Maine License Classes and Trade Credentials

Maine licenses the individual tradesperson, not a contractor company: 17 classification rows are seeded across four credential families — the electrician license (32 MRSA ch. 17), the plumber license (ch. 49), the fuel technician license (ch. 139, Maine Fuel Board) and the door-to-door home-repair seller registration (ch. 128). There is no statewide contractor class: OPOR's professions list contains no contractor entry, and LD 1226 — the proposed residential building contractor license — died in the Senate on 2026-04-29.

Verified 2026-10-0517 classifications4 credential familiesno contractor classIndexation gate: passed

01 Four credential families, no contractor class

ELECTRICIAN ch. 17+PLUMBER ch. 49+FUEL ch. 139+DOOR-TO-DOOR ch. 128

No general/residential contractor license — verified absence — OPOR's complete professions list has no contractor entry; the ch. 128 home repair seller is a transient-sales registration, not a contractor license. (Rule ME-NO-GC-LICENSE.) S-ME-OPOR-PROFESSIONS
Electrical is an individual license — §1201 bars any electrical installation except by a board-licensed electrician; six classes are issued, and a master or limited electrician pulls the permit. (Rule ME-ELECTRICAL-LICENSE.) S-ME-32-1201
Plumbing is an individual license — §3302(1) requires a license for anyone engaged in plumbing; the master plumber is the business-holding class, and a master/journeyman supervises at most 3 trainees. (Rule ME-PLUMBING-LICENSE.) S-ME-32-3302
Fuel is a Maine Fuel Board license — ch. 139 covers oil, solid fuel, propane and natural gas equipment; the credential is endorsement-scoped. There is no statewide HVAC license — the work splits between the fuel, electrical and plumbing credentials. (Rules ME-FUEL-LICENSE, ME-NO-HVAC-LICENSE.) S-ME-FUEL-BOARD

02 Electrician license — 32 MRSA ch. 17

Electrician License (individual — 32 MRSA ch. 17; 'An electrical installation may not be made unless by an electrician licensed by the board' — §1201; Master, Journeyman, Limited, Apprentice, Journeyman-in-Training and Helper classes; biennial, 15-hour NEC continuing education)

Code	Classification	Official scope	Citation	Source
APPRENTICE-ELECTRICIAN	Apprentice Electrician	An apprentice electrician who is licensed and registered with an apprenticeship program may perform electrical installations under the direct supervision of a master electrician, journeyman electrician or limited electrician. The board issues the license on evidence of enrollment in a registered apprenticeship program approved by the US Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship or a recognised State Apprenticeship Agency.	32 MRSA §1202-B(1)	S-ME-32-1202-B
MASTER-ELECTRICIAN	Master Electrician	A Master Electrician is a qualified individual engaging in, or about to engage in, the business of installing electrical wires, conduits, apparatus, fixtures and other electrical equipment. Qualification: pass the board examination after at least 4,000 hours of service as a journeyman electrician (or 12,000 hours of experience) and a 576-hour program of study. A master or limited electrician is the class authorised to apply to the board for an electrical permit under §1102-C(2).	32 MRSA ch. 17 (§1202-B; board class page)	S-ME-EEB-MASTER
JOURNEYMAN-ELECTRICIAN	Journeyman Electrician	A journeyman electrician may make electrical installations while employed by a supervising master electrician, limited electrician or electrical company. A person licensed under this subsection may supervise two helper electricians enrolled in or having completed a 576-hour course of study, two apprentice electricians, or one helper electrician.	32 MRSA §1202-B(4)	S-ME-32-1202-B
LIMITED-ELECTRICIAN	Limited Electrician	A Limited Electrician is a licensed class of the Electricians' Examining Board (house wiring) that, together with a Master Electrician, is authorised under §1102-C(2) to apply for an electrical permit from the board. Like the other classes it renews every two years based on the first-licensure date; a Senior Limited Electrician (over 70) is a reduced-fee variant.	32 MRSA ch. 17 (§1102-C(2); board class page)	S-ME-EEB-LICENSING
JOURNEYMAN-IN-TRAINING-ELECTRICIAN	Journeyman-in-Training Electrician	A journeyman-in-training electrician may make electrical installations while employed by a supervising master electrician, limited electrician or electrical company. A journeyman-in-training electrician may not supervise other electricians. Qualification: pass a board-approved examination after 2,000 work hours as a helper (with a 576-hour course) or 6,000 work hours as an apprentice (with a course), then complete a 45-hour National Electrical Code course.	32 MRSA §1202-B(3)	S-ME-32-1202-B
HELPER-ELECTRICIAN	Helper Electrician	A helper electrician may make electrical installations under the direct supervision of a master electrician, journeyman electrician or limited electrician. A helper electrician must be employed by a supervising master electrician, limited electrician or electrical company.	32 MRSA §1202-B(2)	S-ME-32-1202-B

