Massachusetts Electrical Licensing Law

Massachusetts Code · 17 sections

The following is the full text of Massachusetts’s electrical licensing law statutes as published in the Massachusetts Code. For the official version, see the Massachusetts Legislature.

M.G.L. ch. 112, s. 81E

Section 81E. The board shall examine applicants for registration as professional engineers and as professional land surveyors and applicants desiring to take written or oral examinations to evidence qualification for registration as professional engineers or professional land surveyors. It shall make such rules and regulations as are necessary or proper for the conduct of its duties. The board may adopt and shall use an official seal. If any person, firm, co-partnership, corporation or joint stock association refuses to obey any decision, rule or order, or any part thereof, issued by the board pursuant to its powers, the attorney general of the commonwealth shall, upon request of the board, file a petition in equity for the enforcement of such decision, rule or order in the superior court for Suffolk county or for the county in which such person, firm, co-partnership, corporation or joint stock association resides or has a place of business. After due hearing, with such notice as the court may direct, the court shall order the enforcement of such decision, rule or order, or any part thereof, to the extent that such decision, rule or order, or any part thereof, has been legally and properly made by the board. The board, for the purposes of registration of professional engineers, shall recognize all the fundamental branches of engineering which shall include, without limiting the generality thereof by specific enumeration, the following fields:— aeronautical, chemical, civil, electrical, heating and ventilating, and air conditioning, industrial, mechanical, metallurgical, mining, safety, fire protection, sanitary and structural.

M.G.L. ch. 112, s. 81R

Section 81R. Nothing in said sections shall be construed to prevent or to affect:— (a) the practice of any other legally recognized profession including the practice of architecture as defined in this chapter and the practice of any trade, including, in connection with the practice of the electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilating, air conditioning, refrigeration and all other trades, the preparation of plans, specifications or shop drawings by any person, firm, partnership, corporation or association practicing any such trade, for work to be installed or being installed by the same person, firm, partnership, corporation or association preparing such plans, specifications or shop drawings; (b) a person not a resident of and having no established place of business in the commonwealth from practicing or offering to practice therein the profession of engineering or land surveying, when such practice does not exceed in the aggregate more than thirty days in any calendar year; provided, such person is legally qualified by registration to practice the said profession in his own state or country in which the requirements and qualifications for obtaining a certificate of registration are not lower than those specified in said sections; (c) a person not a resident of and having no established place of business in the commonwealth or who has recently become a resident thereof, from practicing or offering to practice engineering or land surveying therein for more than thirty days in any calendar year, if he shall have filed with the board an application for a certificate of registration and shall have paid the fee required by said sections; provided, that such person is legally qualified by registration to practice engineering or land surveying in his own state or country in which the requirements and qualifications for obtaining a certificate of registration are not lower than those specified in said sections. Such practice shall continue only for such time as the board requires for the consideration of the application for registration; (d) the work of an employee or a subordinate of a person holding a certificate of registration under said sections, an employee of a person practicing lawfully under clause (b) or (c) of this section, or an employee of a firm, co-partnership, corporation or joint stock association engaging lawfully under clause (f) of this section; provided, such work does not include final designs or decisions and is done under the direct responsibility, checking and supervision of a person holding a certificate of registration under said sections or a person practicing lawfully under clause (b) or (c) of this section; (e) the practice of officers and employees of the government of the United States while engaged within the commonwealth in the practice of engineering or land surveying for said government; (f) the practice of engineering or land surveying in the commonwealth by a firm, co-partnership, corporation or joint stock association; provided, that the person in charge of such practice by such firm, co-partnership, corporation or joint stock association is a professional engineer or land surveyor, holding a certificate of registration under said sections; (g) the performance of engineering work or services by employees of a corporation engaged in manufacturing, research or development operations, which work or services are performed in connection with the research or development activities of, or the manufacture, sale, installation, maintenance, repair or service of the products of, such corporation, or of its parents, affiliates or subsidiaries; provided, that such research or development activities which are not related to the manufacture, sale, installation, maintenance, repair or service of the products of such corporation, or of its parents, affiliates or subsidiaries, are not primarily in connection with the construction of fixed works which are to be made available for use by the general public; (h) the practice of landscape architects, city planners and regional planners, in so far as their work consists in the consultations and preparation of master plans of parks, land areas, sites, organized groups of buildings or communities, or the preparation of detailed plans and the supervision of planting, grading, paving, and such structural features as fences, steps, walls, minor pools, garden structures and minor utilities normally included as part of their work; (i) sales personnel from recommending applications to specific uses of products for which they act as sales representatives; (j) the performance of engineering work or services by any person employed by an insurance company or by its agents, its affiliates or subsidiaries, or the performance of engineering work or services for insurance inspection and actuarial bureaus, provided such work or services in either case are incidental to the operation of an insurance company; (k) the work of an owner or managing agent of a building or any employee of such owner or agent making alterations or repairs to such building or supervising the same, or of a person engaged by such owner or agent to perform work of any other legally recognized trade exempted under clause (a) of this section; (l) the performance of engineering work and services by a person, firm or corporation subject to the jurisdiction of the department of public utilities or the department of telecommunications and cable which work and services are performed as part of their employment and for the benefit of such person, firm, or corporation; provided, however, that this subsection shall not apply to engineering work or services that could pose a material risk to public safety, as determined by the department of public utilities, performed by or on behalf of a gas company, as defined in section 1 of chapter 164, that distributes and sells gas within the commonwealth; or (m) the performance of engineering work and services by employees of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority which work and services are performed as part of their employment and for the benefit of the said authority.

