Virginia Master Electrician Exam Guide
The Virginia Master Electrician exam is the examination for individuals seeking a Master Electrician license in Virginia.
The exam covers electrical knowledge, the National Electrical Code (NEC), electrical safety, and Virginia's regulations for licensed tradesmen. It is an open-book examination, so preparing isn't only about memorizing electrical concepts. You'll also want to become familiar with your approved reference materials and know how to navigate them efficiently during the exam. This guide focuses specifically on the Master Electrician exam.
Master Electrician Exam at a Glance
According to the current Virginia Individual License and Certification Candidate Information Bulletin (CIB), the Master Electrician examination includes:
90 scored questions
270 minutes
63 correct answers required to pass
Open-book format
Before you can take the Master Electrician exam, your license application must be approved by DPOR. Once you receive approval from the Board, you can contact PSI to schedule your exam.
What's on the Virginia Master Electrician Exam?
The Master Electrician exam covers both Virginia tradesman regulations and technical electrical knowledge.
The current PSI exam outline includes:
Standards of Practice — 3 questions
Standards of Conduct — 2 questions
Renewal and Reinstatement — 2 questions
Definitions — 1 question
Qualification for Licensure — 1 question
Revocation of Licensure — 1 question
General Electrical Knowledge — 4 questions
Requirements for Electrical Installations — 3 questions
Electrical-Electronic Fundamentals — 5 questions
Branch Circuits — 7 questions
Service and Feeders — 8 questions
Grounding and Bonding — 8 questions
Conductors and Cables — 7 questions
Raceways and Boxes — 7 questions
Special Occupancies — 4 questions
Special Equipment — 2 questions
Electrical Signs and Outline Lighting — 2 questions
Motors and Controls — 8 questions
Utilization Equipment — 5 questions
Lighting — 2 questions
General Low Voltage Requirements — 1 question
Communication Systems — 1 question
Fire Detection and Alarm Systems — 2 questions
Safety — 4 questions
PSI recommends using the published content outline as the basis for your study and becoming familiar with every topic before scheduling the exam.
Virginia Master Electrician exam content outline showing the number of questions included in each electrical and regulatory subject area.
What Books Are Used for the Virginia Master Electrician Exam?
The current CIB lists three primary references for the electrician examination:
Virginia Board for Contractors Individual License and Certification Regulations
NFPA 70: National Electrical Code (NEC), 2020 Edition
NFPA 70E: Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace
The Virginia regulations are listed as a regulatory reference for all tradesman examinations, while the NEC and NFPA 70E are specifically listed for electrician examinations.
One important detail is the code year. The current CIB lists the 2020 National Electrical Code. PSI says candidates may use other editions of references and code books as they become available, but questions involving a code are based on the specific code edition listed in the CIB.
That means you should never assume an exam uses the newest NEC simply because a newer edition has been published. Always check the current CIB for the code year being tested.
Understanding the Open-Book Format
The Virginia Master Electrician exam is open book, and you must bring your own approved reference materials. PSI does not provide the references at the testing site.
You can prepare your references before the exam using:
Permanent tabs
Highlighting
Underlining
Indexing
However, PSI does not allow writing in the reference materials. Removable tabs, loose papers, and unbound references are also prohibited. If you download a reference from the internet, PSI says it must be spiral bound, hole-punched and placed in a binder, or stapled in the left-hand corner.
Because you're working with large technical references like the NEC, knowing where information is located can be just as important as understanding the material itself. Preparing and becoming familiar with your references ahead of time can help you use the open-book format more effectively.
Virginia Requirements Take Priority
There is an important rule in the CIB that applies when two references appear to provide different answers.
If conflicting information could result in different answers to an exam question, a legal requirement—such as a code, law, or regulation—overrides another type of reference.
If two legal requirements appear to conflict, the Virginia-specific code, law, or regulation takes priority over the national requirement.
PSI also states that information from sources on the official exam reference list takes precedence over information obtained from other sources or individuals.
This is an important rule to keep in mind whenever you're using national electrical references alongside Virginia-specific regulations.
Experimental Questions
In addition to the scored questions, PSI examinations may include experimental questions that are being evaluated for possible use on future exams. These questions do not count toward your score, and candidates are not told which questions are experimental. Because you won't know which questions are scored and which are experimental, answer every question to the best of your ability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Master Electrician exam harder than the Journeyman Electrician exam?
The Master examination is larger. The current Journeyman Electrician exam contains 70 scored questions in 210 minutes, while the Master Electrician exam contains 90 scored questions in 270 minutes. The Master outline also assigns additional questions to several technical subject areas, including branch circuits, services and feeders, grounding and bonding, motors and controls, and electrical-electronic fundamentals.
Do I have to become a Journeyman Electrician before taking the Master Electrician exam?
Not necessarily. Virginia provides more than one pathway for meeting the experience requirements for Master licensure, including a pathway based on practical experience without first holding a Journeyman license. The eligibility requirements are separate from the examination itself.
Can I use the newest NEC on the Virginia Master Electrician exam?
PSI allows candidates to use editions of references and code books as they become available, but code questions are based on the edition specifically listed in the CIB. The current CIB lists the 2020 NEC for the electrician examination. For that reason, it's important to check the current CIB rather than assuming the newest published NEC is the code being tested.
Are the Virginia tradesman regulations actually tested?
Yes. The first portion of the Master Electrician content outline includes questions covering Standards of Practice, Standards of Conduct, Renewal and Reinstatement, Definitions, Qualification for Licensure, and Revocation of Licensure.
What happens if I fail the Master Electrician exam?
PSI says you cannot schedule another examination appointment on the same day you test. Depending on appointment availability, an unsuccessful candidate may be able to retest within two business days.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
One of the easiest mistakes to make is assuming that years of electrical experience mean you won't need to spend much time preparing for an open-book exam. The Master Electrician examination covers a broad range of topics, and the content outline tells you exactly how those questions are distributed.
Before exam day, make sure you:
Check the current CIB rather than relying on an old reference list.
Verify the code edition being tested.
Become familiar with the organization of your NEC and other references.
Prepare your books using only PSI-approved highlighting, indexing, and permanent tabs.
Don't add handwritten notes to your references.
Don't overlook the Virginia regulations simply because most of the exam is technical.
Remember that Virginia-specific legal requirements take priority when applicable.
Official Exam Information
The Virginia Individual License and Certification Candidate Information Bulletin is the best place to verify the current exam outline, reference materials, fees, testing policies, and other examination information before you test.
Current Virginia Tradesmen Candidate Information Bulletin (PSI)
For licensing forms, education information, experience verification, and other Virginia requirements, use the Virginia DPOR Tradesmen page.
