The Board of State Examiners of Electricians' full path to a Massachusetts electrician license: Class A, B, C and D requirements, the PSI exam, fees, application steps, and the business license.
You get an electrician license in Massachusetts through the Board of State Examiners of Electricians: document your experience and education hours for the class you want, pass the applicable PSI exam at the board's 70 percent passing score, and apply through the board's eLIPSE portal. There is no dollar threshold here. Any electrical wiring, apparatus, device or fixture work performed for compensation in Massachusetts requires a license at the level that matches the work. This guide walks that path class by class, with the application steps, the exam structure, what it actually costs today, and what changes once you are licensing a company rather than yourself.
At a glance
- Licensing board: The Board of State Examiners of Electricians, Division of Occupational Licensure, administers all four classes and contracts with PSI to run the exams.
- Class D systems technician: 4,000 hours over at least two years, plus 300 education hours.
- Class B journeyman: 8,000 hours over at least four years, plus 600 education hours.
- PSI exam fee: $135 per class ($80 trade or alarm part, $55 business and law or applied part), effective September 30, 2026, replacing the former tiered fee structure.
- Renewal: July 31 every three years, with 21 hours of continuing education (15 code, 6 professional development).
New to Massachusetts contractor licensing generally? Start with the Massachusetts contractor license guide. For how individual licenses connect to business licensing across trades, see our contractor license guide. This page covers the electrician license specifically, not exam study material.
Who needs an electrician license in Massachusetts, and which class
Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 141, Section 3 sets four certificate types, and getting the right one matters because the authority differs between performing the work and running the business. Certificate B (journeyman) and Certificate D (systems technician) authorize hands-on work: wiring, conduits, apparatus, devices and fixtures for B, and fire warning, security and other systems work for D. Certificate A (master) and Certificate C (systems contractor) authorize the business side. The statute is explicit that holding Certificate A or C alone does not let the holder perform the hands-on work; that still requires Certificate B or D.
There is no project dollar amount that triggers the requirement. Any installation work covered by the statute, performed for compensation, needs the matching license. A homeowner working on property they occupy is a separate question from this guide; anyone doing the work for someone else, or for a company, needs to be on this ladder.
Massachusetts runs two parallel routes. The power wiring route runs apprentice-level experience to Class B journeyman, then to Class A master. The systems route (fire alarm, security and related low-voltage systems) runs to Class D systems technician, then to Class C systems contractor. The two routes do not substitute for each other: a Class A master credential does not cover systems contracting, and a Class C systems contractor credential does not cover power wiring contracting.
The Massachusetts electrical licensing ladder
| Class | Credential | Experience and education | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Master electrician | Class B, 1 year, 150 education hours | Contracts; not hands-on alone |
| B | Journeyman electrician | 8,000 hrs over 4 yrs, 600 education hrs | Hands-on wiring work |
| C | Systems contractor | Class D, 1 year, 75 education hours | Contracts; not hands-on alone |
| D | Systems technician | 4,000 hrs over 2 yrs, 300 education hrs | Hands-on systems work |
Every class also requires the board's 15 hour current Code Update certificate from a board-approved provider under 237 CMR 13.05(1), on top of the hours in the table. For qualifying purposes, education expires if more than 20 years have passed since it began, and work experience expires if more than 20 years have passed since it was performed. Extensive field experience alone does not substitute for the documented hours and education; the board requires the actual records.
How to apply: the application steps
The board's exam candidate bulletin lists five required parts to every exam application, run through the board's eLIPSE portal. In practice, the path looks like this:
- Create a MyMassGov account if you do not already have one, then sign in to eLIPSE and start the application for the Board of State Examiners of Electricians and the specific class you are pursuing.
- Enter your registration information exactly as it appears on your government-issued identification.
- Submit education documentation. Journeyman and systems technician applicants need a high school diploma or equivalent plus the curriculum hours for that class; master and systems contractor applicants submit the master or contractor curriculum hours.
- Submit work experience documentation for the class and hour total in the ladder table above.
