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Division of Inspections and Permits
Joe Hawxhurst, Division Chief

ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR'S LICENSE

The following brief overview is for information purposes only and does not supersede the adopted Rules and Regulations of the State of Maryland Board of Electrical Examiners and Supervisors for Calvert County.

Before engaging in the business of electrical work in Calvert County or representing that the individual is authorized to engage in that business an individual shall hold a current license issued by The Board of Electrical Examiner and Supervisors of Calvert County, Maryland.

An active Calvert County Electrical Contractor’s License is required for any person in the business of installing, repairing, or maintaining any electrical wiring or device designed for conducting, consuming, or converting electrical current.

Types of Electrical Contractor’s Licenses issued by Calvert County

Master Electrician (Active)                           
All persons who have completed four (4) years of apprentice training plus three (3) years as a journeyman electrician and by reason of practical experience and a reasonable knowledge of the natural laws of electricity and the functions of electrical conductors, appliances and devices, are qualified to engage in the trade or business of installing, erecting or repairing any and all manner, type or description of electrical conductors, appliances or devices for the utilization of electrical current in the production of light, heat or power.  Applicants for all Master Class Licenses must be least twenty-one (21) years of age.


Restricted Master Electrician (Active)
All persons who are qualified only to repair or to provide maintenance service to the electrical components of specific devices, which utilize electrical current for their operation.  A Restricted Electrician shall be limited to performing electrical repair and maintenance work upon a specific type of device and the circuit pertaining to that specific device.  Such licensee shall not be privileged to perform electrical wiring unless a fuse holder for the specific device is available in the main electrical service or provided for by a master electrician.  Under no conditions shall such licensee connect the specific device if an overload will develop in the main electrical service.

Low Voltage Electrician (Active)
Emergency signaling systems – means all persons who, by reasonable practical experience and a reasonable knowledge are qualified to engage in the trade or business of installing, erecting or repairing emergency signaling systems including, but not limited to the following:  fire detection and alarms, fire sprinkler, water flow alarms, burglar alarm systems, security alarm, detection systems, telephone communication, cable television and sound systems.

Journeyman Electrician
All persons who have completed four (4) years of apprentice training and have proved by reason of practical experience and a reasonable knowledge of natural laws of electricity and the functions of electrical conductors, appliances and devices, are qualified to engage in the trade or business of installing, erecting or repairing any and all manner, type or description of electrical conductors, appliances or devices for the utilization of electrical current in the production of light, heat or power, under the supervision of a Master Electrician.  This license class may NOT obtain permits.

Apprentice 
Anyone employed by a Licensed Master Electrician can apply to be an apprentice.  This license class may NOT obtain permits

Master Electrician (Inactive)
The licensee meets all requirements for a Master Electrician’s License, but has no business affiliation.  This class of master may NOT obtain permits, but may work as a Journeyman Electrician.

Restricted Master Electrician (Inactive)
The licensee meets all requirements for a Restricted Master Electrician’s License, but has no business affiliation.  This class of master may NOT obtain permits, but may work as a Journeyman Electrician.

Low Voltage Electrician (Inactive)
The licensee meets all requirements for a Low Voltage Electrician’s License, but has no business affiliation.  This class of master may NOT obtain permits, but may work as a Journeyman Electrician.

Homeowner                                                 
A homeowner may wire their own residential property ONLY if they will be residing in the home. They must complete a Calvert County Homeowners examination application, pay the necessary fees and receive a passing grade on the examination. If the homeowner receives a passing grade on the examination, he may apply for a permit from the Calvert County Inspections and Permits' Division for the wiring in his house not including the electrical service. A Master Electrician with a Calvert County Master license must install the electrical service.  Once the homeowner receives the final inspection for the permit to wire his residential property any additional wiring after that time must be done by a Calvert County licensed Master Electrician.   This is a one-time authorization for electrical installation at the applicant’s permanent residence.

How to Obtain an Electrical Contractor’s License

Licenses can be obtained by Examination or by Reciprocity

Application - Electrical License Applications

Any person desiring to secure a license that is required by these Rules and Regulations shall make written application therefore, to the State of Maryland Board of Electrical Examiner and Supervisors for Calvert County (Board), on forms provided by the Board.  All questions on such application forms shall be answered by the applicant in full and the information requested on forms shall be furnished by the applicant under oath to the best of their knowledge, information and belief. False, erroneous or misleading answers, statements or information furnished by the applicant on said forms will be the cause for rejection of their application or the revocation of any license issued thereunder.

A written examination will be required of all license applicants except those applicants for Apprentice licenses, Reciprocal or State licensed applicants.

Reciprocity -
With Local License -
All applicants applying for a license by reciprocity must appear in person and will need to have a letter from the licensing Board where they received their license by written examination and a letter from the Inspection Authority showing them in good standing with no outstanding violations.  They will also need to have a Certificate of Insurance for Master, Restricted Master and Low Voltage license.

With State License -
All applicants applying for a Master class license in Calvert County by reciprocity with a Maryland State License must appear in person and will need to show proof of an active and current State License and a Certificate of Insurance.  The Certificate of Insurance shall name The State of Maryland Board of Electrical Examiner and Supervisors for Calvert County as the certificate holder.

