An Act to Update Electrical Education and Other Licensure Requirements for Electricians
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1713
Committee: Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business
Sponsors: ROBERTS
Amends: 32 MRSA §1202-A, 32 MRSA §1202-B, 32 MRSA §1206

Legislative Document
No. 1713
H.P. 1102
House of Representatives, April 18, 2023
An Act to Update Electrical Education and Other Licensure 
Requirements for Electricians
Submitted by the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation pursuant to Joint 
Rule 204.
Reference to the Committee on Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and 
Business suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative ROBERTS of South Berwick.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  32 MRSA §1202-A, as amended by PL 2019, c. 261, §1 and c. 503, Pt. B, 
§1, is repealed.
Sec. 2.  32 MRSA §1202-B is enacted to read:
§1202-B.  Issuance and scope of licenses
A person licensed under this chapter must produce a copy of the license upon request 
of the state electrical inspector.
The board may adopt rules to carry out the purposes of this section.  Rules adopted 
pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, 
subchapter 2-A.
1.  Apprentice electrician.  Licensing for an apprentice electrician is governed by this 
subsection. 
A.  An apprentice electrician who is licensed in accordance with this subsection and 
registered with an apprenticeship program may perform electrical installations under 
the direct supervision of a master electrician, journeyman electrician or limited 
electrician. 
B.  The board may issue an apprentice electrician license to an individual who submits 
an application with the required fee and provides evidence of enrollment in a registered 
apprenticeship program that has been approved and validated by the United States 
Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Office of 
Apprenticeship or by a State Apprenticeship Agency recognized by the Office of 
Apprenticeship. 
2.  Helper electrician.  Licensing for a helper electrician is governed by this 
subsection.
A.  A helper electrician who is licensed in accordance with this subsection may make 
electrical installations under the direct supervision of a master electrician, journeyman 
electrician or limited electrician.  A helper electrician must be employed by a 
supervising master electrician, limited electrician or electrical company.
B.  The board may issue a helper electrician license to an individual who submits an 
application with the required fee. 
3.  Journeyman-in-training electrician.  Licensing for a journeyman-in-training 
electrician is governed by this subsection.
A.  A journeyman-in-training electrician may make electrical installations while 
employed by a supervising master electrician, limited electrician or electrical company.  
A journeyman-in-training electrician may not supervise other electricians.
B.  An applicant for a journeyman-in-training license must first pass an examination 
approved by the board.  To qualify for the examination, an applicant must submit an 
examination application with the required fee and provide evidence of one of the 
following: 
(1)  Completion of at least 2,000 work hours in the field of electrical installations 
as a licensed helper electrician and an electrical program at an accredited 
community college consisting of a 576-hour course of study as adopted by the 
board;
(2)  Completion of at least 2,000 work hours in the field of electrical installations 
as a licensed helper electrician and a vocational-electrical program of a state 
department of corrections; or
(3)  Comparable work experience, education or training, or any combination of 
comparable work experience, education or training, completed within the State or 
outside the State, that is acceptable to the board. 
C.  Upon passage of the examination, the board may issue the journeyman-in-training 
license to an applicant who submits a license application with the required fee and 
evidence of completion of a 45-hour course in the National Electrical Code within the 
years prior to application for licensure. 
4.  Journeyman electrician.  Licensing for a journeyman electrician is governed by 
this subsection.
A.  A journeyman electrician may make electrical installations while employed by a 
supervising master electrician, limited electrician or electrical company.  A person 
licensed under this subsection may supervise:
(1)  Two helper electricians who are enrolled in, or have completed, a 576-hour 
course of study as adopted by the board;
(2)  Two apprentice electricians; or
(3)  One helper electrician.
B.  An applicant for a journeyman electrician license must first pass an examination 
approved by the board.  To qualify for the examination, an applicant must submit an 
examination application with the required fee and provide evidence of one of the 
following:
(1)  Completion of at least 8,000 work hours in electrical installations as a licensed 
apprentice electrician and completion of a 576-hour course of study as adopted by 
the board or a course of study approved by the United States Department of Labor, 
Employment and Training Administration, Office of Apprenticeship as part of the 
National Guidelines for Apprenticeship Standards. 
