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
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
| State | Mechanism | Note | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Experience credit | 2026-09-15 | |
| Alaska | Reciprocity | explicit agreement | 2026-09-15 |
| Arizona | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-15 |
| Arkansas | Reciprocity | explicit agreement | 2026-09-15 |
| California | Experience credit | 2026-09-15 | |
| Colorado | Reciprocity | explicit agreement | 2026-09-15 |
| Connecticut | Endorsement | explicit agreement | 2026-09-15 |
| Delaware | Endorsement | explicit agreement | 2026-09-15 |
| District of Columbia | Experience credit | 2026-09-15 | |
| Florida | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-15 |
| Georgia | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-15 |
| Hawaii | Experience credit | 2026-09-15 | |
| Idaho | Endorsement | explicit agreement | 2026-09-15 |
| Illinois | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-15 |
| Indiana | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-15 |
| Iowa | Reciprocity | explicit agreement | 2026-09-15 |
| Kansas | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-15 |
| Kentucky | Experience credit | 2026-09-15 | |
| Louisiana | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-15 |
| Maine | Endorsement | explicit agreement | 2026-09-15 |
| Maryland | Experience credit | 2026-09-15 | |
| Massachusetts | Endorsement | explicit agreement | 2026-09-15 |
| Michigan | Experience credit | 2026-09-15 | |
| Minnesota | Experience credit | 2026-09-15 | |
| Mississippi | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-15 |
| Missouri | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-15 |
| Montana | Reciprocity | explicit agreement | 2026-09-15 |
| Nebraska | Experience credit | 2026-09-15 | |
| Nevada | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-15 |
| New Jersey | Endorsement | explicit agreement | 2026-09-15 |
| New Mexico | Experience credit | 2026-09-15 | |
| New York | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-15 |
| North Carolina | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-15 |
| North Dakota | Endorsement | explicit agreement | 2026-09-15 |
| Ohio | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-15 |
| Oklahoma | Experience credit | 2026-09-15 | |
| Oregon | Endorsement | explicit agreement | 2026-09-15 |
| Pennsylvania | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-15 |
| Rhode Island | Endorsement | explicit agreement | 2026-09-15 |
| South Carolina | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-15 |
| South Dakota | Reciprocity | explicit agreement | 2026-09-15 |
| Tennessee | No credit | no state license to transfer | 2026-09-15 |
| Texas | Experience credit | 2026-09-15 | |
| Utah | Reciprocity | explicit agreement | 2026-09-15 |
| Vermont | Endorsement | explicit agreement | 2026-09-15 |
| Virginia | Experience credit | 2026-09-15 | |
| Washington | Endorsement | explicit agreement | 2026-09-15 |
| West Virginia | Experience credit | 2026-09-15 | |
| Wisconsin | Reciprocity | explicit agreement | 2026-09-15 |
| Wyoming | Reciprocity | explicit agreement | 2026-09-15 |
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.
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
- 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..
- 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..
- 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.
- 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
- 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' Board - Initial Application Checklist (rev. 05/2026) · New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) · Form · verified September 23, 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
- 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
- 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
- RSA Chapter 319-C - Electricians · RSA 319-C:7, 319-C:8 · New Hampshire General Court · Statute · verified September 23, 2026