New Hampshire Electrical Licensing Law

New Hampshire Code · 18 sections

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

RSA § 310-A:182

Purpose; Scope of Practice. – I. The purpose of this subdivision is to assure that a home inspector performs professional services only when the home inspector is qualified by education and training in the specific technical areas involved. II. The scope of practice of home inspectors shall consist of knowledge and skill in the following areas of residential construction: heating systems, cooling systems, plumbing systems, electrical systems, structural components, foundations, roofs, exterior and interior components, and site aspects as they affect buildings. Source. 2008, 339:1, eff. July 1, 2008. Section

RSA § 310-A:190

Eligibility Requirements for Licensure as a Home Inspector. – I. Each applicant for licensure as a home inspector shall meet the following minimum requirements: (a) Completion of no less than 80 hours of board-approved education covering all of the following core components of a residential building of 4 units or less: (1) Heating system. (2) Cooling system. (3) Plumbing system. (4) Electrical system. (5) Structural components. (6) Foundation. (7) Roof covering. (8) Exterior and interior components. (9) Site aspects as they affect the building. (b) Have successfully completed high school or its equivalent. (c) Proof of passing the board-adopted examination required for licensure. (d) Be at least 18 years of age. (e) Submit to the office of professional licensure and certification a public criminal history record information authorization form as provided by the New Hampshire state police, which authorizes the release of the applicant's public criminal history record information, if any. The applicant shall bear the cost of the public criminal history record information check. II. A person who was actively engaged in the business of home inspection in this state as a means of his or her livelihood for at least 12 months preceding the effective date of this subdivision shall be eligible for licensure by the office of professional licensure and certification without completion of the requirements of subparagraph I(a). An applicant under this paragraph shall be issued a license by providing evidence satisfactory to the board of the knowledge and experience equivalent to the requirements of subparagraph I(a). All applicants shall meet the requirements of subparagraphs I(b) through (e), pay an initial fee, and fulfill all other license application requirements. III. The board shall approve all education programs under subparagraph I(a) of organizations or education institutions providing acceptable education and training. IV. The board shall have the discretion to reject an applicant who is not of good professional character, as evidenced by: (a) Conviction for commission of a felony; (b) Misstatement of facts by the applicant in connection with the application; (c) Violation of any of the standards of practice or code of ethics as they are set forth in this subdivision or in rules adopted by the board; or (d) Practicing home inspections without being licensed in violation of laws of the jurisdiction in which the practice took place. Source. 2008, 339:1, eff. July 1, 2008. 2019, 297:6, eff. July 1, 2019. 2024, 327:206, eff. July 1, 2024. Section

RSA § 319-C:1

Electricians. – No electrician installation shall be made for compensation, unless made by an electrician or other person licensed by the office of professional licensure and certification, except as provided in this chapter. Source. 1975, 485:1, eff. July 1, 1975. 2024, 327:180, eff. July 1, 2024. Section

RSA § 319-C:10

. V. "Master electrician" means a person either employed by another master electrician or who, as a business, hires or employs another to do electrical work, or, without hiring another, makes electrical installations as a principal or auxiliary business for his or her own account. Source. 1975, 485:1. 1976, 16:1. 1981, 356:3-5. 1994, 238:1, 2. 2001, 266:1, 2. 2011, 78:1, eff. July 15, 2011. 2018, 243:1, eff. June 12, 2018. 2023, 79:291, eff. Sept. 1, 2023. 2024, 327:181, eff. July 1, 2024. Section

RSA § 319-C:15

Violations; Penalty; Homeowner's Exception. – I. A person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, if a natural person, or a felony if any another person, who: (a) Makes electrical installations without being licensed under this chapter, except as provided in paragraph II; (b) Being in the electrical business, employs an unlicensed person, other than an apprentice, to make electrical installations, unless the person or installation is exempted under this chapter; (c) Wrongfully or fraudulently procures a license under this chapter; (d) Violates any provision of this chapter or rule adopted by the board; or (e) Wrongfully or fraudulently represents himself or herself as a person licensed under this chapter. II. Nothing in this chapter shall prevent a homeowner from making electrical installations in or about a single family residence owned and occupied by him or her or to be occupied by him or her as his or her bona fide personal abode. Source. 1975, 485:1. 1981, 356:16. 1994, 238:9. 2004, 64:1. 2014, 314:3, eff. Aug. 1, 2014.

