LicensebyState

Moving to New Hampshire as a journeyman electrician: every state's rule

New Hampshire has reciprocity agreements with 9 states. Everyone else follows its standard out-of-state path: endorsement.

New Hampshire journeyman electrician · “Journeyman Electrician”

Statewide license

Verified September 15, 2026· 8 sources

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.

States New Hampshire reciprocates with

Every origin state

Reciprocity 9Endorsement 11Experience credit 14No credit 16
Every state's path into New Hampshire
StateMechanismNoteVerified
AlabamaExperience credit2026-09-15
AlaskaReciprocityexplicit agreement2026-09-15
ArizonaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
ArkansasReciprocityexplicit agreement2026-09-15
CaliforniaExperience credit2026-09-15
ColoradoReciprocityexplicit agreement2026-09-15
ConnecticutEndorsementexplicit agreement2026-09-15
DelawareEndorsementexplicit agreement2026-09-15
District of ColumbiaExperience credit2026-09-15
FloridaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
GeorgiaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
HawaiiExperience credit2026-09-15
IdahoEndorsementexplicit agreement2026-09-15
IllinoisNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
IndianaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
IowaReciprocityexplicit agreement2026-09-15
KansasNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
KentuckyExperience credit2026-09-15
LouisianaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
MaineEndorsementexplicit agreement2026-09-15
MarylandExperience credit2026-09-15
MassachusettsEndorsementexplicit agreement2026-09-15
MichiganExperience credit2026-09-15
MinnesotaExperience credit2026-09-15
MississippiNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
MissouriNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
MontanaReciprocityexplicit agreement2026-09-15
NebraskaExperience credit2026-09-15
NevadaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
New JerseyEndorsementexplicit agreement2026-09-15
New MexicoExperience credit2026-09-15
New YorkNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
North CarolinaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
North DakotaEndorsementexplicit agreement2026-09-15
OhioNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
OklahomaExperience credit2026-09-15
OregonEndorsementexplicit agreement2026-09-15
PennsylvaniaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
Rhode IslandEndorsementexplicit agreement2026-09-15
South CarolinaNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
South DakotaReciprocityexplicit agreement2026-09-15
TennesseeNo creditno state license to transfer2026-09-15
TexasExperience credit2026-09-15
UtahReciprocityexplicit agreement2026-09-15
VermontEndorsementexplicit agreement2026-09-15
VirginiaExperience credit2026-09-15
WashingtonEndorsementexplicit agreement2026-09-15
West VirginiaExperience credit2026-09-15
WisconsinReciprocityexplicit agreement2026-09-15
WyomingReciprocityexplicit agreement2026-09-15

Getting licensed in New Hampshire from scratch

No license yet, or nothing that transfers? This is how New Hampshire issues a journeyman electrician license to a first-time applicant.

Verified September 23, 2026· 8 sources

Journeyman electrician by examination

New Hampshire licenses a journeyman electrician who has worked 8,000 hours as a registered apprentice under a New Hampshire-licensed journeyman or master, completed 600 hours of electrical schooling, and passed the state journeyman exam. Apprentices must register with OPLC before doing any electrical work and, to renew the yearly registration, complete 150 hours of electrical schooling each year. Applicants mail the OPLC Universal Application for Initial Licensure and the Application for Journeyman, Master or High/Medium Voltage Electrician with the fee, and have schools send transcripts directly to OPLC. Once OPLC approves the application, the candidate schedules the open-book exam with Prov, online or at a Prov test center, and needs 70 percent to pass.

The journeyman exam has 110 questions with a 4.5-hour limit: National Electrical Code questions based on the edition adopted in New Hampshire, practical questions based on the American Electrician's Handbook, and questions on RSA 319-C and the board's rules, so there is no separate law exam. A failed exam may be retaken up to two more times within the 180-day eligibility period, at least two days apart; after three failures or once that period ends, the Board must approve the candidate again.

Trade exam
Required
Law / code exam
Not required
Exam given by
Prov
Exam format
Open book
Passing score
70%
Renewal
Every 2 years

Who can apply

  • You must document at least 8,000 hours of qualifying work experience.Each employer certifies the dates and type of work, signed by a licensed electrician. The board credits up to 2,000 hours for completed electrical programs at New Hampshire community colleges, NHTI, IBEW-NECA joint apprenticeship schools, state-approved vocational schools and accredited out-of-state schools (Elec 304.01(b)).
  • Complete at least 600 hours of classroom or related instruction.Taken as 150-hour courses that each include at least 6 hours on electrical safety; more than one course may be taken in a year (Elec 304.01(a)(2)).

