This free Maryland electrician practice test has five 2020 NEC questions, the only reference PSI's Maryland bulletin allows in the exam room. The master exam is 90 questions in 240 minutes (70% to pass), and the journeyperson exam is 70 questions in 210 minutes (49 right to pass). Answer with your code book open, then check the key below.
| Quick facts | Maryland electrician exams |
|---|---|
| Who licenses you | The State Board of Master Electricians, part of the Maryland Department of Labor |
| Test company | PSI, at test centers |
| Master | 90 questions, 240 minutes, 70% to pass |
| Journeyperson | 70 questions, 210 minutes, 49 to pass |
| Book | 2020 NEC only. You bring it, and it can be tabbed and highlighted but not written in. |
Maryland master electrician practice test: 5 questions
Question 1: Services
Overhead 120/240-volt service conductors cross a residential driveway. What is the minimum clearance above final grade?
- 10 feet
- 12 feet
- 15 feet
- 18 feet
Question 2: Motors
A 10 hp, 230-volt, single-phase motor runs in continuous duty. What is the minimum ampacity for its branch-circuit conductors?
- 50 amps
- 57.5 amps
- 62.5 amps
- 68.75 amps
Question 3: Grounding electrodes
A dwelling service uses two ground rods because one rod alone doesn't meet the code. What is the minimum distance between the rods?
- 4 feet
- 6 feet
- 8 feet
- 10 feet
Question 4: Luminaires
A homeowner wants a chain-hung pendant above a bathtub. The code bans it within 3 feet horizontally of the tub. How high above the tub rim does that zone reach?
- 6 feet
- 7 feet
- 8 feet
- 10 feet
Question 5: Branch circuits
In a dwelling, the receptacle outlets in the bathrooms must be supplied by at least one branch circuit of what rating?
- 15 amps
- 20 amps
- 30 amps
- 15 or 20 amps
Booked your PSI exam? JCR's Maryland courses follow the 2020 NEC, the one book PSI lets you bring.
Each costs $495 and includes 100 video lessons, a 152-page workbook, a 500+ question mock exam and permanent tabs for your code book.
Maryland electrician practice test answers
Choose all five answers first. Then open each one to check.
Show the answer to question 1Hide the answer to question 1
1. B, 12 feet (NEC 230.24(B)(2))
Overhead service conductors need 12 feet over residential property and driveways when the voltage is 300 volts or less to ground. A 120/240-volt service is 120 volts to ground. Over public streets, alleys and parking areas with truck traffic, it's 18 feet.
Show the answer to question 2Hide the answer to question 2
2. C, 62.5 amps (NEC Table 430.248 and 430.22)
Use the table current, not the nameplate. Table 430.248 lists 50 amps for a 10 hp, 230-volt single-phase motor. Section 430.22 requires 125% of that: 50 × 1.25 = 62.5 amps. The 57.5-amp choice is the table value for a 200-volt motor.
Show the answer to question 3Hide the answer to question 3
3. B, 6 feet (NEC 250.53(A)(3))
When more than one rod, pipe or plate electrode is used, they must be at least 6 feet apart. A single rod needs a supplemental electrode unless it has 25 ohms or less resistance to earth (250.53(A)(2)).
Show the answer to question 4Hide the answer to question 4
4. C, 8 feet (NEC 410.10(D)(1))
The zone runs 3 feet out horizontally and 8 feet up from the top of the tub rim or shower threshold. It includes the space right over the tub. Cord-connected luminaires, chain-hung or pendant luminaires, lighting track and paddle fans can't be in it.
Show the answer to question 5Hide the answer to question 5
5. B, 20 amps (NEC 210.11(C)(3))
At least one 120-volt, 20-amp branch circuit must supply the bathroom receptacle outlets, and that circuit can have no other outlets. If it serves a single bathroom, it may also supply other equipment in that same bathroom.
How to study for the Maryland electrical exam
- Pace at about 2½ minutes a question on the master exam and 3 minutes on the journeyperson.
- Drill calculations. PSI's bulletin puts 30 of the master exam's 100 points on calculations.
- Tab and highlight now. Permanent tabs and highlighting are fine. Anything written in the book is not.
- Plan 6–8 weeks, about an hour a night, and finish with timed mock exams.
See the full format, fees and retake rules in the Maryland electrician exam guide.
Maryland electrician practice test FAQ
What book can I bring to the Maryland master electrician exam?
Only the 2020 NEC. PSI doesn't allow study guides or loose papers.
Do I need a calculator for the Maryland exam?
PSI gives you an on-screen calculator, per its Maryland bulletin.
Are these questions from the real PSI exam?
No. They are JCR mock exam questions written on the 2020 NEC to match the style of license exams.
Prepare for Maryland's 2020 NEC exam
JCR's Maryland Master and Journeyperson courses follow the 2020 NEC on PSI's exams. Each costs $495 for video lessons, digital practice exams and the JCR workbook.
Videos and practice exams open at checkout, and the workbook ships the same business day. Taking the 70-question test? Use the Maryland Journeyperson course.
Get the Maryland Master course — $495
Want more practice? Try 25 free NEC practice questions.
More Maryland guides
Sources JCR checked
- PSI Maryland Board of Master Electricians candidate bulletin
- Maryland State Board of Master Electricians
- NFPA 70, 2020 edition: 210.11(C)(3), 230.24(B)(2), 250.53(A), 410.10(D), 430.22, Table 430.248
JCR checked each answer against the 2020 NEC and the exam format against PSI's Maryland bulletin on October 21, 2026.