and brought into the test. The same list covers both exams, including the state amendments and rules you print and bring with you.
| Book | Edition | Use |
|---|---|---|
| NFPA 70: National Electrical Code (NEC) | 2023 | Allowed in exam |
| American Electricians’ Handbook | 17th edition | Allowed in exam |
| Ugly’s Electrical References | 2023 | Allowed in exam |
| New Hampshire Amendment to 2017 NEC Section 210.12 | Not stated | Allowed in exam |
| New Hampshire Amendment to 2017 NEC EL170117 | Not stated | Allowed in exam |
| New Hampshire Amendment to 2017 NEC HB85 | Not stated | Allowed in exam |
| New Hampshire Laws and Rules Elec 300-400, RSA 319-C | Not stated | Allowed in exam |
Prep
Best New Hampshire electrician exam prep, compared
We haven’t compared prep courses for this exam yet.
Costs
How much does a New Hampshire electrician license cost?
| Item | Type | Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Application & license fee (journeyman, 2 years) | Fixed | $110 |
| Application & license fee (master, 2 years) | Fixed | $198 |
| Exam fee (journeyman or master) | Fixed | $90 |
| Electrical schooling (600 hrs) | Variable | Varies |
| Code books and references | Variable | Varies |
| Continuing education | Variable | Varies |
| State fees and exams | Journeyman license plus exam; excludes schooling, books and CE | $200 |
Fees from the OPLC administrative rules (Plc 1002.13 and Plc 1004.07), checked October 2026.
Reciprocity
Does New Hampshire accept out-of-state electrician licenses?
New Hampshire has reciprocity agreements for journeymen with nine states and for master electricians with three New England states. Check with the Board for what you’ll still need to submit.
Arkansas — journeyman reciprocity
Journeyman electricians licensed in Arkansas may qualify under New Hampshire’s reciprocity agreement.
Colorado — journeyman reciprocity
Journeyman electricians licensed in Colorado may qualify under New Hampshire’s reciprocity agreement.
Iowa — journeyman reciprocity
Journeyman electricians licensed in Iowa may qualify under New Hampshire’s reciprocity agreement.
Montana — journeyman reciprocity
Journeyman electricians licensed in Montana may qualify under New Hampshire’s reciprocity agreement.
North Dakota — journeyman reciprocity
Journeyman electricians licensed in North Dakota may qualify under New Hampshire’s reciprocity agreement.
South Dakota — journeyman reciprocity
Journeyman electricians licensed in South Dakota may qualify under New Hampshire’s reciprocity agreement.
Utah, Wisconsin & Wyoming — journeyman reciprocity
Journeyman electricians licensed in Utah, Wisconsin or Wyoming may qualify under New Hampshire’s reciprocity agreements.
Maine, Massachusetts & Vermont — master reciprocity
Master electricians licensed in Maine, Massachusetts or Vermont may qualify under New Hampshire’s reciprocity agreements.
All other states — 10-year route
If your state isn’t listed, 10 years as a licensed journeyman or master in another jurisdiction is one route to the New Hampshire journeyman license.
Local
Do New Hampshire cities and counties have their own electrician licensing rules?
Your license comes from the state and covers all of New Hampshire. Local permit and inspection rules can still vary by town.
State handles
- Journeyman and master licenses, through the Electricians’ Board
- Exam approval, with testing through ProV
- Continuing education and 2-year renewals
- State NEC amendments and the Elec 300–400 rules
City & county handle
- Electrical permits and inspections
- Local building code enforcement
- Any local registration rules (check with your town)
Governance
Who regulates electricians in New Hampshire
Licensing authority
New Hampshire Electricians’ Board
603-271-0145
Oversight responsibilities
- Issues and renews journeyman and master electrician licenses
- Approves applicants to sit for the licensing exams
- Sets education and continuing education requirements
- Administers the Elec 300–400 rules under RSA 319-C
Maintenance
How to renew your New Hampshire electrician license and keep it active
New Hampshire electrician licenses renew every 2 years. You need 15 hours of continuing education before each renewal.
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
CE hours
15
Renewal fee
$110 journeyman / $198 master
Late penalty
Not stated
New Hampshire electrician education & training
15 hours of continuing education before each 2-year renewal
FAQ
New Hampshire electrician license FAQs
How many hours do I need for a journeyman license in New Hampshire?
8,000 hours of field experience as an apprentice, plus 600 hours of electrical schooling that includes at least 24 hours on safety. An associate or higher degree in an electrical curriculum can count for the schooling.
How do I become a master electrician in New Hampshire?
Pass the journeyman exam, then log 2,000 hours as a journeyman doing electrical installations. After that you take the 125-question master exam.
Is the New Hampshire electrician exam open book?
Yes. You can tab and highlight the approved references and use them during the test. The journeyman exam is 110 questions in 4.5 hours, and the master exam is 125 questions in 5 hours.
Who gives the New Hampshire electrician exam?
ProV. You need pre-approval before you schedule, and you can reach ProV at 866-720-7768.
Does New Hampshire have electrician reciprocity?
Yes. Journeymen from Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming, and masters from Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont, may qualify.
How often do I renew, and how much CE do I need?
Every 2 years, with 15 hours of continuing education before each renewal.
Can I get licensed with out-of-state experience?
Yes, if you have 10 years of experience as a licensed journeyman or master electrician in another jurisdiction. That’s one of the qualifying routes for the journeyman license.
Sources
Official sources for the New Hampshire electrician license
- New Hampshire Electricians’ Board, Education and training
- New Hampshire OPLC, Laws and rules
- New Hampshire Administrative Rules, Elec 300–400 (RSA 319-C)
- New Hampshire amendment to NEC section 210.12 (PDF)
- ProV, exam scheduling
- New Hampshire Administrative Rules, Plc 1000 (OPLC fees)
Last updated October 27, 2026. Spot something out of date? Tell us.
Exam Insiders is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the New Hampshire Electricians’ Board.