Blog

Professional electricians enjoy a stable profession with options to advance, along with the ability to earn a living while learning new skills. Before you can legally operate as an electrician, however, you must obtain a license from the Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Electricians. What are the requirements for licensure, and what will your career path look like?

Electrical Licenses in Massachusetts

Electrical professionals in Massachusetts can pursue a journeyman electrician license, followed by a master electrician license. As a journeyman, you’re permitted to install, maintain, and repair electrical equipment and systems used for light, heat, and power. You may also work on fire warning or security systems.

You can work unsupervised with this license, but there are limitations. You may employ only one apprentice, and you cannot create a corporation or partnership. As a master electrician, on the other hand, you may perform the same activities as a journeyman but also employ journeymen and apprentices and form a corporation or partnership.

Qualifying for a License

To obtain a license, you must first meet the education and experience requirements. Journeyman applicants must be at least 18 years old and provide proof of a high school diploma (or equivalent). You also have to complete 600 hours of classroom instruction in a journeyman curriculum and 8,000 hours (four years) of trade experience. An apprenticeship program is one way to accomplish this.

Once you have obtained your journeyman electrician license, you must work for at least one year as a journeyman in Massachusetts before you can apply for a master electrician license. You must also complete 150 hours of instruction in a master curriculum. All licenses require a CORI background check, as well as a passing grade on state trade exams.

Electrician Exams

The Journeyman Electrician Exam contains two parts. Part I consists of 70 questions covering the following topics:

• Services
• General knowledge
• Grounding and bonding
• Motors
• Wiring methods and devices
• Transformers
• Special occupancies and equipment
• Low-voltage distribution
• Overcurrent protection
• Alarm systems
• Lighting

You’ll have three hours to complete the exam, and you must answer at least 70% (49) of the questions correctly to pass. Part II features 30 questions on topics like:

• Circuit calculations (Ohm’s law)
• Materials and components
• Troubleshooting and testing
• Electrical schematics and plans
• Licensing laws and regulations
• Massachusetts amendments

You’ll have one hour to complete this portion, and you must answer a minimum of 21 questions correctly to pass.

The Master Electrician Exam also has two parts. Part I includes 80 questions covering topics like:

• 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

You’ll have four hours to complete this exam, and you must answer at least 56 questions correctly to pass. 

Part II (business and law) contains 50 questions on topics like:

• Massachusetts licensing
• Lien law
• Estimating and bidding
• Financial management
• Labor laws
• Tax laws
• Project management
• Business organization
• Contracts
• Environmental and safety
• Risk management

You will have two hours to complete this portion, and you must answer a minimum of 35 questions correctly to pass. All tests are open book.

Passing Your State Trade Exam

The right exam prep program for working professionals will give you the best chance to succeed. If you’re ready to obtain your journeyman or master electrician license in Massachusetts, contact RocketCert today to get started.