Do I have to take the Maryland journeyman electrician exam if I'm licensed in Virginia?

No. The trade exam is waived on this path under the agreement with Virginia.

How long do I need to have held my Virginia license?

At least 1 year before applying.

What does it cost to get a Maryland journeyman electrician license from Virginia?

Published fees on this path total $18.50, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.

Does it work the other way, from Maryland to Virginia?

Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from Maryland to Virginia, the mechanism is endorsement.

Virginia to Maryland: journeyman electrician license reciprocity

Reciprocity· Exam waivedVerified September 15, 2026· 10 sources

Maryland has a reciprocity agreement with Virginia: a Virginia journeyman electrician can get a Maryland license without retaking the trade exam.

Reference only, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the licensing board before you apply. Full disclaimer.

Reciprocal agreement with Virginia (journeyperson)

A signed state-to-state agreement. The trade exam is waived; you apply, prove your history, and pay the fee.

Maryland reciprocates journeyperson licenses with Virginia. A Virginia journeyman electrician whose license was obtained by examination or through a Virginia apprenticeship program, who has been licensed for at least 1 year, and whose license states it is a journeyperson-level license may apply for a Maryland Journeyperson Electrician license without taking the Maryland exam. The application is filed online with a letter of verification or good standing from Virginia showing the first issue date, current expiration date, the examination date or apprenticeship completion, and disciplinary history, plus a copy of the current Virginia license, uploaded within 30 days of applying. The original license fee is $18.50.

At a glance

Trade exam: Waived
Law / code exam: Not required
Agreement: Active

What you must already have

Your Virginia license must have been obtained by examination, not by reciprocity or grandfathering.
You must have held your Virginia license for at least 1 year.
Your Virginia license must be active and in good standing.
You must have no disciplinary action or unresolved complaints on your record.

What you'll do to get licensed in Maryland

1License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($18.50). Original journeyperson license fee (non-refundable).
2Other. Letter of good standing from Virginia and a copy of the current Virginia license, uploaded within 30 days of the application.

Published fees on this path total $18.50, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.

How Maryland licenses journeyman electricians

Maryland journeyman electrician · “Journeyperson Electrician”

Statewide license

Verified September 15, 2026· 7 sources

Issued by Maryland State Board of Electricians (Department of Labor)

Maryland issues a statewide Journeyperson Electrician license through the State Board of Electricians in the Department of Labor. Statewide journeyperson and apprentice licensing began July 1, 2021 under the Maryland Electricians Act; before that the State licensed only master electricians and each county or Baltimore City licensed journeypersons, and those local bodies now issue registrations rather than licenses. A new applicant qualifies with 4 years of electrical work under the direction and supervision of a master electrician (or a similarly qualified employee of a governmental unit) or by completing a MATC- or federally-approved apprenticeship with 576 classroom hours and 8,000 work hours, then passes the PSI-administered journeyperson exam (70 questions, 70% to pass, open book on the NEC, $65). The original license fee is $18.50. The Board has reciprocal agreements with Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia; its application pages list Virginia, Delaware and D.C. as origins for journeyperson reciprocity. Licensed journeypersons work under the direction and control of a master electrician.

Moving to Maryland Leaving Maryland

Common questions

Do I have to take the Maryland journeyman electrician exam if I'm licensed in Virginia?: No. The trade exam is waived on this path under the agreement with Virginia.
How long do I need to have held my Virginia license?: At least 1 year before applying.
What does it cost to get a Maryland journeyman electrician license from Virginia?: Published fees on this path total $18.50, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
Does it work the other way, from Maryland to Virginia?: Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from Maryland to Virginia, the mechanism is endorsement.

