- No license is required for electrical work in a building used for dwelling purposes with no more than two dwelling units, or for an owner working in their own single unit home.
- Master: hold a Vermont journeyman electrician license for at least two years, or comparable experience and training acceptable to the board.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- Licenses are valid for three years. Master and journeyman electricians need 15 hours of board-approved National Electrical Code instruction in the 36 months before renewal, plus the Vermont Energy Goals education module.
Do you need a state license in Vermont?
Vermont licenses some electrical work at the state level and leaves the rest alone. Which side of that line a job falls on decides whether you need the state license.
No license is required for electrical work in a building used for dwelling purposes with no more than two dwelling units, or for an owner working in their own single unit home.
Vermont license types for electrical work
Vermont splits the work into 3 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 |
|---|---|
| EM | Electrical master. May design, install, repair and replace electrical installations as a principal business and employ others |
| EJ | Electrical journeyman |
| ES | Electrical specialist |
Steps to get licensed in Vermont
- Work as a registered apprentice and get your journeyman electrician license.
- Hold the journeyman license for at least two years.
- Complete the Vermont Energy Goals education module.
- Send the notarized master application and $150 fee to the Division of Fire Safety at least two weeks before a board meeting.
- Pass the master electrician exam.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Master: hold a Vermont journeyman electrician license for at least two years, or comparable experience and training acceptable to the board.
The license to apply for. Master Electrician (EM).
Vermont electrical exams
Trade exam. Yes. Master applicants pass an examination to the satisfaction of the board. The application notes testing is now on the 2023 NEC.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in Vermont
The board lists 3 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 license (3 years) | $150 |
| Journeyman license (3 years) | $115 |
| Specialist license, per field (3 years) | $115 |
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 are valid for three years. Master and journeyman electricians need 15 hours of board-approved National Electrical Code instruction in the 36 months before renewal, plus the Vermont Energy Goals education module.
Reciprocity. Reciprocal licenses are available to residents of Maine or New Hampshire with a certified letter from their state. A universal license path is also listed. Ask the board for details.
Good to know in Vermont
- Work in complex structures needs a validated work notice and fee before it starts.
- Working without the proper license can bring a fine of up to $500 per offense.
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 Vermont Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire Safety, Electricians' Licensing 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.