Requirements, license levels, and the issuing authority, sourced from Vermont's official board.
Electrical licensing sits with the Division of Fire Safety under 26 V.S.A. Chapter 15, not with the Office of Professional Regulation. With limited exceptions, anyone performing electrical work in Vermont must be licensed, other than in a residential building of two or fewer dwelling units or work under NEC Article 800; the rules do not apply to an owner-occupied single-family dwelling but do apply to single-family rentals and rental accessory dwellings. Vermont issues no separate electrical contractor license class: the master electrician is the credential entitled to run the business and employ others.
| Requirements | Master Electrician: licensed and working as a Vermont journeyman electrician for at least two years, or comparable experience and training acceptable to the board, plus an examination. Journeyman Electrician: verification by the Vermont apprenticeship council of completion of an electrical wiring apprenticeship including both instruction and work processes, or equivalent training acceptable to the board, plus an examination. Vermont sets an apprenticeship-completion standard rather than an hours standard. Type-S Journeyman: an accredited board-recognized training program plus one year (2,000 hours) of experience per specialty, and a separate exam for each of the 11 fields (automatic gas or oil heating, outdoor advertising, refrigeration or air conditioning, appliance and motor repair, well pumps, farm equipment, commercial fire alarm, gas pump installation, electrical lock installation, lightning rod installation, solar installation). Three-year license fees: Master $150, Journeyman $115, Specialist $115 per field; exam fee $80 to the testing agency. Applications must be notarized. |
| Reciprocity | Three routes. A Universal license issues without examination to a person holding an equivalent out-of-state master or journeyman license in good standing for 3 years, where that state grants a like privilege to Vermont licensees. Direct reciprocal agreements remain in place for residents of New Hampshire and Maine. Vermont has also joined the National Electrical Reciprocal Alliance; a NERA member-state license must be held in good standing for 1 year before applying. |
| Renewal | Every 3 years. Journeyman and master electricians must complete 15 board-approved hours of National Electrical Code instruction in the preceding 36 months; Type-S holders must complete 8 hours on their specialty. All licensees must complete the Vermont Energy Goals Module. A lapsed license may be renewed within one year with a $25 late fee. |
| Notes | Electrical licensing sits with the Division of Fire Safety under 26 V.S.A. Chapter 15, not with the Office of Professional Regulation. With limited exceptions, anyone performing electrical work in Vermont must be licensed, other than in a residential building of two or fewer dwelling units or work under NEC Article 800; the rules do not apply to an owner-occupied single-family dwelling but do apply to single-family rentals and rental accessory dwellings. Vermont issues no separate electrical contractor license class: the master electrician is the credential entitled to run the business and employ others. |
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Sources: firesafety.vermont.gov, firesafety.vermont.gov. Always confirm current requirements with the issuing authority.
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