Maryland is one of the more straightforward states for planning an electrical career because one state board issues every license. That was not always true. Until 2021, counties and Baltimore City issued their own journeyman and master licenses, and much of what you still find online describes that old system. Today, the state issues the license, and the county’s role is to register it and issue permits.

This guide walks through the full path: the apprentice license you need on your first day, the two routes to a journeyperson license, the PSI exams, the master license, insurance, county registration, reciprocity, renewal, and pay. Each requirement links to the statute, regulation, or office behind it, so you can check the source yourself.

Who licenses electricians in Maryland?

The Maryland State Board of Electricians, part of the Maryland Department of Labor, runs electrical licensing in Maryland. Its authority comes from the Maryland Electricians Act, Title 6 of the Business Occupations and Professions Article. Here is how the pieces fit together:

• The State Board issues every license. Senate Bill 762 of 2021 (Chapter 708) renamed the State Board of Master Electricians to the State Board of Electricians and moved apprentice and journeyperson licensing to the state, effective July 1, 2021.
• Counties register; they do not license. Under § 6-103 of the Maryland Electricians Act, beginning July 1, 2021, a local jurisdiction may not issue licenses for apprentice, journeyperson, or master electricians. It may register electricians, and if it registers them, it must give the same examination as the State Board.
• Local offices still issue permits and inspect. The same section keeps each county’s right to run registrations, permits, fees, and inspections. The board keeps a directory of local electrical boards for every county that has one.
• Work requires a license. The board’s home page says all electrical work in Maryland must be performed by a licensed master, journeyperson, or apprentice electrician, and that unlicensed work can bring fines of up to $5,000, imprisonment, or both.

One practical consequence: if you read that your county “issues journeyman cards,” check the date on the page. Anything written before July 2021 describes a system that no longer exists.

Maryland electrician license types

Maryland has three levels of electrician license, all issued by the state. The board uses the term journeyperson, which many people still call a journeyman license. The board’s license requirements page and the statute set out each level:

• Apprentice electrician. The entry-level license. No prerequisites or exam, and you must work under the supervision of a licensed master or journeyperson.
• Journeyperson electrician. Requires four years of supervised experience and a passing score on the PSI journeyperson exam, or completion of an approved apprenticeship that waives both. A journeyperson works under a master electrician.
• Master electrician. Requires seven years of supervised experience and the PSI master exam. A master can pull permits and, with the required insurance, contract for electrical work.
• Uninsured status. Not a separate license but a status under § 6-311. A licensee who does not carry the required insurance can hold the license on uninsured status. In a county that requires a state master license, a master on uninsured status may work only as a journeyperson.
• Local registration. A county-level registration of your state license, required in jurisdictions that register electricians. It is not a separate exam or license.

Some counties also issue restricted or low-voltage credentials for work at 50 volts or less, which sit outside the three state levels. Baltimore County’s restricted license, covered below, is one example.

Step one: get your Maryland apprentice license

The apprentice license is where every Maryland electrician starts, and it matters more than many newcomers realize. According to the board’s how-to-apply page, it has no prequalifications. You apply through the online apprentice license application and answer the standard background questions.

• Fee: $12 for the original license and $12 to renew, under COMAR 09.09.01.03 (fees as of January 24, 2025).
• No exam: apprentices do not test. The exams start at the journeyperson level.
• Supervision: an apprentice must be supervised at all times by a licensed master or journeyperson and may not work independently.
• Insurance: under § 6-604, a licensed apprentice employed by a licensed master electrician does not need separate insurance while working under that master.
• Local apprentice cards do not carry over. The board says the state does not renew or reciprocate apprentice licenses obtained in local jurisdictions.

Why the apprentice license has to come first

A board regulation ties your journeyperson eligibility to how long you have held the apprentice license. Under COMAR 09.09.03.02, on or after July 1, 2024, an applicant for a journeyperson license must have held a current apprentice license for four years and completed the four-year experience requirement during that period. In practice, hours you work before you hold an apprentice license may not count. The Baltimore Electrical JATC’s website states it plainly: all apprentices must hold an active Maryland state apprentice license.

