If you hold a Massachusetts electrical license, you may already know about the required 15-hour electrical code update. What sometimes causes confusion is the other part of the continuing education requirement: six hours of professional development.

What can you use those six hours for? Do they have to cover the National Electrical Code? Does the course have to come from a Board-approved electrical continuing education provider?

Massachusetts gives electricians considerably more flexibility with professional development than with the mandatory 15-hour code-update portion. However, the subject matter and documentation still need to satisfy state requirements.

Here is what Massachusetts electricians should know before choosing a professional-development course.

Massachusetts Electrician Continuing Education: The 15 + 6 Requirement

Under 237 CMR 17.01, Massachusetts continuing education requirements, licensees generally must complete 21 clock hours of continuing education during the three-year period before license renewal.

Those 21 hours are divided into two components:

15 hours of mandatory continuing education, focused primarily on the Massachusetts Electrical Code, applicable laws and regulations, and related subjects.
6 hours of professional development, selected by the licensee from qualifying subject areas.

The Massachusetts Board also maintains information about continuing education providers for electricians and the requirements that apply to the mandatory portion of electrical continuing education.

The important distinction is that the six professional-development hours are not simply another six hours of the mandatory code-update class.

They are intended to give electricians an opportunity to develop knowledge in other areas relevant to electrical work and professional practice.

What Subjects Count Toward the 6 Professional Development Hours?

Massachusetts regulations specifically identify the following subject areas for professional development:

Electrical Code
Business
Law
First aid
Safety
Building Code
Related topics

The wording of the regulation is intentionally broader than the requirements for the 15-hour mandatory course. It states that the six hours may be in areas chosen by the licensee for professional development within those subject areas.

Here is what those categories can mean in practice.

Electrical Code

Professional-development hours can include additional education related to electrical codes.

For example, an electrician may want additional training concerning subjects such as:

Grounding and bonding
Electrical system design
Overcurrent protection
Electrical installations
Code application in specialized environments
Changes affecting particular types of electrical work

These hours are separate from the mandatory 15-hour code-update requirement, so completing six additional hours of code-related professional development does not replace the required 15-hour course.

Massachusetts currently uses the 2026 National Electrical Code with Massachusetts amendments under 527 CMR 12.00. The current Massachusetts Electrical Code became effective April 24, 2026. Electricians can review the state’s Massachusetts Electrical Code information for the current version and amendments.

Electrical Safety

Safety is specifically listed as an acceptable professional-development subject.

Depending on the course, relevant topics could include areas such as:

Electrical shock prevention
Arc-flash hazards
Personal protective equipment
Safe electrical work practices
Lockout/tagout practices
Hazard recognition
Ground-fault protection
Working around energized equipment

Safety education can be particularly useful because electrical hazards extend beyond code compliance. OSHA identifies electric shock, electrocution, fires and explosions among the hazards addressed by its electrical safety standards.

Electricians and employers looking for additional safety information can review OSHA’s electrical safety resources. These OSHA resources are useful references, although simply reading an OSHA webpage should not be confused with completing documented professional-development hours.

First Aid and Emergency Response

First aid is another subject specifically included in 237 CMR 17.01.

Depending on the training and how it is documented, professional-development education may address topics such as:

First aid
CPR
Responding to electrical shock
Emergency procedures
AED awareness

This is particularly relevant in electrical occupations because serious electrical incidents may require an immediate response.

For example, OSHA has specific first-aid requirements for certain electrical power work involving employees exposed to energized lines or equipment. OSHA also provides detailed information about first aid and electrical work.

Again, electricians should distinguish between a helpful safety resource and a course that provides appropriate documentation for professional-development credit.

Business

Professional development does not have to be strictly technical.

Business is expressly included in the Massachusetts regulation, making this area particularly relevant for Master Electricians, contractors and electricians preparing to operate their own businesses.

Depending on the specific course, business-related professional development might address subjects such as:

Electrical project estimating
Running an electrical contracting business
Project management
Business operations
Contracts and documentation
Customer and project management
Job costing

For an electrician who already spends significant time studying code changes, business-focused professional development can provide an opportunity to use the six hours to strengthen another part of their professional practice.

Law

Massachusetts also allows professional development in law.

Electrical work is affected by more than the NEC. Licensed electricians operate within a regulatory environment involving licensing requirements, permits, contracts, workplace requirements and other state and local rules.

Relevant education could therefore address laws and regulations connected with professional electrical practice.

For questions involving the electrical license itself, the Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Electricians should remain the primary source for current licensing regulations, Board policies and official guidance.

Massachusetts Building Code

The Building Code is specifically identified as another professional-development category.

Electrical contractors regularly work on projects where electrical requirements must coordinate with other building requirements. Additional education concerning the Massachusetts Building Code can therefore be relevant professional development.

The Commonwealth publishes the Massachusetts State Building Code, 780 CMR, including information about the model codes and Massachusetts amendments currently in effect.

Does the 6-Hour Professional Development Course Have to Be Board Approved?

This is one of the biggest differences between the two parts of Massachusetts electrician continuing education.

The 15-hour mandatory continuing education course must be provided in an area of study approved by the Board, and the licensee is responsible for making sure the provider is approved.

For the six professional-development hours, however, 237 CMR 17.01 states that the instruction does not need to be offered by a Board-approved provider.

That gives electricians more freedom when selecting professional-development education.

There is an important catch:

You are responsible for having the proper documentation.

What Documentation Do You Need for Professional Development?

Massachusetts regulations establish specific documentation requirements for professional-development courses.

Under 237 CMR 17.02, professional-development sponsors are generally not approved by the Board in the same way as mandatory continuing education providers. As a result, the electrician is responsible for obtaining a certificate of completion.

