The master electrician exam is the license test for the top individual electrician license. It's an open-book test on the National Electrical Code (NEC). On the exams JCR checked, it runs 80 to 126 questions, and you need 70% or 75% to pass. Your state's candidate bulletin lists the exact rules. Try the 6 master-level practice questions below.
| Quick facts | Master electrician exam |
|---|---|
| Who gives it | A testing company your state hires, such as PSI or Prov. Each posts a candidate bulletin with the rules. |
| Open book | Yes, on every exam JCR checked. You look up answers in the code book during the test. |
| Questions | 80 to 126, mostly on NEC topics |
| Passing score | 70% on most exams JCR checked. Some need 75%. |
| Code book | The 2020 NEC on every exam JCR checked. A few also accept the 2023. |
| JCR prep | The $495 self-study for your state's exam. JCR exam prep covers 14+ states. Pick your state's package. |
Master electrician exam by state
Each state links its licensing board. The last column links the current bulletin.
| State | Vendor | Questions | Time | To pass | NEC edition | Bulletin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Master Electrician | PSI | 90 questions | 270 minutes | 63 correct to pass (70%) | 2020 NEC, plus NFPA 70E (safety) | Virginia PSI bulletin |
| Maryland Master Electrician | PSI | 90 questions (100 points) | 240 minutes | 70% to pass | 2020 NEC, the only book allowed | Maryland PSI bulletin |
| Mississippi Master Electrician | PSI | 80 questions | 3 hours | 70% to pass | 2020 NEC | Mississippi PSI bulletin |
| Montana Master Electrician | PSI | 80 questions | 240 minutes | 75% to pass | 2020 NEC | Montana PSI bulletin |
| Idaho Master Electrician | PSI | 100 questions | 270 minutes | 75% to pass | 2020 or 2023 NEC | Idaho PSI bulletin |
| Washington Master Electrician (01 General) | PSI | NEC and theory: 80. Washington codes: 20. Load calculations: 10. | 4 hours, 1 hour and 2 hours | 70% to pass | 2020 NEC | Washington PSI bulletin |
| Delaware Master Electrician | Prov | 80 questions | 180 minutes | 75% to pass | 2020 NEC | Delaware Prov bulletin |
| New Hampshire Master Electrician 2020 | Prov | 126 questions | 300 minutes | 70% to pass | 2020 NEC | New Hampshire Prov bulletin |
- Mississippi also lets master candidates take the NASCLA electrical contractor exam instead: 100 questions, 270 minutes, 75% to pass, 2020 or 2023 NEC. See JCR's NASCLA exam guide.
- ICC exam: the International Code Council also offers a national T16 Master Electrician exam: 100 open-book questions in 5 hours on the 2020 NEC, per its bulletin. Testing in Memphis or Shelby County? See the Memphis/Shelby guide.
Studying for your electrical exam? Each $495 JCR package pairs a 152-page study manual with 100 video lessons, 500+ printed and digital practice questions and permanent code tabs. Start the videos as soon as you check out.
Testing in North Carolina? Take JCR's NC exam prep class: two full days in person ($845) in Raleigh, Asheville, Mooresville (Charlotte area) or Winston-Salem, or live on Zoom on Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings. 93% pass rate for JCR classroom students.
Who can take a master electrician exam?
Usually a journeyman with years of experience. You need the state's approval before you can book the test. Two examples:
- Virginia: 1 year holding a journeyman license, or 9 years of practical experience (18VAC50-30-39).
- Maryland: 7 years providing electrical services under a master electrician. Formal training can count for up to 3 of those years.
Other states: see JCR's state requirements.
How hard is the master electrician exam?
It's longer than the journeyman test and leans harder on services, feeders and motors:
- More questions. Virginia's master exam has 90 questions in 270 minutes. Its journeyman exam has 70 in 210.
- More services, feeders and motors. Virginia's master outline has 8 questions each on services and feeders, grounding and bonding, and motors. The journeyman outline has 5, 6 and 5.
- Calculation sections. Washington adds a 2-hour section of 10 major load calculations. Maryland counts ten theory questions at 2 points each.
More on Virginia: Virginia master electrician exam and journeyman test.
Master electrician practice test: 6 questions
Use a 2020 NEC for these. Each answer names the section it comes from.
Question 1: Office lighting load
A one-story office building measures 100 ft by 120 ft, outside dimensions. What is its minimum general lighting load?
- 15,600 VA
- 19,500 VA
- 36,000 VA
- 42,000 VA
Show the answerHide the answer
Answer: A, 15,600 VA. Section 220.11 uses outside dimensions: 100 × 120 = 12,000 sq ft. Table 220.12 lists offices at 1.3 VA per sq ft: 12,000 × 1.3 = 15,600 VA. A note under the table says the 125% continuous-load multiplier is already included, so 19,500 VA counts it twice.
Question 2: Transformer primary protection
A 75 kVA, three-phase transformer has a 480-volt primary and overcurrent protection on the primary side only. What is the largest standard-size breaker allowed on the primary?
