Electrical Licensing- Board of Electrical Examiners and Supervisors

• Am I required to provide a Certificate of Insurance? If so, what requirements must the Certificate of Insurance meet?

  The Certificate Holder shown on the Certificate of Insurance shall read as follows: 

  Board of Electrical Examiners and Supervisors of Charles County
  200 Baltimore Street
  La Plata, MD 20646

  The minimum amounts of insurance coverage required per occurrence is at least $400,000 and must consist of:

  • General Liability Insurance in the amount of at least $300,000 AND
  • Property Damage Insurance in the amount of at least $100,000.

  An umbrella policy coverage is not acceptable for compliance with this requirement.

  The Certificate of Insurance requirements:

  • Full name of the Master Electrician
  • “Trading As” (if applicable) being insured as part of the policy.

  All required information must be listed on the Certificate of Insurance. The policy shall be written through a company approved by the Maryland State Insurance Administration to issue such policies in Maryland. If the Certificate of Insurance does not contain all required information any application or permits will not be processed. The Certificate of Insurance must remain active throughout the entire permit and inspection process.

• Can homeowners do their own electrical work?

  Single-family homeowners may perform repairs or replace portable appliances, lighting fixtures, fuses, lamps, sockets, or make minor repairs at existing outlets in the homeowner’s residence. Electrical work beyond this scope, including making changes to wiring, requires the homeowner to obtain a Homeowner Permit from the Board of Electrical Examiners and Supervisors and receive permits and inspections through the Department of Planning and Growth Management’s Division of Codes, Permits, and Inspection Services.

   Homeowners cannot wire swimming pools, piers, detached outbuildings and/or associated electrical work. Work can not be performed on panel boards, main distribution panels, circuit breaker panels, fuse boxes or the like. No service change work shall be done under a Homeowner’s Permit.

• How do I obtain a Homeowners Permit to perform electrical work in my home?

  Homeowners must first apply and pay the application and examination fee for the Homeowner’s Permit. The application will be reviewed at the next Board of Electrical Examiners and Supervisors Meeting. After the Board review, the Board Secretary will contact the applicant and provide notification of their application status. If accepted, the Board Secretary will schedule the homeowner for the Homeowner’s Electrical Permit examination. To pass the examination, a minimum score of 70% must be achieved. Homeowner’s Electrical Permits are valid for one (1) year after issuance. 

• How often does my Electrical license have to be renewed?

  Master Restricted Licenses are set to expire every two years on June 30. Licenses are renewable for up to two years upon completion of the renewal application and payment of applicable fees. Homeowner’s permits are valid for one (1) year from date of issuance.

  If a license expires because of failure to renew, the license may be restored upon payment of the renewal fee plus a restoration fee. Restricted Master licenses may be restored within a 90-day period after expiration. If an expired license is not renewed within the restoration period, a renewal will not be issued. The individual holding the expired license may reinstate a license only upon compliance with the requirements for issuance of a license to a new applicant and restoration fees of missed terms of renewal.

   

• Is an apprenticeship license available?

  No, Charles County does not have an apprenticeship license.

• What are the qualifications for a Restricted Master License?

  The Charles County Board of Electrical Examiners and Supervisors shall grant a Restricted Master License to an individual who is at least 21 years of age, pays the applicable fees, and meets one of the criteria below: 

  1. Holds a current Restricted Master License, with identical restrictions, from a Maryland jurisdiction which has equivalent examination and qualifying procedures to those required in Charles County and which grants reciprocity to Charles County licensees. The individual shall have no current record of violations in the jurisdiction where licensed. If the individual obtained the license by examination, the individual shall have held it for at least one (1) year; or
  2. Candidate passes the Charles County Restricted Master Electrician qualifying examination. To sit for the qualifying examination, candidates must meet the following requirements and be approved by the Board of Electrical Examiners and Supervisors:
     1. Has been regularly and principally engaged in restricted type(s) of electrical work for at least 4,000 hours under the direction and supervision of a Master, Restricted Master, or similarly qualified government electrician.
     2. Has correctly answered at least 70% of the questions on the examination given by the Board of Electrical Examiners and Supervisors to determine the applicant’s knowledge and skill in one or two restricted type(s) of electrical work.

• What are the responsibilities of the Board of Electrical Examiners and Supervisors and where can I find more information about their meetings?

  The Board of Electrical Examiners and Supervisors is a five-member board appointed by the Charles County Commissioners. Their purpose is to enforce the Public Laws of Charles County in Chapter 41, Electrical Apparatus and Wiring, of the Code for Charles County. They are responsible for reviewing all applications for the Master, Restricted Master, and Journeyman Licenses as well as permits for Homeowners performing their own electrical work. The board administers and grades electrical licensing exams and issues licenses.

  The Board meets at 4:00 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month at the Charles County Government Building.

• What license is required to do electrical work in Charles County?

  You must have an active Maryland State issued Master electrical license or a Charles County Board of Electrical Examiners issued Restricted Master license with a current Certificate of Insurance on file in order to pull an electrical permit and perform electrical work in Charles County.

• When are Restricted Master License and Homeowners Permit examinations administered?

  Restricted Master and Homeowners Permit examinations are administered on per need basis. An examination application, with payment of required fees, must be submitted and reviewed by the Board of Electrical Examiners and Supervisors prior to taking the examination. Applications for examination must be submitted a minimum of 45 days preceding the date of examination.  After the Board review, the Board Secretary will contact the applicant and provide notification of their application status. If accepted, the Board Secretary will provide the date and time of the next examination period.

  Within 45 days of the examination the Board shall decide as to the qualifications of the applicant and as to whether the license will be granted. Notice of the Board’s decision will be mailed to the applicant.

  An applicant who fails to pass an examination may take a reexamination at the next regularly scheduled examination. The applicant shall submit a written request for reexamination and pay the examination fee. After 7 years of no activity all failed exam applications and examinations will be destroyed.

• Who do I contact if I have questions about obtaining or renewing my Electrical License?

  The Clerk to the Electrical Board can be contacted by calling 301-645-0633 or by email at cceb@charlescountymd.gov.