Maryland electrical apprenticeship programs

A registered apprenticeship is the most common route to a Maryland journeyperson license, because a program of at least 576 classroom hours and 8,000 work hours waives the exam. Maryland’s registered apprenticeships are overseen by the Office of Apprenticeship in the Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning, the state’s apprenticeship agency, created by the RAISE Act of 2025 as the successor to the Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Program. Program names and schedules differ, but the license at the end is the same.

Union (IBEW and NECA) programs

• Baltimore Electrical JATC (Baltimore and central Maryland). IBEW Local 24 and the Maryland Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) sponsor it. It runs a four-year program, and Frederick Community College, which partners with it, says it has trained more than 2,500 apprentices over more than 64 years and accepts applications year-round. The JATC’s site lists first-year pay of $23.63 an hour plus benefits. Local 24 also keeps an Eastern Shore office.
• IBEW Local 26 (the Washington, D.C., suburbs and Southern Maryland). Its training arm, the JATC of Local 26 in Lanham, runs the Inside Wireman “A” Apprenticeship Program, with standards approved in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. It requires at least 8,000 hours of on-the-job training and 800 hours of classroom instruction, with school one day every two weeks. The 2027 application cycle closes December 31, 2026, or earlier if 4,200 applications are purchased, and carries a $125 processing fee.
• IBEW Local 307 (Western Maryland). Based in Cumberland, with an office in Martinsburg, West Virginia. Contact the local directly for its apprenticeship details.

Open-shop programs

• IEC Chesapeake. The Independent Electrical Contractors chapter runs a classroom-based four-year electrical program in which apprentices work full time and attend class two nights a week, plus an online E Apprenticeship option and a pre-apprenticeship program. Howard Community College, a partner, lists the admission requirements: a high school diploma or equivalent, a 10-hour OSHA course, and a screening interview with a math and reading evaluation, with applications due July 15 for fall cohorts.
• ABC Greater Baltimore. The Associated Builders and Contractors chapter offers electrical apprenticeship training among six trades. Applications for the fall 2026–2027 school year closed August 14, and applications for classes starting in January are reviewed after September 7.
• ABC Metro Washington (CraftMasters). The chapter’s training trust offers apprenticeship training in up to 21 trades, registered with the Maryland and D.C. apprenticeship councils. Ask whether electrical is offered in the year you apply.

Community colleges

Several Maryland community colleges partner with these programs rather than running their own apprenticeships. Frederick Community College works with the Baltimore Electrical JATC and IEC Chesapeake, and Howard Community College hosts IEC Chesapeake’s four-year program. If a college program is your starting point, ask whether its hours are part of a program approved by the Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning or the federal Office of Apprenticeship, because the license waiver requires that approval.

Most of these programs take four or five years. For a broader look at the timeline, see our guide to how long it takes to become an electrician.

How to become a journeyperson electrician in Maryland

You can earn the journeyperson license in two ways. Both are set by statute, and both assume you have held an apprentice license along the way.

Route 1: experience and the PSI exam

Under § 6-304(c), an applicant for a journeyperson license must have been employed regularly and principally in providing electrical services for at least four years under the direction and supervision of a master electrician, or a government employee similarly qualified as a master. The board must credit work done as part of a completed approved apprenticeship toward those four years. Once you qualify:

1. Apply to PSI to sit for the exam. The board’s exam page says the process has two steps: pass the PSI exam, then apply to the board for the license.
2. Pass the journeyperson exam. You need 70 percent. The format is covered in the next section.
3. Apply for the license. Apply online after you pass and pay the $18.50 original license fee. All supporting documents must arrive within 30 days of your application date, according to the board’s applications page.

Route 2: the apprenticeship waiver

Under § 6-307.1, the State Board shall waive the experience and examination requirements for a journeyperson applicant who provides written proof of completing an electrician apprenticeship approved by the Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning or the federal Office of Apprenticeship that consists of:

• At least 576 classroom hours, and
• 8,000 hours of work experience.

