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Hiring an Electrician in New Hampshire

Updated 2026-10-10 · 6 min read

How to hire an electrician in NH: master, journeyman and apprentice licenses, checking a license with OPLC, permits, the homeowner exception and red flags.

Electrical work in NH requires a state license

Unlike general contracting, electrical work is a licensed trade in New Hampshire. Under RSA 319-C:1, no electrical installation can be made for pay unless it's done by someone licensed through the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC), except as the law allows. The law defines electrical installations broadly: installing, repairing, altering or maintaining wiring, devices and fixtures for heating, lighting or power, regardless of the voltage. The Electricians' Board says an active NH electrician license is required to work with 30 volts or higher.

Unless an exception applies, doing electrical work without a license is a crime under RSA 319-C:15, and so is falsely claiming to be licensed. For a broader look at which trades need a license, see which NH contractors need a license.

Master, journeyman and apprentice: what the levels mean

The Electricians' Board licenses apprentice, journeyman, master and high/medium voltage electricians. Here is how RSA 319-C:2 defines the levels you're likely to meet on a home job:

Master electrician: runs an electrical business that hires others, does electrical work for their own account, or works for another master.
Journeyman electrician: does the hands-on wiring work, and must be employed by a NH-licensed master electrician or a licensed electrical company.
Apprentice electrician: is learning the trade and must work under the direct supervision of a master or journeyman. Apprentices must register with OPLC. A journeyman can directly supervise only one apprentice in their first year of licensure and two after that (RSA 319-C:2-a).
High/medium voltage electrician: works on power distribution systems over 600 volts. This isn't the license you need for ordinary house wiring.
Companies: a corporation or partnership can hold an electrical license only if an officer or employee directly in charge of its business affairs is a licensed master electrician (RSA 319-C:10).

How to check an electrician's license

To earn a journeyman or master license, state law requires 8,000 hours as an apprentice, at least 600 hours of education and a board-approved exam (RSA 319-C:7). Journeymen and masters must also show 15 hours of instruction on changes to the National Electrical Code every code cycle, according to the Electricians' Board.

You can check any license for free with the OPLC license lookup. Choose "Electricians" as the profession, then search by name. Look for three things:

Status: "Active" means a current, valid license with no restrictions. OPLC's license status definitions explain the others, such as Expired, Lapsed, Suspended and Revoked.
Type: the person in charge of your job should be a master, or a journeyman working for a licensed master or company. An apprentice should never be working on your house alone.
Name: the name on the license should match the person or company on your estimate.

The homeowner exception

RSA 319-C:15 lets a homeowner do electrical work in or around a single-family home they own and live in, or will live in, as their own home. It doesn't cover rental property or a house you don't live in. It also doesn't let you pay an unlicensed friend or handyman to do the work, because RSA 319-C:1 requires a license for electrical work done for pay.

Your work still has to meet code, and your town may require a permit and inspection. Ask your building department before you start.

Permits, inspections and the electrical code

New Hampshire's State Building Code includes the 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) with New Hampshire amendments (RSA 155-A:1). The NH Division of Fire Safety notes that the NEC published by NFPA doesn't include the state's amendments, so a rule you read about online may not apply here exactly.

Electrical permits and inspections are handled by your city or town. Requirements vary, so ask your building department what it needs. A licensed electrician normally pulls the permit for the job. Our building permit guide explains how local permits work. The State Fire Marshal's state building permit program mainly covers state-owned property, plus projects in towns without code enforcement that have asked the state in writing for help. The office says it has no jurisdiction over other local building projects.

State electrical inspectors appointed by the State Fire Marshal can order code violations corrected and can have the utility disconnect power to an installation until they are (RSA 319-C:5). OPLC's Electricians' Board page says to call the Department of Safety at (603) 271-2791 for help with an inspection or to report a safety concern.

Common jobs and what to know

Service and panel upgrades: since the 2020 edition, the NEC has called for one- and two-family homes to have an emergency disconnect in a readily accessible outdoor location so first responders can shut off power from outside. The Electricians' Board explains the options in a technical bulletin. If you're replacing your service, ask how the electrician will handle it.
EV chargers: Level 2 charging uses 240-volt equipment. The U.S. Department of Energy's home charging page recommends a certified electrical contractor who uses the NEC, notes that permits may be required, and says some homes may not have enough electrical capacity for Level 2. An electrician can check and add circuits if needed.
Generators: Eversource says generators should always be installed by a licensed electrician and connected to your home's wiring through a transfer switch. Without one, a generator can feed power back into the lines and endanger line crews. See our generator and storm prep guide.
Underground wiring: the Electricians' Board has warned that underground conduit for electrical power is often installed by unlicensed contractors, and that most of this work does not fall under the utility exception in RSA 319-C:3. If a new service, garage or outbuilding needs underground wiring, make sure a licensed electrician is responsible for it.
Furnaces and boilers: RSA 319-C:3 exempts the installation of oil and gas furnace or boiler equipment and its controls from the electrician license law. Your heating contractor may handle that wiring. See our heating system guide.

Questions to ask before you hire

What is your license number, and who on the job is the master electrician?
Who will be at my house, and will any apprentices be supervised on site?
Will you pull the permit and schedule the inspections?
Can you send a certificate of insurance from your insurer? The NH Insurance Department points out that being licensed doesn't mean a contractor is insured.
What's included in the written estimate, and what could change the price?

Red flags

They won't give you a license number, or the lookup doesn't show an active license.
They suggest you pull the permit as the homeowner. The NH Insurance Department lists asking you to get permits in your own name as a warning sign.
They claim the homeowner exception covers them. It only covers the owner working on their own home.
An apprentice shows up to work with no master or journeyman supervising.
They offer to hook up a generator without a transfer switch.

Before you sign

Get the scope, price and permit responsibility in writing. Our contractor hiring checklist covers contracts, deposits and your right to cancel. If you have a concern about a licensed electrician's conduct, OPLC takes complaints. When you're ready, browse licensed pros in our electricians directory.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Laws, codes and local rules change, so confirm current requirements with OPLC and your town's building department.