District of Columbia to Maryland: master electrician license reciprocity
Maryland has a reciprocity agreement with District of Columbia: a District of Columbia master 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 the District of Columbia (master)
A signed state-to-state agreement. The trade exam is waived; you apply, prove your history, and pay the fee.
Individuals holding a District of Columbia master electrician license in good standing who passed the written examination in D.C. may apply for a Maryland Master Electrician license without taking the Maryland written exam. The reciprocal master application is filed online with a letter of good standing from the D.C. Board of Industrial Trades showing the license was obtained by exam, a copy of the current D.C. license, and a certificate of insurance meeting Maryland's $300,000/$100,000 requirement, uploaded within 30 days. The original license fee is $25, and the statutory 7-year experience requirement (at least 4 years before D.C. licensure) applies.
At a glance
- Trade exam
- Waived
- Law / code exam
- Not required
- Agreement
- Active
What you must already have
- Your District of Columbia license must have been obtained by examination, not by reciprocity or grandfathering.
- Your District of Columbia license must be active and in good standing.
- You must document at least 7 years of qualifying work experience.Statutory 7-year experience requirement, at least 4 years gained prior to licensure in the other jurisdiction (Bus. Occ. & Prof. §6-308)
What you'll do to get licensed in Maryland
- 1License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($25). Original master license fee (non-refundable).
- 2Insurance. Carry the required insurance. Certificate of insurance meeting Maryland requirements ($300,000 general liability, $100,000 property damage).
- 3Other. Letter of good standing from the D.C. Board of Industrial Trades showing exam-based licensure and a copy of the current license, uploaded within 30 days.
Published fees on this path total $25, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.
What you'll need to buy or arrange
Liability insurance
Some states require proof of general liability or workers' compensation coverage at licensing time.
- Insurance
How Maryland licenses master electricians
Maryland master electrician · “Master Electrician”
Statewide license
Issued by Maryland State Board of Electricians (Department of Labor)
Maryland issues a statewide Master Electrician license through the State Board of Electricians (renamed from the State Board of Master Electricians by the 2021 Maryland Electricians Act). The master license is the credential under which electrical contracting is done: a master must carry at least $300,000 general liability and $100,000 property damage insurance with the Board as certificate holder, and local jurisdictions issue registrations to State master licensees. A new applicant needs 7 years of regular, principal employment providing electrical services under a master electrician or a similarly qualified governmental employee (the Board may credit up to 3 years for a formal course of study), must pass the PSI master exam (90 questions, 70% to pass, 240 minutes, open book on the NEC, $65), and pays a $25 original license fee. The Board reciprocates master licenses obtained by examination from Virginia, West Virginia, the District of Columbia and Delaware, and from Maryland counties and Baltimore City; each has its own years-held condition.
Common questions
- Do I have to take the Maryland master electrician exam if I'm licensed in District of Columbia?
- No. The trade exam is waived on this path under the agreement with District of Columbia.
- What does it cost to get a Maryland master electrician license from District of Columbia?
- Published fees on this path total $25, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
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, 2026
- Maryland State Board of Electricians - Taking the Exam (PSI) · Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
- Maryland State Board of Electricians - Licensing FAQs · Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing · Faq · verified September 23, 2026
- 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 23, 2026
- Maryland State Board of Electricians - Licensing Applications (how to apply) · Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing · Agency Page · verified September 23, 2026
- 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 23, 2026
- Md. Code, Business Occupations and Professions §6-304 - Qualifications of applicants · Md. Code, Bus. Occ. & Prof. §6-304 · Maryland General Assembly · Statute · verified September 23, 2026
- 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, 2026
- Md. Code, Business Occupations and Professions §6-309 - Issuance of State license · Md. Code, Bus. Occ. & Prof. §6-309 · Maryland General Assembly · Statute · verified September 23, 2026
- PSI - Maryland Master and Journeyperson Electrician Qualification Information Bulletin · PSI Services LLC for the Maryland State Board of Electricians · Other · verified September 23, 2026
Verified dates are when a person last opened each source and confirmed the facts above. Cite the board, not us.