The permit authority sits with two classes

Under §1102-C(2) only a master or a limited electrician may apply for the board's electrical permit; apprentices, helpers and journeymen-in-training must work under supervision and may not supervise. S-ME-32-1201

03 Plumber license — 32 MRSA ch. 49

Plumber License (individual — 32 MRSA ch. 49; 'A license is required for any individual who is engaged in plumbing' — §3302(1); Master (engages in the business), Journeyman (works under a master), Trainee and Journeyman-in-Training; biennial)

Code	Classification	Official scope	Citation	Source
JOURNEYMAN-PLUMBER	Journeyman Plumber	A Journeyman Plumber means any person who customarily performs the work of installing plumbing and drainage under the employment and direction of a master plumber or, not being a master plumber, does plumbing repair work as a regular part-time occupation. Examination qualification: at least 4,000 hours as a licensed trainee plumber, or at least 2,000 hours as a licensed journeyman-in-training within four years of that license.	32 MRSA ch. 49 (board definition)	S-ME-PEB-LICENSING
TRAINEE-PLUMBER	Trainee Plumber	A Trainee Plumber means any person who is engaged in assisting and making plumbing installations under the direct supervision of a journeyman plumber or master plumber, whether for the purpose of learning the trade or otherwise. A master or journeyman plumber may not have more than 3 trainee plumbers working under direct supervision.	32 MRSA ch. 49 (board definition; §3302(3))	S-ME-PEB-LICENSING
JOURNEYMAN-IN-TRAINING-PLUMBER	Journeyman-in-Training Plumber	A Journeyman-in-Training means a person who is licensed to assist in making plumbing installations under the direct supervision of a journeyman plumber or a master plumber who may not act as or represent that the person is a journeyman plumber. Qualification: completion of a one-year / two-semester board-approved community-college plumbing course (or a two-year career-and-technical-education program) and a passing grade of 70% or higher on the journeyman plumbers examination. This license is valid for a one-time period of four years and cannot be renewed.	32 MRSA ch. 49 (board definition)	S-ME-PEB-LICENSING
MASTER-PLUMBER	Master Plumber	A Master Plumber means any person licensed by the Board, to engage in, or about to engage in, the business of installing plumbing or plumbing systems. Examination qualification: a minimum of at least one year with 2,000 hours of work as a licensed journeyman plumber, or a minimum of at least four years with 8,000 hours of work as a licensed trainee plumber under the supervision of a licensed master plumber.	32 MRSA ch. 49 (board definition; §3302(3))	S-ME-PEB-LICENSING

Master plumber is the business class; the JIT license does not renew

A master plumber engages in the plumbing business; a journeyman works under a master; the trainee works under direct supervision (max 3 per master/journeyman, §3302(3)). The Journeyman-in-Training license is a one-time four-year non-renewable credential. S-ME-32-3302

04 Fuel technician license — 32 MRSA ch. 139 (Maine Fuel Board)

Fuel Technician License (individual — 32 MRSA ch. 139, Maine Fuel Board; Master/Journeyman/Apprentice Oil Burner and/or Solid Fuel Technician, Propane and Natural Gas Technician and Helper, limited tank-installer / wood-pellet / energy-auditor licenses; biennial)

