Maryland licenses electricians at the state level through the State Board of Electricians, part of the Maryland Department of Labor — with Master and Journeyperson exams administered by PSI Services. Maryland is also one of the more reciprocity-friendly states in this series, with active exam-waiver agreements covering West Virginia, Virginia, Washington D.C., and Delaware.
Quick Answer: What Do You Need?
| Licensing authority | Maryland State Board of Electricians (Maryland Department of Labor) |
| License types | Apprentice (no exam), Journeyperson, Master |
| Testing provider | PSI Services LLC |
| Experience needed | Journeyperson: 4 years under a Master Electrician (up to 3 years waivable via formal training). Master: 7 years under a Master Electrician (up to 3 years waivable) or 2+ years as a Maryland Journeyperson |
| Journeyperson exam | 70 questions, 210 minutes, 70% (49 correct) to pass |
| Master exam | 90 questions (100 points), 240 minutes, 70% to pass |
| NEC edition | 2020 NEC — the only reference allowed in the testing room |
| Exam fee | $65 (Journeyperson or Master), valid for one year, non-refundable |
Maryland's License Types
- Apprentice: no exam required — apply directly through Maryland's electronic licensing system.
- Journeyperson Electrician: the standard working-electrician license, earned by passing the Journeyperson exam.
- Master Electrician: the top-tier license, required to independently contract or supervise, earned by passing the Master exam.
Exam content is developed from outlines submitted by the Maryland Uniform Electrical Licensing Committee, Inc. and approved by the State Board — meaning the content is Maryland-specific even though it's built around the national NEC article structure.
Eligibility Requirements
Journeyperson Electrician:
- At least 4 years regularly and principally employed in providing electrical services, under the direction and supervision of a Master Electrician or a similarly qualified government employee, OR
- The State Board may credit up to 3 years toward that requirement for proof of a comparable formal course of study or professional training (allow an additional 2 months for this review).
Master Electrician:
- At least 7 years regularly and principally employed in providing electrical services, under the direction and supervision of a Master Electrician or a similarly qualified government employee, OR
- The State Board may credit up to 3 years toward that requirement for comparable formal training, OR
- Hold a Maryland Journeyperson license for at least 2 years.
Both license types require an ORIGINAL form of certification of experience, plus evidence of any formal course of study, submitted with your examination registration.
What's on the Exam?
| Subject Area | Journeyperson | Master |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical Theory (definitions, Ohm's Law, math, symbols, etc.) | 20 | 20 |
| Wiring and Protection (NEC Art. 100–285) | 20 | 14 |
| Wiring Methods and Materials (NEC Art. 300–398) | 12 | 13 |
| Equipment for General Use (NEC Art. 400–490) | 6 | 9 |
| Special Occupancies (NEC Art. 500–590) | 4 | 8 |
| Special Equipment (NEC Art. 600–695) | 2 | 4 |
| Special Communications (NEC Art. 700–830) | 6 | 2 |
| Calculations | — (folded into theory) | 30 |
| Total | 70 items, 210 min, 70% to pass | 90 items, 240 min, 70% to pass |
Both exams are computer-administered with a built-in tutorial (up to 15 minutes, untimed) beforehand. A small number of unscored "experimental" questions (5–10) may also appear and don't count against your time or score. If you fail, you get a free 30-minute review of the questions you missed at the end of the session.
What NEC Edition Does Maryland Use?
Both the Journeyperson and Master exams are based on the National Electrical Code, NFPA 70, 2020 Edition — confirmed directly in PSI's Maryland Candidate Information Bulletin, which lists the 2020 NEC as "the only reference allowed in the testing room." This is a notably older edition than the 2023 NEC most other states in this series (Texas, Arizona, Oregon) currently test.
What References Are Allowed?
Maryland's rule is unusually strict compared to most states we've covered: the National Electrical Code, NFPA 70, 2020 Edition, is the only reference material permitted in the testing room — no other codebook, handbook, or reference guide of any kind. This reference is not provided at the test center; you must bring your own copy. Study guides of any kind are explicitly banned.
Tabs, Highlighting, and Notes
- Indexing, highlighting, underlining: allowed.
- Writing/notes: not allowed — the bulletin states materials "must be unmarked (not written in)" with no before/after distinction, a stricter standard than states that allow pre-exam handwritten notes.
