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How to Become an Electrician in MaineRoadmap to Licensure

Becoming an Electrician in Maine

There are two major steps to becoming an electrician in Maine. The required hours vary depending on which license type you are looking for.

Disclaimer: The state of Maine may change requirements at any time… please use this for informational purposes only. Final judgments are with the Electrician’s Board.

1. Required Education

Depending on which license you are looking to obtain, the state of Maine has education requirements that you need to meet. See license types below for more information.

2. Hours of Experience

Hours of experience under the employment of a Master electrician while holding a Helpers license or Apprentice license. Employment is the key word. You cannot just casually help an electrician out on Saturdays. You need to be employed by the Master electrician.

Use this link to apply for a Helpers license. Do not try to apply for an Apprentice license, or a “Helper In School” unless you work directly through your employer. These are very specific requirements. Just apply to get your Helpers license and you will be legal to start work under the employment of a Master Electrician.

Skill Learning at Maine Electrical Institute

Limited to Residential License

Required Education: The state of Maine requires the following education in order to qualify to sit for your “limited to residential house wiring” license (Each of these courses are 45 hour courses… equal to 3 credit hours if taken through an accredited institution):​

*M.E.I. provides all the education required for this license in the one-year Self-Paced Residential program.

Required Hours of Experience: The state of Maine requires 4,000 hours of experience (about 2 years on average) under the employment of a master electrician to sit for your exam. A minimum of 2,000 of those hours must be in residential house wiring in order to sit for the exam.

Benefit: This is a good short-term goal. It will allow the worker who is desiring to become a Journeyman electrician to have a license in their pocket, allowing them to work alone on residential projects without supervision. This license will actually allow the worker to pull permits and do “side work” if desired. You are permitted to have employees working for you within the scope of your license.

Limitations: This license will ONLY allow the worker to work on residential structures (1 and 2 family dwelling units and mobile homes, 200 amps or less). Additionally, if the worker desires to continue on and get their Journeyman license, the worker must maintain their helper’s license and remain employed by a master electrician while obtaining the additional hours required. Working on your own does not count toward the hours required to sit for your Journeyman exam.

An Affidavit Form is required to be filled out when you apply for your exam. Your employer must fill out the paperwork at this link to be submitted with your schooling transcripts in order to have approval to sit for an exam.

Journeyman License

Required Education: The state of Maine requires the following education in order to qualify to sit for your “journeyman” license (Each of these courses are 45 hour courses… equal to 3 credit hours if taken through an accredited institution):

*M.E.I. provides all the education required for this license in the Two-Year Program.

Required Hours of Experience: The state of Maine requires 8,000 hours of experience (about 4 years on average) under the employment of a master electrician to sit for your exam.

Benefit: This is the goal for many electricians. It will allow the worker to work without supervision (while under the employment of a master electrician) on residential, commercial and industrial projects. The pay will be higher and opportunities greater than that of a limited license.

Limitations: This license will not allow for “side work” which is conducted outside of the employment of a Master electrician. All worked conducted as a Journeyman must be conducted under the employment of a Master electrician.

An Affidavit Form is required to be filled out when you apply for your exam. Your employer must fill out the paperwork at this link to be submitted with your schooling transcripts in order to have approval to sit for an exam.

Master Electrician License

Required Education: The state of Maine requires the following education in order to qualify to sit for your “master” license (Each of these courses are 45 hour courses… equal to 3 credit hours if taken through an accredited institution):

  • Basic Electricity I- A thorough study of D.C. Theory
  • Basic Electricity II- A thorough study of A.C. Theory
  • Blue Print Reading
  • Controls I- Residential House wiring methods and materials
  • National Electrical Code
  • Construction Math (or equivalent)
  • Motors- A study in the theory, operation and types of electric motors
  • Transformers- a study in the theory, operation and types of transformers
  • Controls II- Commercial/Industrial wiring methods & materials and/or motor controls
  • Electronics I- Power electronics, communication, electronics, etc.
  • An additional 126 hours of education in degree related materials. NOTICE: There is a difference in courses here. If a Journeyman takes all trade-related courses and then seeks to become a master electrician, there are additional degree-related courses that must be met.

 

*M.E.I. provides all the education required for this license.

Required Hours of Experience: The state of Maine requires a worker to obtain their Journeyman license and then continue to work under a master electrician for an additional 4,000 hours in this role (about 2 years on average) to sit for your exam.

Benefit: This license is unlimited in scope. You are permitted to work on all electrical installations and have employees under your employment.

Limitations: Only those governing laws which apply to all electricians and installations.

An Affidavit Form is required to be filled out when you apply for your exam. Your employer must fill out the paperwork at this link to be submitted with your schooling transcripts in order to have approval to sit for an exam.

Wherever you find yourself in the process, M.E.I. has the ability to tailor a program to get you what you need in the shortest time possible.

The Fastest Way to Get Your Schooling!

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