How to Hire a Licensed Electrician in Massachusetts

To hire a licensed electrician in Massachusetts, verify their license on the state's free lookup tool, confirm the licensed electrician (not you) pulls the permit, get a Certificate of Insurance, and compare itemized written quotes before anyone touches a wire. Massachusetts does not hand out a general "homeowner can do their own wiring" pass the way some states do. Electrical work here is supposed to be done by someone the Commonwealth has licensed, and the difference between a Class A Master and a Class B Journeyman decides who can actually run your job and pull the permit. Get the credential check wrong and you're left with work that's both illegal and uninsurable, the kind a home inspector flags and your insurer refuses to cover after a fire.

This guide walks the actual steps, with the Massachusetts wrinkles a national checklist skips. For the full roster of vetted pros, start at our electricians directory.

Who licenses electricians in Massachusetts?

Electricians in Massachusetts are licensed by the Board of State Examiners of Electricians, which sits inside the Division of Occupational Licensure (DOL). That's the agency that sets the standards, runs the exams, issues the licenses, and disciplines electricians who cut corners. National hiring advice never names it, which is exactly why most homeowners don't know where to look.

One thing to clear up early: an electrician's license is not the same as a contractor's Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration. HIC registration is a separate consumer-protection registry for general remodeling work. The credential that says someone can legally wire your house is the electrician license from the Board of State Examiners of Electricians. Verify that one.

Master vs. Journeyman, the license classes that matter

Massachusetts issues four electrician license classes under M.G.L. c.141, §3, and the two that govern almost every home job are Class A (Master) and Class B (Journeyman). A Master Electrician can work independently, run an electrical business, supervise journeymen and apprentices, and pull permits. A Journeyman Electrician does electrical work under the supervision of a Master. Both are real, fully qualified licenses, but only the Master can be the licensed electrician of record who applies for your permit.

License class	Who they are	What they can do	What it means for you
Class A, Master Electrician	The top general electrical license	Works independently, runs an electrical business, supervises journeymen and apprentices, and pulls permits	This is the license behind your job and your permit, the company you hire should have a Master on it
Class B, Journeyman Electrician	Fully licensed, works under a Master	Performs electrical installations, maintenance, and repairs under a Master's supervision	Fine to do the hands-on work; just confirm there's a Master standing behind the company
Class C, Systems Contractor	Low-voltage / fire-warning & security systems	Designs and oversees fire-alarm, security, and similar systems work	Relevant for alarm/security/low-voltage jobs, not standard house wiring
Class D, Systems Technician	Low-voltage technician	Installs and maintains those systems under a Systems Contractor	Same, systems work, not your panel or circuits

For a standard residential job, adding circuits, swapping a panel, fixing what an inspection flagged, you want a company that holds a Class A Master license, or a Journeyman working under one. An apprentice can do the hands-on labor, but only under the supervision of a licensed Journeyman or Master.

Step 1, Verify the license on the state's free tool

Check the license yourself before you sign anything; it's free and takes two minutes. The DOL runs a public "Check a License" database, the consumer-facing portal is "Check a Commonwealth Licensee" at elicensing21.mass.gov. You can search by the electrician's first and last name or by their license number, and the record shows the license type, status, and standing.

Do this even with a referral from a neighbor. A name that doesn't come up, a license that's expired, or a "Master" who only holds a Journeyman card are all things you want to learn now, not after the drywall is closed up. Ask the electrician for their license number up front, a legitimate one will give it without hesitation, and reputable companies put it right on the estimate. If you can't find a clean record and want a human, the Board of State Examiners of Electricians takes questions at (617) 701-8786 or electricians.board@mass.gov, and the DOL's general line is (617) 701-8600.

Step 2, Confirm the electrician pulls the permit

In Massachusetts the licensed electrician pulls the electrical permit, not you. Under the Massachusetts Electrical Code (527 CMR 12.00), an electrical permit is issued to the person, firm, or corporation named on the permit application, after that application is accepted by the local Inspector of Wires appointed under M.G.L. c.166, §32. The entity the permit is issued to is then responsible for notifying the town when the work is complete so it can be inspected, as required under M.G.L. c.143, §3L.

Translation: a real electrician files for the permit in their own name, the city or town's wire inspector signs off, and the finished work gets inspected. If an electrician tells you "you can pull the permit as the homeowner" to save themselves the paperwork, be skeptical, and if they suggest skipping the permit entirely, walk. There's no general homeowner exemption that lets you legally wire your own house in Massachusetts the way some other states allow. Unpermitted electrical work fails home inspections, can stall a sale, and gives your insurer a clean reason to deny a claim.

We go deep on the permit and inspection process in our Massachusetts electrical permit guide, this step is just the part you confirm before hiring: yes, they pull it.

