§1202-A. Issuance of licenses
An applicant for licensure under this section shall submit an application with the required fee established under section 1203-A. A person licensed under this chapter must produce a copy of the license upon request of the state electrical inspector. [PL 2017, c. 198, §17 (NEW).]
1. Apprentice or helper electrician; scope of license. The board may issue a license to an applicant for an apprentice electrician license or a helper electrician license.
A. An apprentice electrician who is licensed in accordance with this subsection and registered with an apprenticeship program may perform electrical installations under the direct supervision of a master electrician, journeyman electrician or limited electrician. [PL 2017, c. 198, §17 (NEW).]
B. A helper electrician who is licensed in accordance with this subsection may make electrical installations under the direct supervision of a master electrician, journeyman electrician or limited electrician. A helper electrician must be employed by a supervising master electrician, limited electrician or electrical company. [PL 2017, c. 198, §17 (NEW).]
[PL 2017, c. 198, §17 (NEW).]
2. Journeyman electrician; scope of license. The board may issue a license to an applicant for a journeyman electrician license.
A. A journeyman electrician may make electrical installations while employed by a supervising master electrician, limited electrician or electrical company. A person licensed under this subsection may supervise:
(1) Two helper electricians who are enrolled in, or have completed, a program of study consisting of 576 hours of education as approved by the board or from an accredited institution;
(2) Two apprentice electricians; or
(3) One helper electrician. [PL 2017, c. 198, §17 (NEW).]
B. In order to obtain a license under this subsection, a person must first pass an examination approved by the board and provide evidence of having:
(1) Worked at least 8,000 hours in the field of electrical installations as a licensed helper electrician or apprentice electrician under the direct supervision of a master electrician, journeyman electrician or limited electrician or having at least 8,000 hours of work experience in electrical installations, and having completed a program of study consisting of 576 hours as approved by the board or from an accredited institution. The 576 hours must consist of 225 hours of required study, including an approved course of 45 hours in the current National Electrical Code, and 351 hours of elective study that is either composed of all trade-related electives or 225 hours of trade-related courses and 135 hours of degree-related courses. A graduate of a secondary school career and technical education electrical program approved pursuant to Title 20‑A, section 8306‑B is credited 1,000 hours of work experience in electrical installations and is qualified to sit for the examination. The 1,000 hours credited under this subparagraph may not be applied to any other pathway to licensure described in this subsection;
(3) Graduated from an accredited community college electrical program or a vocational-electrical program of a state department of corrections and having worked at least 8,000 hours in the field of electrical installations as a licensed helper electrician, under the direct supervision of a master electrician, journeyman electrician or limited electrician, and having completed a course of 45 hours in the current National Electrical Code. Graduates of a community college electrical program or a vocational-electrical program of a state department of corrections are credited 4,000 hours of work experience in electrical installations and are qualified to sit for the examination;
(4) Worked at least 8,000 hours as a licensed apprentice electrician in the field of electrical installations under the direct supervision of a master electrician, journeyman electrician or limited electrician, having completed a program of study comprising at least 576 hours prescribed in an apprenticeship program approved by the board and having completed a course of 45 hours in the current National Electrical Code. A licensed apprentice who has completed an approved apprenticeship program of study and has worked at least 4,000 hours as a licensed apprentice electrician is qualified to sit for the examination; or
(5) Comparable work experience or education or training, or a combination of work experience, education and training, completed within the State or outside the State, that is acceptable to the board. [PL 2019, c. 261, §1 (AMD).]
[PL 2019, c. 261, §1 (AMD).]
3. Journeyman-in-training electrician license; scope of license; professional qualifications. The board may issue a license to an applicant for a journeyman-in-training electrician license.
A. A journeyman-in-training electrician may make electrical installations while employed by a supervising master electrician, limited electrician or electrical company. A journeyman-in-training electrician may not supervise other electricians. [PL 2017, c. 198, §17 (NEW).]
B. In order to obtain a license under this subsection, a person must first pass an examination approved by the board and provide evidence of having:
(1) Completed at least 2,000 work hours in the field of electrical installations as a licensed helper electrician under the direct supervision of a master electrician, journeyman electrician or limited electrician; graduated from an accredited community college electrical program or a vocational-electrical program of a state department of corrections; and completed a course of 45 hours in the current National Electrical Code; or
(2) Comparable work experience or education or training, or a combination of work experience, education and training, completed within the State or outside the State, that is acceptable to the board. [PL 2017, c. 198, §17 (NEW).]
[PL 2017, c. 198, §17 (NEW).]
4. Master electrician license; scope of license; professional qualifications. The board may issue a license to an applicant for a master electrician license.
A. A master electrician may make electrical installations without limitation. A master electrician is responsible for verifying the current licensure of all of that master electrician's employees, if licensure is applicable, prior to and during employment. Master electricians are responsible for any electrical installation they perform and for the electrical installations of individuals they supervise at the time of the electrical installations.
A master electrician may supervise 2 helper electricians who are enrolled in, or have completed, a program of study consisting of 576 hours of education as approved by the board or from an accredited institution; 2 apprentice electricians; or one helper electrician. Any helper electrician or apprentice electrician must be employed by a master electrician and be under the master electrician's supervision.
A master electrician may supervise an unlimited number of licensed journeyman electricians, journeyman-in-training electricians or limited electricians. [PL 2017, c. 198, §17 (NEW).]
