Maryland trade license reciprocity

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.

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.

Maryland issues a statewide HVACR Journeyman license through the Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors in the Department of Labor, a different board from the State Board of Electricians. Everyone who provides or assists in providing heating, ventilation, air-conditioning or refrigeration services in Maryland must hold a Board license (apprentice, journeyman, journeyman restricted, limited, master restricted or master); the journeyman license authorizes HVACR work under the direction and control of a licensed contractor, and a journeyman restricted license covers a single area (forced air, hydronic, ventilation, air conditioning or refrigeration). A new journeyman must have held a Maryland apprentice license for at least 4 years with at least 6,000 hours of training under a licensed contractor and pass the PSI-administered journeyman exam with 70% ($150 exam fee, $25 license fee); graduates of a Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council program are licensed without the exam. The Board has reciprocal agreements only with Delaware and Virginia, under which a qualifying journeyman is licensed without the Maryland exam. Licenses run to October 1 of odd-numbered years and renew for 2-year terms; Anne Arundel and Prince George's Counties also require a county HVACR license.

Maryland's highest person-held HVACR credential is the Master HVACR Contractor license issued by the Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors; it authorizes installation and maintenance in all areas of HVACR work and is the license under which HVACR contracting is done. The Board also issues Master Restricted (one or more areas: forced air, hydronic, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration) and Limited Contractor (maintenance and repair only) licenses. A new master must have been licensed as a journeyman (or journeyman restricted, limited or master restricted) and regularly and principally employed providing HVACR services under a master for at least 3 years, with 1,875 hours in the year before applying, and pass the PSI master exam (100 questions, 70%, 240 minutes, open book, $150); the license fee is $94.50. A master, master restricted or limited licensee who signs or approves HVACR contracts must carry $300,000 general liability and $100,000 property damage insurance with the Board as certificate holder. The Board reciprocates only with Delaware and Virginia; licensees of those states who qualify are licensed without the Maryland exam.