Kentucky to New Hampshire: journeyman electrician license reciprocity
New Hampshire has no reciprocity agreement with Kentucky. Your Kentucky experience counts toward eligibility, but you must pass the New Hampshire exam.
Reference only, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the licensing board before you apply. Full disclaimer.
Traditional application and examination (non-qualifying jurisdictions)
Nothing is waived, but your documented out-of-state hours count toward eligibility to sit the exam.
A journeyman licensed in a state that OPLC has not determined to be substantially similar cannot use the Plc 313 endorsement route and applies through the traditional process under RSA 319-C:7: document 8,000 hours of service as an apprentice electrician (the board may credit an approved course of instruction or military experience), at least 600 hours of education meeting board criteria, and pass the Prov journeyman examination ($90), then pay the $110 two-year license fee. OPLC's FAQ notes that an applicant who believes a non-listed jurisdiction is substantially similar may ask the Executive Director to reconsider the determination, and Plc 313.11 lets an individual request a waiver of the endorsement criteria based on a combination of education, training and licensed work experience.
RSA 319-C:7 does not restrict the 8,000 apprentice hours to New Hampshire, and the application form only asks that each employer's hours be certified by a licensed electrician; no official page states how out-of-state apprenticeship or journeyman hours are otherwise documented for the traditional route. OPLC's checklist says all applications take 10-14 business days after receipt.
At a glance
- Trade exam
- Required
- Law / code exam
- Not required
- Out-of-state hours
- Count toward eligibility
- Typical processing
- About 14 days
What you must already have
- You must document at least 8,000 hours of qualifying work experience.Service as an apprentice electrician (RSA 319-C:7, II(a)); the board may credit approved schooling or military experience. The application form requires a minimum of 8,000 hours of on-the-job training certified per employer by a licensed electrician.
- At least 600 hours of education meeting criteria set by the board (RSA 319-C:7, II(b))Elec 304.01(a)(2) accepts, in place of this schooling, an associate or higher degree in an electrical curriculum, 10 years of experience as a journeyman or master electrician licensed in another jurisdiction, or having previously taken the New Hampshire journeyman or master exam.
What you'll do to get licensed in New Hampshire
- 1Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. New Hampshire journeyman electrician examination administered by Prov (NEC-based, proctored, written or computerized).
- 2Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($90). Journeyman electrician examination fee (Plc 1004.07).
- 3Application fee. Pay the application fee ($110). Journeyman electrician application processing and licensing fee, two-year license (Plc 1002.13).
- 4Other. Disclose on the application any unannulled felony conviction and any suspension, revocation or sanction of an electrician's license in any jurisdiction, with three references and a recent photograph (Elec 302.02). No fingerprint criminal records check is listed for electricians; OPLC's endorsement checklist requires it for health-related professions only..
Published fees on this path total $200, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.
What you'll need to buy or arrange
Exam preparation
Most boards contract PSI, Prov, or ICC for exams. Check which code edition the exam is written to before buying a prep course.
- Trade exam
- Exam fee · $90
How New Hampshire licenses journeyman electricians
New Hampshire journeyman electrician · “Journeyman Electrician”
Statewide license
Issued by New Hampshire Electricians' Board, Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC)
New Hampshire issues a statewide Journeyman Electrician license through the Electricians' Board within the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC). A new applicant needs 8,000 hours of service as an apprentice electrician, at least 600 hours of related education, and a passing score on the Prov-administered journeyman exam ($90); the license costs $110 for a two-year term and requires 15 hours of NEC code-change instruction each code cycle. Since May 3, 2024 New Hampshire licenses out-of-state journeymen by endorsement under RSA 310:17 and Plc 313.24 without examination when the origin jurisdiction has substantially similar requirements; OPLC currently lists Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington as qualifying jurisdictions, and requires one year of experience as a licensed journeyman. The Board's application form also still carries an older reciprocity list (Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont at both levels; Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming at journeyman only) whose partner states continue to list New Hampshire; those are recorded here as reciprocity agreements pending confirmation from OPLC. Licensees from other states apply through the traditional application and exam.
Common questions
- Do I have to take the New Hampshire journeyman electrician exam if I'm licensed in Kentucky?
- Yes. New Hampshire requires the trade exam on this path.
- What does it cost to get a New Hampshire journeyman electrician license from Kentucky?
- Published fees on this path total $200, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
- Do my Kentucky work hours count in New Hampshire?
- Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward New Hampshire's eligibility requirements.
- How long does the application take?
- The board's published or typical processing time is about 14 days.
Sources
- N.H. Code of Administrative Rules Elec 100-400 - Electricians' Board (Elec 302.02 application forms, Elec 304.01 qualifications, Elec 305 examinations, Elec 401 renewal, Elec 403 continuing education) · Elec 302.02, Elec 304.01, Elec 304.02, Elec 305.01, Elec 305.02, Elec 401.01, Elec 403.01 · New Hampshire Electricians' Board / General Court · Admin Rule · verified September 23, 2026
- OPLC - Electricians' Applications (new license, reciprocity, renewal) · New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
- NH Office of Professional Licensure and Certification - Electricians' Board · New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
- OPLC - Electricians' FAQs · New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) · Faq · verified September 15, 2026
- OPLC Electricians' Board - Application for Journeyman, Master or High/Medium Voltage Electrician (exam or reciprocal), rev. 2024-09 · Elec 302.02 · New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) · Form · verified September 15, 2026
- OPLC - New Changes for Reciprocity in New Hampshire (HB 594 qualifying jurisdictions and FAQs) · RSA 310:17; Plc 313.24 · New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026
- OPLC - Checklist for Reciprocity/Endorsement licensing, all participating jurisdictions and professions (2025-07-31) · New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) · Form · verified September 15, 2026
- OPLC - Reciprocity Licensing (HB 594 overview) · New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) · Agency Page · verified September 16, 2026
- N.H. Code of Administrative Rules Plc 1000 - Fees (Table 1002.13 Electricians Board; Plc 1004.07 examination fees) · Plc 1002.13; Plc 1004.07 · New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification / General Court · Admin Rule · verified September 23, 2026
- N.H. Code of Administrative Rules, Part Plc 313 - Licensure by Endorsement · N.H. Code Admin. R. Plc 313.01, 313.02, 313.03, 313.05, 313.06, 313.07, 313.08, 313.09, 313.10, 313.11, 313.12, 313.29 · New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification · Admin Rule · verified September 23, 2026
- RSA Chapter 319-C - Electricians · RSA 319-C:7, 319-C:8 · New Hampshire General Court · Statute · verified September 23, 2026
Verified dates are when a person last opened each source and confirmed the facts above. Cite the board, not us.