State license

Massachusetts Journeyman Electrician License

Written by a licensed IBEW journeyman electrician

Last updated: October 24, 2026

Massachusetts licenses journeyman electricians at the state level. The Board of State Examiners of Electricians issues the license after you pass a two-part PSI exam. You need 70% on each part. You need 4 years with 8,000 hours of work experience and 600 hours of Journeyman curriculum. The exam fee is $135 total.

The facts, from the source

Who licenses: Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Electricians, Division of Occupational Licensure (mass.gov)
Exam vendor: PSI (test-takers.psiexams.com)
Exam (questions/time): Two parts, scored independently, computer-based. Part 1: 80 questions, 180 minutes. Part 2 (Applied): 30 questions, 60 minutes. A failed part can be retaken up to 6 times in 1 year from application approval. (test-takers.psiexams.com)
Open book / references: Open book. Allowed: the current adopted NEC; Massachusetts amendments (527 CMR 12); applicable Massachusetts General Laws (ch. 141); 237 CMR rules of the Board; NFPA 72. Underlining, highlighting, handwritten notes in margins and formulas on blank pages of reference books are allowed, tabbed or untabbed. A non-programmable silent calculator is allowed. Ugly's and American Electricians' Handbook are not allowed in the exam center. (test-takers.psiexams.com)
Passing score: 70% on each part (Part 1: 56 of 80; Part 2: 21 of 30). Both parts must be passed. (test-takers.psiexams.com)
Experience required: High school diploma; 600 hours of Journeyman curriculum; 4 years with 8,000 hours of work experience; a 15-hour code update certificate (237 CMR 13.05(1)); CORI authorization. Education or work older than 20 years is considered expired. Veteran credit: aircraft or shipboard electricians and merchant marine strikers get up to 2000 hours of work and 150 hours of education; military construction or base maintenance gets 50%, to a maximum of 4000 hours (2 years) of work and 300 hours of education. Veterans also receive 5 exam credit points. (test-takers.psiexams.com)
Fees: Exam $135 total: Part 1 $80.00 plus Part 2 $55.00. Application and license fees are paid in the eLIPSE portal. (test-takers.psiexams.com)

What’s on the exam

Part 1 topics: General Knowledge, Services, Grounding and Bonding, Wiring Methods and Devices, Motors, Transformers, Low-Voltage Distribution, Special Occupancies and Equipment, Overcurrent Protection, Lighting, Alarm Systems, Solar, Battery Storage. Part 2 topics: Circuit Calculations (Ohm's Law), Electrical Schematics and Plans, Materials and Components, Troubleshooting and Testing, Massachusetts Amendments, Licensing Laws and Regulations.

Confirm these with the board

NEC edition: the exam bulletin says the exam allows the current adopted edition of the NEC and moves to a new code 7 months after its enforcement date; confirm the edition in force with the board
Application and license fee amounts: not published in the materials we checked
Reciprocity: not published in the materials we checked

Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Electricians (Division of Occupational Licensure) ↗

Partly verified October 24, 2026: some items couldn’t be confirmed from official sources and are listed above

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Facts on this page trace to primary sources or first-hand IBEW Local 134 experience — see sources & methodology.