Examination -  Electrical License Applications
Before examination, inquiry in the form of an application for examination shall be made to the Board.  The Board reviews and approves this application based on the personal character, education, experience and practical knowledge of electricity of the applicant, the results of which shall become the property of the Board. 

Application for Examination Fees (non-refundable):
Master: $50
Restricted Master: $50
Low Voltage: $25
Journeyman: $25
Homeowner: $10

Examinations shall be held four (4) times each calendar year on the last Saturday of January, April, July and October with at least two (2) Board members present.

All applicants must have their applications on file with the Board at least thirty (30) days prior to the next scheduled written examination before being permitted to take said written examination or being reviewed for license.

The Board shall notify each applicant within the period of ten (10) days that it has received their application for examination. If the applicant fails to take their examination when scheduled by the Board, an additional application and application fee will be required.

The written examination for all classes of licenses shall be predicated upon the standards of the National Electrical Code and the Calvert County Code as well as the natural laws of electricity and the Rules and Regulations adopted by the Board.

An applicant seeking permission to take the written examination for the Master electrician must:

--- have been continuously engaged as their primary occupation during the three (3) years immediately proceeding the date of their application as a Journeyman or seven (7) years total in the electrical trade under the supervision of a Master Electrician, or

--- have successfully completed a formal study and had training in electrical installations at a trade school or other educational institution; consideration will be given, if in the opinion of the Board, such education and training should have provided you with the knowledge and skill required of a Master Electrician.

In order to qualify for Master, Restricted Master, Low Voltage or Journeyman licenses being granted the applicant must receive a grade constituting, at least, seventy percent (70%) of the total possible point credits in the examination or its equivalent as graded by at least two (2) Board members.

Each applicant who has taken a written examination shall be notified as soon as practical thereafter of the pass/fail grade, which they received in such examination.  Each applicant who has received a passing grade shall be notified that upon their payment, within thirty (30) days, of the appropriate license fee to the Board, they shall be issued the license for which they were examined.

The use of any unauthorized material or other misbehavior of the applicant during their examination shall cause the immediate rejection of their application and bar them from re-examination for a period of six (6) months.  Any such rejection shall be permanently noted in the minutes of the Board.

All applicants granted permission to take the written examination shall pay the following examination fees.

Examination Fees (non-refundable):
Master: $25
Restricted Master: $25
Low Voltage: $25
Journeyman: $10
Homeowner: $25

Persons who have passed the written examination for any class license must appear in person to pay the applicable license fee and provide the required insurance certificate (below) within thirty (30) days after completion of such examination.

License Fees (non-refundable):
Master* (Active): $50
Master (Inactive): $20
Restricted Master* (Active): $50
Restricted Master (Inactive): $20
Low Voltage* (Active): $50
Low Voltage (Inactive): $20
Journeyman: $15
Apprentice: $10

Re-Examination Procedures
Persons who have failed the written examination for any class license must re-apply to the Board.

Persons who have failed the written examination for any class license shall not be entitled to re-examination until the following periods have elapsed from the date of the preceding examination:

After the first examination, not less than three (3) months.
After the second examination, not less than six (6) months.
After the third examination, not less than twelve (12) months.
All examinations thereafter, not less than twelve (12) months.

The above periods shall not apply when the re-examination is ordered by the panel of arbitration.

Insurance Certificates*
An applicant who has successfully passed an examination for a Master, Restricted Master or Low Voltage class electrician’s license shall pay the required fee as shown above and provide the required insurance certificate within thirty (30) days after completion of such examination.  An applicant who has successfully passed the required examination for a master class license, but does not want to engage in the related business does not have to post the required insurance, but must abide by all of the rules and regulations for Calvert County.  Said applicant shall be placed on the inactive list until the required insurance is posted.  Insurance in the amount of $300,000 liability to $100,000 property damage.

The applicant for issuance of a master class license or renewal of the same will be required to submit a copy of their current liability insurance coverage of at least $300,000/100,000 and list the State of Maryland Board of Electrical Examiner and Supervisors for Calvert County as the certificate holder.

License Renewals
All electrical licenses expire on June 30 in each even-numbered year and are renewable every two (2) years on payment of the appropriate renewal fees prior to July 1. 

License Renewal Fees (non-refundable):
Master (Active): $50
Master (Inactive): $20
Restricted Master (Active): $50
Restricted Master (Inactive): $20
Low Voltage (Active): $50
Low Voltage (Inactive): $20
Journeyman: $15
Apprentice: $10

Failure to renew the electrical license prior to July 1 shall cause the license to expire.  After July 1, a firm or corporation may not engage or offer to engage, or hold themselves out as engaging as a Master Electrician under a license unless the license is restored or reissued.

If application for restoration is made within ninety (90) days after June 30, a license, which expires because of failure to renew prior to July 1, shall be restored only on payment of the renewal fee and an additional restoration fee of $50.00.  If the application for restoration is not made within the ninety (90) day period after expiration, a renewal may not be issued and the Board may require compliance by examination, before reissuance of a license, as if the applicant had never been licensed.