B. In order to obtain a license under this subsection, a person must first pass an examination approved by the board and provide evidence of having:
(1) Worked at least 12,000 hours in the field of electrical installations as a licensed helper electrician or apprentice electrician under the direct supervision of a master electrician, journeyman electrician or limited electrician, or worked at least 4,000 hours in the field of electrical installations as a journeyman electrician under the indirect supervision of a master electrician or limited electrician or worked at least 6,000 hours in the field of electrical installations as a journeyman-in-training electrician and have completed a program of study consisting of 576 hours as approved by the board or from an accredited institution. The 576 hours must consist of 450 hours of required study, including a course of 45 hours in the current National Electrical Code and 126 hours of degree-related courses; or
(2) Comparable work experience or education or training, or a combination of work experience, education and training, completed within the State or outside the State, that is acceptable to the board. [PL 2019, c. 503, Pt. B, §1 (AMD).]
C. A person who holds a journeyman or limited electrician license issued prior to July 1, 1987 is eligible to take the examination for a master electrician license if the person has completed the number of hours of work experience required by this subsection and has completed a 45-hour course in the current National Electrical Code. [PL 2017, c. 198, §17 (NEW).]
[PL 2019, c. 503, Pt. B, §1 (AMD).]
5. Limited electrician license; scope of license. The board may issue a license to an applicant for a limited electrician license.
A. A limited electrician may only make electrical installations authorized by the specific limited license category. A limited electrician is responsible for verifying the current licensure of all employees, if licensure is applicable, prior to and during employment. Limited electricians are responsible for any electrical installation work they perform and for work of individuals they supervise at the time of electrical installation.
A limited electrician may supervise 2 helper electricians who are enrolled in, or have completed, a program of study consisting of 576 hours of education as approved by the board or from an accredited institution; 2 apprentice electricians; or one helper electrician. A limited electrician may supervise helper electricians or apprentice electricians only in the performance of electrical installations authorized by the limited electrician's specific limited license category. [PL 2017, c. 198, §17 (NEW).]
B. In order to obtain a license under this subsection, a person must meet the following requirements, as applicable:
(1) A limited electrician in water pumps must provide evidence of having completed at least 135 hours of electrical education as approved by the board or from an accredited institution and provide evidence of 2,000 hours of work experience approved by the board in rules. A limited electrician in water pumps is restricted to performing electrical work between the branch circuit overcurrent device, the water pump and associated controls.
(2) A limited electrician in outdoor signs, including sign lighting, must provide evidence of having completed at least 135 hours of electrical education as approved by the board or from an accredited institution and provide evidence of 2,000 hours of work experience approved by the board in rules. The scope of this license does not include branch circuit wiring.
(3) A limited electrician in gasoline dispensing must provide evidence of having completed at least 135 hours of electrical education as approved by the board or from an accredited institution and provide evidence of 2,000 hours of work experience approved by the board in rules. A limited electrician in gasoline dispensing is restricted to performing electrical work between the branch circuit overcurrent device, the dispenser and associated controls.
(4) A limited electrician in traffic signals, including outdoor lighting of traffic signals, must provide evidence of having completed at least 135 hours of electrical education as approved by the board or from an accredited institution and provide evidence of 2,000 hours of work experience approved by the board in rules. A limited electrician in traffic signals is restricted to performing electrical work on traffic signals, including outdoor lighting of traffic signals and the traffic signal electrical service.
(5) A limited electrician in house wiring must provide evidence of having completed at least 225 hours of electrical education as approved by the board or from an accredited institution and provide evidence of 4,000 hours of work experience approved by the board in rules. A limited electrician in house wiring is restricted to performing electrical work in one-family dwellings and 2-family dwellings, including manufactured homes.
(6) A limited electrician in refrigeration must provide evidence of having completed at least 270 hours of electrical education as approved by the board or from an accredited institution and provide evidence of 6,000 hours of work experience approved by the board in rules. Graduates of a community college electrical program in refrigeration approved by the board or from an accredited institution are credited with 4,000 hours of work experience upon graduation. A limited electrician in refrigeration is restricted to performing electrical work between the branch circuit overcurrent device, the refrigeration equipment and associated controls.
(7) A limited electrician in low-energy electronics, including fire alarms, must provide evidence of having completed at least 270 hours of electrical education as approved by the board or from an accredited institution and provide evidence of 4,000 hours of work experience approved by the board in rules. A limited electrician in low-energy electronics is restricted to performing electrical work on low-energy electronics as supplied by Class I, II and III limited energy systems, all fire alarm systems and the dedicated branch circuit wiring.
(8) A limited electrician in crane wiring must provide evidence of having completed at least 135 hours of electrical education as approved by the board or from an accredited institution and provide evidence of 2,000 hours of work experience approved by the board in rules. A limited electrician in crane wiring is restricted to the installation of electrical equipment and wiring used in connection with cranes, monorail hoists, hoists and runways. [PL 2017, c. 475, Pt. A, §52 (AMD).]
C. A person may be eligible for a limited electrician license by providing evidence of comparable work experience, education or training within the State or outside the State, acceptable to the board. [PL 2017, c. 198, §17 (NEW).]
D. The board may adopt rules to establish standards in accordance with the Maine Administrative Procedure Act. The rules must allow the board to exercise its discretion to determine if a limited electrician license holder applying for a master electrician's license has adequate experience in all phases of electrical installation to take the examination. [PL 2017, c. 198, §17 (NEW).]
[PL 2017, c. 475, Pt. A, §52 (AMD).]
SECTION HISTORY
RR 2017, c. 1, §28 (COR). PL 2017, c. 198, §17 (NEW). PL 2017, c. 475, Pt. A, §52 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 261, §1 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 503, Pt. B, §1 (AMD).