RSA § 319-C:2

Definitions. – In this chapter: I. "Apprentice electrician" means a person who is engaged in learning and assisting in making electrical installations under the direct supervision of a master or journeyman electrician. II. "Board" means the electricians' board. III. "Electrical installations" means the installation, repair, alteration and maintenance of electrical conductors, fittings, devices and fixtures for heating, lighting or power purposes, regardless of the voltage. The term does not include the installation or repair of portable appliances and other portable electrical equipment, installation of which involves only the insertion of an attachment plug into a fixed receptacle outlet. The word "portable" does not include or apply to any type of fixed electrically operated or driven equipment. III-a. "High/medium voltage power distribution system installation" means the installation, repair, alteration, and maintenance of electrical conductors, fittings, devices, fixtures, and equipment, from the source of supply to the first disconnecting means of a building or structure, for over 600 volt power distribution systems. The term shall also include the associated metering and controls of the distribution system, the secondary conductor terminations of the pad mount transformer, the underground conductors between the base of the pole and the secondary terminals of the pole mounted transformer, and the overhead conductors between the secondary terminals of the pole mounted transformer and the point of attachment to a building or structure, regardless of the voltage. III-b. "High/medium voltage electrician" means a person who, as a business, hires or employs another, as defined in administrative rules, to make electrical installations on high/medium voltage power distribution systems operating at over 600 volts, or without hiring another, makes electrical installations on high/medium voltage power distribution systems operating at over 600 volts, including associated controls and metering, as a principal or auxiliary business for their own account. III-c. "Incidental electrical work" means a job of minor consequence which occurs by chance, not needing calculations. IV. "Journeyman electrician" means a person doing work of installing electrical wires, conduits, apparatus, fixtures, and other electrical equipment. A journeyman electrician shall be employed by a New Hampshire licensed master electrician or entity licensed pursuant to RSA

RSA § 319-C:2-a

Supervision of Apprentice Electricians. – I. A journeyman electrician shall directly supervise no more than one apprentice in the first year following his or her initial date of licensure. A journeyman electrician may have 2 apprentice electricians under his or her direct supervision beginning on the first anniversary of the journeyman electrician's initial date of licensure. II. Each journeyman electrician on a work site may have 2 apprentice electricians working under his or her direct supervision, to a maximum of 3 journeyman electricians per work site. Each additional journeyman electrician may have one apprentice electrician under his or her direct supervision. III. Each master electrician on a work site may have 2 apprentice electricians working under his or her direct supervision, to a maximum of 6 master electricians per work site. Each additional master electrician may have one apprentice electrician under his or her direct supervision. IV. The maximum number of licensed electricians with 2 apprentice electricians working under their direct supervision on a work site shall not exceed 6. Source. 2018, 243:2, eff. June 12, 2018. 2019, 209:1, eff. July 12, 2019. Section

RSA § 319-C:3

Exceptions. – This chapter shall not apply to the following: I. Any person, or any affiliate or employee of such person, under the jurisdiction of the public utilities commission of this state, or the Federal Communications Commission, or the Interstate Commerce Commission , or any employee of such person, for the purpose of making electrical installations in the course of such employment. II. The electrical work and equipment employed in connection with the construction, installation, operation, repair or maintenance of any utility by a utility company in rendering its authorized service, or in any way incidental thereto. III. Any electrical equipment and work including installation, operation, maintenance and repair, in or about industrial or manufacturing plants or electrical generating plants performed by a person or persons in the regular employ of the plants. IV. Any electrical equipment and work, including installation, operation, maintenance and repair in, on or about other properties, equipment or buildings, residential or of any other kind, owned or controlled by the operators of industrial or manufacturing plants, provided such work is done under the supervision of an electrical engineer in the employ of said operator. V. The electrical work and equipment in mines, pipe line systems, ships, railway rolling stock or automotive equipment, or the operation of portable sound equipment. VI. Any electrical installations or equipment involved in the manufacture, test or repair of electrical equipment in the manufacturer's plant. VII. Installations in laboratories of exposed electrical wiring for experimental purposes only. VIII. Regular employees of owners or lessees of real property doing incidental electrical work, or persons whose occupation is the doing of miscellaneous jobs of manual labor in the course of which some incidental electrical work is done. IX. Installation of fuel oil, natural, propane, or other burnable gas furnace, or boiler equipment and controls connected thereto. IX-a. Any electrical installations in residential or commercial buildings performed by students enrolled in a high school vocational electrical program, college vocational electrical program, and apprenticeship training program, approved by the department of education, provided such work is performed under the supervision of either a teacher holding an electrician's license or by a licensed electrician who is a supervisor of students in cooperative education placements from such programs; and in those cases where the installation is in a new building being constructed as a part of the vocational program, that the installation will be inspected and approved by an individual or group of individuals chosen by the local school districts from persons nominated by the state board of electricians. Any person nominated by the state board shall hold a master's license issued by the office of professional licensure and certification. X. Any electrical work and equip

