Maryland Electrician License: Journeyman, Master & Exam Requirements (2026)

Getting an electrician license in Maryland requires working through the Maryland State Board of Electricians, which issues separate journeyperson and master licenses. The system is experience-heavy: journeyperson requires 4 years under a licensed master, and master requires 7 years total. See our Maryland state exam prep page for practice questions aligned to the Maryland PSI exam.

Maryland is also one of the more reciprocity-friendly states — if you're licensed in Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, or DC, you may qualify for a Maryland license without retaking the exam.

This guide covers every requirement, fee, and step for 2026, verified against Maryland's official labor department pages.

Disclaimer: Requirements and fees change. Always verify current details directly with the Maryland State Board of Electricians before applying.

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Maryland Electrician License Types

[Source: labor.maryland.gov — https://www.labor.maryland.gov/license/elec/elecreq.shtml]

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Journeyperson Electrician License

Experience Requirements

4 years of regular, principally electrical work under the direction and supervision of:

• A Maryland licensed master electrician, OR
• A similarly qualified employee of a governmental unit

Apprenticeship pathway: If you complete a state-approved apprenticeship program — consisting of at least 576 classroom hours and 8,000 hours of on-the-job training approved by the Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council or the Federal Office of Apprenticeship — the Board will waive the exam requirement. The certificate must have been received within 2 years of applying to the Board.

Important: You must be registered as an apprentice with the Board before hours can be credited. Hours worked without registration may not count.

[Source: labor.maryland.gov — https://www.labor.maryland.gov/license/elec/elecreq.shtml]

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Master Electrician License

Experience Requirements

7 years of regular, principally electrical work providing services on all types of electrical equipment and apparatus, under the direction of:

• A Maryland licensed master electrician, OR
• A similarly qualified employee of a governmental unit

Training credit: The Board may allow up to 3 years of credit toward the 7-year requirement for applicants who completed a formal course of study or professional training in electrical installation. Allow an additional 2 months for this review.

[Source: labor.maryland.gov — https://www.labor.maryland.gov/license/elec/elecreq.shtml]

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The Maryland Electrician Exam

All exams are administered by PSI Examination Services. Testing centers are located in Baltimore, College Park, Hagerstown, Lanham, and Salisbury.

Journeyperson Exam Format

[Source: labor.maryland.gov for $65 fee; Thompson Learning (thompsonlearningco.com) for question count and time limit]

Is the Maryland Exam Open Book?

Yes. The Maryland electrician exam is open book. The 2020 National Electrical Code is the permitted reference — it may be tabbed with permanent index tabs and highlighted. Study guides, personal notes, and calculators are not allowed (an online calculator is provided at the testing center). Confirm the current allowed NEC edition with PSI before purchasing materials, as editions can change. [Source: dakotaprep.com citing PSI requirements, Aug 2025]

How to Register

1. Complete the Individual Examination Application through PSI
2. Submit all required documentation
3. PSI will confirm eligibility and authorize you to schedule
4. Schedule online at test-takers.psiexams.com/mdelec or call PSI at 855-898-0715

[Source: labor.maryland.gov — https://www.labor.maryland.gov/license/elec/elecexam.shtml]

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How to Apply: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Register as an apprentice Before performing any electrical work, register with the Maryland State Board as an apprentice. Hours worked without registration may not count toward your journeyperson requirements.

Step 2: Accumulate your experience Document your work hours from day one — 4 years (journeyperson) or 7 years (master) under a licensed master. Get your supervising master to certify your experience throughout — not just at the end.

Step 3: Apply to PSI and pass the exam Contact PSI at 855-898-0715 or apply online at test-takers.psiexams.com/mdelec. Pay the $65 exam fee and pass with a 70% score.

Step 4: Apply for your license with the Maryland Board After passing, submit a license application to the Maryland State Board of Electricians at labor.maryland.gov/license/elec/elechowtoapply.shtml. Per examprep.org: application fee is $20, renewal fee is $25. Confirm current amounts directly with the Board.

Master electricians are also required to carry minimum $300,000 in general liability insurance and $100,000 in property damage insurance. If you have employees, workers' compensation insurance is additionally required. [Source: examprep.org — https://www.examprep.org/contractors-license/seminars/maryland/maryland-master-electrician/]

Step 5: Renew every 2 years Maryland electrician licenses are valid for 2 years from the date of issue on a staggered basis.

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Reciprocity

Maryland has reciprocity agreements with four states/jurisdictions for electrician licensing:

No statewide master reciprocity exists beyond these agreements. For journeyperson licenses obtained in local Maryland jurisdictions (not the state Board), you may be able to reciprocate to the state license if: the local license is valid, was obtained by examination, and has been held for at least 1 year.

[Source: labor.maryland.gov — https://www.labor.maryland.gov/license/elec/elechowtoapply.shtml; staterequirement.com for DC reciprocity]

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Tips for Passing the Maryland Electrician Exam

1. The exam is open book — tab your NEC before exam day. 70 questions in 210 minutes is about 3 minutes per question. Fast NEC navigation is the critical skill. Tab Articles 210, 230, 240, 250, 310, 430 at minimum before you walk in.

2. 70% to pass — that's 49 out of 70 questions correct. Know which topics carry the most weight: grounding and bonding (Article 250), load calculations (Article 220), conductor sizing (Article 310/Table 310.16), and overcurrent protection (Article 240) together typically account for 40–50% of the exam.

3. Document your experience as you go. The Board requires original certification of experience from your supervising master. Getting your master to sign off years later is far harder than keeping records current month by month.

4. The apprenticeship path skips the exam — if you qualify. If you complete a Board-approved apprenticeship with 576 classroom hours and 8,000 OJT hours, and apply within 2 years of receiving the certificate, you can waive the written exam entirely. Confirm eligibility with the Board before assuming you qualify.

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Key Resources

• Maryland State Board of Electricians: labor.maryland.gov/license/elec
• License Requirements: labor.maryland.gov/license/elec/elecreq.shtml
• Exam Information: labor.maryland.gov/license/elec/elecexam.shtml
• How to Apply: labor.maryland.gov/license/elec/elechowtoapply.shtml
• PSI Exam Registration: test-takers.psiexams.com/mdelec | 855-898-0715

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Information in this guide was verified against the Maryland State Board of Electricians official pages (labor.maryland.gov) as of March 2026. Requirements and fees are subject to change — confirm current requirements with the Board before applying.

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Related guides:

• Electrician license exam prep: how to pass on your first try
• What to expect on the electrician license test
• New York Electrician License: City & Local Requirements
• NEC Article 250: Grounding and Bonding
• Compare electrician license requirements by state