Step 3, Get a Certificate of Insurance (COI)

Ask for a Certificate of Insurance and confirm it's current before work starts. A COI is a one-page document from the electrician's insurer showing their liability (and, where applicable, workers' comp) coverage with effective dates. It's also a practical gate: a Certificate of Insurance naming the client or the local building department as certificate holder is sometimes required to pull a permit or land a contract in the first place.

The reason this matters in Massachusetts cuts deeper than paperwork. Unlicensed "handyman" electrical work isn't just illegal here, it's effectively uninsurable. If an unlicensed person miswires a circuit and your house has an electrical fire, you are not covered, and there's no contractor policy to fall back on. "I'm really careful, I don't need insurance" is the wrong answer. A current COI from a licensed electrician is the answer. If you're dealing with old wiring, our guide on knob-and-tube wiring and home insurance in Massachusetts covers how your own policy reacts to what's behind the walls.

Step 4, Compare itemized written quotes

A fair electrical quote is itemized and in writing, labor, materials, permit fee, and scope spelled out, so you can compare bids on the same terms. Get at least two or three. When you do, the goal isn't to pick the lowest number; it's to understand why the numbers differ. A bid that's far below the others usually isn't a bargain, it's a sign the electrician left something out (often the permit and inspection), is unlicensed, or plans to "find" extra work once the walls are open.

What a fair quote includes:

• A clear scope: exactly what's being installed, replaced, or repaired.
• A line for the permit and the understanding that the electrician files it.
• Materials and labor broken out, not buried in one round number.
• The license number of the company or Master electrician behind the work.
• Payment terms that don't demand a large cash sum up front.

We don't quote prices in this guide on purpose, electrical costs swing widely by job and town, and the most common big-ticket job, a service upgrade, has its own breakdown in our electrical panel upgrade cost guide for Massachusetts. Use that for the dollars; use the quotes you collect to sanity-check each other.

Red flags, when to walk away

Some answers are disqualifying on their own. Walk away if you see these:

• No verifiable license. The name or number doesn't appear in the state's "Check a License" database, or they won't give you a license number. That's the whole ballgame.
• They want to skip the permit. "It's a small job, we don't need a permit" leaves you with unpermitted, uninspected work that fails inspections and can sink a home sale.
• They tell you to pull the permit as the homeowner. A licensed electrician pulls the permit in their own name. Pushing it onto you usually means they'd rather their name not be on the inspection.
• No Certificate of Insurance. No COI, or a vague "I'm covered, trust me," means you're carrying the risk.
• A lowball, cash-only bid with no written estimate. The classic pattern: a number far under everyone else, cash only, nothing in writing, then surprises once the work starts.
• An unlicensed "handyman" offering to do the wiring. In Massachusetts that's illegal work, and it's uninsurable. The savings vanish the first time it costs you a failed inspection or a denied claim.

Questions to ask before you hire

Five questions sort a real electrician from a problem. Each has a right answer, and a company that fumbles them is telling you something:

1. "What's your electrician license number, and is there a Master on the job?"
2. "Will you pull the electrical permit in your name and handle the inspection?"
3. "Can you send a current Certificate of Insurance before work starts?"
4. "Can I get an itemized written quote, labor, materials, and the permit fee?"
5. "Who actually does the work, a licensed Journeyman or Master, or an apprentice under supervision?"

FAQ

Do you need a license to do electrical work in Massachusetts? Yes. Electrical work in Massachusetts must be performed by someone licensed by the Board of State Examiners of Electricians, a Master or Journeyman, or an apprentice working under their supervision. There is no general exemption that lets a homeowner legally do their own house wiring.

What's the difference between a Master and a Journeyman electrician in Massachusetts? A Class A Master Electrician can work independently, run an electrical business, supervise others, and pull permits. A Class B Journeyman Electrician is fully licensed but works under the supervision of a Master. For your job, you want a company with a Master on it.

How do I check if an electrician is licensed in Massachusetts? Use the Division of Occupational Licensure's free "Check a License" tool ("Check a Commonwealth Licensee") at elicensing21.mass.gov. Search by the electrician's name or license number to see the license type and status. You can also call the Board at (617) 701-8786.

Who pulls the electrical permit, me or the electrician? The licensed electrician does. Under 527 CMR 12.00, the permit is issued to the person or firm named on the application after the local Inspector of Wires accepts it, and that permittee is responsible for the completion notice and inspection. If an electrician asks you to pull it as the homeowner, treat that as a red flag.

Does a Massachusetts electrician need insurance? A reputable one carries liability coverage and can produce a current Certificate of Insurance (COI) on request, which a town or building department may require to issue a permit. Unlicensed electrical work is effectively uninsurable, if it causes damage, you're not covered.

Is an electrician's license the same as a contractor's HIC registration? No. Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration is a separate registry for general remodeling work. The credential that authorizes electrical work is the electrician license from the Board of State Examiners of Electricians. Verify the electrician license.