M.G.L. ch. 141, s. 1

Section 1. The following words as used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, shall have the following meanings: ''Fee'', a fee to be determined annually by the commissioner of administration under the provision of section three B of chapter seven. ''Fire warning system'', an inherently power limited system of wires, conduits, apparatus, devices, fixtures or other appliances installed and interconnected electrically or electronically for the detection of heat, smoke, or products of combustion, or for the transmission of signals or audible alarms. ''Inherently power limited system'', a system requiring no overcurrent protection due to design and construction. ''Journeyman electrician'', a person qualified to do the work of installing, repairing, or maintaining wires, conduits, apparatus, devices, fixtures, or other appliances used for heat, light, power, fire warning or security system purposes. ''Master electrician'', a person, firm or corporation having a regular place of business who, by the employment of journeyman or apprentices, performs the work of installing, repairing or maintaining wires, conduits, apparatus, devices, fixtures or other appliances used for light, heat, power, fire warning or security system purposes; provided, however, that no journeyman electrician so employed shall have more than one apprentice under his supervision; and provided, further, that not more than one such apprentice shall be employed for each journeyman electrician. ''Security system'', an inherently power limited system of wires, conduits, apparatus, devices, fixtures, or other appliances installed and interconnected electrically or electronically to permit access control, proprietary signalling, surveillance and the detection of burglary, intrusion, holdup, or other conditions requiring response or the transmission of signals or audible alarms. ''System'', a fire warning, security or other inherently power limited system, wire, conduit or device which conducts or consumes electricity and is electrically or electronically activated. ''Systems contractor'', a person, firm or corporation having a regular place of business who, by the employment of systems technicians or apprentices, performs the work of installing, repairing or maintaining wires, conduits, apparatus, devices, fixtures or other appliances used for systems; provided, however, that no systems technician so employed shall have more than one apprentice under his supervision; and provided, further, that not more than one such apprentice shall be employed for each systems technician. ''Systems technician'', a person qualified to do the work of installing, repairing or maintaining wires, conduits, apparatus, devices, fixtures or other appliances used for systems.