RSA § 319-C:4

Board. – I. There shall be an electricians' board consisting of 5 members, including 2 master electricians, one journeyman electrician, and 2 public members, each to be appointed by the governor, with the approval of the council, to a term of 5 years. No member of the board shall be appointed to more than 2 terms. The state fire marshal or his designee shall be an ex officio member of the board, but shall not vote in board determinations. I-a. No member of the board shall serve more than 12 years, including the time of 2 5-year terms, being held over after a term expires, and fulfilling an unexpired term. Members' terms shall be staggered and in no case shall any member's term coincide with another member's term. To avoid coinciding terms, the next appointment for a member shall be for a term which complies with this paragraph. II. Each public member of the board shall be a person who is not, and never was, a member of the electrical trade or the spouse of any such person, and who does not have, and never has had, a material financial interest in either the provision of electrical services or an activity directly related to the electrical trade, including the representation of the board or trade for a fee at any time during the 5 years preceding appointment. III. With the approval of the executive director, the board may convene a subcommittee or subcommittees for the purpose of reviewing and making recommendations on matters that could be handled by the full board pursuant to RSA 319-C. Source. 1975, 485:1. 1981, 356:6. 1985, 416:5. 1994, 238:4. 2005, 122:2; 177:106. 2008, 107:1. 2012, 237:2 as amended by 2013, 57:3. 2015, 276:57, eff. July 1, 2015. 2021, 197:161, eff. July 1, 2021. 2023, 235:28, VI, eff. July 15, 2023. 2025, 161:39, eff. Sept. 13, 2025. Section

RSA § 319-C:5

Inspectors. – I. The state fire marshal shall be empowered to appoint such inspectors as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter and RSA 319-C. Any person so employed shall be under the administration and supervisory direction of the state fire marshal. II. An inspector appointed under this section shall have authority to enter any premises in which an electrical installation subject to rules adopted under RSA

RSA § 319-C:6-c

Continuing Education, NFPA 70 Changes. – The board shall adopt rules relative to continuing education applicable to all licensees for training and compliance with the latest published edition of the NFPA 70, National Electrical Code, as published by the National Fire Protection Association. Each licensee shall show proof of completion of continuing education requirements adopted under this section within 12 months from the January 1 following the publication date of the latest version of the NFPA 70. Proof of completion shall be furnished to the office by the continuing education provider. Failure to complete the continuing education shall render the electrician's license invalid until the licensee demonstrates to the board that he or she has completed the requisite number of continuing education hours. Source. 2012, 237:6, eff. Jan. 1, 2014. 2024, 327:184, eff. July 1, 2024. Section

RSA § 319-C:7

Licensing Requirements. – I. [Repealed.] II. The office shall issue a license as a master or journeyman electrician to any person who files an application and meets the following qualifications: (a) Completion of 8,000 hours of service as an apprentice electrician. The board may give credit toward such service for the satisfactory completion of a course of instruction in the field at a school recognized by the board or experience in the field received in military service, in accordance with rules adopted by RSA 541-A; (b) Complete not less than 600 hours of education that meet criteria established by the board in rules adopted pursuant to RSA 541-A; and (c) Satisfactory passing of an examination approved by said board as provided in RSA

RSA § 319-C:8

to determine the person's fitness to receive such license. II-a. The office shall issue a license as a high/medium voltage electrician to any person who files an application and meets the following qualifications: (a) Shows proof of successfully completing a state, national, or employer certification program approved by the board or; (b) Prior to January 1, 2003, shows proof of having been employed for a minimum of 5 years as a high/medium voltage electrician working for a company with an approved training program. III. All persons licensed by the office shall receive a certificate which must be publicly displayed at the principal place of business of said electrician, or, if no such place of business, must be carried on his or her person and displayed at any time upon request to any electrical inspector appointed by the board under this chapter, as long as said person continues in the business as herein defined. The certificate shall specify the name of the person licensed who, in the case of a firm, shall be one of its members or employees and, in the case of a corporation, one of its officers or employees passing the examination. In the case of a firm or corporation, the license shall be void upon the death of or the severance from the company of said person. IV. Apprentice electricians shall register with the office. Source. 1975, 485:1. 1981, 356:9, 17. 1994, 238:5, 6. 2001, 266:3. 2004, 63:2. 2014, 314:2, eff. Aug. 1, 2014. 2017, 201:4, eff. Sept. 3, 2017. 2021, 197:182, eff. July 1, 2021. 2023, 79:293, eff. Sept. 1, 2023. 2024, 327:185, eff. July 1, 2024. Section

RSA 326-C:7

The board shall adopt rules pursuant to RSA 541-A specifying:

I. The requirements and use of occupational therapy techniques involving ultrasound or electrical physical agent modalities by occupational therapy practitioners;

II. The requirements for supervision of licensed occupational therapy assistants by licensed occupational therapists; and

III. The use and supervision of non-licensed persons providing supportive services to licensed occupational therapists or occupational therapy assistants.

