Massachusetts Electrician Exam

To get licensed in Massachusetts, electricians are required to take an exam that covers such subjects as circuits, conductors, grounding, lighting and safety. Whether you live in Boston or Springfield or another city or county, the resources below will help you get started on the path to receive your electrician's license.

Need of a License: All electricians must be licensed by State Examiners of Electricians. Types of license and qualifications for each are:

Master Electrician - Referred to as a Certificate “A” license, it may be issued either to firms or individuals, and is a contractor license. Master electricians may operate electrical contracting businesses but may not engage in actual electrical work unless they also possess a journeyman electrician license.

Journeyman Electrician – Referred to as a Certificate “B” license, licensees may do both electrical and systems work. Journeyman electricians may work as employees of licensed master electricians or for themselves but may not employ journeyman electricians.

Qualifications and Exam Requirements

Master Electrician

• A licensed Journeyman Electrician applying for a Class A (Master Electrician) license must meet the following eligibility criteria for licensure:
  • 1 year of experience as the holder of a Massachusetts Class B (Journeyman Electrician) license and having been actively engaged in electrical work.
  • For the purposes of licensure as a Master Electrician, an applicant whose experience is limited to installing fire warning, security or inherently power limited systems shall not be considered a qualified applicant.
  • Education Requirements:
    • 150 clock hours of classroom instruction
    • The education requirement may be waived on basis of education, work experience and/or licenses in another state or jurisdiction.

Journeyman Electrician
Work Experience:

• 8000 clock hours over a period of no less than 4 years before making an application for examination.
• Applicants may receive credit for electrical shop experience toward the apprenticeship experience requirement provided the experience was obtained in a public vocational school program approved by the Board.
• Applicants with work experience in systems work may apply 25% of that experience, up to a maximum of 2000 clock hours and one year, towards the experience requirement for the journeyman's examination.- no credit for work experience completed six years prior to the successful completion date of their Board approved education.

Education:

• 600 clock hours of classroom instruction
• A high school diploma or the equivalent with their application if requested by the board.
• Applicants with education in systems may apply 25% of that education, up to a maximum of 150 clock hours, towards the education requirement for the journeyman's examination.
• Applicants may receive credit for electrical related instruction toward the 600 clock hours of education provided the instruction was obtained in a public vocational school program approved by the Board.
• Applicants who have education, work experience and/or licenses in another state or jurisdiction may be eligible for a waiver of this education.

Who Grants a License: Massachusetts State Examiners of Electricians

Test Content

The master and journeyman exams have the following content and details:

Master Electrician

• State Specific Electrical Requirements
• General Knowledge
• Services
• Grounding and Bonding
• Wiring Methods and Devices
• Motors
• Transformers
• Low-Voltage Distribution
• Special Occupancies and Equipment
• Overcurrent Protection
• Lighting
• Alarm Systems

Passing Grade: 70%
Exam Details: The Master's Examinations is given in two Parts. One part of the examination questions is derived from Business and related Laws. Part two of the examination questions are derived from the current Code, other Standards and Reference material, as provided in the Candidate Information Bulletin (CIB).

Part 1: 80 questions, 240 minutes
Part II: 50 questions, 120 minutes

See Candidate Information Booklet

Journeyman Electrician

• State Specific Electrical Requirements
• General Knowledge
• Services
• Grounding and Bonding
• Wiring Methods and Devices
• Motors
• Transformers
• Low-Voltage Distribution
• Special Occupancies and Equipment
• Overcurrent Protection
• Lighting
• Alarm Systems
• Circuit Calculations (Ohm's Law)
• Electrical Schematics and Plans
• Materials and Components
• Troubleshooting and Testing
• Massachusetts Amendments
• Licensing Laws and Regulations

Passing Grade: 70%
Exam Details: The Journeyman Examinations is given in two parts. One part of the examination questions are derived from apprentices supervised work experience. Part two of the examination questions are derived from the current Code, other Standards and Reference material, as provided in the Candidate Information Bulletin (CIB).

Part 1: 70 questions, 180 minutes
Part 2 Applied Portion: 30 questions, 60 minutes

See Candidate Booklet

Fees: There are fees to obtain a license.

Who administers the test: All applicants for licensure shall submit an application for examination to the Board for its approval. Tests are administered by PSI (800) 733-9267.

License Renewal Requirements: Both master and journeyman electrician have renewal on a triennial basis, by July 31^st.

Applicable Code: NEC 2020