New Hampshire licenses electricians statewide through the Electricians' Board and the OPLC under RSA 319-C. Here are the 8,000 and 600 hour rules, the 2,000 master hours, the $110 and $198 fees, the Prov exam, renewal and the master a company needs under RSA 319-C:10.
New Hampshire licenses electricians at the state level. The Electricians' Board, part of the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC), sets the standards and handles discipline, and the OPLC issues the licenses under RSA 319-C and the board's Elec 100 to 400 rules. One New Hampshire license is good in every city and town in the state.
At a glance Who licenses: the Electricians' Board within the OPLC, under RSA 319-C and the Elec rules. Journeyman: 8,000 apprentice hours and 600 hours of schooling, then a 110 question exam. Master: pass the journeyman exam, work 2,000 hours as a journeyman, then pass a 125 question exam. Fees: $110 for a journeyman license and $198 for a master license, each good for 2 years, plus a $90 exam fee. Companies: a corporation, LLC or partnership needs a New Hampshire master directly in charge (RSA 319-C:10).
New to licensing in New Hampshire? Start with the New Hampshire contractor license requirements, and for every other state see how to get a contractor license in each state.
What the New Hampshire Electricians' Board Does
The board writes the ethical, professional and educational standards for electricians and disciplines licensees who break them. Under RSA 319-C:4 it has five members appointed by the governor with the council's approval: two master electricians, one journeyman and two public members, each for a five year term, plus the state fire marshal as a nonvoting member. RSA 319-C:6 requires at least four regular meetings a year.
The OPLC runs the paperwork. RSA 319-C:7, II says "the office" issues master and journeyman licenses, so applications, renewals and fees all go to the OPLC at 7 Eagle Square in Concord. Field inspection is separate: RSA 319-C:5 lets the state fire marshal appoint electrical inspectors, and the board sends inspection and safety questions to the Department of Safety.
In 2026 the board proposed a readoption of its Elec 300 rules (notice 2026-92); this guide quotes the rules as posted on September 28, 2026.
Who Needs a New Hampshire Electrician License
Under RSA 319-C:1, no electrical installation may be made for compensation unless made by a person licensed by the OPLC. RSA 319-C:2, III defines electrical installations as the installation, repair, alteration and maintenance of conductors, fittings, devices and fixtures for heating, lighting or power, "regardless of the voltage." Plugging a portable appliance into an existing receptacle is not an installation, but fixed equipment never counts as portable.
The board's line is simple: an active New Hampshire license is required to work with 30 volts or higher. RSA 319-C:3 lists exceptions, among them utilities, regular employees of industrial plants working in those plants, owners' employees doing incidental work, and automatic irrigation systems at 30 volts or less. Plumbers and gas fitters licensed under RSA 153:27 through 153:38 may do the work their own license governs on electrical equipment, including operating the final disconnecting means at the equipment or appliance (RSA 319-C:3, XIII).
There is a genuine homeowner exception. RSA 319-C:15, II lets a homeowner wire a single family home he or she owns and occupies, or will occupy, as a bona fide personal home; it does not reach a home the owner does not live in, or paid work for others. Unlicensed work, or a business employing an unlicensed person other than an apprentice, is a misdemeanor for a natural person and a felony for any other person, including a business entity (RSA 319-C:15, I).
The License Ladder From Apprentice to Master
One ladder covers all electrical work, plus a high/medium voltage lane and a company license.
| Credential | Who holds it | What it takes | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice ID card | A learner working under a NH master | Registration before any work | 12 months |
| Journeyman | Installer employed by a master or licensed firm | 8,000 hours, 600 hours of school, exam | 2 years |
| Master | Works for a master or runs an electrical business | Journeyman exam, 2,000 journeyman hours, exam | 2 years |
| High/medium voltage trainee | Learner on systems over 600 volts | Job with an HMV or master electrician | 12 months |
| High/medium voltage electrician | Works on systems over 600 volts | Board approved certification program | 2 years |
| Corporation or partnership | Corporations, LLCs, LPs and LLPs | A NH master directly in charge | 2 years |
Apprentice Electrician
Apprentices must register with the OPLC (RSA 319-C:7, IV) and hold an ID card before doing any electrical work. Under Elec 304.02 the card lasts 12 months, and you must be employed by a master electrician, or by a non electrical employer that also employs a New Hampshire master who supervises you. You qualify at 18 or older, under 18 with high school finished, at 16 to 18 while enrolled in high school, or through a board approved electrical Career and Technical Education program.