M.G.L. ch. 141, s. 1A

Section 1A. No person, firm or corporation shall enter into, engage in, or work at the business or occupation of installing wires, conduits, apparatus, devices, fixtures, or other appliances for carrying or using electricity for light, heat, power, fire warning or security system purposes, unless such person, firm or corporation shall be licensed by the state examiners of electricians in accordance with this chapter and, with respect to security systems, unless such person, firm or corporation shall also be licensed by the commissioner of the division of occupational licensure in accordance with the provisions of sections fifty-seven to sixty-one, inclusive, of chapter one hundred and forty-seven. This chapter shall not apply to: a person not engaged in the business described in this section who employs or contracts for the services of a person, firm or corporation engaged in such business; or to an apprentice employed by a person, firm or corporation licensed in accordance with this chapter; or to an agent, employee or assistant of a person, firm or corporation licensed in accordance with this chapter who does not engage in or perform the actual work described in this section.

M.G.L. ch. 141, s. 2

Section 2. The state examiners of electricians, in this chapter called the examiners, may make necessary rules for the proper performance of their duties. They shall hold frequent examinations in Boston, and, twice in each year, shall hold examinations in at least five other convenient places within the commonwealth, and they may hold annual or occasional examinations in other places. Public notice shall be given of all examinations. They shall make a biennial report of their doings in each odd-numbered year.

M.G.L. ch. 141, s. 2B

Section 2B. The examiners may license without examination any person who has been licensed as an electrician in another state under laws which, in the opinion of the examiners, maintain standards substantially the same as those of the commonwealth for electricians. The amount of the fee for licensing without examination under this section for a master and journeyman electrician's license shall be determined annually by the commissioner of administration under the provision of section three B of chapter seven for the filing thereof.

M.G.L. ch. 141, s. 3

Section 3. The following forms of license shall be issued: certificate A, known as master electrician's license; certificate B, known as journeyman electrician's license; certificate C, known as systems contractor's license; and certificate D, known as systems technician's license. (1) Certificate A shall be issued to any person, firm or corporation engaged in or about to engage in the business of installing wires, conduits, apparatus, devices, fixtures or other appliances and systems; provided, however, that such person or a member of such firm or an officer of such corporation has passed an examination before the state examiners of electricians and such person or a member of such firm or officer of such corporation has held a certificate B license for at least twelve months. (2) Certificate B shall be issued to any person who has passed an examination before the state examiners of electricians. It shall specify the name of such person, who shall thereby be authorized to engage in the occupation of journeyman electrician. (3) Certificate C shall be issued to any person, firm or corporation engaged in or about to engage in the business of installing fire warning, security or other systems; provided, however, that such person or a member of such firm or an officer of such corporation has passed an examination before the state examiners of electricians and such person or a member of such firm or officer of such corporation has held a certificate D license for at least twelve months. (4) Certificate D shall be issued to any person who has passed an examination before the state examiners of electricians. It shall specify the name of such person who shall thereby be authorized to engage in the occupation of systems technician. (5) Both certificate A and certificate C shall specify the name of the person, firm or corporation licensed and the name of the person passing the examination by which such person, firm or corporation shall be authorized to enter upon or engage in business as set forth therein. The holding of certificate A or certificate C shall not entitle the holder individually to engage in or perform the actual work of installing wires, conduits, apparatus, devices, fixtures or other appliances or systems but the holding of certificate A shall entitle the holder to conduct business as a master electrician and the holding of certificate C shall entitle the holder to conduct business as a systems contractor. (6) Persons desiring an examination shall make written application therefor, accompanied by an examination fee. A person passing an examination for a master electrician's license, a systems contractor's license, a journeyman electrician's license, or a systems technician's license shall pay a fee before being issued such license. (7) Each certificate A and certificate C shall expire on July thirty-first every third year, commencing July thirty-first, nineteen hundred and eighty-nine, but may be renewed by the same person, firm or corporation acting by one or more of its members or officers, without further examination, upon payment of a fee, application therefor being made during said month. In case of failure to renew a license as aforesaid on or before July thirty-first of the third year, the person named therein, upon payment of said fee, increased by such additional fees as would have been payable had such license been continuously renewed may receive a deferred renewal thereof which shall expire July thirty-first of ensuing three year period; provided, however, that such renewed license shall not constitute its holder a licensee for any period preceding its issue. (8) Each certificate B and certificate D shall expire on July thirty-first every third year, commencing July thirty-first, nineteen hundred and eighty-nine, but may be renewed upon payment of a fee upon the same conditions set forth in clause (7). (9) Holders of certificate A and certificate C shall keep their certificates of registration displayed in a conspicuous place in their principal offices or places of business. The examiners shall furnish holders of certificate B and certificate D with evidence of having been so licensed by the examiners, in card form or otherwise, which shall be carried on the person of the licensee and exhibited on request. (10) Any certificate expiring while the holder thereof is in the military or naval service of the United States shall be renewed without further examination, upon payment of the prescribed fee, at any time within four months after such person's discharge from the service. (11) Examination papers and applications for certificate A, certificate B, certificate C and certificate D, shall be preserved for at least two years, after which time they may, at the discretion of the examiners, be destroyed. (12) Records of the meetings of the examiners shall be open for inspection at all times, and they shall have printed annually a manual of their regulations, including the names of all licensees.

