Electrician Schools in Maine (Top Programs)

Maine’s labor market is in high demand for skilled electricians.

This is where you’ll learn how to earn your electrician license from the  Electricians’ Examining Board, and even start a new career.

Education

The Board requires future electricians to receive training in one of the following ways:

• Accumulate 8,000 hours as an apprentice and 576 hours of classroom study
• Graduate from an accredited electrical program, then work for 8000 hours under the supervision of a master electrician and complete the 45-hour National Electrical Code course
• Graduate from an accredited community college through the Department of Corrections, accumulate 4000 hours under the supervision of a master electrician and complete the course covering the National Electrical Code
• Be a veteran with training in the electrical field and contact the Board

Pre-Apprenticeship Program

In Maine, those interested in becoming electricians can start training while in high school, starting in the 11th grade.

These students may accumulate up to 1000 hours of on-the-job training that will count towards the apprenticeship hours.

Apprentice License

The Maine Department of Labor’s Career Center offers the state’s mandatory apprenticeship program, and those accepted can have up to half of the reimbursed.

Requirements:

• At least 16 years old
• Have a high school diploma or GED
• Be able to complete the required tasks and courses
• Pass a criminal history background check
• Be legally eligible to work in the United States
• Fill out the application with the sponsor

All pre-apprenticeship ours must be accounted for on the form.

Apprentices also need an apprentice license which costs $96 and to see if you received it, you must check the Board’s website.

Journeyman Electrician License

Those who complete their apprenticeship can apply for a journeyman license.

Requirements:

• Fill out the application
• Submit the fee – $25
• Copy of the training program diploma or transcript
• Score 70 on the exam

The exam costs $75 and it can be scheduled online with Prometric within 2 years of approval.

You have 3 hours to answer the 80 multiple-choice questions covering the topics below while using the National Electrical Code as reference:

• General Electrical Knowledge:
• Wiring and Protection
• Wiring Methods and Materials
• Equipment for General Use
• Special Occupancies
• Special Equipment
• Special Conditions
• Communications Systems

The Board sends instructions to those who pass, with what to do after they pass.

Maine and the following states have reciprocal agreements at the journeyman level:

• Idaho,
• New Hampshire
• North Dakota
• Oregon
• Vermont
• Wyoming

There is a special reciprocity license application for those who already earned their journeyman electrician license in either one of those states.

Master Electrician License

In Maine, to become a master electrician, you need either:

• 4000 hours of experience as a journeyman
• 12,000 hours of experience if you didn’t become a journeyman

Other requirements are:

• 45 hours getting updated on the National Electrical Code
• Fill out the application
• Submit the fees
• Score over 70 to pass the exam

The exam has 100 questions and candidates have 4 hours to answer while consulting the National Electrical Code.

The questions cover:

• General Electrical Knowledge
• Wiring and Protection
• Wiring Methods and Materials
• Equipment for General Use
• Special Occupancies
• Special Equipment
• Special Conditions
• Communications Systems

Those who earned their master electrician license in New Hampshire or Vermont can get licensed in Maine through the reciprocity program.

Electrical Contractor in Maine

Becoming a business in Maine is relatively easy, as all you need to do is:

• Choosing a business name
• Filing a certificate with the clerk of the city or town
• Obtaining local licenses and permits
• Obtaining an Employer Identification Number

Your business can be your name, but make sure the name is not taken.

Those who want to hire other electricians must register as either:

• Corporation
• Limited partnership
• Limited liability company

Other mandatory registrations are:

• Sales and use tax
• Income tax withholding
• Business license

Salary

Electrician apprentices will earn the least from all electricians, as they have the least experience.

Regional Salary in Maine

Maintaining the License

All licenses must be renewed every 2 years

The apprentice license renews for $50, and the date is based on the date you obtained it.

The journeyman and master electrician licenses cost $150 to renew and candidates must complete a course of 15 hours, covering the updates to the National Electrical Code, which updates every 3 years.

Electrician Schools by City

Electrician Schools by State