Rhode Island to New Hampshire: journeyman electrician license reciprocity
New Hampshire has a specific endorsement rule for Rhode Island journeyman electricians.
Reference only, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the licensing board before you apply. Full disclaimer.
Licensure by endorsement from Rhode Island (journeyman)
The board reviews your out-of-state credentials case by case. Some exam is usually still required, often only a law or code exam.
OPLC lists Rhode Island as a qualifying jurisdiction for the Journeyman Electrician license under RSA 310:17 and Plc 313.24. A Rhode Island journeyperson electrician whose license is active, unencumbered and not temporary, who has at least one year of professional experience as a licensed journeyman, is licensed in New Hampshire without taking the New Hampshire exam or submitting transcripts, exam results or experience evidence; the applicant files the endorsement application with the $110 fee, verification of licensure from every jurisdiction where licensed, three references and a photograph; OPLC processes applications in 10-14 business days.
At a glance
- Trade exam
- Waived
- Law / code exam
- Not required
- Typical processing
- About 14 days
- Agreement
- Active since May 3, 2024
What you must already have
- Your Rhode Island license must be active and in good standing.
- You must have no disciplinary action or unresolved complaints on your record.
- You must have held your Rhode Island license for at least 1 year.One year of professional experience as a licensed journeyman electrician (Plc 313.24(b)).
What you'll do to get licensed in New Hampshire
- 1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($110). Journeyman electrician application processing and licensing fee, two-year license (Plc 1002.13).
- 2Other. Verification of licensure from every jurisdiction where the applicant is currently licensed (electronic verification sent to OPLC, a hard copy, or a screenshot from a primary-source state website).
- 3Other. 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 $110, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.
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 Rhode Island?
- No. The trade exam is waived on this path under the agreement with Rhode Island.
- How long do I need to have held my Rhode Island license?
- At least 1 year before applying.
- What does it cost to get a New Hampshire journeyman electrician license from Rhode Island?
- Published fees on this path total $110, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
- How long does the application take?
- The board's published or typical processing time is about 14 days.
- Does it work the other way, from New Hampshire to Rhode Island?
- Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from New Hampshire to Rhode Island, the mechanism is experience credit.
Sources
- 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 310:17 License Reciprocity · N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. 310:17 · New Hampshire General Court · Statute · verified September 17, 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.