Two conditions sit on top of the statute. COMAR 09.09.03.03 requires you to complete the program within two years of the date you file the journeyperson application, so don’t wait long after graduation. And the board accepts only the completion certificate from the state apprenticeship agency or the federal Office of Apprenticeship. You apply with the board’s journeyperson waiver application and upload a copy of the certificate.

One board page describes this route as waiving only the experience requirement, while the board’s how-to-apply page and the statute say it waives the exam as well. The statute governs, and the law was last amended on this point by 2023 Chapter 187, which updated the name of the approving agency.

The Maryland electrician exam (PSI)

PSI administers the board’s master and journeyperson exams. According to the board’s exam page, PSI has testing centers in Baltimore, College Park, Hagerstown, Lanham, and Salisbury, and the exam fee is $65. The PSI candidate information bulletin gives the details:

• Journeyperson exam: 70 questions in 210 minutes. You need 49 correct, or 70 percent.
• Master exam: 90 questions worth 100 points in 240 minutes. You need 70 percent.
• Open book: the bulletin lists the 2020 edition of the National Electrical Code as the only reference allowed in the testing room. Bring your own copy; it may be tabbed and indexed.
• Eligibility first: you must have completed the required work experience before you register, and since March 31, 2025, PSI accepts applications online only.
• Fee: $65 per attempt, valid for one exam within one year and not refundable.
• Passing score: fixed at 70 percent by § 6-306(f).

If you do not pass, the board’s licensing FAQ says you must wait 30 days to reapply, and 60 days before any later retest, paying the fee each time. Because the exam is open book, speed at finding answers in your code book matters as much as knowing them. Our free NEC practice test is one way to build that speed.

How to become a master electrician in Maryland

The master license is the top credential in Maryland and the one you need to pull permits and run electrical work. Under § 6-304(b), the requirements are:

• Experience: at least seven years of providing electrical services under the direction and supervision of a master electrician or a similarly qualified government employee.
• Education credit: the board may allow up to three years of credit for a formal course of study or professional training in electrical installation comparable to the required experience.
• Apprenticeship credit: the board must credit work done in a completed approved apprenticeship.
• Exam: the PSI master exam, 90 questions in 240 minutes, with a 70 percent passing score.
• Fees: $25 for the original master license and $31.50 to renew, under COMAR 09.09.01.03.
• Insurance: proof of insurance is required before the license is issued; covered next.

The board’s FAQ explains a distinction you will see on the application. A qualified agent assigns the license to a single company, and the company provides the insurance. A master electrician who carries their own insurance may take work from different companies.

Insurance requirements for Maryland electricians

Maryland ties licensing to liability insurance. Under § 6-604, a licensed master electrician, a person assigned a master’s local registration, or any business providing electrical services may not contract to provide electrical services unless the work is covered by:

• General liability insurance of at least $300,000, and
• Property damage insurance of at least $100,000.

The board’s home page adds that umbrella coverage is not acceptable, that the State Board must be named as certificate holder, and that the insurer must notify the board 10 days before cancellation. The master or the company that employs the master can buy the insurance, and apprentices and journeypersons working under a licensed master do not need their own policy. The same section lets a county accept this insurance in place of a local bond.

County registration: what each jurisdiction requires

A state license is valid statewide, but many counties require you to register it before you work or pull permits there. Under § 6-602, a county that registers electricians must waive its own exam for a state licensee who pays the registration fee and meets the state insurance requirement, and must issue the registration within 10 working days of payment. The board’s local jurisdictions directory lists the electrical board for each county. Here is what the largest jurisdictions publish.

Montgomery County

Montgomery County’s Department of Permitting Services licenses page says the State of Maryland now issues all electrician licenses. Its electrical license fact sheet covers permits:

• Permits: an electrical permit is required for all electrical work, and the applicant must hold a valid master license from the State Board of Electricians.
• Online issue: once the application is complete and the fee is paid, the permit is issued automatically, provided there are no property violations.
• Low voltage: no electrical license is needed for a low-voltage permit for systems at 50 volts or less, such as fire alarm, cable TV, telephone, and network wiring. Work above 50 volts requires a state master electrician.

