Maryland has had state electrician licenses since July 1, 2021. Before that, licensing was handled county by county.

There are three levels: apprentice, journeyperson and master. The first needs no exam. The other two need documented experience and a passing score on an exam given by PSI.

This guide explains who qualifies, how to register for the exam and what comes after you pass. This site is independent and not affiliated with the Maryland State Board of Master Electricians, PSI or NFPA.

In short

  • A state license is required to provide electrical services in Maryland, and local jurisdictions may require a registration as well.1
  • A master applicant needs at least 7 years of supervised experience, and up to 3 years of credit can be given for a formal course of study.2
  • A journeyperson applicant needs at least 4 years of supervised experience.2
  • The experience requirement is waived for journeyperson applicants who finished an approved apprenticeship of at least 576 classroom hours and 8,000 work hours.2
  • Apprentices need no exam.3
  • The exam is given by PSI and costs $65 per attempt.4
Contents
  1. The three license levels
  2. Experience requirements
  3. Registering for the exam
  4. After you pass
  5. Retakes
  6. Common questions
  7. Sources

The three license levels

The Maryland Department of Labor licenses electricians through the State Board of Electricians. The board issues master, journeyperson and apprentice licenses. Apprentices do not take an exam.3

The state license law was changed by Senate Bill 762 of 2021, which created the statewide journeyperson and apprentice licenses starting July 1, 2021.15

Experience requirements

Master electrician

To take the master exam you must have worked regularly and principally in providing electrical services for all types of electrical equipment and apparatus for at least seven years. The work must be under the direction of a Maryland licensed master electrician or a similarly qualified government employee. The board can allow up to three years of credit for a formal course of study or professional training that is comparable.2

Journeyperson electrician

The journeyperson requirement is at least four years of the same kind of supervised work, in training to become a master electrician.2

The board waives the experience requirement if you complete an electrician apprenticeship approved by the Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council or the Federal Office of Apprenticeship, with at least 576 classroom hours and 8,000 hours of work experience, and you received the certificate within two years of applying.2

Registering for the exam

The exam is a two-step process. First you apply to PSI and pass the exam, then you apply to the board for the license.4

Since March 31, 2025, PSI takes applications only online. You create an account, upload your experience documentation and wait for approval, which can take up to a week after PSI has the documents. Then you pay and schedule.3

PSI has testing centers in Baltimore, College Park, Hagerstown, Lanham and Salisbury. The exam fee is $65.4

No course is required to sit the exam.1 For the format and content, read our article on the Maryland electrician exam.

After you pass

Once you pass, you apply to the board for the license that matches your exam.4 Applicants must report any prior felony or misdemeanor conviction and provide a copy of the court docket. The board weighs factors such as the nature of the crime and the time since the conviction.1

Waivers, reciprocity and reinstatement are handled by the board, not PSI. The bulletin describes waivers of the exam for some master applicants licensed in other states, and states that there are currently no waiver provisions for journeypersons from other states.3

Retakes

If you fail, you must wait 30 days before you can apply again. Any later retake requires a wait of 60 days, and you pay the exam fee every time.1

Before you spend another $65, practice under test conditions. Start a free practice test to see which topics hold you back.

Common questions

Do I need a state license to do electrical work in Maryland?

Yes. A state-issued license is required, and local jurisdictions may also require a registration.1

Is a preparation course required?

No.1

Do I have to be a journeyperson before the master exam?

Not under the current requirements page. The board has been discussing a rule that would require a journeyperson license first, so check with the board before you plan.26

Sources

The requirements were read on the Maryland Department of Labor pages and in the PSI bulletin (updated 9/1/2024). Check them again before applying.

  1. Maryland Department of Labor: Electrician licensing FAQs (labor.maryland.gov)
  2. Maryland Department of Labor: Electrician license requirements (labor.maryland.gov)
  3. PSI: Maryland Master and Journeyperson Electrician Bulletin (test-takers.psiexams.com)
  4. Maryland Department of Labor: Taking the exam (labor.maryland.gov)
  5. Maryland General Assembly: Senate Bill 762 (2021) (mgaleg.maryland.gov)
  6. State Board of Electricians: minutes of February 24, 2026 (labor.maryland.gov)