M.G.L. ch. 141, s. 7

Section 7. This chapter shall not apply to: the installation, repairing, and wiring of elevators; the work in connection with the erection, construction, maintenance or repair of lines for transmission of electricity from the source of supply to the service switch on the premises where used by municipal electric plants, by electric companies as defined in section one of chapter one hundred and sixty-four, by gas companies authorized to make or sell electricity, by electric street railway companies, by electric railroad companies or by railroad companies; the work of such plants or companies on premises owned or controlled by them; the work of said municipal electric plants or of said electric or gas companies in installing, maintaining and repairing on the premises of customers, service connections and meters and other apparatus and appliances remaining the property of such plants or companies after installation; public employees engaged in the work of installing, maintaining or repairing public signalling systems; the work in connection with the lighting of public ways, alleys, private ways, or public parks, areas or squares; the work of companies subject to regulation by the department of public utilities or the department of telecommunications and cable, and incorporated for the transmission of intelligence by electricity in installing, maintaining or repairing wires, apparatus, fixtures, or other appliances used by such companies and necessary for, or incident to, their business, whether or not such wires, conduits, apparatus, fixtures or other appliances are on its own premises; or the work in connection with the installation, construction, maintenance, repair and renovation of telephone equipment, cable television service or computer systems by a person, firm or corporation primarily engaged in the telecommunications or the information systems industry.

M.G.L. ch. 141, s. 8

Section 8. Electricians regularly employed by persons, firms or corporations other than holders of certificate A, may install such electrical wiring, conduits and appliances or make such repairs as may be required only on the premises and property of such persons, firms or corporations; provided that such electricians hold journeymen's licenses, and have otherwise complied with this chapter. Any such person, firm or corporation may employ learners or apprentices to work with and under the direct personal supervision of electricians referred to in this paragraph in said installation and repair work, provided that no such journeyman electrician shall have more than one learner or apprentice working with him and under his supervision as aforesaid; but not more than one such learner or apprentice shall be so employed for each journeyman electrician. Electricians employed by theatrical companies may install temporary wiring and appliances required for the purpose of the engagement of any such company, subject to the supervision of a person licensed under this chapter. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, no permit for the performance of electrical work pursuant to chapters one hundred and forty-one and one hundred and forty-three shall be issued by any city or town unless the licensee provides proof of liability insurance, including ''completed operation'' coverage, which has been issued by an insurance company licensed to do business in the commonwealth, or a bond or other type of indemnity against liability providing substantially equivalent coverage. In lieu of said insurance requirement the permit issuing authority shall accept the signature of the owner or his agent on the uniform application for a permit for work to be performed by electricians.

M.G.L. ch. 141, s. 9

Section 9. Any person applying for a journeyman electrician's license or a systems technician's license and making any misstatement as to his experience or other qualifications, or any person, firm or corporation subscribing to, or vouching for, any such misstatement shall be subject to the penalties set forth in section five.