- 100 amps
- 110 amps
- 125 amps
- 150 amps
Show the answerHide the answer
Answer: C, 125 amps. Primary current is 75,000 ÷ (480 × 1.732) = 90.2 amps. Table 450.3(B) allows 125% for primary-only protection at 9 amps or more: 90.2 × 1.25 = 112.8 amps. Note 1 allows the next higher standard rating, and Table 240.6(A) goes from 110 to 125.
Question 3: Feeder neutral
A 208Y/120-volt, 3-phase, 4-wire feeder has a calculated maximum unbalanced neutral load of 350 amps. None of it is nonlinear load. What neutral load may you use to size the neutral?
- 245 amps
- 280 amps
- 305 amps
- 350 amps
Show the answerHide the answer
Answer: C, 305 amps. Section 220.61(B)(2) allows a 70% demand factor on the part of the unbalanced load over 200 amps on a 4-wire, 3-phase system: 200 + (150 × 0.70) = 305 amps. Section 220.61(C)(2) bars the reduction for nonlinear loads on a 4-wire wye system, and this load has none.
Question 4: Commercial kitchen load
A restaurant has six thermostatically controlled commercial kitchen units rated 15, 12, 10, 9, 8 and 6 kW, for 60 kW total. What is their demand load on the feeder?
- 27 kW
- 39 kW
- 42 kW
- 60 kW
Show the answerHide the answer
Answer: B, 39 kW. Table 220.56 gives a 65% demand factor for 6 or more units: 60 × 0.65 = 39 kW. Section 220.56 also says the load can't be less than the two largest units, 15 + 12 = 27 kW, so 39 kW stands.
Question 5: Feeder with continuous load
A feeder serves 120 amps of continuous load and 40 amps of noncontinuous load. Its breaker is not listed for 100% operation. What minimum conductor ampacity does 215.2(A)(1) require?
- 160 amps
- 175 amps
- 190 amps
- 200 amps
Show the answerHide the answer
Answer: C, 190 amps. Add the noncontinuous load to 125% of the continuous load: 40 + (120 × 1.25) = 190 amps. Exception No. 1 allows 160 amps only when the assembly and its overcurrent devices are listed for 100% operation.
Question 6: Optional dwelling calculation
A house has a single 120/240-volt, 3-wire service. Its general loads under 220.82(B) total 40,000 VA. The only heating or cooling load is a 5,000 VA air conditioner. The heat is gas. Using the optional method, what is the service load?
- 112.5 amps
- 125 amps
- 166.7 amps
- 187.5 amps
Show the answerHide the answer
Answer: A, 112.5 amps. Section 220.82(B) takes the first 10,000 VA at 100% and the remaining 30,000 VA at 40%: 10,000 + 12,000 = 22,000 VA. Section 220.82(C)(1) adds 100% of the air conditioner: 27,000 VA. Divide by 240 volts: 112.5 amps.
For more practice, try JCR's free 25-question NEC mock exam or the 2020 NEC practice test.
Master electrician exam: common questions
Is the master electrician exam open book?
Yes, in all eight states in the table. You use the NEC during the test, so practice fast lookups.
How many questions are on the master electrician exam?
Delaware, Mississippi and Montana have 80. Virginia and Maryland have 90. Idaho has 100. New Hampshire has 126. Washington splits 110 questions into three sections.
What score do you need to pass the master electrician exam?
70% in Virginia, Maryland, Mississippi, Washington and New Hampshire. Montana, Idaho and Delaware require 75%.
Can I use the 2023 NEC on a master electrician exam?
Only if your bulletin lists it. Idaho accepts the 2020 or 2023, as does Mississippi's NASCLA option. The other exams here test the 2020.
How do I prepare for the master electrician exam?
Study the NEC edition your bulletin lists and practice the topics in its content outline. JCR's $495 master packages include a 152-page manual with a six-week plan, 100 video lessons and 500+ practice questions.
Master electrician exam prep with JCR
Every JCR master package matches its state's exam and NEC edition. Your printed manual ships the same business day, and the 21 hours of video and online practice exams open at checkout.
Choose your master exam package — $495
Need the book? Get the 2020 NEC softbound.
Master exam prep by state
Pick the package for the state where you're testing:
Other states and exams: see all JCR exam prep.
Related guides: Journeyman electrician exam · NEC adoption by state · NEC tabs and exam rules · Electrician license reciprocity by state
Sources
- PSI: Virginia bulletin
- PSI: Maryland bulletin
- PSI: Mississippi bulletin
- PSI: Montana bulletin
- PSI: Idaho bulletin
- PSI: Washington bulletin
- Prov: Delaware bulletin
- Prov: New Hampshire bulletin
- ICC: National Contractor/Trades bulletin
- 18VAC50-30-39: Virginia exam qualifications
- NFPA 70, National Electrical Code, 2020 edition: 215.2(A)(1), 220.11, Table 220.12, 220.56, Table 220.56, 220.61(B)(2), 220.61(C)(2), 220.82, Table 240.6(A), Table 450.3(B)
JCR checked every bulletin and NEC section above on October 21, 2026.