Sources

Maryland State Board of Electricians - Maryland Electricians Act (2021 statewide licensing) · Md. Code, Bus. Occ. & Prof. Title 6 · Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Legislation signed May 30, 2021, effective July 1, 2021, renamed the State Board of Master Electricians to the State Board of Electricians and created State apprentice, journeyperson and master electrician licenses. Local jurisdictions lost authority to license electricians (they may issue registrations); individuals holding only local licenses had to obtain a State license by July 1, 2022, with an exam-waiver application deadline of December 31, 2022.
Maryland State Board of Electricians - Taking the Exam (PSI) · Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026PSI Examination Services administers the master and journeyperson exams at Baltimore, College Park, Hagerstown, Lanham and Salisbury; the examination fee is $65.00; register at test-takers.psiexams.com/mdelec.
Maryland State Board of Electricians - Licensing FAQs · Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing · Faq · verified September 15, 2026Q11-12: the Board 'currently has reciprocal agreements with Delaware, West Virginia, Virginia, and the District of Columbia'. West Virginia (State Fire Marshal) licensees who passed the West Virginia exam and have held the license at least two years in good standing, Virginia and D.C. licensees who passed those jurisdictions' written exams, and Delaware licensees in good standing for at least five years who passed the Delaware exam may apply without taking the Maryland written exam. Also: 30 days before an exam retake, 60 days between later attempts; a Maryland license obtained by local-jurisdiction reciprocity cannot be used to reciprocate to another state or D.C.
Maryland State Board of Electricians - Home · Md. Code, Bus. Occ. & Prof. §6-604 · Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026States that all electrical work in Maryland must be performed by a licensed master, journeyperson or apprentice electrician, and that licensees must carry general liability insurance of at least $300,000 and property damage insurance of at least $100,000 with the State Board named as certificate holder.
Maryland State Board of Electricians - Licensing Applications (how to apply) · Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Describes each application path: journeyperson by examination (4 years under a master electrician), by MATC/FOA apprenticeship (576 classroom hours and 8,000 work hours), by local-jurisdiction reciprocity, and out-of-state reciprocity, which this page says is 'currently only' with Virginia (license obtained by examination or a Virginia apprenticeship program, held at least 1 year, must state it is journeyperson level). Master by examination (7 years, up to 3 years education credit) and master by reciprocity from 'a local jurisdiction, or the states of Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia or the District of Columbia' with a letter of verification and certificate of insurance. All Board fees are non-refundable.
Maryland State Board of Electricians - Licensing Applications (reciprocal master and journeyperson) · Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Reciprocal master applications: Virginia, West Virginia, Washington D.C. and Delaware; requires a letter of good standing showing the license was obtained by exam, a certificate of insurance meeting Maryland requirements, and a copy of the current license. Reciprocal journeyperson applications: Virginia (license obtained by apprenticeship or exam), Delaware (exam only), District of Columbia (exam only); requires a letter of good standing and a copy of the current license. Supporting documents must be submitted within 30 days of the application date or the application is denied without refund.
Maryland State Board of Electricians - Other Electrical Licenses in Maryland · Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026Before July 1, 2021 the Board issued only master licenses and local jurisdictions licensed apprentices and journeypersons; since then the State issues all three and local jurisdictions issue registrations. Lesser local categories (limited, low voltage) are still issued by local jurisdictions.
Md. Code, Business Occupations and Professions §6-304 - Qualifications of applicants · Md. Code, Bus. Occ. & Prof. §6-304 · Maryland General Assembly · Statute · verified September 15, 2026Master: at least 7 years providing electrical services under a master electrician or similarly qualified governmental employee, with up to 3 years credit for formal education/training and full credit for an approved apprenticeship. Journeyperson: at least 4 years under the same supervision, or an approved apprenticeship. All applicants must pass the State Board examination.
Md. Code, Business Occupations and Professions §6-307 - Waiver of examination for local registrants · Md. Code, Bus. Occ. & Prof. §6-307 · Maryland General Assembly · Statute · verified September 15, 2026The Board waives the exam for a holder of an active Maryland local registration who was licensed in the local jurisdiction before December 31, 2022 after passing an equivalent local exam and meeting equivalent requirements, with a good-standing statement from the local jurisdiction.
Md. Code, Business Occupations and Professions §6-308 - Waiver of examination for out-of-state licensees (reciprocity) · Md. Code, Bus. Occ. & Prof. §6-308 · Maryland General Assembly · Statute · verified September 15, 2026On a majority vote the Board may waive the exam for a master or journeyperson electrician licensed in another state who pays the application fee, meets Maryland's qualifications, holds an active equivalent license in good standing, was licensed there by examination after substantially equivalent requirements, and has 7 years' experience (at least 4 before out-of-state licensure) for master or 4 years (at least 2 before licensure) for journeyperson. Waivers are granted only if the other state waives its exam for Maryland licensees to a similar extent; not available to applicants licensed solely outside the United States. The Board 'shall pursue a policy of reciprocal recognition'.

Verified dates are when a person last opened each source and confirmed the facts above. Cite the board, not us.

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