Code	Classification	Official scope	Citation	Source
PROPANE-NATURAL-GAS-TECHNICIAN	Propane and Natural Gas Technician	A Propane and Natural Gas Technician is a person licensed by the Maine Fuel Board to install, service and repair propane and natural-gas utilization equipment. All applicants for propane and natural-gas licensure are first required to submit an examination application, receive board approval to sit, and pass a Maine Fuel Board propane and gas examination before applying for a license pursuant to 32 MRSA §18135(2), with CETP certificates and an onboard transcript.	32 MRSA §18135	S-ME-FUEL-BOARD
MASTER-FUEL-TECHNICIAN	Master Oil Burner and/or Solid Fuel Technician	A master oil burner technician may install, clean, service, alter or repair oil burning equipment and must hold one or more authorities: number one and number 2 oils up to 15 gallons per hour; number one and number 2 oils over 15 gallons per hour; number 4, number 5 and number 6 oils; number one to number 6 oils; and pellet-fired central heating appliances. A master solid fuel technician may install, clean, service, alter or repair solid fuel burning equipment. Qualification: pass a board-approved examination and demonstrate 4 years of licensed practical experience, of which at least 2 years must be as a licensed journeyman.	32 MRSA §18132	S-ME-32-18132
JOURNEYMAN-FUEL-TECHNICIAN	Journeyman Oil Burner and/or Solid Fuel Technician	A Journeyman Oil Burner Technician is a person who is licensed by the Board to engage in the business of installing or servicing oil-burning equipment in the State of Maine. A Journeyman Solid Fuel Technician is a person licensed by the Board to engage in the business of installing and servicing solid fuel burning equipment. A Journeyman Oil Burner and/or Solid Fuel Technician must be under the indirect supervision of a Master Oil Burner and/or Solid Fuel Technician.	32 MRSA ch. 139 (board definition)	S-ME-FUEL-LICENSING
APPRENTICE-FUEL-TECHNICIAN	Apprentice Oil Burner and/or Solid Fuel Technician	An Apprentice Oil Burner and/or Solid Fuel Technician is a person who is licensed by the Board and under the supervision of a licensed master oil burner or solid fuel technician. A licensed apprentice may assist in making oil burner or solid fuel installations, repairs and servicing under the direct supervision of a licensed master. An apprentice may not renew the license without a supervising master on file.	32 MRSA ch. 139 (board definition)	S-ME-FUEL-LICENSING
PROPANE-NATURAL-GAS-HELPER	Propane and Natural Gas Helper	A Propane and Natural Gas Helper is a person licensed by the Board to assist a licensed Propane and Natural Gas Technician. A helper must work under the direct and continuous supervision of a licensed Propane and Natural Gas Technician on-site.	32 MRSA §18136	S-ME-FUEL-LICENSING
LIMITED-FUEL-TECHNICIAN	Limited Fuel Technician (Tank Installer / Wood Pellet / Energy Auditor)	The Maine Fuel Board's limited licenses: a Limited Tank Installer may install outside residential heating-oil tanks at manufactured housing (requires a manufactured-housing mechanic or dealer license plus a four-hour training program); a Limited Wood Pellet Technician is restricted to cleaning the ash pan, burn pot, distribution tubes, fines collection box and fan; and an Oil or Propane Limited Energy Auditor Technician may perform combustion safety and efficiency testing only and may not make any adjustments to the equipment.	32 MRSA §§18138-18141	S-ME-FUEL-LICENSING

Fuel credentials are endorsement-scoped

A master oil burner technician holds one or more authorities (oils by gallons-per-hour band; pellet appliances) and a master solid fuel technician covers solid fuel equipment; propane and natural-gas work is the separate technician credential, which requires a Maine Fuel Board exam (§18135(2)) plus CETP certificates. S-ME-32-18132

05 Door-to-door home repair seller — 32 MRSA ch. 128

Door-to-Door Home Repair Seller license/registration (32 MRSA ch. 128; 'A transient seller of home repair services must be licensed by the department and acquire a door-to-door sales license … before engaging in the door-to-door sales of home repair services' — §14504; IN ADDITION to any trade license)

Code	Classification	Official scope	Citation	Source
DOOR-TO-DOOR-HOME-REPAIR-SELLER	Transient Seller of Home Repair Services (Door-to-Door Home Repair Seller)	A transient seller of home repair services must be licensed by the department and acquire a door-to-door sales license before engaging in the door-to-door sales of home repair services. The licensing requirement is in addition to the licensing requirements applicable to the occupation, trade or profession for which a license is required. A transient seller who solicits sales during the course of a municipal or state repair contract is exempt.	32 MRSA §14504	S-ME-32-14504

