New Hampshire to Massachusetts: master electrician license reciprocity
Massachusetts has a reciprocity agreement with New Hampshire: a New Hampshire master electrician can get a Massachusetts license without retaking the trade exam.
Reference only, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the licensing board before you apply. Full disclaimer.
Reciprocity with New Hampshire (master)
A signed state-to-state agreement. The trade exam is waived; you apply, prove your history, and pay the fee.
Massachusetts accepts a New Hampshire master electrician license without examination under its only written reciprocal agreement, provided the New Hampshire license was obtained by passing the New Hampshire exam. The master applicant must hold a current Massachusetts journeyman license or file the journeyman-by-reciprocity application at the same time (237 CMR 15.01(2)(a)), show at least five years actively engaged in electrical work, document completion of the 150-hour Massachusetts Master Electrician Program, and supply a certified License Verification letter from the New Hampshire board, a standing letter issued within 90 days for every other professional license held, a notarized CORI authorization and a photo. The non-refundable fee is $310, filed online through ePLACE; the Board needs at least 10 business days to review a complete application.
At a glance
- Trade exam
- Waived
- Law / code exam
- Not required
- Typical processing
- About 14 days
- Agreement
- Active
What you must already have
- Your New Hampshire license must have been obtained by examination, not by reciprocity or grandfathering.
- Your New Hampshire license must be active and in good standing.
- You must have held your New Hampshire license for at least 5 years.Minimum of five years actively engaged in installing, repairing or maintaining electrical wiring and equipment (237 CMR 15.01(2)(a)1).
- Hold a current Massachusetts Class B (journeyman) license, or apply for it by reciprocity at the same time (237 CMR 15.01(2)(a)2)
- Not previously examined and licensed by the Massachusetts Board (237 CMR 15.02(6))
What you'll do to get licensed in Massachusetts
- 1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($310). Master reciprocity fee, non-refundable (237 CMR 15.02); a concurrent journeyman-by-reciprocity application is a further $208.
- 2Continuing education. Complete continuing education. Documentation of completing the Massachusetts 150-hour Master Electrician Program.
- 3Other. License Verification/Certified Letter from the New Hampshire board for the master license, plus a copy of the MA journeyman license or the concurrent journeyman reciprocity application.
- 4Background check. Complete a background check. Notarized CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) Authorization Form.
- 5Other. Recent passport-quality color photo; standing letters (within 90 days) for other licenses; certified records of any discipline or convictions.
Published fees on this path total $310, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.
What you'll need to buy or arrange
Continuing education
Renewals usually need approved CE hours, often on the latest NEC. Reciprocal licensees are rarely exempt.
- Continuing education
How Massachusetts licenses master electricians
Massachusetts master electrician · “Master Electrician (Certificate A, Class A)”
Statewide license
Issued by Board of State Examiners of Electricians (Massachusetts Division of Occupational Licensure)
Massachusetts issues a statewide Master Electrician license (Certificate A) through the Board of State Examiners of Electricians. Under M.G.L. c. 141, § 3 a master must have held a Certificate B (journeyman) license for at least twelve months and pass the master examination; the Board's candidate bulletin states the work requirement as one year as a Massachusetts journeyman plus a 150-hour master curriculum. The PSI exam is open book and two-part: Part 1 has 90 questions in 240 minutes and Part 2 is a 50-question, 120-minute Business and Law exam, each passed at 70%. The application and exam fee is $276 and the license fee is $155. Under M.G.L. c. 141, § 2B and 237 CMR 15.00 the Board licenses without examination only licensees of states with a written reciprocal agreement, and its only agreement is with New Hampshire: a master who earned the New Hampshire master license by examination is licensed for a $310 fee, holding or concurrently applying for the Massachusetts journeyman license and documenting the 150-hour master program. A master from any other state first earns the Massachusetts journeyman license by exam, after which the one-year journeyman requirement for the master exam is waived on proof of the out-of-state master license.
Common questions
- Do I have to take the Massachusetts master electrician exam if I'm licensed in New Hampshire?
- No. The trade exam is waived on this path under the agreement with New Hampshire.
- How long do I need to have held my New Hampshire license?
- At least 5 years before applying.
- What does it cost to get a Massachusetts master electrician license from New Hampshire?
- Published fees on this path total $310, 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 Massachusetts to New Hampshire?
- Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from Massachusetts to New Hampshire, the mechanism is endorsement.
Sources
- 237 CMR 15.00 - Licensure without examination (by reciprocity), Mass. Register #1561, 11/21/2025 · 237 CMR 15.01, 15.02 · Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Electricians · Admin Rule · verified September 15, 2026
- Mass.gov - Electricians FAQs for applications · 237 CMR 13.00, 13.05, 13.09 · Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Electricians · Faq · verified September 23, 2026
- MGL Chapter 141, Section 2B - Electricians licensed in other states; reciprocal licensure without examination; fees · M.G.L. c. 141, § 2B · Massachusetts General Court · Statute · verified September 15, 2026
- MGL Chapter 141, Section 3 - Forms of examinations, licenses and certificates · M.G.L. c. 141, § 3 · Massachusetts General Court · Statute · verified September 23, 2026
- Board of State Examiners of Electricians - Examination Candidate Information Bulletin (effective 11/1/2024) · 237 CMR 13.00, 18.01 · Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Electricians / PSI Services LLC · Form · verified September 23, 2026
- Mass.gov - Apply for reciprocity for an out-of-state electricians license · 237 CMR 15.00 · Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Electricians / Division of Occupational Licensure · Agency Page · verified September 15, 2026
Verified dates are when a person last opened each source and confirmed the facts above. Cite the board, not us.