Baltimore County

Baltimore County’s electrical registration and licensing page sets out its rules, administered by the Electrical Administrative Board:

• Registration required: all state-licensed master general electricians must register with the county to work there.
• Fees: $160 to register, $120 to renew, and an $80 late fee.
• Timing: The county registration expires the same day as your state license, and you renew the state license first.
• Continuing education: beginning January 1, 2026, county renewals require 10 hours of continuing education every two years, from courses approved by the Maryland Department of Labor that include current code changes.
• Restricted license: a county license for low-voltage work at 50 volts or less, with a $40 county exam and three years of documented experience.

Anne Arundel County

Anne Arundel County still issues a county trade license to state licensees through its Department of Inspections and Permits. Its licensing FAQ says you apply by mail with the county application, that the county may offer electrician testing twice a year with prior approval from the County Board of Electrical Examiners, and that the board generally meets every six months. Contact the Licensing Division for current fees.

Baltimore City, Prince George’s County, and other counties

Baltimore City has its own Board of Electrical Examiners and Supervisors, and Prince George’s County handles electrical permits through its Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement. Calvert, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Frederick, Harford, Howard, and several other counties also have local electrical boards. Requirements, fees, and forms differ, so find the board for the county where the work will be done in the state’s local jurisdictions directory and call before you start. The board’s FAQ notes that any licensee may also need a local registration to work and pull permits in a given jurisdiction.

Which electrical code does Maryland use?

Maryland does not set one fixed code edition for the whole state. Under § 6-205, the State Board must enforce, within 18 months of issuance, minimum standards consistent with the most recently issued National Electrical Code. Counties adopt and enforce the code for their own permits and inspections.

• Counties move on their own schedules. Baltimore County’s electrical inspections page says it will enforce the 2026 edition of the National Electrical Code for permits issued after August 31, 2026, with earlier permits staying under the 2023 edition.
• The exam uses its own edition. The PSI bulletin lists the 2020 edition as the exam reference, so the book you study from may differ from the one your county enforces.
• Check locally. Ask the county’s electrical board which edition applies before you buy books for work.

Maryland electrician reciprocity

Maryland can waive its exam for electricians licensed elsewhere, but only under specific conditions. Under § 6-308, the applicant must have been licensed in the other state by examination, after meeting requirements substantially equivalent to Maryland’s, and the other state must waive its exam for Maryland licensees to a similar extent. Master applicants need seven years of experience, at least four of them before licensure in the other state; journeyperson applicants need four years, at least two before licensure.

• Master electricians: the board’s applications page lists Delaware, the District of Columbia, Virginia, and West Virginia. Its FAQ adds that West Virginia licensees must have held the license for at least two years, and Delaware licensees for at least five.
• Journeypersons: Virginia, for licenses earned by exam or through a Virginia apprenticeship. The applications page also lists Delaware and the District of Columbia for licenses earned by exam, while the how-to-apply page lists Virginia only, so confirm with the board before you apply.
• Local licenses: a master who earned a county or Baltimore City master license by exam can reciprocate it into a state license, and a journeyperson can do the same after holding a local journeyperson-level license by exam for at least one year.
• What to submit: a letter of good standing from the other jurisdiction showing the license was earned by exam, a copy of the license, and, for masters, a certificate of insurance.

The board’s FAQ carries one warning worth knowing early: if you get your state license by reciprocating a local registration rather than by passing the state exam, you will not be able to use that license to reciprocate into another state or the District of Columbia.

Renewal and continuing education

Maryland electrician licenses run on two-year terms. The board’s renewal page says a license is valid for two years from the date it was issued, renewals are staggered, and the board mails renewal instructions about 60 days before expiration.

• Continuing education: under COMAR 09.09.02.01, master renewals require 10 hours and journeyperson renewals require 5 hours, completed in the 24 months before renewal.
• Approved courses: courses must be based on the National Electrical Code or local variants and come from an approved college, apprenticeship program, recognized training program, or other provider the board approves. The board publishes its list of continuing education providers.
• Renewal fees: $31.50 for a master, $18.50 for a journeyperson, and $12 for an apprentice, under COMAR 09.09.01.03.
• Late renewal: reinstatement costs more the longer you wait, starting at $31.50 within 30 days of expiration and rising to $126 after 60 days.
• Insurance: the board may not renew a license that is subject to the insurance requirement unless the insurance is in place.

