Studying for the New Hampshire Journeyman or Master Electrician exam? Before you buy a codebook, get the edition right: despite some third-party sites claiming New Hampshire has moved to the 2023 NEC, the current exam is still built on the 2020 NEC. This guide covers exam format, eligibility, fees, and reference-material rules straight from Prov's current New Hampshire Electrician Candidate Information Bulletin.
Quick Answer: What Do You Need?
| Licensing authority | New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC), Electricians' Board |
| Testing provider | Prov, Inc. (in-person at Prov testing centers, or remote via Examroom.ai) |
| NEC edition | 2020 (Journeyman, Master, and Electrical Re-Licensing exams) |
| Books allowed in the exam room | Open book — highlighting and permanent tabs allowed if done beforehand; no handwritten notes |
| Exam format | Journeyman: 110 items/4.5 hrs. Master: 125 items/5 hrs. Electrical Re-Licensing: 25 items/1 hr. |
| Exam fee | Journeyman $90, Master $90, Electrical Re-Licensing $70 (effective 2/1/2025) |
| Voltage threshold requiring a license | 30 volts or higher |
Who Regulates Electricians in New Hampshire?
The New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC), through its Electricians' Board, licenses four categories: Apprentice, Journeyman, Master, and High/Medium Voltage Electricians. An active NH electrician license is required to work with 30 volts or higher. Apprentices must register with the OPLC. The Board has contracted with Prov, Inc. to develop and administer the Journeyman Electrician Exam, Master Electrician Exam, and Electrical Re-Licensing Exam.
Correcting a Claim: NH Tests the 2020 NEC, Not 2023
Several third-party sites describe New Hampshire as having adopted the 2023 NEC. Per Prov's current candidate bulletin, that's not accurate for the exams themselves as of our verification: the Journeyman Electrician (2020), Master Electrician (2020), and Electrical Re-Licensing (2020 NEC) exams are all explicitly labeled and referenced against the 2020 NEC, along with a New Hampshire-specific amendment bulletin to the 2020 NEC. There's also a listed reference to "HB85 Chapter 157 2017 NEC New Hampshire" — an older amendment document that appears alongside the 2020 materials, not a sign that the exam itself runs on 2017 or 2023. If you've seen a different edition claimed elsewhere, verify directly with Prov or OPLC before you buy a codebook.
Exam Format by License Level
| Exam | Questions | Time | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Journeyman Electrician | 110 | 4.5 hours | $90 |
| Master Electrician | 125 | 5 hours | $90 |
| Electrical Re-Licensing | 25 | 1 hour | $70 |
Both the Journeyman and Master exams cover the same broad content areas at different depth and item counts: General Electrical Knowledge, Equipment for General Use, Motors and Generators, Control Devices, Special Conditions, Special Equipment, Special Occupancies, Services and Service Equipment, Branch Circuits and Conductors, Feeders, Wiring Methods & Materials, and Administrative topics. The Master exam weights Administrative content much more heavily (25 items vs. 9 on the Journeyman exam).
Allowed references for the Journeyman and Master exams: NFPA 70/National Electrical Code, 2020 edition; the Amendment to 2020 NEC New Hampshire; American Electrician's Handbook (latest edition, McGraw Hill); Ugly's Electrical References, 2020 edition; HB85 Chapter 157 2017 NEC New Hampshire (a state amendment document); and New Hampshire Laws and Rules Elec 100-400, RSA 319-C. State-specific references (the NH amendment bulletins and laws/rules) are provided by OPLC and printed versions are allowed at the testing site even though they're not commercially purchasable ISBN items.
Reference Material Rules
All New Hampshire electrician exams are open book and timed. Per Prov's bulletin:
- Candidates are encouraged to prepare their references by highlighting text or placing permanent tabs on important pages before the exam.
- Hand-written notes are not allowed in any reference book used for testing.
- It is not mandatory to purchase study materials, but candidates without their approved references at hand may be at a disadvantage during the timed exam.
Eligibility (What We Could and Couldn't Confirm)
Prov's candidate bulletin covers exam logistics and content, not the underlying hours/education eligibility requirements — those live with OPLC directly. We confirmed from OPLC's own Electricians' Board page that an active license is required for any work at 30 volts or higher, and that the Board regulates Apprentice, Journeyman, Master, and High/Medium Voltage categories. Third-party sources commonly cite the following eligibility figures, which we have not yet independently verified against OPLC's application materials:
- Journeyman: approximately 8,000 hours of supervised work experience plus 600 hours of pre-licensing education, including at least 24 hours of electrical safety training.
- Master: an active Journeyman license plus roughly 2,000 additional hours of practical experience as a licensed journeyman.
Confirm exact experience and education requirements directly with OPLC before applying.
Continuing Education
Per OPLC's own Electricians' Board page, Journeyman and Master licensees must complete 15 hours of instruction on the changes to the latest published edition of the NEC every code cycle, and at least 1 of those 15 hours must cover changes to RSA 319-C and NH's administrative rules and installation concerns. Starting with the 2026 NEC code update, these hours must be completed within the same year the new code is published. Certificates of completion go through CE Broker to OPLC.
Reciprocity
Per Plc 313.24, applicants for endorsement (reciprocity) must have at least one year of professional experience in the license category sought. Out-of-state candidates and those reinstating a lapsed license register at provexam.com, and OPLC determines eligibility from there.
Fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Journeyman Electrician exam | $90.00 |
| Master Electrician exam | $90.00 |
| Electrical Re-Licensing exam | $70.00 |
Fees are effective 2/1/2025 and are the same whether it's your first attempt or a retake. Once approved for testing, you're eligible to take the exam for one year. To reschedule or cancel without forfeiting your fee, you must notify Prov at least 7 days before your scheduled test date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring my NEC codebook into the New Hampshire exam?
Yes. All NH electrician exams are open book. You may highlight and place permanent tabs on your reference beforehand, but you can't write in it.
What NEC edition should I study for New Hampshire?
The 2020 NEC, per Prov's current candidate bulletin — despite some third-party claims that NH has moved to 2023.
Can I take the exam remotely?
Yes. Prov offers remote testing via Examroom.ai, a monitored remote-proctoring service, as an alternative to testing in person at a Prov Computer-Based Testing location.
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
Because New Hampshire's exams are built on the 2020 NEC and 2020 Ugly's Electrical References, and our current bundles are built around the 2023 and 2026 editions, we can't offer an exact-edition match for exam day. Our current bundles are useful for learning general electrical theory and code structure, but you'll want a genuine 2020 NEC (highlighted/permanently tabbed as you like beforehand, no handwriting) for the actual test.
General study reference only — confirm you're using the 2020 NEC for exam day.
Ordering for a crew, apprenticeship class, or training program? Request bulk pricing.
Official Sources
- Prov, Inc. — State of New Hampshire Electrician Board Examinations Candidate Information Bulletin (fees updated 2/1/2025), obtained via oplc.nh.gov (checked September 5, 2026)
- NH Office of Professional Licensure and Certification — Electricians' Board (checked September 5, 2026)
Your Book Spot USA is not affiliated with the NH Office of Professional Licensure and Certification, 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.