An individual applying pursuant to this subparagraph who has completed a 576-
hour course of study adopted by the board or a course of study approved by the 
United States Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, 
Office of Apprenticeship as part of the National Guidelines for Apprenticeship 
Standards and at least 4,000 of the 8,000 required work hours in the field of 
electrical installations as a licensed apprentice electrician may take the 
examination prior to completing the remaining required work hours;
(2)  Completion of at least 8,000 work hours in the field of electrical installations 
as a licensed helper electrician or completion of at least 8,000 work hours in 
electrical installations and completion of a 576-hour course of study as adopted by 
the board;
(3)  Completion of a secondary school career and technical education electrical 
program approved pursuant to Title 20-A, section 8306-B and completion of at 
least 8,000 work hours in the field of electrical installations.  An individual 
applying pursuant to this subparagraph may take the examination upon graduating 
from the program and is credited 1,000 work hours in the field of electrical 
installations.  The individual must complete any remaining work hours prior to 
applying for a journeyman electrician license; 
(4)  Completion of an electrical program at an accredited community college 
consisting of a 576-hour course of study as adopted by the board and completion 
of at least 8,000 work hours in the field of electrical installations as a licensed 
helper electrician.  An individual applying pursuant to this subparagraph may take 
the examination upon completion of the electrical program and is credited 4,000 
work hours in the field of electrical installations.  The individual must complete 
any remaining work hours prior to applying for a journeyman license;
(5)  Completion of a vocational-electrical program of a state department of 
corrections and completion of at least 8,000 work hours in the field of electrical 
installations as a licensed helper electrician.  An individual applying pursuant to 
this subparagraph may take the examination upon completion of the vocational-
electrical program and is credited 4,000 work hours in the field of electrical 
installations.  The individual must complete any remaining work hours prior to 
applying for a journeyman license; or
(6)  Comparable work experience, education or training, or a combination of 
comparable work experience, education or training, completed within the State or 
outside the State, that is acceptable to the board.  
C.  Upon passage of the examination, the board may issue the journeyman license to 
an individual who submits a license application with the required fee, demonstrates 
proof of any required work hours in the field of electrical installations and provides 
evidence of completion of a 45-hour course in the National Electrical Code within the 
years prior to application for licensure.
5.  Master electrician.  Licensing for a master electrician is governed by this 
subsection.
A.  A master electrician may make electrical installations without limitation.  A master 
electrician is responsible for verifying the current licensure of all of that master 
electrician's employees, if licensure is applicable, prior to and during employment.  A 
master electrician is responsible for any electrical installation that master electrician 
performs and for the electrical installations of individuals that master electrician 
supervises at the time of the electrical installations.
A master electrician may supervise:
(1)  Two helper electricians who are enrolled in, or have completed, a 576-hour 
course of study as adopted by the board;
(2)  Two apprentice electricians employed by the master electrician; or
(3)  One helper electrician employed by the master electrician.
A master electrician may supervise an unlimited number of licensed journeyman 
electricians, journeyman-in-training electricians or limited electricians. 
B.  An applicant for a master electrician license must first pass an examination 
approved by the board.  To qualify for the examination, an applicant must submit an 
examination application with the required fee and provide evidence of one of the 
following:
(1)  Completion of at least 12,000 work hours in the field of electrical installations 
as a licensed helper or apprentice electrician and completion of a 576-hour course 
of study as adopted by the board;
(2)  Completion of at least 4,000 work hours in the field of electrical installations 
as a journeyman electrician and completion of a 576-hour course of study as 
adopted by the board;
(3)  Completion of at least 6,000 work hours in the field of electrical installations 
as a journeyman-in-training electrician and completion of a 576-hour course of 
study as adopted by the board; or
(4)  Comparable work experience, education or training, or a combination of 
comparable work experience, education or training, completed within the State or 
outside the State, that is acceptable to the board.  The board may exercise its 
discretion to determine if a limited electrician license holder applying for a master 
electrician's license has adequate experience in all phases of electrical installation 
to take the examination.
A person who holds a journeyman or limited electrician license issued prior to July 1, 
1987 is eligible to take the examination for a master electrician license if the person 
has completed the number of hours of work experience required by this paragraph.
C.  Upon passage of the examination, the board may issue the master electrician license 
to a person who submits a license application with the required fee and provides 
evidence of completion of a 45-hour course in the National Electrical Code within the 
years prior to application for licensure.
6.  Limited electrician.  Licensing for a limited electrician is governed by this 
subsection.
A.  A limited electrician may make electrical installations authorized by the specific 
limited electrician license category without limitation.  A limited electrician may 
supervise helper electricians or apprentice electricians only in the performance of 
electrical installations authorized by the limited electrician's specific limited license 
category. 
A limited electrician may supervise:
(1)  Two helper electricians who are enrolled in, or have completed, a 576-hour 
course of study as adopted by the board; 
(2)  Two apprentice electricians; or 
(3)  One helper electrician.
A limited electrician is responsible for verifying the current licensure of all employees, 
if licensure is applicable, prior to and during employment.  A limited electrician is 
responsible for any electrical installation work that limited electrician performs and for 
work of individuals that limited electrician supervises at the time of electrical 
installation. 