M.G.L. ch. 143, s. 3L

Section 3L. The board of fire prevention regulations shall make and promulgate, and from time to time may alter, amend and repeal, rules and regulations relative to the installation, repair and maintenance of electrical wiring and electrical fixtures used for light, heat and power purposes in buildings and structures subject to the provisions of sections three to sixty, inclusive, and the state building code. Such regulations shall be in accordance with generally accepted standards of engineering practice, and shall be designed to provide reasonable uniform requirements of safety in relation to life, fire and explosion. Upon the making of such rules and regulations and prior to their promulgation, the board shall hold a public hearing thereon, notice of which shall be given by advertising in at least one newspaper in each of the cities of Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Fall River, Lowell and Lynn, at least ten days before said hearing. If, subsequent to their being deposited with the state secretary, as provided herein, the board on its own initiative contemplates changes in said rules and regulations, or if a petition is filed by any other person for changes therein, like notice and a hearing shall be given and held before the adoption thereof. Such rules and regulations, and any alterations, amendments or repeals thereof shall be deposited with the state secretary, and the same shall become effective when so deposited. No person shall install for hire any electrical wiring or fixtures subject to this section without first or within five days after commencing the work giving notice to the inspector of wires appointed pursuant to the provisions of section thirty-two of chapter one hundred and sixty-six. Said notice shall be given by mailing or delivering a permit application form prepared by the board, to said inspector. Any person failing to give such notice shall be punished by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars. This section shall be enforced by the inspector of wires within his jurisdiction and the state examiners of electricians. Any person installing for hire electrical wiring or fixtures subject to this section shall notify the inspector of wires in writing upon the completion of the work. The inspector of wires shall, within five days of such notification, give written notice of his approval or disapproval of said work. A notice of disapproval shall contain specifications of the part of the work disapproved, together with a reference to the rule or regulation of the board of fire prevention regulations which has been violated.

M.G.L. ch. 143, s. 3P

Section 3P. Whoever is aggrieved by a notice, interpretation, order, requirement or direction of an inspector of wires or other person charged with the enforcement of the rules and regulations of the board of fire prevention regulations, may, within ten days after the service of notice thereof, appeal therefrom, to the board of electricians' appeals. Said board shall, after such notice as it may direct, hold a public hearing on such appeal at a time and place to be fixed by it, but not later than thirty days after the entry of such appeal, unless such time shall be extended by agreement with the appellant. The appellant may appear in person or by agent or attorney at such hearing. Said board shall hear all pertinent evidence and determine the facts, and shall issue an appropriate decision or order reversing, affirming or modifying in whole or in part said notice, interpretation, order, requirement or direction. Such decision or order of the board shall be made within a reasonable time, and within forty-five days after such hearing, unless such time is extended by like agreement. The board shall forthwith send by registered mail a copy of its decision or order to the interested parties. Any person aggrieved by a decision or order of the board of electricians' appeals, whether or not a party to the proceeding, or any municipal board or officer, may within thirty days after receipt of notice of such decision or order appeal to the superior court sitting in equity for the county in which the building or installation concerned is situated. Said court shall hear all pertinent evidence and determine the facts and may annul such decision if it is found to exceed the authority of said board, or may make such other decree as justice and equity may require. The foregoing remedy shall be exclusive, but the parties shall have all rights of appeal and exception as in other equity cases. Costs shall not be allowed against the board unless it appears to the court that said board acted with gross negligence or in bad faith or with malice in making the decision or order appealed from. Costs shall not be allowed against a party appealing from the decision or order of said board unless it appears to the court that said appellant acted in bad faith or with malice in making the appeal to the court. Compliance with any notice, interpretation, order, requirement or direction of an inspector of wires or other person charged with the enforcement of the rules and regulations of the board of fire prevention regulations shall be excused pending the final determination of any appeal therefrom taken under this section.