RSA 326-C:8

I. An occupational therapist who is licensed under this chapter and who has been trained may utilize occupational therapy techniques involving ultrasound or electrical physical agent modality devices.

II. An occupational therapy assistant who is licensed under this chapter may apply ultrasound or electrical physical agent modality devices if he or she:

(a) Works under the supervision of a qualified occupational therapist who is licensed under this chapter; and

(b) Has been trained to utilize occupational therapy techniques involving ultrasound or electrical agent modality devices.

RSA 328-A:9

I. A physical therapist licensed under this chapter is fully authorized to practice physical therapy as defined herein.

II. A physical therapist shall refer a patient or client to appropriate health care practitioners when:

(a) The physical therapist has reasonable cause to believe symptoms or conditions are present that require services beyond the scope of practice; or

(b) Physical therapy is contraindicated.

III. A physical therapist shall adhere to the code of ethics established by the board in rules.

IV. A physical therapist assistant licensed under this chapter is authorized to assist a licensed physical therapist in selected components of physical therapy intervention.

V. A physical therapist assistant shall adhere to the code of ethics established by the board in rules.

VI. A physical therapist may purchase and store topical and aerosol medications, to be administered upon the prescription of a health care practitioner licensed in this state and permitted by law to prescribe medications. A physical therapist shall comply with rules of the New Hampshire pharmacy board specifying protocols for storage of medications.

VII. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as authorizing a licensed physical therapist to practice medicine, osteopathy, chiropractic, naturopathy, or any other form or method of healing, except physical therapy. The use of roentgen rays and radium for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, and the use of electricity for surgical purposes including cauterization, shall not be authorized under the term "physical therapy" as used in this chapter.

RSA 328-G:10

I. Under this chapter the scope of practice of acupuncture shall include the allied techniques and modalities of Asian medicine, both traditional and modern. The scope of practice shall include: diagnostic procedures; electrical and magnetic stimulation; moxibustion and other forms of heat therapy; cupping and scraping techniques; dietary, nutritional, and herbal therapies; lifestyle counseling; acupressure; and massage.

II. Notwithstanding paragraph I, the scope of practice may be further defined by the board in accordance with RSA 541-A.

III. Nothing in this section is intended to limit, interfere with, or prevent any other health care professionals from practicing within their defined scopes of practice, including professionals licensed under RSA 316-A using limited adjunctive procedures.

IV. Needles used in acupuncture practice shall be sterile, disposable, one-use needles.

V. Persons licensed by the board to practice acupuncture shall be permitted to provide services through the use of telemedicine. "Telemedicine" means the use of audio, video, or other electronic media for the purpose of diagnosis, consultation, or treatment.

RSA 328-G:2

In this chapter:

I. "Acupuncture" means primarily the insertion of needles through the skin at certain points on the body, with or without the application of electric current and/or heat, for the purpose of promoting health and balance as defined by the principles of Asian medicine.

II. "Acupuncturist" means a person licensed to practice acupuncture as defined in this chapter, and whose license is in good standing.

III. "Board" means the board of acupuncture licensing established under RSA 328-G:3.

IV. "Cupping" means a therapeutic method of Asian medicine that utilizes a partial vacuum created in a glass dome or cup that is then applied to a particular area of the body.

V. "Moxibustion" means the thermal stimulation of acupuncture points or specific body areas by utilizing the burning of the dried form of the herb, Artemisia Vulgaris; the heat may be applied on or above specific points or areas or on the acupuncture needle itself.

VI. "ACAHM" means the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine, including its predecessors and successors.

VII. "NCCAOM" means the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, including its predecessors and successors.

VIII. "Asian medicine" means the distinct system of health care that diagnoses and treats illness, injury, pain, or other conditions by controlling and regulating the flow and balance of energy to restore and maintain health.

IX. "Acupuncture detoxification," also known as acu-detox, means the treatment by means of the insertion of acupuncture needles in a combination of points on the ear.

X. "Acupuncture detoxification specialist," known as an ADS, means an individual certified by the board to practice acupuncture detoxification in this state.

XI. "NADA" means the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association, including its predecessors and successors.

XII. "NADA training" means the standardized auricular acupuncture protocol developed by NADA that is in effect on July 1, 2017.

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