Each renewal requires at least 150 hours of electrical schooling in that 12 month period. An apprentice who has finished the schooling but has no journeyman license by the fifth renewal must take 30 hours of classroom instruction each year (Elec 403.02). A master or journeyman must directly supervise every apprentice installation, within the limits RSA 319-C:2-a sets:
| Supervising electrician | Apprentices each | Work site limit |
|---|---|---|
| Journeyman, first year of licensure | 1 | Not applicable |
| Journeyman, after the first anniversary | 2 | 3 journeymen at 2 each; others 1 each |
| Master | 2 | 6 masters at 2 each; others 1 each |
| All licensed electricians on a site | 2 at most | No more than 6 supervising 2 each |
Journeyman Electrician
A journeyman installs wires, conduit, apparatus, fixtures and equipment, and RSA 319-C:2, IV requires a journeyman to work for a New Hampshire master or an entity licensed under RSA 319-C:10. Under RSA 319-C:7, II and Elec 304.01 you need:
- 8,000 hours of practical or field experience as an apprentice to a journeyman or master licensed by the board.
- 600 hours of electrical schooling with at least 24 hours on safety, in 150 hour courses or through an electrical associate or higher degree. Two other routes exist: 10 years licensed as a journeyman or master elsewhere, or having taken the New Hampshire exam before.
- A passing score on the board approved exam, which includes National Electrical Code questions (RSA 319-C:8).
The statute lets the board credit approved coursework or military experience toward the 8,000 hours, and Elec 304.01(b) caps school credit at 2,000 hours. Your application needs a signed certification from each employer in the trade (Elec 302.02).
Master Electrician
RSA 319-C:2, V defines a master as a person employed by another master, or who as a business hires others to do electrical work, or who makes installations as a business for his or her own account. Elec 304.01(f) requires you to pass the journeyman exam and log 2,000 hours as a journeyman before sitting for the master exam. It is the license that lets you run an electrical business.
High/Medium Voltage Electrician and Trainee
This lane covers power distribution systems over 600 volts, from the source of supply to a building's first disconnecting means, including metering and controls (RSA 319-C:2, III-a). Under RSA 319-C:7, II-a you qualify through a board approved state, national or employer certification program, or proof, from before January 1, 2003, of five years as a high/medium voltage electrician with a company that had an approved training program. A trainee works for a high/medium voltage or master electrician on a 12 month card (Elec 304.05).
What the Licenses Cost
The OPLC fee rule, Plc 1002.13, sets one fee per credential, and the OPLC fee page charges that same amount for an initial license, a renewal or a reinstatement. Plc 1004.07 sets the exam fees.
| Credential | OPLC fee | Exam fee | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice ID card | $33 | None | 12 months |
| Journeyman | $110 | $90 | 2 years |
| Master | $198 | $90 | 2 years |
| High/medium voltage trainee | $66 | None | 12 months |
| High/medium voltage electrician | $198 | None | 2 years |
| Corporation or partnership | $137 | None | 2 years |
| Relicensing exam | Not applicable | $70 | Not applicable |
Application fees are non refundable, and the OPLC asks you to allow 10 business days after it receives your application for the license to issue or for a first request for more information.
The Prov Exam: Questions, Time and Passing Score
Since May 12, 2025, Prov has proctored the electricians exam. You need board approval before you schedule, and you can test at a Prov center or remotely; the exams are open book and timed.
| Exam | Questions and time | What the questions cover | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Journeyman | 110 in 4.5 hours | 50 NEC, 50 practical, 10 law and rules | $90 |
| Master | 125 in 5 hours | 50 NEC, 50 practical, 25 law and rules | $90 |
| Relicensing | 20 questions | National Electrical Code only | $70 |
Question counts and topics are set by Elec 305.01, times by the Prov candidate bulletin and fees by Plc 1004.07. You need 70 percent to pass (Elec 305.02), and practical questions come from the American Electricians' Handbook. Under RSA 319-C:8, if you have not passed within one year of the OPLC receiving your application, you file a new application and pay again.
Which NEC edition. The code enforced in the field is set by statute: RSA 155-A:1, IV now adopts the 2023 NEC. The exam's code questions are set by rule: Elec 305.01(a) bases them on that adopted edition. The reference books you may bring are the ones named in the exam descriptions of the current Prov candidate bulletin, and Prov checks them before you enter the testing room.
The Licensing Steps in Order
- Get hired by a New Hampshire master electrician, or by an employer that employs one, and register for your apprentice ID card before any electrical work.
- Take at least 150 hours of approved schooling each year as you renew the card, until you reach 600 hours with 24 hours on safety.
- Log 8,000 hours under direct supervision, with a signed certification from each employer.
- Apply for the journeyman license with the Universal Application, the journeyman form, transcripts sent by your school and the $110 fee.