- Complete the CORI authorization form. The board requests a Criminal Offender Record Information check on every applicant before approving or denying the application; conviction of an offense is reviewed case by case and is not an automatic bar.
- Submit your 15 hour Code Update certificate from a board-approved provider.
- Wait for board approval, which averages up to 30 days depending on volume, holidays and CORI processing, then schedule your PSI exam once approved.
- Pass both parts of the exam at the required 70 percent score, then pay the license fee in eLIPSE to receive your printed, photo license.
Approval is good for 12 months from the approval date; if you have not tested and passed within that window, you file a new application with any updated education or work records. Active duty military, relocated military spouses and veterans may qualify for the Valor Act's licensing benefits, including a 5 percent exam credit for veterans and hour or education credit for specific military electrical categories; see the board's Valor Act guidance for the documentation required.
Want the application done for you?
Gathering the right experience and education proof, assembling the CORI authorization and code update certificate, and following up when the board has a question is where applications stall, especially for an out-of-state applicant or anyone with mixed military or multi-employer hours to document. License Application Processing handles that paperwork for you: an eligibility audit before anything is filed, a document checklist so you know what is still missing, every state form prepared and reviewed line by line, submission the way the board requires, and the board's follow-up questions answered and resubmitted until it decides.
It is a flat $999 per state application, paid up front. State fees, exam fees, background checks and fingerprinting are paid to the state, not to us. We do not promise approval, only the board decides, and we do not sit the exam for you. Call 615-219-2110 to get started.
The PSI exam: structure, content and the new fee
The board contracts with PSI to administer the exam at five Massachusetts test sites: Auburn, Boston (Charlestown), Fall River, Lawrence and West Springfield. Every exam is open-book, computer-based and two parts, and each part is scored independently; you must pass both to be licensed. The current candidate bulletin, effective September 30, 2026, sets these structures:
| Class, part | Questions | Passing score | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Part 1 (trade) | 90 | 70% (63 correct) | 240 min |
| Journeyman Part 1 (trade) | 80 | 70% (56 correct) | 180 min |
| Systems Contractor Part 1 | 70 | 70% (49 correct) | 180 min |
| Systems Technician Part 1 | 60 | 70% (42 correct) | 120 min |
| Business and Law (A and C) | 50 | 70% (35 correct) | 120 min |
| Applied portion (B and D) | 30 | 70% (21 correct) | 60 min |
Master and journeyman Part 1 content covers electrical theory, services, grounding and bonding, wiring methods and devices, motors, overcurrent protection, alarm systems, solar and battery storage, drawn from the National Electrical Code, NFPA 72 and the Massachusetts state amendments. Master and systems contractor candidates share a Business and Law Part 2 covering Massachusetts licensing law, estimating, lien law, contracts and risk management, using the NASCLA business and law guide and the relevant Massachusetts general laws. Journeyman and systems technician candidates take an Applied portion instead, covering circuit calculations, schematics, troubleshooting and Massachusetts licensing law specifically.
As of the September 30, 2026 bulletin, the PSI exam fee is a flat $135 per class, split $80 for Part 1 and $55 for Part 2, the same total across Class A, B, C and D. This replaces the board's former tiered structure, which charged $226 for Class B or D and $276 for Class A or C. A separate application license fee is paid in the eLIPSE portal at the time of application and again after you pass; the board's exam bulletin does not state that amount, so confirm the current figure in eLIPSE or with the board directly rather than relying on a pre-eLIPSE total. Candidates who fail a part may retake it up to six times within 12 months of their application approval date, after waiting a minimum of 24 hours; after three failed attempts the board requires proof of additional study before you retake, and after six the board requires repeating the full education hours for that class.
