How to get an electrician license in Maine: the official requirements
The Journeyman Electrician license, the experience and training it takes, the exam and how to apply, from the Maine Electricians' Examining Board.
In Maine, the state electrical license for individual electricians is issued by the Maine Electricians' Examining Board. The Journeyman Electrician license, issued by the Electricians' Examining Board. A journeyman is a licensed individual who makes electrical installations while employed by a Master Electrician, Limited Electrician or Electrical Company. Apprentice or trainee registration: Start with an Apprentice Electrician or Helper Electrician license. An apprentice has a written agreement to complete a 4 - 5 year educational and work program in a registered apprenticeship program, and sends a copy of the Apprenticeship Agreement with the license application. A helper makes electrical installations while employed by a master or limited electrician or an electrical company, under the direct supervision of a master, journeyman or limited electrician. Experience and training: At least 8,000 work hours in electrical installations as a licensed apprentice or licensed helper electrician, plus a 576-hour course of study adopted by the board. An apprentice who has finished the course of study and at least 4,000 of the 8,000 hours may take the exam before finishing the remaining hours. The law also lets the board accept comparable work experience, education or training. Licensing exam: A board-approved journeyman exam, passed before the license is issued. You need Board approval before you sit for it; after approval you are emailed an exam approval notice with the steps to schedule your appointment. How to apply: Two applications, both available online: first an examination application with the required fee and evidence that you qualify; then, after you pass, a license application with the fee, proof of your work hours and evidence of the 45-hour National Electrical Code course.
Maine electrician license requirements
| Requirement | Maine |
|---|---|
| License you apply for | The Journeyman Electrician license, issued by the Electricians' Examining Board. A journeyman is a licensed individual who makes electrical installations while employed by a Master Electrician, Limited Electrician or Electrical Company. |
| Apprentice or trainee registration | Start with an Apprentice Electrician or Helper Electrician license. An apprentice has a written agreement to complete a 4 - 5 year educational and work program in a registered apprenticeship program, and sends a copy of the Apprenticeship Agreement with the license application. A helper makes electrical installations while employed by a master or limited electrician or an electrical company, under the direct supervision of a master, journeyman or limited electrician. |
| Experience and training | At least 8,000 work hours in electrical installations as a licensed apprentice or licensed helper electrician, plus a 576-hour course of study adopted by the board. An apprentice who has finished the course of study and at least 4,000 of the 8,000 hours may take the exam before finishing the remaining hours. The law also lets the board accept comparable work experience, education or training. |
| Classroom hours | A 576-hour course of study adopted by the board, and a 45-hour National Electrical Code course completed within the 2 years before you apply for the license. |
| Licensing exam | A board-approved journeyman exam, passed before the license is issued. You need Board approval before you sit for it; after approval you are emailed an exam approval notice with the steps to schedule your appointment. |
| How to apply | Two applications, both available online: first an examination application with the required fee and evidence that you qualify; then, after you pass, a license application with the fee, proof of your work hours and evidence of the 45-hour National Electrical Code course. |
| Background check | Apprentice and helper applications include a criminal background check; the journeyman application includes an SBI report. |
| State fees | Journeyman Electrician license: $150.00, and $150.00 for each two-year renewal. Apprentice or helper license: $25.00. Exam fees and background-report fees are not included here. |
| License term | Two years from the date of first licensure; the license is renewed every two years. |
| Continuing education | To renew, complete a 15-hour current National Electrical Code course adopted by the board. |
Where the official source we read does not state something, the table says so rather than guessing. Fees shown are the licensing authority's own. Fees charged by exam vendors, schools, apprenticeship programs, fingerprint vendors and application portals are not included.
This page covers the electrical license issued by the state. Cities and counties can have their own registration, permit or license rules; ask the local building department where you will work.
How to get licensed in Maine
- Get an Apprentice Electrician license (with a copy of your Apprenticeship Agreement) or a Helper Electrician license.
- Work at least 8,000 hours in electrical installations as a licensed apprentice or helper and complete the board's 576-hour course of study.
- Submit the examination application with the fee and evidence that you qualify.
- After Board approval, schedule and pass the journeyman exam.
- Apply for the license with proof of your hours and of a 45-hour National Electrical Code course taken within the last 2 years.
- Renew every two years after a 15-hour National Electrical Code course.
Go further
Requirements state by state.
Open →CareerHow to become an electricianThe career path, nationally.
Open →PayElectrician salary in MaineWhat electricians earn.
Open →CareerElectrician career guideThe job, skills and outlook.
Open →ResumeElectrician resumeHow to present your hours and licenses.
Open →InterviewElectrician interview questionsWhat hiring managers ask.
Open →Disclosure: TryHired makes HIRED, a paid job-search program, so we have a conflict of interest when we mention it. Everything on this page is free to use without buying anything.
Questions people ask
How do I get an electrician license in Maine?
How many hours of experience do I need for a Maine electrician license?
Is there an apprentice or trainee license in Maine?
Do I need to pass an exam for a Maine electrician license?
How long is a Maine electrician license good for?
How much does a Maine electrician license cost?
How this page is built
Each fact on this page comes from the Maine Electricians' Examining Board and the rules it publishes (sources named below), read on the dates shown, with the exact wording we relied on kept on file. Requirements and fees change; the Maine Electricians' Examining Board's current instructions govern. We re-read each state's sources every six months (next review by May 10, 2027).
- Not legal advice.
- Licensing rules can change. Verify current requirements with the issuing agency.
- Fees shown are the licensing authority's own. Fees charged by exam vendors, schools, apprenticeship programs, fingerprint vendors and application portals are not included.
- This page covers the electrical license issued by the state. Cities and counties can have their own registration, permit or license rules; ask the local building department where you will work.
- This page covers the individual license named above. Master, contractor, specialty, sign, residential, limited and out-of-state (reciprocity) licenses have their own rules.
- Maine Electricians' Examining Board (Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation), Journeyman Electrician, Senior Journeyman Electrician, official source, read Nov 9, 2026.
- Maine Electricians' Examining Board, Apprentice Electrician, official source, read Nov 9, 2026.
- Maine Electricians' Examining Board, Helper Electrician, Senior Helper Electrician, official source, read Nov 9, 2026.
- Maine Electricians' Examining Board, Examinations, official source, read Nov 9, 2026.
- Maine Revised Statutes, Title 32, section 1202-B, Issuance and scope of licenses (PL 2023, c. 327), official source, read Nov 9, 2026.