Preparing for the Maine Journeyman or Master Electrician exam? Before you buy anything, read this carefully: unlike almost every other state we've covered, Maine's Journeyman and Master Electrician exams are closed book — you cannot bring an NEC codebook, or any other reference, into the exam room. This guide explains eligibility, the exam format, what the exam is actually built from (for study purposes), and the one narrow Limited Electrician category where a codebook genuinely is allowed.
Quick Answer: What Do You Need?
| Licensing authority | Maine Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (OPOR), Electricians' Examining Board |
| Testing provider | Prov, Inc. (4 in-state test centers, or remote via Prov's Examroom service) |
| Books allowed in the exam room | None for Journeyman or Master Electrician — both exams are closed book |
| Exam format | Journeyman: 80 items, 3 hours. Master: 100 items, 4 hours. Both require 70% to pass. |
| Exam fee | $90 (Journeyman or Master) |
| License fee | $150 initial and biennial renewal ($20 for Senior license, age 70+), plus a $21 SBI report fee |
| Experience needed | Multiple pathways for each license — see below |
Who Regulates Electricians in Maine?
The Maine Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (OPOR), through the Electricians' Examining Board, sets eligibility rules and issues Maine's electrical licenses. OPOR contracts with Prov, Inc. to administer the written exams. As with most Prov-administered states, this means separate fees: OPOR's license fee, and Prov's exam fee.
The Big One: Maine's Electrician Exams Are Closed Book
We want to lead with this because it changes everything about how you should prepare, and because it directly contradicts what several third-party test-prep sites claim (they commonly describe Maine's exam as "open book, NEC 2023"). Prov's current candidate bulletin states, in a highlighted box directly above the Electrician exam descriptions:
"All Electrician examinations are delivered in CLOSED book format. The only exception to this is IF there are references below marked as Permitted. If no references below are marked as Permitted, then no books will be allowed with you in the testing room during your testing session."
Checking the actual reference lists: none of the references listed for the Journeyman Electrician or Master Electrician exams are marked "Permitted." Neither are the references for the Limited Electrician – Cranes, Low Energy, House Wiring, Gasoline Dispensing, Refrigeration, Traffic Signals, or Outdoor Signs exams. The single exception in the entire electrical category is Limited Electrician – Water Pumps, whose reference list explicitly states "PERMITTED – NFPA 70 – National Electrical Code 2020." That is the only Maine electrical exam where you may bring an NEC codebook into the room.
In practical terms: if you're testing for Journeyman or Master Electrician in Maine, your NEC codebook is a study tool you use before your exam date — not something you pack for exam day.
Journeyman Electrician Eligibility
Per OPOR's published requirements, you must satisfy one of four pathways:
- Path 1: At least 8,000 hours of service as a licensed apprentice or helper, plus 576 hours of coursework (Electricity I & II, Electronics I, Math I, Controls I & II, Motors, Blueprint Reading/Drafting, Transformers, and a current NEC course), plus electives; OR
- Path 2: Graduate of an accredited applied technology high school's 2-year electrical program, plus 7,000 field hours under master supervision, plus a 45-hour current NEC course; OR
- Path 3: Graduate of a Maine community college electrical program (or a Department of Corrections vocational-electrical program), plus 4,000 field hours under master supervision, plus a 45-hour NEC course — candidates on this path may test upon graduation; OR
- Path 4: 8,000 hours as a licensed apprentice under direct supervision, completion of an approved apprenticeship program of study (576+ hours), and a 45-hour current NEC course (a 4,000-hour/partial-program variant can also qualify a candidate to test).
Master Electrician Eligibility
Master applicants must complete one of two experience paths:
- At least 4,000 hours of service as a journeyman electrician; OR
- At least 12,000 hours of experience in electrical installations as defined by statute.
Either path also requires completing a 576-hour program of study — 45-hour courses each in Electricity I, Electricity II, Electronics I, Math I, Controls I, Controls II, Motors, Blueprint Reading/Drafting, and Transformers, plus a current NEC course — and an additional 126 hours of degree-related coursework approved by the Electricians' Examining Board or from an accredited institution. You must also hold a valid Maine Journeyman license.