M.G.L. ch. 143, s. 3R

Section 3R. At least one of the doors of the main common entryway into every apartment house having more than three apartments shall be so designed or equipped as to close and lock automatically with a lock, including a lock with an electrically-operated striker mechanism, a self-closing door and associated equipment, and such lock, door or equipment shall be of a type approved by the state board of building regulations and standards. Every door of the main common entryway and every exterior door into every such apartment house, other than the door of such main common entryway which is equipped as provided in the preceding sentence, shall be equipped with a lock of a type approved by said state board of building regulations and standards; provided, however, that the said board may, in writing, waive any of the requirements of this section in appropriate cases in which, in its opinion, other security measures are in force which adequately protect the residents of such apartment house. Whoever, being in control of such premises, willfully and knowingly violates the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars. This section shall not apply to lodging houses, as defined in section twenty-two of chapter one hundred and forty, dormitories of charitable, educational or philanthropic institutions, or projects of housing authorities, as defined in chapter one hundred and twenty-one B.

M.G.L. ch. 143, s. 62A

Section 62A. The owner or person in control of a building in which an elevator is operated shall pay fees to be determined annually by the secretary of administration under the provisions of section three B of chapter seven for inspection and safety tests by an inspector assigned by the commissioner; provided, however, that said fees shall be set at a rate sufficient to meet the cost of the division of occupational licensure for providing said inspections and safety tests; and, provided further, that each city and town may annually set a reasonable fee, and may collect such fee, for elevator registration of each elevator within such city or town. The owner or person in control of a building in which an elevator is operated shall be subject to the following inspections and safety tests: (1) For the inspection of a new installation, repair, or replacement of power passenger and freight elevators, hydraulic and electric passenger and freight elevators, hand power operated service elevators and temporary workmen's elevators. (2) For each safety test and inspection of elevators and devices as described in paragraph (1). (3) For the inspection of a new installation of a private residence elevator or an inclined lift.

M.G.L. ch. 143, s. 71F

Section 71F. Such license or temporary license shall not be required for the installation of signal systems, fans, telephones, electric light fixtures, illuminated thresholds and feed wires to the terminals on the elevator main line control, nor shall they apply to electrical work in connection with the interlocking devices, so called, on other than automatic elevators, if such installation is made by a person licensed under chapter one hundred and forty-one.

M.G.L. ch. 143, s. 75

Section 75. No person shall operate such apparatus in any public building until he has received a license so to do from an inspector. No such license shall be granted until the applicant has passed an examination proving him to be thoroughly skilled in the working of the mechanical and electrical apparatus or devices used therein or connected therewith, nor unless he has submitted evidence as to his responsibility in regard to the safety of the public, and no person under eighteen shall be eligible for such examination. A fee shall accompany the application for a license. Licenses shall be valid throughout the commonwealth but shall not be assignable or transferable. A license shall continue in force until the date of birth of the licensee occurring more than twelve months but not more than twenty-four months after the date of such license unless suspended or revoked for incompetence or untrustworthiness of the licensee. If any such license or the renewal thereof expires in an even year, any subsequent renewal shall expire on the next anniversary of the licensee's date of birth occurring in an even year. If any such license or renewal thereof expires in an odd year any subsequent renewal shall expire on the next anniversary of the licensee's date of birth occurring in an odd year. A license issued to a person born on February twenty-ninth shall for the purpose of this section expire on March first. Licenses not renewed at the expiration date shall become void, and shall after one year be reinstated only by reexamination of the licensee. A notice of the date of the expiration of a license shall, at least thirty days prior to such date, be sent to the licensee. The fee for said license and each renewal thereof shall be determined annually by the commissioner of administration under the provisions of section three B of chapter seven.

M.G.L. ch. 143, s. 96

Section 96. The state building code shall incorporate any specialized construction codes, rules or regulations pertaining to building construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair or demolition promulgated by and under the authority of the various boards which have been authorized from time to time by the general court. For the purposes of this section, ''specialized codes'' shall include, but not be limited to, the specialized stretch energy code developed and promulgated by the department of energy resources, the state plumbing code, electrical code, architectural barriers regulations, fire safety code, fire prevention regulations, sheet metal regulations and elevator regulations.

The law belongs to the people. Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 590 U.S. (2020)