The professional-development certificate should identify:

The subject matter
The date of the course
The number of hours completed
The course sponsor
The speaker or instructor
The attendee

This is an important detail if you plan to use professional training obtained somewhere other than your regular electrical continuing education provider.

A class may cover a perfectly relevant subject, but if you cannot document what you completed, when you completed it and how many hours it represented, proving the credit later may become difficult.

How Long Should Electricians Keep Their Certificates?

Massachusetts regulations require licensees to retain documentation of their six hours of professional development for 10 years and provide it to the Board if requested.

Even when a course provider reports completion electronically, keeping your own records is a good practice.

Save a copy of the certificate somewhere you can access well beyond the current renewal cycle.

Can You Take All 21 Hours Through One Course?

Yes. Electricians do not necessarily have to find a separate provider for the six professional-development hours.

For many licensees, completing the 15-hour code update and six professional-development hours together is the simpler option.

MEP Con Ed offers Massachusetts electrician continuing education for the current code cycle, including a 21-hour option that combines the mandatory 15-hour NEC Code Update with six hours of professional development.

Taking the requirements together can make it easier to keep track of course completion and avoid reaching the renewal deadline only to discover that the six professional-development hours are still outstanding.

Electricians who have already completed qualifying professional-development education may instead need only the 15-hour mandatory code update.

What Does Not Automatically Count as Professional Development?

The flexibility of the six-hour requirement can create some misunderstandings.

A training course should not be assumed to count simply because it is work-related.

For example:

Attending an ordinary company meeting is not automatically professional development.
Watching an electrical safety video on your own does not automatically create CE credit.
Reading OSHA guidance does not by itself constitute a documented six-hour course.
Taking unrelated general business training should not automatically be assumed to qualify.
Working six hours on a difficult electrical project is professional experience, but it is not the same as completing six hours of continuing education.

The subject matter needs to fit within the professional-development categories and the licensee needs appropriate documentation of the education completed.

What If You Already Completed the 15-Hour Code Update?

If you have completed the mandatory 15-hour Massachusetts electrical code-update course but have not completed your professional-development requirement, you still need the remaining six hours before satisfying the normal 21-hour continuing education requirement.

Conversely, if you already completed qualifying six-hour professional development during the current cycle, you generally do not need to repeat it simply because you are enrolling in the 15-hour code update.

Keep the certificate showing completion of the professional-development portion.

What About Inspectors of Wires?

Inspectors of Wires have additional requirements and should not assume the standard 21-hour requirement is their entire obligation.

Under 237 CMR 17.01, an Inspector of Wires appointed under M.G.L. c. 166, §32 must complete an additional six hours of Board-approved continuing education during each license cycle, bringing the total to 27 hours.

The Massachusetts Board publishes separate guidance concerning the professional-development curriculum for Inspectors of Wires, so inspectors should follow the requirements applicable specifically to their appointments.

When Is the Next Massachusetts Electrical License Renewal?

Massachusetts electrical licenses follow a three-year renewal cycle, with licenses expiring on July 31 of the applicable renewal year. The Commonwealth generally begins the renewal process approximately 60 to 90 days before expiration.

The current continuing-education guidance is for the 2026–2028 code cycle.

Electricians should not wait until the final weeks of the cycle to determine whether they have completed both parts of their continuing education.

You can review the Commonwealth’s instructions to renew an electrician, systems technician or systems contractor license for current renewal information.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I take for my 6-hour Massachusetts electrician professional development requirement?

Massachusetts identifies Electrical Code, business, law, first aid, safety, Building Code and related topics as qualifying areas for professional development.

Is the 6-hour professional development course the same as the 15-hour code update?

No. They are separate components of the normal 21-hour continuing education requirement. The mandatory portion consists of 15 hours, while an additional six hours are devoted to professional development.

Does my professional development provider have to be approved by the Massachusetts Electrical Board?

Not necessarily. Massachusetts regulations state that the six hours of professional-development instruction do not have to be offered by a Board-approved provider. You are responsible, however, for obtaining the required certificate of completion.

Can safety training count toward the six hours?

Safety is specifically listed as an eligible professional-development subject. The training should meet the applicable requirements and provide documentation showing the subject, date, hours, sponsor, instructor or speaker and attendee.

Can first-aid or CPR training count?

First aid is specifically identified as a professional-development subject under 237 CMR 17.01. Before relying on a specific course for credit, make sure the program is appropriate and provides the documentation required by Massachusetts regulations.

Do I have to take all six professional-development hours at once?

The regulation requires six clock hours during the applicable cycle. If you plan to combine different professional-development programs to reach the required hours, make sure each course is appropriate and that you retain documentation for all of them.

How long should I keep my professional-development certificate?

Massachusetts regulations require licensees to retain professional-development documentation for 10 years and provide it to the Board if requested.

Complete the Right Continuing Education for Your Massachusetts Electrical License

The six hours of professional development give Massachusetts electricians an opportunity to go beyond the mandatory code update and focus on subjects that can be useful in everyday professional practice.

Electrical safety, first aid, business, law, Building Code and additional electrical-code education can all fall within the areas recognized by Massachusetts regulations.

The key is to choose relevant education and make sure you have documentation showing what you completed.

If you still need both portions of your continuing education requirement, review MEP Con Ed’s Massachusetts electrician continuing education options for the current code cycle, including the complete 21-hour course with professional development.

Licensing requirements can change. Electricians should confirm current requirements with the Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Electricians before renewal.

What Counts as the 6 Hours of Professional Development for Massachusetts Electricians?

Massachusetts Electrician Continuing Education: The 15 + 6 Requirement