- Master: a Massachusetts journeyman license, at least one year of work experience and 150 hours of board approved education. Journeyman: 600 hours of approved education, a 15 hour code update class and 8,000 hours of work over at least four years under a licensed Massachusetts journeyman.
- Plan for a trade exam and a business and law exam.
- Licenses expire July 31, and you can renew online in eLIPSE starting 90 days before. The master renewal fee is $117.
Do you need a state license in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts licenses electrical work at the state level through the Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Electricians, Division of Occupational Licensure. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
Massachusetts license types for electrical work
Massachusetts splits the work into 5 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 (A) | Run an electrical business as an individual, firm or corporation and employ journeymen and apprentices |
| Journeyman Electrician (B) | Do electrical work as an individual |
| Systems Contractor (C) | Fire warning and security system business |
| Systems Technician (D) | Fire warning and security system work |
| Electrical/systems business license | Business entities with a Massachusetts master or systems contractor as licensee of record |
Steps to get licensed in Massachusetts
- Finish 600 hours of board approved education and 8,000 hours of work over four years, then pass the journeyman exam.
- Work at least one year as a journeyman and complete 150 hours of approved master level education.
- Apply in eLIPSE with the $66 application fee and schedule the PSI exam.
- Pass the trade and business portions, then pay the $155 license fee.
- If you run a corporation or LLC, apply for an electrical business license with yourself as licensee of record.
- Renew before July 31 each renewal cycle.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Master: a Massachusetts journeyman license, at least one year of work experience and 150 hours of board approved education. Journeyman: 600 hours of approved education, a 15 hour code update class and 8,000 hours of work over at least four years under a licensed Massachusetts journeyman.
The license to apply for. Master Electrician (A) license.
Massachusetts electrical exams
Trade exam. Yes. The exam is given by PSI after the board approves your application. The trade portion costs $80.
Business and law exam. Yes. The exam has a business and practical portion, which costs $55.
What it costs in Massachusetts
The board lists 5 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 application | $66 |
| Master electrician license | $155 |
| Exam, both portions (paid to PSI) | $135 |
| Master electrician renewal | $117 |
| Electrical business license application | $233 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. The board's consumer page says liability insurance is required by state law.
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Licenses expire July 31, and you can renew online in eLIPSE starting 90 days before. The master renewal fee is $117.
Reciprocity. Massachusetts has a reciprocity agreement with New Hampshire.
Good to know in Massachusetts
- A business entity needs a Massachusetts licensed master as its licensee of record and must be registered with the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
- A master or journeyman license type and number must appear on any sign, listing or ad.
- A master electrician must keep a regular place of business where the license is displayed.
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 Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Electricians, Division of Occupational Licensure 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.