Massachusetts electrical license fees and renewal
| License class | PSI exam fee | Renewal fee | Renewal cycle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master (A) | $135 ($80 + $55) | $117 | 3 years, expires July 31 |
| Journeyman (B) | $135 ($80 + $55) | $78 | 3 years, expires July 31 |
| Systems contractor (C) | $135 ($80 + $55) | $117 | 3 years, expires July 31 |
| Systems technician (D) | $135 ($80 + $55) | $78 | 3 years, expires July 31 |
Notes: renewal fees are set by the Division of Occupational Licensure's published fee schedule for electricians and systems installers. A late renewal adds $57 per license. Other standard fees across all four classes: $15 for a certified statement, $17 for a duplicate license, $27 for a name change, and $27 for a wall certificate.
Renewal falls on July 31 every three years for every class. The board's continuing education rule under 237 CMR 17.00 requires 21 clock hours in the three years before renewal: 15 hours must be board-approved Massachusetts Electrical Code instruction, and the remaining 6 hours cover professional development in code, business, law, first aid, safety or building code topics, which do not need to come from a board-approved provider. Renewals and payments run through the eLIPSE portal. If you hold more than one credential, each has its own renewal transaction; one payment does not resolve every license you hold.
How long it takes
The fastest path to Class B journeyman runs a minimum of four years and 8,000 hours; Class A master adds at least one more year on top of that, for a minimum of roughly five years from zero to master. On the systems side, Class D systems technician takes a minimum of two years and 4,000 hours, and Class C systems contractor adds at least one more year, for a minimum of roughly three years from zero to systems contractor. Application review then runs up to 30 days before you are cleared to test, and the board issues the printed photo license after you pass and pay the license fee in eLIPSE; you are not authorized to work for hire until you hold that printed license, even with a passing exam score in hand.
Licensing a Massachusetts electrical or systems business
A business cannot hold an electrical or systems contracting license on its own. It needs an appropriately licensed Licensee of Record, commonly called the LOR, and the LOR's role has to match the entity type. A corporation's LOR must hold an officer title; an LLC's LOR must be a manager. The Secretary of the Commonwealth filing for the entity has to show the LOR with that title, and state whether the business is organized for full electrical contracting, including systems work, or limited to systems contracting only.
| Business entity | Required preparation | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Corporation | LOR is an officer; Clerk's Certificate lists officers | mass.gov business license |
| LLC | LOR is a manager; provide the operating agreement | mass.gov business license |
| LLP | Provide the required partnership documentation | mass.gov business license |
| Entity registration | Register with the Secretary of the Commonwealth | mass.gov business license |
| Application | Name the LOR, submit documents, pay $221 | mass.gov business license |
The business license application fee is $221, submitted through the board's eLIPSE portal along with the entity documents and the LOR's current Class A or C license. An introductory statement about having a licensee available is not the complete rule; for a corporation or LLC, the officer or manager requirement has to be documented and matched before the application goes in.
A practical sequence: identify the intended electrical or systems scope, select the eligible master or systems contractor to serve as LOR, confirm their required company role, gather the Secretary of the Commonwealth and entity documents, and submit the business application with the $221 fee. Check the names, titles and roles across every document before submission; a mismatch between the Secretary of the Commonwealth filing and the LOR's officer or manager title is a common rejection point.
If you are not ready to qualify on your own yet
If you want to run an electrical or systems company before you personally hold a Class A or C license, Massachusetts still requires a properly licensed LOR standing behind the business. A qualifying agent qualifies the company as an owner or full-time W-2 employee who supervises the work, not as an outside signature attached to a license for a fee. If your company needs an LOR while you build toward your own master or systems contractor credential, review your qualifying agent options and see what a qualifying agent actually is before you structure the relationship.
New Hampshire reciprocity
Massachusetts has one reciprocity agreement, with New Hampshire, and it is narrower than it sounds. It applies only to journeyman and master licenses that were obtained by passing an exam in New Hampshire; it does not extend to Class C or D systems credentials, and a license obtained through reciprocity in a third state does not qualify.
| Credential | Reciprocity fee | Additional requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Journeyman | $208 | NH journeyman license, by NH exam |
| Master | $310 | Plus MA journeyman or concurrent application |
A master reciprocity applicant needs a Massachusetts journeyman credential already, or a concurrent application for one, plus the Massachusetts 150 hour master education program; the New Hampshire master credential alone does not waive those conditions. Reciprocity requires a License Verification or Certified Letter from the New Hampshire board, a notarized CORI authorization, and a recent color photo, submitted through eLIPSE under 237 CMR 15.00.