- Pass the Prov journeyman exam ($90) within your one year window, with 70 percent or better.
- Work 2,000 hours as a journeyman, then apply for the master license ($198) and pass the master exam ($90).
- License your company if it is a corporation, LLC or partnership: file the corporation form, a Secretary of State certificate of good standing and the $137 fee, naming the master directly in charge.
- Renew every 2 years and finish the 15 hour code update each code cycle.
Renewal, the Code Update and Lapsed Licenses
Journeyman, master, high/medium voltage and corporation licenses renew 2 years from the date of issuance (Elec 401.01), and apprentice and trainee cards renew yearly. Renewal is online through the OPLC portal.
Continuing education. RSA 319-C:6-c and Elec 403.01 require every journeyman and master to complete 15 hours on the changes in the latest NFPA 70, the National Electrical Code, including at least one hour on RSA 319-C, the board's rules and its installation concerns. Proof is due within 12 months from the January 1 following the code's publication. Miss the window and your license is invalid until you show the board the hours.
Lapsed licenses. Under one year expired, file the reinstatement application and fee. Past one year, Elec 402.01 requires the relicensing exam plus a 15 hour NEC course; 3 to 6 years out adds a 45 hour course, 6 to 10 years adds a 90 hour course (either can be replaced by proof of licensed work in another jurisdiction), and over 10 years with no license elsewhere means retaking the initial exam.
Moving to New Hampshire With an Out of State License
Since May 3, 2024, the OPLC has accepted endorsement applications under RSA 310:17, and journeyman and master electricians are on its list. Its qualifying jurisdictions for journeymen are Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington; for masters the list is the same without North Dakota, with Connecticut's electrical contractor license as the match.
Plc 313.24 requires your state to use the same or a later electrical code edition and to require an exam. For a journeyman, its standard must be 4 years full time or 8,000 hours in not more than 6 years in an apprenticeship with at least 560 hours of education; for a master, one year full time or 2,000 hours in not more than 3 years as a licensed journeyman. You also need one year of experience in the license you are applying for.
When an Electrical Company Needs a Master
When a corporation or partnership contracts for electrical installations, RSA 319-C:10, I requires one or more officers or employees directly in charge of its business affairs to be a licensed master electrician; for a partnership, it must be a member. Elec 303.01 counts LLCs as corporations and LLPs and LPs as partnerships, requires Secretary of State registration, and requires a New Hampshire master directly in charge of all aspects of the electrical installations.
The corporation application asks for the master's title, duties and license number, whether the master is full time or part time, and average weekly hours (Elec 302.02). Then comes the consequence: under RSA 319-C:7, III, the company's license is void upon the death of, or the severance from the company of, that master. Elec 404.02 gives the company 30 days to report the change and return the corporation license.
A one person shop is covered too. A journeyman must work for a master or a licensed entity (RSA 319-C:2, IV), so an electrician working for his or her own account needs the master license.
Massachusetts and Connecticut have their own versions of this rule. Massachusetts takes electrical business license applications only from entities whose Licensee of Record is a Massachusetts master or systems contractor (electrician license in Massachusetts), and a Connecticut E-2 unlimited journeyperson may work only while employed by a licensed contractor, such as an E-1 unlimited electrical contractor (electrician license in Connecticut). Our guides for Vermont and Maine cover those states, and the national guide to getting an electrical contractor license covers the rest.
How the Plumbing and Gas Side Compares
Plumbing and fuel gas fitting sit under a separate law, the mechanical licensing subdivision of RSA 153 (RSA 153:27 through 153:38), and its Mec 300 rules reach the same result. Mec 302.05, the Mandatory Business Entity License, covers every business entity doing that work, sole proprietors included. Mec 307.04(a)(3) requires a corporate officer or responsible managing employee holding the master plumber, fuel gas fitting, domestic appliance technician or hearth system installer license for that discipline.
| Question | Electrical (RSA 319-C) | Plumbing and gas (Mec 300) |
|---|---|---|
| Which businesses need a license | Corporations, LLCs and partnerships | Every entity, sole proprietors included |
| Who can qualify it | Officer or employee; a member for a partnership | Corporate officer or responsible managing employee |
| If the qualifier leaves | License void on death or severance | No plumbing or gas work until replaced |
| Deadline to notify | 30 days (Elec 404.02) | 30 days (Mec 307.04(b)) |
Mec 307.04(b) leaves no grace period: no plumbing or gas work until a new licensed responsible managing employee is in place. For electricians, Mec 303.10 exempts RSA 319-C licensees from gas fitting licensure only to operate the appliance service gas shut off valve.
