Preparing for the Master Electrician Exam in Your Jurisdiction ⋆ Electrician Classes

In becoming a licensed master electrician, you need to meet the following:

Successfully pass the master electrician exam
Meet the required journeyman electrician experience requirements of the licensing board

On this page, we will tackle the master electrician exam and the relevant information that you need to know.

What local, national, and international codes are used as the basis for the exam in your jurisdiction
Exam preparation resources through third-party exam prep services
Master electrician exam requirements in your state and local jurisdiction
Master electrician license reciprocity with neighboring states

Electrical Codes Referenced for the Master Electrician Exam

The basis for standards and regulations for electrical work nationwide is the National Electrical Code (NEC) of the National Fire Protection Association.

And so, most states and local jurisdictions will cover NEC as one of the main contents of the master electrician exam.

Of course, each jurisdiction determines the content of the exam on its own, or whether the exam is necessary.

However, it’s ultimately the local jurisdictions that will make the final decisions on the exam content.

They can add, remove, and modify the code adopted at the state level.

Other electrical codes they will use to make the exam content include the following:

International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)
International Code Council (ICC)
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
National Electrical Safety Code (NESC)
International Fire Code (IFC)
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
International Building Code (IBC)

And since master electricians can become contractors, they may also include the state code in the exam, such as:

Contractor regulations
Insurance requirements
State and city business laws
Bidding regulations and practices

Third-Party Master Electrician Exam Preparation Services

In preparing for the master electrician exam, you may do self-study or, the more convenient third-party exam preparation services.

Here are some helpful resources that can help you recall, assess, and validate your knowledge and ability:

Mike Holt Training – Electrical Exam Preparation
Master Electrician License Preparation on Youtube hosted by Salvatore Ferrara of the Electrical Training Center
Master Electrician Test Review through Test Prep Review
Master Electrician Practice Test from Tests.com
Master Electrical Exam DVD Series from Tom Henry’s Code Electrical Classes Inc.

State-by-State Master Electrician Exam Content

The NECA (National Electrical Contractors Association) provides the state exam and code standards.

While a particular code, such as the NEC, can be adopted by states, local jurisdictions can make replacements, modifications, or omissions to it.

In the list below, you will find…

The content for the master electrician (or equivalent) exam by state
International and national codes that the licensing boards use in the questions
Which states recognize reciprocity

Alabama

Only electrical contractor licenses are issued, with the exam based on the NEC, IBC, and IFC
Reciprocity with Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia

Alaska

Only journeyman, residential electrician, and contractor licenses are issued, with the exam based on the NEC and NESC
Reciprocity with Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming

Arizona

Only electrical contractor licenses are issued, with the exam based on the NEC
Reciprocity with California, Nevada, and Utah

Arkansas

Must pass the master electrician exam with contents based on the NEC
Reciprocity with Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee

California

Only general electrician and contractor licenses are issued, with the exam based on the following:
- CA Electrical Code (based on the NEC)
- CA Fire Code (based on the IFC)
- CA Building Code (based on the IBC)
Reciprocity with Arizona, Nevada, and Utah

Colorado

Must pass the master electrician exam with contents based on the NEC
Reciprocity with Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming

Connecticut

Must pass the master electrician exam with contents based on the following:
- CT Consumer Protection Department
- CT Electrical Board of Occupational Licensing
No reciprocity

Delaware

Must pass the general and limited master electrician exams with contents based on the NEC
Reciprocity with Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, and Wyoming

District of Columbia

Must pass the master electrician exam with contents based on the NEC
No reciprocity

Florida

Must pass the master electrician exam with contents based on the NEC
Reciprocity with Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina

Georgia

Only electrician journeyman and contractor licenses are issued, with no exam required
Reciprocity with Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina

Hawaii

Must pass the master electrician exam with contents based on the NEC
No reciprocity

Idaho

Must pass the master electrician exam with contents based on the NEC
Reciprocity with Alaska, Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming

Illinois

Some local jurisdictions require passing the master electrician exam with contents based on the NEC
No reciprocity

Indiana

Some local jurisdictions require passing the master electrician exam with contents based on the NEC
No reciprocity

Iowa

Some local jurisdictions require passing the master electrician exam with contents based on the NEC and IBC
No reciprocity

