Becoming a licensed electrician in Maine is a multi-step process and can sometimes be overwhelming. That’s why we have outlined the detailed steps of the typical path anyone takes to start their career. However, we are also going to discuss some variations and alternative pathways later in this blog. Below, we have broken down the steps in the easiest way possible:

Step 1: Meet The Basic Eligibility Requirements

You need to meet the basic qualifications to enter the electrical trade. In Maine, apprenticeship programs require you to be at least 18 years old to work as a helper or to register as an apprentice, have a high school diploma or GED, be physically fit and capable of work, have good vision, and have a clean criminal record. Maine, like many states, will do a criminal history background check when you apply for any electrician license. Minor traffic tickets won’t matter, but crimes involving theft, fraud, or violence could be an issue. It’s best to be upfront and consult the Electricians’ Examining Board if you have questions about your situation. Additionally, you must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. If you’re not a U.S. citizen, you’ll need the appropriate work visa or residency status. 

Step 2: Enroll in an Electrical Apprenticeship or an Electrical Training Program (or Both)

Choosing a training path is the foundational step. In Maine, you essentially have two broad options that can complement each other. You can either join a formal Apprenticeship Program or complete an Electrical Education Program, such as a community college or trade school course. Many people actually do both. They work as an apprentice while also attending night classes or a technical college. Let’s break down these approaches:

• State-Registered Apprenticeship: This is the classic way to become an electrician. An apprenticeship in Maine typically lasts 4 to 5 years, during which you work full-time under a licensed electrician and also complete classroom instruction in electrical theory, current National Electrical Code (NEC), blueprint reading, basic electrical wiring, motors, controls, and practical application. To start an apprenticeship, you first need to find a sponsor, usually an employer or a union program, that will hire you as an apprentice. Some of the common apprenticeship sponsors in Maine include electrical contracting companies and union locals of the IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers). For example, IBEW Local 567 in Lewiston and IBEW Local 1253 in the Newport/Bangor area both run apprenticeship programs that combine on-the-job training with related instruction. There are also non-union apprenticeships. Some large contractors have in-house programs or participate in programs through organizations like Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). The Maine Apprenticeship Program, administered by the Maine Department of Labor, provides a framework and can help connect you with apprenticeship opportunities.

  As an apprentice, you must register your apprenticeship with the state’s Electricians’ Examining Board. When you do so, you will receive an Apprentice Electrician license that is valid for 2 years at a time. You have to pay $25 plus $21 for the background check to maine.gov. And you must be in a bona fide apprenticeship program that is approved by the U.S. Department of Labor or Maine’s state apprenticeship agency in order to get that.

• Electrical Program: The other path is to complete a formal electrical education program, such as a two-year degree or a certificate program in electrical technology. Maine is somewhat unique in that it highly values these programs. In fact, completing an approved 2-year electrical program can substantially reduce the amount of work experience you need for your license. For example, if you graduate from a Maine Community College electrical program, you only need 4,000 hours of work experience, instead of 8,000, to qualify for the journeyman exam. Similarly, completing an accredited electrical program in high school gives you a head start by crediting you with some hours. After graduating, you’ll still need to work in the field to get practical experience, but as we have mentioned before, the required hours are fewer.

Step 4: Work Under Supervision and Gain the Required Experience Hours

You are typically required to have 8,000 hours of electrical work in the field for a full journeyman license, unless you qualify for one of the reduced-hour scenarios via schooling. Under the supervision of your master or journeyman, you will be doing tasks like installing wiring, running conduit, installing fixtures, outlets, panels, troubleshooting electrical systems, etc. Typically, your employer will keep a record of your work hours.
However, it is important to keep a personal record as well, so that when it comes time to apply for your journeyman exam, you can document your experience. If you are in a registered apprenticeship, the program may provide a certificate or affidavit of completion, which will serve as proof. If you’re piecing things together, say, working as a helper and taking classes separately, you will need letters from employers verifying hours and certificates from your courses. Along with that, you also need to complete 576 hours of classroom instruction. Maine specifically outlines the content of the 576 hours. The courses include Basic Electricity I & II, Math, blueprint reading of electrical equipment, motor controls, and so on, plus a 45-hour course on the National Electrical Code.

We will recommend that you work on different types of projects if possible, be it residential, commercial, or industrial. This will not only make you a better electrician, but the journeyman licensing exam will cover a wide array of topics like the code rules for residential vs. commercial wiring, motor circuits, etc. Also, always follow safety practices. Apprentices often are the ones tasked with things like climbing into attics or crawlspaces, so use your personal protective equipment and learn the right way to do things.

Step 5: Study for and Pass the Journeyman Electrician Exam

After completing your required work experience and education, the next major step is to take and pass the Maine Journeyman Electrician Examination. Before you can schedule the exam, you must get approval from the Maine Electricians’ Examining Board. You will submit an exam application along with proof that you meet one of the qualification pathways, such as a letter or certificate confirming you completed 8,000 hours and 576 class hours, or proof of your degree and work hours, etc. There’s typically an application fee, which in Maine is often rolled into the license fee. The Board will review your materials, and they will issue you an authorization to test.
When you feel ready, schedule your exam with Prov for a date and location that works for you. After you complete the test, you will get your results. Prov provides an immediate score report. If you pass with 70% or above, you can proceed to get your journeyman license issued. If you don’t pass, it’s not the end of the world; you can review the areas you struggled with and reschedule for a retake.

Step 6: Obtain Your Maine Journeyman Electrician License

Once you have passed the journeyman exam and completed all required hours, you will have to submit a license issuance application and pay the license fee. The Journeyman Electrician license fee in Maine is $150 for a two-year license. If you are an older electrician, they have a token fee of $20 for “senior” licenses, but for anyone in the normal working age range, it’s $150. If you paid it during the exam application, you might just have to pay any difference or additional processing fee. Otherwise, you’ll pay it at license issuance. 

Maine licenses are valid for two years from the date of first issuance. For example, if your license is issued in June 2025, it will expire in June 2027. 

However, to keep your journeyman license valid, Maine requires continuing education each code cycle. Specifically, you must complete a 15-hour course on the current National Electrical Code every two years, or basically each time the NEC is updated, which is on a three-year cycle. This is typically a one-day or two-night class that reviews changes in the latest NEC. It’s mandatory for renewing your journeyman license, so don’t neglect it. 

Step 7: Advance from Journeyman to Master Electrician

After working as a journeyman for a while, you may decide to pursue the Master Electrician license. If you have ambitions to start your own electrical contracting business, pull permits independently, or just achieve the top credential in the trade, becoming a master should be your goal. 

Maine requires at least 4,000 hours of work experience as a licensed journeyman electrician before you can upgrade to master. If you have been a journeyman-in-training, that time also counts, but they actually specify alternatives like 6,000 hours as a journeyman-in-training, or a whopping 12,000 hours of experience if someone never got a journeyman license. Usually, no new schooling is needed beyond staying current with code updates. If you somehow bypassed formal education, you’d need to ensure you meet the education component. After you have met all the requirements, you have to apply to the Board for permission to take the Master Electrician exam and provide proof of your journeyman license and evidence of your work experience. Once it is approved, you have to schedule the exam with Prov.
After passing, you’ll pay the master license fee and receive your Master Electrician license. From here on, you can officially work without supervision and take responsibility for electrical installations on your own. You can even sponsor apprentices yourself, and you can hire journeymen. However, if you start a business, you may need a business license from the city and definitely insurance. Ensure you continue to meet code update continuing education requirements to keep your license active.