The detail is in our New Hampshire plumbing licensing guide, our New Hampshire HVAC and fuel gas guide and our guide to New Hampshire's responsible managing employee rule.
Where a Qualifying Agent Fits
If your electrical company is a corporation, LLC or partnership and you do not hold the master license, or your master just gave notice, RSA 319-C:10 stops it from contracting until a licensed master is directly in charge. Building your own master credential takes 8,000 apprentice hours, 600 hours of school, two exams and 2,000 more hours. A qualifying agent fills that seat the way the statute describes: a licensed New Hampshire master who joins as a full time W-2 employee and is actually in charge of the electrical installations, as Elec 303.01 requires. If the idea is new, start with what a qualifying agent is.
The Licensing Company, led by founders Marshall Schofield and Jeremiah Jaskulski, places qualifying agents as full time W-2 employees, never on a percentage, flat fee, per project or 1099 basis. That real employment relationship is what the "officer or employee directly in charge" standard asks for, and it keeps the license from going void under RSA 319-C:7, III. If your license is at risk, hire a qualifying agent while your own people finish their hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the New Hampshire electricians board?
It is the Electricians' Board within the OPLC in Concord: two masters, one journeyman and two public members appointed by the governor and council, with the fire marshal as a nonvoting member. The board sets standards and discipline, and the OPLC issues licenses.
How many hours do you need for an electrical license in New Hampshire?
A journeyman license takes 8,000 apprentice hours plus 600 hours of schooling, including 24 on safety. A master license adds 2,000 hours as a licensed journeyman.
How do I get an electrical apprentice license in New Hampshire?
Get hired by a New Hampshire master, or an employer that employs one, and file the Universal Application, the apprentice form signed by your master and the $33 fee. The card lasts 12 months and renews with 150 hours of schooling.
How do I get a journeyman electrician license?
Finish 8,000 apprentice hours and 600 hours of schooling, apply with the $110 fee, and pass the 110 question Prov exam with 70 percent. The license renews every 2 years.
How many hours does a master electrician license take?
Elec 304.01(f) requires 2,000 hours as a licensed journeyman, earned after passing the journeyman exam, on top of the 8,000 apprentice hours. Then you pass the 125 question master exam.
Is there a residential master or Class A electrician license in New Hampshire?
No. New Hampshire licenses apprentice, journeyman, master and high/medium voltage electricians, with no residential or lettered class, and one master license covers residential and commercial work.
Do I need a separate license to work in Washington, NH or another town?
The license RSA 319-C requires comes from the state and covers every New Hampshire town, Washington included. Under RSA 319-C:5, V a local building official who performs electrical inspections may check it on the job, so ask the town about permits before you start.
Can I transfer an electrician license from another state?
Journeyman and master electricians can apply by endorsement under RSA 310:17. The OPLC names 11 qualifying jurisdictions for journeymen and 10 for masters, including Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont. Plc 313.24 requires substantially similar requirements, an exam, the same or a later code edition, and one year of licensed experience.
What happens to my company's license if our master leaves?
RSA 319-C:7, III makes the license void on the master's death or severance, and Elec 404.02 gives 30 days to notify the OPLC. The company needs a new licensed master directly in charge before contracting again.
Talk to Us About Qualifying a New Hampshire Electrical Company
Our journeyman vs master electrician explainer compares the two licenses, and our state by state guides cover other markets. To talk through qualifying a New Hampshire electrical company, call 615-219-2110 or start at hire a qualifying agent.
Last reviewed September 28, 2026. Fees, exam details and rules change; confirm with the OPLC before you apply.
Sources
Every source below was retrieved on 2026-09-28.
- NH OPLC, Electricians' Board
- NH OPLC, Electricians' License Fees
- NH OPLC, Electricians' Applications
- NH OPLC, Initial Application Checklist, Rev. 05/2026
- NH OPLC, Electricians' Apprenticeship Requirements
- NH OPLC, Electricians' Continuing Education
- NH OPLC, Electricians' FAQs
- NH OPLC, Electricians' Laws and Rules
- NH OPLC, Rulemaking Notice 2026-92
- NH OPLC, Examination Information, May 12, 2025
- Prov, NH Electrician Candidate Bulletin
- NH OPLC, Reciprocity in New Hampshire
- RSA 319-C, Electricians
- RSA 155-A:1, State Building Code
- Elec 100 to 400, Electricians' Board Rules
- Plc 1000, OPLC Fee Rules
- Plc 300, OPLC Endorsement Rules
- Mec 300, Mechanical Licensing Rules
- RSA 153:27, Mechanical Licensing
- Mass.gov, Electrical Business License
- Connecticut DCP, Electrical License Types
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.