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

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

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

At least 2 years before applying.

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

Published fees on this path total $25, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.

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

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

West Virginia to Maryland: master electrician license reciprocity

Reciprocity· Exam waivedVerified September 15, 2026· 10 sources

Maryland has a reciprocity agreement with West Virginia: a West Virginia 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 West Virginia (master)

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

The West Virginia State Fire Marshal and the Maryland Board have an agreement to waive the written exam for a master electrician licensed by either state. A West Virginia master electrician who passed the West Virginia licensure exam and has held the license in good standing for at least two years 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 West Virginia State Fire Marshal showing exam-based licensure, a copy of the current license, and a certificate of insurance meeting Maryland's requirement, uploaded within 30 days. The original license fee is $25, and the statutory 7-year experience requirement applies.

At a glance

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

What you must already have

Your West Virginia license must have been obtained by examination, not by reciprocity or grandfathering.
You must have held your West Virginia license for at least 2 years.
Your West Virginia 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 state (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 West Virginia State Fire Marshal 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

Verified September 15, 2026· 6 sources

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.

Moving to Maryland Leaving Maryland

Common questions

Do I have to take the Maryland master electrician exam if I'm licensed in West Virginia?: No. The trade exam is waived on this path under the agreement with West Virginia.
How long do I need to have held my West Virginia license?: At least 2 years before applying.
What does it cost to get a Maryland master electrician license from West Virginia?: Published fees on this path total $25, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
Does it work the other way, from Maryland to West Virginia?: Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from Maryland to West 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.
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 §6-308 - 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'.
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 15, 2026A qualified applicant is issued the State license on payment of the license fee and, for the insurance requirement of §6-604, proof of general liability and property damage insurance.
PSI - Maryland Master and Journeyperson Electrician Qualification Information Bulletin · PSI Services LLC for the Maryland State Board of Electricians · Other · verified September 15, 2026Master exam: 90 questions, 70% to pass, 240 minutes; journeyperson exam: 70 questions, 49 correct (70%), 210 minutes; both open book on NFPA 70 NEC 2020; exam fee $65, valid for one exam. Restates the §6-308 out-of-state waiver conditions and the West Virginia/Virginia/D.C./Delaware master agreement terms. Its journeyperson section still says out-of-state waivers are 'coming soon' and none are in place, which the Board's newer application pages supersede.

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

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