MAINE · electrician
Journeyman Electrician
Maine Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation — Electricians' Examining Board →Scope of Work
A Maine Journeyman Electrician is authorized to perform electrical installations under the general direction of a licensed Master Electrician. Contracting for electrical work and pulling permits in the contractor's own name requires a Master Electrician license (or work done through a Master of record). The credential is issued under 32 M.R.S.A. Chapter 17, administered by the Electricians' Examining Board within Maine's Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (OPOR). Source: 32 M.R.S.A. §1202-B (https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/32/title32sec1202-B.html) and Maine OPOR Electricians (https://www.maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing/professions/electricians).
Experience and Training
Standard pathway: 8,000 hours of on-the-job training as a licensed apprentice or helper, plus 576 hours of Board-approved related classroom instruction, under supervision of a Maine-licensed Master, Journeyman, or Limited Electrician. Alternative pathways documented on the Board's Journeyman Electrician licensing page include: 7,000 hours after completing a 2-year high-school electrical program, 4,000 hours after a Maine community college electrical degree, or an equivalent Board-approved pathway. Apprentice registration with the Board is a prerequisite to counting hours toward Journeyman. Source: Maine OPOR Journeyman Electrician (https://www.maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing/professions/electricians/licensing/journeyman-electrician-senior-journeyman-electrician).
Exam
Administered by PROV, Inc. under contract with the Board. Candidates are tested on the National Electrical Code edition currently adopted in Maine, Maine electrical statutes (32 M.R.S.A. Chapter 17), and Board rules. Review the current Maine Electrician Candidate Information Bulletin from PROV for exam fee, content outline, and reference materials. Source: Maine OPOR Electricians (https://www.maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing/professions/electricians).
Fees
As posted on the Board's Journeyman Electrician page: $150 initial license fee plus a $21 SBI (State Bureau of Identification) report fee; $150 biennial renewal; a $50 late-renewal charge applies up to 90 days after expiration. Verify current fees before applying; the Board updates schedules periodically. Source: Maine OPOR Journeyman Electrician (https://www.maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing/professions/electricians/licensing/journeyman-electrician-senior-journeyman-electrician).
Reciprocity
Maine reviews out-of-state applicants on a case-by-case basis and maintains reciprocity with a limited set of jurisdictions. Applicants with a Journeyman license issued by examination in New Hampshire, Vermont, or other reviewed states should confirm current reciprocal terms with the Board before applying. Source: Maine OPOR Electricians (https://www.maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing/professions/electricians).
Renewal and CE
2-year renewal cycle. Renewal requires completion of a 15-hour Board-approved NEC update course covering the current adopted code edition. Renewal is processed through Maine's online licensing portal. Failure to renew on time triggers a late fee; prolonged lapse may require reapplication.
Union and Non-Union Pathway
Maine apprenticeship is registered through the Maine Apprenticeship Program within the Maine Department of Labor. Options include IBEW/NECA-affiliated Local 567 (Portland) and Local 1253 (Bangor) joint apprenticeship programs, and non-union programs registered through ABC or IEC. Community-college routes through Eastern Maine Community College, Central Maine Community College, and Kennebec Valley Community College provide the related-instruction hours. Presented neutrally; verify current intake with each program.
Scope Limitations
A Journeyman may not contract for electrical work in the Journeyman's own name or pull electrical permits as the responsible party; those functions require a Master Electrician license or a licensed Electrical Contractor firm. Work outside the scope of the Journeyman credential, including design and final sign-off on service equipment in many jurisdictions, requires a Master Electrician.