Remember that some counties add their own renewal step. Baltimore County, for example, renews its registration only after you renew the state license and now asks for its own continuing education record.

How much do electricians make in Maryland?

Maryland electricians earn well above the national figures. The Bureau of Labor Statistics state Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (select Maryland) show these figures for electricians as of May 2025:

• Median annual wage: $73,490 ($35.33 an hour).
• Mean annual wage: $75,450 ($36.28 an hour).
• Lowest-paid 10 percent: $46,450 or less.
• Highest-paid 10 percent: $118,370 or more.
• Employment: about 13,690 electricians statewide.

For comparison, the national median for electricians was $63,190 in May 2025, with the top 10 percent earning more than $108,510, according to BLS national data. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 9 percent employment growth for electricians nationally from 2024 to 2034.

Apprentices earn less while they train, with raises as they complete hours and classes. Each program publishes its own wage steps, so ask for the scale when you apply.

Maryland electrical licensing at a glance

The main Maryland credentials side by side. All three licenses come from the State Board of Electricians; registrations come from each county.

Credential	Who issues it	Experience	Exam	Fees	Where to apply
Apprentice electrician	State board	None to apply	None	$12 original, $12 renewal	Online application
Journeyperson (exam route)	State board	4 years under a master	PSI, 70 questions, 70% to pass	$65 exam, $18.50 license and renewal	Board how-to-apply page
Journeyperson (apprenticeship route)	State board	Approved apprenticeship: 576 classroom + 8,000 work hours	Waived	$18.50 license and renewal	§ 6-307.1
Master electrician	State board	7 years (up to 3 years of education credit)	PSI, 90 questions, 70% to pass	$65 exam, $25 license, $31.50 renewal	Board requirements page
Baltimore County registration	Baltimore County	State master license	None (state exam accepted)	$160, $120 renewal	County licensing page
Montgomery County permits	Montgomery County DPS	State master license	None	Permit fee	DPS licenses page

$300,000 general liability and $100,000 property damage insurance applies to master electricians and electrical businesses. Fees change, so confirm with the board or county before you apply.

Step-by-step checklist: becoming an electrician in Maryland

The full path, from your first job to a master license. Keep the board’s license requirements page handy as you go.

1. Finish high school or an equivalent. Most apprenticeship programs require a diploma or GED, and some require an OSHA 10-hour course.
2. Apply for an apprentice license on day one. It has no prerequisites, costs $12, and starts the four-year clock that COMAR 09.09.03.02 requires.
3. Join an apprenticeship or hire on with a master electrician. Apply to a union JATC, IEC Chesapeake, or an ABC program, or work under a licensed master.
4. Document every hour. Keep records of your hours, employers, and classes, and keep your apprentice license current.
5. Earn the journeyperson license. Apply within two years of finishing an approved 576-hour, 8,000-hour apprenticeship to skip the exam, or pass the PSI journeyperson exam after four years of experience.
6. Register where you work. Check each county’s registration rules in the state’s local jurisdictions directory.
7. Keep your license current. Renew every two years and complete 5 hours of continuing education as a journeyperson.
8. Go for the master license. After seven years of experience, pass the PSI master exam, carry the required insurance, and register in the counties where you pull permits.

Frequently asked questions

The bottom line

Becoming an electrician in Maryland follows one statewide path. First, get your apprentice license; then earn the journeyperson license through an approved apprenticeship or four years of experience plus the PSI exam; and finally, earn the master license after seven years. Your county handles registration, permits, and inspections, so check its rules wherever you work. For current forms, fees, and exam details, start with the Maryland State Board of Electricians and your county’s electrical board. Godspeed!

This article is for informational and educational purposes only. Licensing requirements, fees, exam details, and code editions change, and they differ by county and license type. Confirm current requirements with the Maryland State Board of Electricians, your county’s electrical board or permitting office, and your apprenticeship program before deciding on training or employment.