Steps to apply for your Journeyman or Systems Technician license:
(For a Master Electrician or Systems Contractor license, skip Steps 1 and 9)
NOTE: License applications are electronic. Everything must be submitted via e-mail.
Follow these steps in order.
1. Get your work experience documented by asking your employer(s) to fill out a 272 Form for you. (272 Forms are sometimes referred to as “green sheets”)
- Most employers have an electronic version of the 272 Form, so you can simply call or email them and ask them to fill out a 272 Form for you.
- Ask the employer to email the form back to you after they fill it out since paper forms are not needed.
- If you need email addresses or phone numbers for any of your past employers, they can be found here: https://the103advantage.com/contractors
- If you experience trouble obtaining your 272 Forms, or you need help, please email tricia@bostonjatc.org and ask for assistance.
Note: It is wise to obtain 272 Forms immediately upon separation from employment. The reason for this is, if you wait until fifth year of your apprenticeship to ask for a 272 Form from a company you worked for in first year, that company could have gone out of business and it could be impossible to get those hours documented. A good habit is to request a 272 Form immediately upon each layoff and save the forms until you are ready to apply for your license.
If you are applying for a Journeyman Electrician license, 8,000 hours are required and this is the form you need filled out: EL 272 Form
If you are applying for a Systems Technician license, 4,000 hours are required and this is the form you need filled out: TC 272 Form
If you have out of State work experience, use this form: Out-of-State Experience Form
2. Fill out the License Application Form
- Attach a recent, 2″ x 2″ photo of yourself with a plain background. You can take the photo on a smartphone.
- The Application Form will need to be notarized. There are notary public services in most banks.
- Answer all questions truthfully, particularly Questions 9 & 10, anything not disclosed that appears on your CORI check may result in your application being rejected or a lengthy delay in obtaining your license. If you have any questions on Questions 9 & 10, please speak to one of the Training Directors.
3. Obtain a copy of your high school diploma or equivalency (OR a copy of your high school transcript)
- If you can locate your High School diploma or GED, just take a photo of it.
- If you cannot locate it, ask your high school to email you a transcript, which you can use in place of a diploma.
4. Obtain a copy of your 15-Hour Code Update Certificate
- If you completed the online course, the certificate was emailed to you.
- If you completed the in-person course, click here, log in and click on “Apprentice” then “Classes” then “Academic” and click the “Print” button to download your certificate.
5. Veterans ONLY: submit a copy of discharge form (DD214 & DD215) to receive benefits of the Valor ACT and 5 points exam credits. Disregard this step if you are not a Veteran.
6. Obtain your school certificate from the JATC one of the following ways:
OPTION #1: LOG IN to your JATC account and look under the DOCUMENTS tab. Your school certificate may be there.
OPTION #2: If you would like your documents reviewed by the JATC (recommended) prior to submitting them to PSI, scan them into ONE PDF document and email to tricia@bostonjatc.org and we will reply with feedback and school certificate within approximately two weeks. Please do not email photos of your documents. Smart phones have built-in scanners. See video in Step 7.
OPTION #3: If you are declining document review by the JATC email your request for a school cert to tricia@bostonjatc.org and we will provide it within approximately two weeks.
7. Submit your application once all documents are completed and scanned into a PDF, they must be emailed to PSI at: MAELApps@PSIonline.com
- You can scan directly from your phone. Start a new email message, click in the body of the email and click the SCAN Icon, shown circled in yellow below. Have your documents stacked, moving each one aside after you scan it. The documents will automatically be attached to the email as one PDF.
- Also, iPhones have a built-in scanner in the NOTES App. See video below for how to use it. It is very easy.
8. Once you are approved to take the exam, you will receive an email from PSI with instructions on creating an account and scheduling the exam.
Important things to know:
- It can take up to 60 days to approve your application.
- If 60 days has passed since you submitted your application, we suggest emailing the following to ask for the status of your license application: Electricians.board@mass.gov, Examschedule@psionline.com and MAELApps@psionline.com
- We do NOT recommend CALLING PSI for the status of your application. We strongly suggest communicating with PSI via e-mail only.
9. Upon taking the exam, email a photo* of the license or test results to Tricia@bostonjatc.org and Homework@bostonjatc.org.
- Pay rate increases go into effect the day after you email proof of taking the exam.
- Pay increases are not retroactive back to the date of the test. See the FAQ below for further info on licensure-based raises.
*If you pass, send a photo of the license. If you do not pass, send the PSI result forms.
Place them on a flat surface to scan or photograph them. Please do not include your hands in the photo.
IMPORTANT INFO:
- PSI will charge your credit card $226 after they approve you for the exam ($276 for Master or Systems Contractor license).
- You have ONE YEAR from the date of approval to pass the exam.
- Veterans credit: Applicants who qualify as a veteran per M.G.L. c. 4, § 7, clause forty-third must submit a copy of discharge form (forms DD214 and DD215) to receive benefits of the Valor ACT and 5 points exam credits.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
How can I apply for an accommodation during the exam?
Click Here to fill out the Request for Accommodation Form and include it, along with the required supporting documentation, with your Application for Exam.
Will I get extra points on the exam for being a Veteran?
Applicants who qualify as a veteran per M.G.L. c. 4, § 7, clause forty-third must submit a copy of discharge form (forms DD214 and DD215) to receive benefits of the Valor ACT and 5 points exam credits.
How can I get study material for the exam?
Click Here to view and download the 2020 Mass Amendments
Click Here to view and download 237 Commonwealth of Mass Regulations
Click Here to view and download Mass General Laws, Chapter 141
Click Here for State licensing requirements effective February 7, 2020
Click Here for the full Candidate Information Bulletin.
I am waiting for my exam application to be approved, how can I find out the status?
- It can take up to 60 days to approve your application (and it often does take that long).
- Log into your account at www.psiexams.com. If you see “No Activity Found” that means you have not been approved yet. It does not mean that they have not received your application.
- If longer than two months has passed since you submitted your application, we suggest emailing the following to ask for the status of your license application: Electricians.board@mass.gov, Examschedule@psionline.com and MAELApps@psionline.com
- We do NOT recommend CALLING PSI for the status of your application. We strongly suggest communicating with PSI via e-mail only.
Will I get a pay raise when I get my license?
The apprentice rules and regulations state “An apprentice having served 8000 hours with the JATC Program and receiving Pay Period 8 will be advanced to Pay Period 9 only upon his/her attempting the Massachusetts State Examination for Licensure and notifying the JATC. Note: It is the apprentice’s responsibility to notify the JATC of having taken the Massachusetts State Examination for Licensure. An apprentice will advance to Step 9 if the JATC determines the apprentice provided satisfactory evidence that he/she attempted the exam. Pay Period 9 will go into effect the day after the JATC is provided satisfactory evidence. An apprentice having obtained Pay Period 9 and a Massachusetts State License by July 1st of their fifth year shall be advanced to Pay Period 10.” All apprentices are responsible for emailing the JATC office upon obtaining their license.
How long do I have to take the license exam and what is the process if I fail multiple times?
You cannot take the license exam more than three times unless you “furnish documentary proof of having reviewed and addressed their deficiencies with a board approved provider.” See 237 CMR section 14.02 (3) (d) below. The JATC will not provide you with the 15-hour letter for re-examination unless you attend 15 hours of additional classes (contact JATC office for more information).
Click here to read 237 CMR 14.02.