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Do you want to work as an electrician in Maryland?
Check out the requirements and steps you need to take before getting hired.
Article Table of Contents
Become an Apprentice
All electricians need to start off as apprentices when they learn the trade, and there are 2 ways to complete this step:
- Traditional apprenticeship
- Trade school
Trade Schools
Enrolling in a trade school will help you earn an associate’s degree and get licensed.
Plus, you can also get a job faster as some schools provide job placement.
Some of the subjects you will learn during your training include:
- Residential Wiring
- Commercial & Industrial Wiring
- The National Electric Code
- Electrical Theory
- Applied Math
- Safety/CPR/First Aid
- Transformers/Generators
- Electrical Motors
- Reading Blueprints
- Tools, Equipment, and Instruments
- Low Voltage Wiring, Maintenance, and Repair
- Cable Installation/Splicing Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| College of Southern Maryland | 8730 Mitchell Rd, La Plata, MD 20646 |
| Lincoln Tech | 9325 Snowden River Parkway Columbia, MD 21046 |
| Montgomery College | 51 Mannakee Street, Rockville, MD 20850 |
| North American Trade Schools | 6901 Security Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21244 |
| TESST College of Technology | 1520 South Caton Ave, Baltimore, MD 21227 |
| TESST College of Technology | 4600 Powder Mill Rd, Beltsville, MD 20705 |
Apprenticeship Programs
Another way to get licensed in getting into a registered apprenticeship.
You need at least 2000 hours of training to apply for a license this way.
The requirements are:
- Be 18 years old
- High school diploma
- Driver’s license
- Pass the math and physics tests
- Have a vehicle
After your apprenticeship is completed, most companies offer an entry-level job.
You will also need to register with the Maryland Department of Labor.
Journeyman License
In Maryland, each county has its own licensing rules.
Many counties only offer a master electrician license, but there are some exceptions listed below.
Baltimore County
Here you can earn either a limited or a restricted license.
For the limited license, you need an experience of 5 years, from which 2 must be spent working under a certified electrician
The license allows you to perform work on appliances in commercial or residential settings.
With the restricted license, you can work with appliances of a maximum of 5 volts.
You need 3 years of experience, and 2 of these must be spent working under a certified electrician.
Anne Arundel County
The 2 licenses available here are:
- Restricted License
- Master Limited License
For the restricted license, you need a work experience of 7 years, from which 3 must be spent working as a journeyman or apprentice in another county.
If this is not the case, you need a minimum of 1 year of experience being supervised by a master electrician.
For the master limited license, you need 2 years of experience under the supervision of a master electrician.
Earn the Master License
As many counties in Maryland skip the journeyman license, the next step is getting a master electrician one.
To become a master electrician, you need to have an experience of 7 years under the supervision of a master electrician and pass an exam.
If you finished a training program, it counts as 3 years of experience.
The exam has 100 questions, requires a 70% passing score, and costs $65.
The master electrician exam lasts for 4 hours.
After passing the exam, you need to apply for a license from the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.
If you have a certification in Delaware, Virginia or West Virginia you can get a reciprocity license.
How to get Insurance
In Maryland, master electricians need insurance.
The requirements are:
- At least $300,000 in General Liability insurance
- At least of $100,000 in Property Damage insurance (depends on the county)
- Worker’s Compensation insurance
Salary
Your experience and the route you took to become an electrician will have a big say in how much you’ll earn.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Baltimore | $49,917 |
| Columbia | $49,836 |
| Germantown | $52,254 |
| Silver Spring | $53,738 |
| Waldorf | $53,593 |
| Ellicott City | $49,884 |
| Frederick | $51,967 |
| Glen Burnie | $49,917 |
| Gaithersburg | $53,593 |
| Rockville | $53,674 |
Regional Salary in Maryland
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 5,840 | $65,390 | $31.44 | $100,160 | $36,600 |
| California-Lexington Park, MD | 190 | $61,250 | $29.45 | $91,320 | $34,550 |
| Cumberland, MD-WV | 100 | $60,810 | $29.24 | $84,730 | $35,570 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | 400 | $59,780 | $28.74 | $77,650 | $38,680 |
| Salisbury, MD-DE | 600 | $51,470 | $24.75 | $75,600 | $35,730 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
License Renewal
You need to renew the master electrician license every 48 months for a fee of $25.
Read the full guide: How to Become an Electrician
Electrician Schools by City
Electrician Schools by State