The ch. 128 registration is additive

§14504 requires a transient seller of home repair services to hold a door-to-door sales license in addition to any trade license; a violation is a Class E (strict liability) or Class D (intentional) crime. It is not a competence license for the trade itself. S-ME-32-14504

06 Deterministic scope limits

maine:master-electrician — engaging in the business of installing electrical wires conduits apparatus fixtures and equipment (32 MRSA ch. 17 (§1202-B; board class page)) S-ME-EEB-MASTER
Maine has no separate 'electrical contractor' license: the business-holding credential IS the master electrician license. A limited electrician shares the permit authority.
maine:journeyman-electrician — electrical installations while employed by a master limited or electrical company and supervising a capped crew (32 MRSA §1202-B(4)) S-ME-32-1202-B
A journeyman may supervise a small crew but not hold the business or pull the permit — that is the master/limited class.
maine:helper-electrician — electrical installations except under direct supervision and while employed by a supervising electrician or company (32 MRSA §1202-B(2)) S-ME-32-1202-B
Apprentice and helper classes both require direct supervision; journeyman-in-training may work independently but may not supervise.
maine:journeyman-plumber — plumbing work beyond a master plumber employment scope or the narrow ch 139 crossover limits (32 MRSA §3302(1)) S-ME-32-3302
The crossover exceptions are deliberately narrow: same room, existing piping, no new branch. Anything larger is full plumbing under a master.
maine:door-to-door-home-repair-seller — municipal building permit enforcement of the maine uniform building and energy code (10 MRSA §9724(1)/(1-A)/(5)) S-ME-10-9724
The statewide LOCAL model; permit fee schedules and the list of enforcing municipalities were not read (LOCAL_AUTHORITY_REQUIRED).
maine:master-electrician — a maine licensed electrician for plug in photovoltaic or battery systems over 420 watts up to 1200 watts (35-A MRSA §3475 (LD 1730 / P.L. 2025 c. 644)) S-ME-EEB
The only solar-specific Maine provision found; ordinary rooftop PV has no separate license and is ch. 17 electrical work.
maine:helper-electrician — a single family dwelling certificate for owner electrical work in a newly constructed dwelling (32 MRSA §1102-D) S-ME-32-1102-D
The owner path for NEW construction is a certificate regime, not a licensing exemption — the distinction the water-heater/solar project pages rely on.
maine:master-plumber — engaging in the business of installing plumbing or plumbing systems (32 MRSA ch. 49 (board definition; §3302(2)-(3))) S-ME-PEB-LICENSING
As with electrical, there is no separate 'plumbing contractor' license — the master plumber license IS the business-holding credential.
maine:master-fuel-technician — installing cleaning servicing altering or repairing oil burning and or solid fuel equipment (32 MRSA §18132(1)) S-ME-32-18132
The credential is endorsement-scoped: an oil burner authority does not authorise propane/natural-gas work and vice versa.
maine:master-fuel-technician — line voltage electrical work outside the fuel license restrictions (32 MRSA §1201-A(7)-(8) + Fuel Board MOU list) S-ME-FUEL-BOARD
The HVAC replacement page's decisive boundary: combustion work = fuel license; line voltage = electrician; water/steam connections = the MOU crossovers.
maine:helper-electrician — electrical installations in an existing single family dwelling owned and occupied by the installer (32 MRSA §1201-A(13) (PL 2025 c. 88 §4)) S-ME-32-1201-A
A 2025 addition. §1102-C(5)(A-1) mirrors it for the permit layer. The owner of a NEW dwelling needs the §1102-D certificate.

These limits feed the deterministic rules (ME-ELECTRICAL-SCOPE, ME-OWNER-EXEMPTION, ME-PLUMBING-LICENSE, ME-FUEL-LICENSE, ME-NO-HVAC-LICENSE, ME-SOLAR) that project pages evaluate — missing facts return NOT_DETERMINED, never a forced answer.

07 Sources

S-ME-10-9724statute

Maine Legislature — Maine Revised Statutes (legislature.maine.gov)

10 MRSA §9724 — Application (Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code)

https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/10/title10sec9724.html