Kansas

Some local jurisdictions require passing the master electrician exam (passing the Block and Associates master electrician exam results in statewide eligibility for a master license)
Exam contents based on the KS Fire Prevention Code, with state-owned buildings subject to the NEC standards
No reciprocity

Kentucky

Must pass the master electrician exam with contents based on the NEC
Reciprocity with Ohio

Louisiana

Must pass the master electrician 701 exam with contents based on the NEC
Reciprocity with Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah

Maine

Must pass the open-book master electrician exam with contents based on the NEC
Reciprocity with Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Oregon, and Vermont

Maryland

Must pass the master electrician exam with contents based on the following:
- MD Building Performance Standards
- MD Building Rehabilitation Code
Reciprocity with Delaware and Virginia

Massachusetts

Must pass the master electrician exam with contents based on the MA Electrical Code
Reciprocity with Maine, New Hampshire, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington

Michigan

Must pass the master electrician exam with contents based on the MI Electrical Code
No reciprocity

Minnesota

Must pass the master electrician – “A” exam with contents based on the NEC, NESC, and the MN State Building Code
Reciprocity with Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming

Mississippi

Some local jurisdictions require passing the master electrician exam with no statewide adopted code
Reciprocity with Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Tennessee

Missouri

Some local jurisdictions require passing the master electrician exam with contents based on the local code standards adopted from the NEC
No reciprocity

Montana

Must pass the master electrician exam with contents based on the NEC
Reciprocity with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming

Nebraska

Must pass the master electrician exam with contents based on the NEC
Reciprocity with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming

Nevada

Must pass the master electrician exam with contents based on the NEC
No reciprocity

New Hampshire

Must pass the master electrician exam with contents based on the NEC and NESC
Reciprocity with Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont

New Jersey

Only journeyman and contractor licenses are issued, with no exam required
Reciprocity with Delaware

New Mexico

Only journeyman and contractor licenses are issued, with no exam required
No reciprocity

New York

Some local jurisdictions require passing the master electrician exam with contents based on the local code standards adopted from the NEC
No reciprocity

North Carolina

Some local jurisdictions require passing the unlimited electrician exam with contents based on the NC Building Code Council
Reciprocity with Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia

North Dakota

Must pass the master electrician exam with contents based on the NEC
Reciprocity with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming

Ohio

Some local jurisdictions require passing the master electrician exam with contents based on the NEC
Reciprocity with Kentucky and West Virginia

Oklahoma

Must pass the master electrician exam with contents based on the NEC
Reciprocity with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming

Oregon

Must pass the general supervising electrician exam with contents based on the NEC and the OR Electrical Specialty Code
Reciprocity with Arkansas, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming

Pennsylvania

Some local jurisdictions require passing the master electrician exam with contents based on the NEC
Reciprocity may be recognized locally, for example, Allentown has reciprocity with other cities in Pennsylvania and all of Connecticut

Rhode Island

Must pass the master electrician exam with contents based on the NEC and the RI State Building Code
No reciprocity

South Carolina

Must pass the master electrician exam with contents based on the NEC
Reciprocity with Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah

South Dakota

Only journeyman and contractor licenses are issued, with the exam based on the NEC
No reciprocity

Tennessee

Must pass the master electrician-equivalent exam: the electrical contractor with CE classification
Exam contents based on the NEC and the State Fire Marshal Regulation No. 15
Reciprocity with Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Michigan

Texas

Must pass the master electrician exam with contents based on the NEC
Master electrician reciprocity with Louisiana

Utah

Must pass the master electrician exam with contents based on the NEC
Master electrician reciprocity with Idaho, Oregon, and Wyoming

Vermont

Must pass the master electrician exam with contents based on the NEC
Reciprocity with Maine and New Hampshire

Virginia

Must pass the master electrician exam with contents based on the NEC and ICC
Reciprocity with Maryland and North Carolina

Washington

Must pass the master electrician exam with contents based on the NEC
Reciprocity with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Massachusetts, Minnesota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming

West Virginia

Must pass the master electrician exam with contents based on the NEC
Reciprocity with North Carolina, Ohio, and Virginia

Wisconsin

Must pass the master electrician exam with contents based on the NEC and Chapter 16 (Electrical) of the WI Administrative Rules
No reciprocity

Wyoming

Must pass the master electrician exam with contents based on the NEC
Reciprocity with Alaska, Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, New Hampshire, New Mexico, and Oklahoma