To run a New Hampshire electrical license lookup, use the free verification tool hosted by the state’s Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC).1NH Office of Professional Licensure and Certification. License Lookup In under a minute it will show you the electrician’s license type, current status, and expiration date, which is enough to confirm whether the person quoting your job is actually authorized to do it.
Running the Search
The lookup page sends you to the state’s online verification application. You can search by the electrician’s name, by license number, or by profession type. If you have the license number from a business card or written estimate, enter that directly. It’s the fastest route and avoids duplicates.
Searching by name alone often returns multiple people. Pair the name with a profession filter (Master, Journeyman, Apprentice, or High/Medium Voltage) to narrow the list. Spelling has to match what’s on file, so use the name exactly as the contractor gave it to you. For an electrical business, enter the formal registered name rather than a trade name.
Results appear in a table, but the table isn’t the answer. Click through to the individual record. The detail page is where you’ll see the license type, status, issue date, and expiration date.
Matching the License Type to Your Job
New Hampshire issues several categories of electrical license, and what an electrician can legally do depends on which one they hold.
- A Master Electrician can work independently, run an electrical business, and employ others. They can perform electrical installations as their principal business or as part of another trade.2New Hampshire General Court. New Hampshire Code 319-C:2 – Definitions
- A Journeyman Electrician can install wiring, conduits, fixtures, and equipment, but must be employed by a licensed master electrician or a licensed electrical entity.2New Hampshire General Court. New Hampshire Code 319-C:2 – Definitions
- An Apprentice Electrician is still learning the trade and can only work under the direct supervision of a master or journeyman.2New Hampshire General Court. New Hampshire Code 319-C:2 – Definitions
- A High/Medium Voltage Electrician is licensed for higher-voltage systems, with a separate trainee category for those still gaining experience.
For a residential panel upgrade or rewire, you want a master electrician’s record, or a journeyman working for one. An apprentice on their own is a red flag worth catching before any work starts.
Reading the Status Field
Status is the single most important field on the record. “Active” means the electrician has met renewal and continuing education requirements and can currently perform electrical work and pull permits.3NH Office of Professional Licensure and Certification. Electricians Continuing Education
“Lapsed,” “Expired,” or “Inactive” all mean the person is not currently authorized to practice. Hiring anyway creates real problems: your local building inspector can reject the work, your insurer can deny related claims, and you can face code violation fines.
Check the expiration date, too. Since July 2023, all New Hampshire electrician licenses expire two years from the date of issuance.4NH Office of Professional Licensure and Certification. Electricians FAQs If a license is about to expire and your project will run longer, ask the contractor how they’re handling renewal. A mid-project lapse can delay inspections and stall the whole job.
Disciplinary History on the Record
The Electricians’ Board handles disciplinary actions against licensees who violate professional or ethical standards.5NH Office of Professional Licensure and Certification. Electricians Board Disciplinary records on licensing portals typically stay part of the permanent public record even after a license is reinstated, so you may see a past suspension or probation next to a currently active status.
Common violations that generate these records include working without permits, subcontracting to unlicensed workers, insurance lapses, and contract disputes. Read any notation carefully. A single resolved issue from years ago is not the same as a pattern.
Verifying a Reciprocity Claim
If a contractor says they’re licensed in another state and working here under reciprocity, verify that through the same lookup tool. New Hampshire does allow reciprocity applicants to obtain a license by endorsement, but the applicant needs at least one year of professional experience in the license category being sought.5NH Office of Professional Licensure and Certification. Electricians Board Reciprocity is not automatic authorization. The electrician still has to hold an active New Hampshire license that appears in the OPLC database. An out-of-state license by itself does not make the work legal here.
If the Person Isn’t Licensed
If the lookup turns up nothing, or you find someone doing electrical work in your home who can’t be verified, you can file a complaint with the OPLC’s Enforcement Division through an online form.6NH Office of Professional Licensure and Certification. File A Complaint Identify the electrician by name and profession, describe what happened, state when and where it occurred, and list any witnesses. Include your own contact information. The Enforcement Division can reject complaints where the licensee cannot be identified, so specifics matter. This process handles professional discipline, not criminal charges. If you suspect criminal activity, contact local law enforcement separately.
The stakes for the person doing the work are real. Under RSA 319-C:15, making electrical installations without a valid license is a misdemeanor for an individual and a felony if the violator is a business entity.7New Hampshire General Court. New Hampshire Code 319-C:15 – Violations, Penalty, Homeowners Exception For you as the property owner, the risk is code violations, failed inspections, and problems when you sell.
One boundary worth knowing: New Hampshire law does not prevent a homeowner from performing electrical work in a single-family residence they own and occupy as their primary home.7New Hampshire General Court. New Hampshire Code 319-C:15 – Violations, Penalty, Homeowners Exception That exception does not cover rental properties, multi-family homes, or work done for someone else, and it does not remove the requirement that the work be permitted and pass inspection.