The move from ePlace to eLIPSE
As of September 28, 2026, the Board of State Examiners of Electricians moved from the old ePlace system to the Division of Occupational Licensure's new eLIPSE portal; ePlace access for the board ended September 23, 2026. If you are applying, renewing or checking a license status now, use eLIPSE and your MyMassGov business account rather than instructions written for the old ePlace portal.
Massachusetts electrical licensing questions
What is a Massachusetts Class D electrical license?
Class D is the systems technician credential, requiring 4,000 hours over at least two years and 300 education hours, plus the 15 hour code update certificate and a passing PSI exam score. Class C, the systems contractor credential, requires a Class D license first.
How much does a Massachusetts electrician license cost now?
As of September 30, 2026, the PSI exam fee is a flat $135 per class ($80 plus $55), the same for Class A, B, C and D. That replaced the board's older $226 and $276 figures. A separate application license fee is paid in eLIPSE; confirm that amount directly with the board rather than relying on the pre-eLIPSE total.
Can a Class A master do wiring without Class B?
No. Chapter 141, Section 3 specifically states that holding Certificate A does not by itself authorize hands-on work that requires Certificate B. Someone who wants to both run the business and perform wiring needs both credentials.
Must an electrical LLC's LOR be a manager?
Yes. The business application requires an LLC's Licensee of Record to hold a manager title and requires the operating agreement; a corporation's LOR must instead be an officer, documented with a Clerk's Certificate.
Does Massachusetts accept a New Hampshire electrician license?
Only journeyman and master licenses obtained by passing an exam in New Hampshire, for the $208 journeyman or $310 master reciprocity fee. Master applicants also need a Massachusetts journeyman credential or a concurrent application. The agreement does not cover systems credentials.
How long does it take to become a master electrician in Massachusetts?
A minimum of roughly five years: at least four years and 8,000 hours to reach journeyman, then at least one more year to reach master, plus the board's application review time before each exam.
Talk to The Licensing Company
Whether you are applying for your own Class A, B, C or D license, or your company needs a Licensee of Record while you build toward one, start with the work you actually do and the credential that matches it. If the state application itself is the obstacle, License Application Processing will prepare and submit it for a flat $999, paid up front, with state fees paid separately to the state. Call 615-219-2110 or start your Licensee of Record inquiry.
For related trades, see the Massachusetts plumbing licensing guide and Massachusetts HVAC licensing guide. For the difference between the journeyman and master roles generally, see journeyman vs. master electrician, or browse all state licensing guides.
Sources
- Board of State Examiners of Electricians, Examination Candidate Information Bulletin, effective September 30, 2026, retrieved October 5, 2026
- Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 141, Section 3, retrieved October 5, 2026
- Massachusetts individual electrical or systems license application, retrieved October 5, 2026
- Massachusetts electrical or systems business license application, retrieved October 5, 2026
- Massachusetts out-of-state electrician reciprocity application, retrieved October 5, 2026
- Division of Occupational Licensure fee and renewal schedule for electricians and systems installers, retrieved October 5, 2026
- Massachusetts continuing education for electricians, 237 CMR 17.00, retrieved October 5, 2026
- Board of State Examiners of Electricians licensing hub, retrieved October 5, 2026
- The Licensing Company, License Application Processing, retrieved October 5, 2026
Requirements and fees are set by the board and change, especially during the eLIPSE transition. Verify current details with the Board of State Examiners of Electricians before applying. Last reviewed October 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, licensing guidance, or an offer of services. Licensing requirements vary by jurisdiction. For specific compliance questions, contact The Licensing Company for a confidential consultation.