B.  A limited electrician may make only electrical installations authorized by the 
specific limited license category, as follows: 
(1)  A limited electrician in water pumps is restricted to performing electrical work 
between the branch circuit overcurrent device, the water pump and associated 
controls; 
(2)  A limited electrician in outdoor signs, including sign lighting, may not perform 
electrical work on branch circuit wiring; 
(3)  A limited electrician in gasoline dispensing is restricted to performing 
electrical work between the branch circuit overcurrent device, the dispenser and 
associated controls; 
(4)  A limited electrician in traffic signals, including outdoor lighting of traffic 
signals, is restricted to performing electrical work on traffic signals, including 
outdoor lighting of traffic signals and the traffic signal electrical service; 
(5)  A limited electrician in house wiring is restricted to performing electrical work 
in one-family dwellings and 2-family dwellings, including manufactured homes; 
(6)  A limited electrician in refrigeration is restricted to performing electrical work 
between the branch circuit overcurrent device, the refrigeration equipment and 
associated controls; 
(7)  A limited electrician in low-energy electronics is restricted to performing 
electrical work on low-energy electronics as supplied by Class I, II and III limited 
energy systems, all fire alarm systems and the dedicated branch circuit wiring; and 
(8)  A limited electrician in crane wiring is restricted to the installation of electrical 
equipment and wiring used in connection with cranes, monorail hoists, hoists and 
runways.
C.  The board may require an applicant for a limited electrician license to first pass an 
examination approved by the board.  When an examination is required, an applicant 
must submit an examination application with the required fee and provide evidence of 
one of the following, as applicable to the listed limited license category:
(1)  For water pumps, completion of at least 135 hours of electrical education and 
2,000 hours of work experience approved in rules adopted by the board;
(2)  For outdoor signs, including sign lighting, completion of at least 135 hours of 
electrical education and 2,000 hours of work experience approved in rules adopted 
by the board;
(3)  For gasoline dispensing, completion of at least 135 hours of electrical 
education and 2,000 hours of work experience approved in rules adopted by the 
board;
(4)  For traffic signals, including outdoor lighting of the traffic signals, completion 
of at least 135 hours of electrical education and 2,000 hours of work experience 
approved in rules adopted by the board;
(5)  For house wiring, completed at least 225 hours of electrical education and 
4,000 hours of work experience approved in rules adopted by the board;
(6)  For refrigeration, completion of:
(a)  At least 270 hours of electrical education and 6,000 hours of work 
experience approved in rules adopted by the board; or  
(b)  An electrical program in refrigeration from an accredited institution and 
6,000 hours of work experience approved in rules adopted by the board.  
Graduates of an electrical program in refrigeration from an accredited 
institution are credited with 4,000 hours work experience upon graduation;
(7)  For low-energy electronics, including fire alarms, completion of at least 270 
hours of electrical education and 4,000 hours of work experience approved in rules 
adopted by the board; or
(8)  For crane wiring, completion of at least 135 hours of electrical education and 
2,000 hours of work experience approved in rules adopted by the board.
A person may be eligible for examination under this paragraph by providing evidence 
of comparable work experience, education or training, or a combination of comparable 
work experience, education or training, completed within the State or outside the State, 
that is acceptable to the board.
D.  The board may issue a limited electrician license to an applicant who submits a 
license application with the required fee, passes any required examination and provides 
evidence of completion of a 45-hour course in the National Electrical Code within the 
years prior to application for licensure.
Sec. 3.  32 MRSA §1206, 2nd ¶, as amended by PL 2017, c. 198, §18, is further 
amended to read:
Notwithstanding other provisions of this section, the board, upon receiving an 
application for a reciprocal license, may waive the 576 hours of study required for a 
journeyman or master license pursuant to section 1202‑A 1202-B.  The board may require 
the applicant to submit such written evidence as it determines necessary to support the 
application.
SUMMARY
This bill amends the laws governing the licensing of electricians to eliminate 
unintended barriers for applicants seeking to complete the requisite electrical education 
needed to qualify to take an examination and requires the Electricians' Examining Board to 
establish in rule the minimum curriculum requirements for a program of study.  The board 
is not required to approve any individual program of study or accredited institution as long 
as the offered course of study meets the coursework requirements set forth in rule.
The bill reorganizes the current structure of the law regarding what is required in order 
for an applicant to qualify to take an examination and what is required at the stage the 
individual applies for a license after passage of an examination.
The bill clarifies that the board may require a person to first pass an examination 
approved by the board in order to obtain a limited electrician license.
For the journeyman-in-training, journeyman, master and limited electrician categories 
of licensure, the bill provides that all applicants for licensure must have completed a 45-
hour course in the National Electrical Code within 2 years of applying for a license.
The bill does not change the current scope of practice or the supervision requirements 
for any level of licensure.