TRADECAIRN Technologies

Electrical apprenticeship & licensing

Massachusetts electrical apprentice requirements.

Massachusetts uses statewide journeyman and master electrician licensing with substantial education, experience, code-update, and examination requirements.

Official licensing authority

Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Electricians

Apply for an individual license → · Application FAQs → · Consumer fact sheet →

Last verified: October 2, 2026 · TRADECAIRN status: Educational summary; official authority controls.

At a glance

Current licensing facts

✓
Journeyman education
600 hours of Board-approved education.
✓
Journeyman experience
8,000 hours over at least four years under a licensed Massachusetts Journeyman.
✓
Code-update requirement
15-hour Code-Update Class is required for the journeyman application path.
✓
Master path
Hold a Massachusetts Journeyman license, complete at least one year of experience, and 150 hours of Board-approved master education.
✓
Exam vendor
PSI administers electrician examinations after Board application approval.
✓
Reciprocity
Massachusetts currently has electrician reciprocity only with New Hampshire.

Massachusetts combines classroom education and field experience

The journeyman path is not experience-only: the Board requires both 600 hours of approved education and 8,000 hours of supervised field experience.

Master licensure builds on the Massachusetts journeyman credential

The standard master path requires a Massachusetts Journeyman license, at least one year of additional work experience, and 150 hours of approved master-level education.

Recommended study references

Match the reference to the exact exam and license class.

Verify the controlling authority’s current NEC edition and permitted-reference list first.

Browse electrical study references →

Affiliate disclosure

Some reference links are paid affiliate links. TRADECAIRN may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Electrical license reciprocity / portability

Massachusetts currently has electrician reciprocity only with New Hampshire. Electricians licensed in other states generally must qualify through the Massachusetts application and examination process, although out-of-state education and experience can be documented for Board review.

Compare electrical license mobility by state →

Official sources

Apply for an individual license · Application FAQs · Consumer fact sheet

Always use the licensing authority above for the latest application, fee, exam, code, and renewal information.

Keep moving

Useful next steps

Prepare for the tradeElectrical Apprentice Pro, practice, NEC navigation, and exam readiness.Add useful credentialsOSHA 10/30, NFPA 70E, CPR/AED, solar, and other career-building training.Build your field kitProfessional apprentice tool guidance with buy-now vs shop-provided recommendations.Study the NEC betterLearn code navigation instead of trying to memorize the book.
Important: This is an educational summary. Verify current state and local requirements before applying, testing, or performing work.

Pay, outlook & career planning

Look beyond licensing requirements.

Licensing is only one part of choosing where and how to build an electrical career. Compare current BLS wage sources, long-term trade outlook, license classifications, and advancement paths alongside the rules above.

PAYElectrician pay by state

Current federal wage sources and state-by-state career context.

Explore pay →OUTLOOK5–20+ year trade outlook

Official near-term projections plus transparent long-range scenarios.

See the outlook →LICENSINGElectrical license types

General, residential, limited-energy, fire alarm, signs, high-voltage, master, contractor and other paths vary by jurisdiction.

Understand the categories →SOURCESHow TRADECAIRN verifies data

See how wage, licensing, apprenticeship, and outlook information is sourced and labeled.

Methodology →