- Additional papers: loose or attached papers of any kind are prohibited.
- Tabs: only permanent adhesive tabs are acceptable — PSI specifically names Avery Swift Tabs Self-Adhesive Permanent Plastic Tabs and Redi-Tag Self-Stick Permanent Adhesive Index Tabs as acceptable, and Post-it Index Flags/Post-it Flags as unacceptable. The test is simple: if the proctor can remove a tab without ripping the page, it must come off before you test. Tabs with paper inserts will have those inserts removed regardless of the tab brand.
Fees & Test Locations
The Master/Journeyperson Electrician Examination fee is $65, valid for one examination attempt and one year, non-refundable and non-transferable. PSI test centers in Maryland are located in Baltimore (Falls Road), College Park, Crofton, Hagerstown, Laurel, and Salisbury; candidates may also test at any PSI center nationwide.
Retesting Rules
- Applicants who fail must wait 30 days from their most recent exam date before retaking it.
- A new registration form and fee are required for each retake attempt.
- Cancellations must be received at least 2 days before your scheduled appointment to avoid forfeiting your fee.
Reciprocity & Exam Waivers
Maryland's waiver network is broader than most states in this series:
- West Virginia: Master Electricians licensed in good standing in either Maryland or West Virginia for at least 2 years who passed their state's written exam can apply for the other state's license without retesting, under a formal reciprocal agreement between the Maryland Board and the WV State Fire Marshal.
- Virginia and Washington, D.C.: Master Electricians licensed in good standing who passed the written exam in that jurisdiction may apply for Maryland licensure without taking Maryland's written exam.
- Delaware: Master Electricians licensed in good standing for at least 5 years who passed the Delaware exam may also apply without retesting.
- Any other state: a general out-of-state Master waiver is available if the applicant holds an active, equivalent license obtained under requirements at least equivalent to Maryland's (including the 7-year experience standard) — but only if that state offers a reciprocal waiver back to Maryland licensees to a similar extent.
- Local (county/Baltimore City) Master registration: a Maryland-internal waiver exists for individuals who passed an equivalent local exam and met equivalent local requirements.
Journeyperson reciprocity is more limited: as of the bulletin's most recent update, there are currently no waiver provisions for out-of-state or D.C. Journeypersons to reciprocate into a Maryland Journeyperson license — the bulletin flags this as "coming soon" but not yet in place. A local-jurisdiction Journeyperson waiver (within Maryland) does exist under the same equivalent-exam framework as the Master waiver.
Frequently Asked Questions
What NEC edition does Maryland test?
The 2020 NEC — and per PSI's bulletin, it's the only reference material allowed in the testing room for either exam.
Can I write notes in my codebook before the exam?
No. Maryland's rule is stricter than many states: materials must be unmarked (not written in) at all, though indexing, highlighting, and underlining are allowed.
Do I need an apprenticeship to get licensed?
Not necessarily — Maryland's core pathway is supervised work experience (4 years for Journeyperson, 7 for Master) under a licensed Master Electrician, with up to 3 years creditable through formal training.
Can I use my Virginia or D.C. Master license to skip the Maryland exam?
Yes, if you're licensed in good standing and passed the written exam in that jurisdiction — Maryland has a specific waiver for Virginia and Washington, D.C. Master Electricians. This waiver does not currently extend to Journeyperson-level reciprocity.
Does Your Book Spot USA guarantee I'll pass?
No. We sell official, correctly-prepared reference materials — no book or study guide can guarantee an exam result, and we don't claim otherwise.
Get the Right Reference Materials
Because Maryland's bulletin states the 2020 NEC is the only allowed reference — no bundled handbooks or third-party guides — a plain, permanently tabbed 2020 NEC is the compliant choice:
Prefer to browse everything? See all NEC codebooks & electrical references. Ordering for a crew or training program? Request bulk pricing.
Official Sources
- PSI Services LLC — Maryland Department of Labor State Board of Electricians Master and Journeyperson Electrician Qualification Information Bulletin, updated 9/1/2024
- Maryland State Board of Electricians (labor.maryland.gov/license/elec)
Your Book Spot USA is not affiliated with the Maryland State Board of Electricians, the Maryland Department of Labor, PSI Services LLC, 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.