Limited Electrician Categories
Beyond Journeyman and Master, Maine licenses narrower Limited Electrician categories, each with its own $65 Prov exam:
- Low Energy (fire alarm systems)
- House Wiring (one- and two-family dwellings, including modular/mobile homes)
- Gasoline Dispensing
- Outdoor Signs
- Refrigeration
- Traffic Signals, including Outdoor Lighting of Traffic Signals
- Water Pumps — the one category where the 2020 NEC is explicitly permitted in the exam room
- Cranes
Exam Format and Content
| Exam | Questions | Time | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Journeyman Electrician | 80 | 3 hours | $90 |
| Master Electrician | 100 | 4 hours | $90 |
Both exams require 70% to pass. The Journeyman exam covers General Electrical Theory & Principles, Wiring & Protection, Wiring Methods & Materials, Motors & Controls, Equipment for General Use, Special Occupancies, Special Equipment, Special Conditions, and Communication Systems. The Master exam covers largely the same content areas at greater depth, plus Service Feeders and Branch Circuits. Exams are computer-based, at test centers in Auburn, Bangor, Portland, and Presque Isle, or remotely via Prov's Examroom webcam-proctoring service. Only a simple 4-function calculator is permitted — no tablets, phones, or scientific/programmable calculators. Failed exams can be retaken with no restriction on attempts, within a two-year eligibility window.
What the Exam Is Built From (Study References)
Since you can't bring these into the room, think of this list as your study curriculum, not your exam-day kit. Per Prov's current bulletin, both the Journeyman and Master exams are built from:
- American Electrician's Handbook, 17th Edition (ISBN 978-1260457919)
- Maine Electrician's Laws and Rules (2023), available from OPOR
- Mike Holt's Illustrated Guide to Basic Electrical Theory (2007, ISBN 978-1932685121)
- NFPA 70 — National Electrical Code, 2023 edition
Studying the 2023 NEC will match what the exam is actually based on — you simply won't have it (or anything else) open in front of you on test day for the Journeyman or Master exam.
This matches the edition Maine's Journeyman and Master exams are built from — use it to study beforehand. Remember: for these two exams, you cannot bring this book (or any book) into the actual testing room.
Reciprocity
Maine's reciprocity scope differs by license level, per OPOR's own pages:
- Journeyman: Out-of-state licensed electricians actively engaged for at least six years may apply if licensed in a reciprocity state — New Hampshire, Vermont, North Dakota, Idaho, Oregon, or Wyoming.
- Master: The reciprocity list is narrower — New Hampshire or Vermont only — requiring a minimum of six years of active engagement plus a passing score on that state's written exam.
Fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Prov exam (Journeyman or Master) | $90 |
| Prov exam (most Limited Electrician categories) | $65 |
| Initial license (Journeyman or Master) | $150.00 |
| Senior license (age 70+) | $20.00 |
| SBI (background check) report | $21.00 |
| Biennial renewal | $150.00 ($20.00 Senior) |
Renewal requires maintaining a 15-hour current National Electrical Code course, per OPOR's published requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring my NEC codebook into the Maine electrician exam?
Not for Journeyman or Master Electrician — both are closed book. The only Maine electrical exam that explicitly permits a codebook (the 2020 NEC specifically) is the Limited Electrician – Water Pumps exam.
What NEC edition should I study from for the Journeyman/Master exam?
The 2023 NEC, per Prov's current reference list — but you'll be studying it beforehand, not bringing it to the exam.
Can I highlight or tab my study codebook?
It doesn't matter for Journeyman or Master Electrician, since you can't bring any book into the exam room at all. Mark up your study copy however helps you learn — it just stays home on test day.
How many times can I retake the exam if I fail?
As many times as needed within a two-year eligibility window, with no mandatory waiting period between attempts.
Does Your Book Spot USA guarantee I'll pass?
No. No book or study guide can guarantee an exam result, and we don't claim otherwise.
Study Materials
Since Maine's Journeyman and Master exams are closed book, treat any codebook purchase as a study investment, not an exam-day requirement. Shop our current codebook options below.
Ordering for a crew, apprenticeship class, or training program? Request bulk pricing.
Official Sources
- Maine OPOR — Journeyman Electrician, Senior Journeyman Electrician (checked September 3, 2026)
- Maine OPOR — Master Electrician, Senior Master Electrician (checked September 3, 2026)
- Prov, Inc. — State of Maine Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation Candidate Information Bulletin, MOPOR-2025.05.14 (obtained via maine.gov)
Your Book Spot USA is not affiliated with OPOR, Prov, Inc., or NFPA. Candidate bulletins and licensing rules change — this page reflects our verification as of the date above. Spot something outdated? Let us know and we'll correct it.