Other ways to qualify

Each of these replaces the requirements above. You only need one.

Associate degree in an electrical curriculum

An associate or higher degree in an electrical curriculum satisfies the schooling requirement in place of the 600 hours of courses. The 8,000 hours of experience are still required.

  • You must document at least 8,000 hours of qualifying work experience.Each employer certifies the dates and type of work, signed by a licensed electrician. The board credits up to 2,000 hours for completed electrical programs at New Hampshire community colleges, NHTI, IBEW-NECA joint apprenticeship schools, state-approved vocational schools and accredited out-of-state schools (Elec 304.01(b)).
  • Associate or higher degree in an electrical curriculum

Ten years licensed in another jurisdiction

An applicant with 10 years of experience as a journeyman or master electrician licensed in another jurisdiction does not need the 600 hours of schooling, but must still document the 8,000 hours of experience and pass the New Hampshire exam.

  • You must document at least 8,000 hours of qualifying work experience.Each employer certifies the dates and type of work, signed by a licensed electrician. The board credits up to 2,000 hours for completed electrical programs at New Hampshire community colleges, NHTI, IBEW-NECA joint apprenticeship schools, state-approved vocational schools and accredited out-of-state schools (Elec 304.01(b)).
  • 10 years of experience as a journeyman or master electrician licensed in another jurisdictionReplaces the 600 hours of schooling only (Elec 304.01(a)(2)b).

Previously sat the New Hampshire exam

An applicant who has previously taken the New Hampshire journeyman or master exam is not required to show the 600 hours of schooling again. The 8,000 hours of experience are still required.

  • You must document at least 8,000 hours of qualifying work experience.Each employer certifies the dates and type of work, signed by a licensed electrician. The board credits up to 2,000 hours for completed electrical programs at New Hampshire community colleges, NHTI, IBEW-NECA joint apprenticeship schools, state-approved vocational schools and accredited out-of-state schools (Elec 304.01(b)).
  • Has previously taken the New Hampshire journeyman or master electrician exam

Steps to get licensed

  1. 1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($110). Journeyman application processing and licensing fee, which covers the first two-year license (Plc 1002.13). Paid by personal check, money order or cashier's check to the State of NH - Treasurer with the paper application; nonrefundable..
  2. 2Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($90). Journeyman exam fee, paid to Prov when scheduling (Plc 1004.07). The same fee applies to each retake..
  3. 3Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. New Hampshire Journeyman Electrician exam (Prov): 110 questions, 4.5 hours, open book, 70 percent to pass.
  4. 4Other. Three references unrelated to the applicant, a color photograph taken within the last six months, and disclosure of any felony conviction that has not been annulled and any suspension, revocation or sanction of an electrician's license in any jurisdiction (Elec 302.02). No fingerprint criminal records check is listed for electricians..

Published fees on this path total $200, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.

Keeping it active

Every 2 years and a $110 renewal fee.

15 hours of instruction on the changes in each new edition of the National Electrical Code, including at least 1 hour on changes to RSA 319-C, the board's rules and installation concerns. The hours are owed once per code cycle rather than at every renewal: they are due within 12 months after January 1 following publication of the new edition. Approved course providers report completion to OPLC through CE Broker.

Licenses renew online two years from the date of issue.

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

Sources for this section

  1. 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
  2. OPLC - Electricians' Applications (new license, reciprocity, renewal) · New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
  3. NH Office of Professional Licensure and Certification - Electricians' Board · New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
  4. OPLC Electricians' Board - Initial Application Checklist (rev. 05/2026) · New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) · Form · verified September 23, 2026
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. Prov - State of New Hampshire Electrician Board Examinations Candidate Information Bulletin (NH Electrician CIB 2025.06.23) · Prov, Inc. for the New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification · Form · verified September 23, 2026
  8. RSA Chapter 319-C - Electricians · RSA 319-C:7, 319-C:8 · New Hampshire General Court · Statute · verified September 23, 2026

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