- Journeyman: 8,000 hours as an apprentice plus 600 hours of electrical schooling (or 10 years licensed as a journeyman or master elsewhere). Master: pass the journeyman exam and work 2,000 hours as a journeyman before taking the master exam.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- Licenses run 2 years. After each new edition of the National Electrical Code, licensees must finish the required continuing education within 12 months from the following January 1, or the license becomes invalid.
Do you need a state license in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire licenses electrical work at the state level through the New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification, Electricians' Board. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
New Hampshire license types for electrical work
New Hampshire 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 | Runs an electrical business or does electrical installations as a business on their own account |
| Journeyman Electrician | Installs wiring and equipment while employed by a licensed master electrician or licensed company |
| Apprentice Electrician | Registers with the state and works under direct supervision of a master or journeyman |
| Corporation or partnership license | For a company whose officer or employee in charge of the business is a licensed master electrician |
Steps to get licensed in New Hampshire
- Register as an apprentice electrician with the state.
- Complete 8,000 hours as an apprentice and 600 hours of electrical schooling.
- Pass the journeyman exam with 70 percent or better.
- Work 2,000 hours as a licensed journeyman, then pass the master exam.
- Pay the $198 two year master license fee. If you operate as a company, also get a corporation or partnership license.
- Complete the NEC update continuing education each code cycle and renew every 2 years.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Journeyman: 8,000 hours as an apprentice plus 600 hours of electrical schooling (or 10 years licensed as a journeyman or master elsewhere). Master: pass the journeyman exam and work 2,000 hours as a journeyman before taking the master exam.
The license to apply for. Master Electrician.
New Hampshire electrical exams
Trade exam. Board approved journeyman and master exams. Passing score is 70 percent. Each exam costs $90.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in New Hampshire
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 license, 2 years (initial or renewal) | $198 |
| Journeyman electrician license, 2 years | $110 |
| Electrical corporation or partnership license, 2 years | $137 |
| Master electrician exam | $90 |
| Apprentice registration, 12 months | $33 |
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. Licenses run 2 years. After each new edition of the National Electrical Code, licensees must finish the required continuing education within 12 months from the following January 1, or the license becomes invalid.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in New Hampshire
- A homeowner can do electrical work on a single family home they own and live in.
- Working without a license is a misdemeanor for a person and a felony for a business.
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 New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification, Electricians' Board 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.