- Master: at least 4,000 hours as a journeyman, or at least 12,000 hours of electrical installation experience, plus a 576 hour program of study.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- Every two years from your first licensure date. You need a 15 hour current National Electrical Code course before renewing.
Do you need a state license in Maine?
Maine licenses electrical work at the state level through the Maine Electricians' Examining Board, Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
Towns cannot require state licensed electricians to also hold a municipal license.
Maine license types for electrical work
Maine splits the work into 4 licenses. Pick the one that matches the jobs you take, since working outside its scope is the same as working without one.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Master Electrician | In the business of installing electrical wires, conduits, fixtures and equipment |
| Journeyman Electrician | Electrical work, 80 question exam |
| Limited Electrician | Limited scope license, 50 question exam |
| Apprentice, Helper and Journeyman-in-Training | Learner licenses |
Steps to get licensed in Maine
- Get a helper or apprentice license and work under a master or journeyman.
- Pass the journeyman exam and work at least 4,000 hours as a journeyman.
- Complete the 576 hour program of study.
- Apply to the board for the master exam and pass it with Prov.
- Pay the $150 license fee and $21 SBI report fee.
- Take a 15 hour NEC course and renew every two years.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Master: at least 4,000 hours as a journeyman, or at least 12,000 hours of electrical installation experience, plus a 576 hour program of study.
The license to apply for. Master Electrician license.
Maine electrical exams
Trade exam. Yes. 100 multiple choice questions, 70% to pass, given by Prov after board approval.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in Maine
The board lists 4 fees along the way. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Master electrician license | $150 |
| SBI report | $21 |
| Biennial renewal | $150 |
| Late fee (up to 90 days) | $50 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every two years from your first licensure date. You need a 15 hour current National Electrical Code course before renewing.
Reciprocity. The master license page lists reciprocity with New Hampshire and Vermont. The board FAQ also names Massachusetts and Rhode Island, so confirm with the board.
Good to know in Maine
- A master electrician may have one helper working with them at a time.
- Electrical permit applications must be filed online.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for an electrician near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the Maine Electricians' Examining Board, Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how electrical contractors run on Koira.