Master Electrician Exam | State-by-State Guide to Master Electrician Test Requirements

Passing your licensing jurisdiction’s master electrician exam is the final step to earning the master electrician license you’ve been working toward all these years. Here at ElectricianSchoolEDU.org we cut through the confusion to give you the information you need:

Master electrician exam requirements in your state and local jurisdiction
What local, national and international code is used for the basis of the master electrician exam in your jurisdiction
Exam preparation resources through third party exam prep services
Master electrician license reciprocity with neighboring states

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Codes Used as the Basis for Master Electrician Exams

The National Fire Protection Association’s National Electrical Code (NEC) forms the basis for standards and regulations for electrical work in all 50 states. Currently, 45 states – or at least some of the local jurisdictions within these states – require electricians to pass an exam that covers the NEC as the final step to earning a master electrician license.

Though the NEC is the national standard for electrical code, there is no single, nationally recognized exam for master electricians. Instead, individual jurisdictions are responsible for determining the content that appears on their master electrician exams, or if an exam is even required at all.

Licensing laws differ from state to state. Depending on how a state has structured its licensing jurisdictions, licenses may be issued through one licensing authority that covers the entire state, or separate licenses may be required at the county or even city level. The local jurisdictions have the final say when it comes to exam requirements for a local master electrician license and can modify, remove, or add to a code that is adopted at the state level.

Master electrician licensing exams also often include content specific to electrical code established through the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the International Code Council. Together, these three organizations develop the various codes that virtually every licensing jurisdiction bases its master electrician exam content on:

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

Because master electricians often also work as contractors, your jurisdiction’s master electrician exam may also cover state code, including:

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

Master Electrician Exam Preparation Services

At this point in your career your copy of the NEC is probably torn, smudged, and coffee-stained. It’s time to break it out again to brush up on the proper theory, practices, and procedures contained within the NEC as you prepare to take the master electrician exam in your jurisdiction. Even if you decide to make use of one of the third party exam prep services listed below, you are encouraged to go through its well-worn pages to refresh your memory. You can find the most recent 2017 version of the NEC on the NFPA’s website.

You can find additional third-party resources that aren’t affiliated with the NFPA or NEC that will help you prepare for your master electrician examination:

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

The following state exam and code standards were made available from the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). While states may have adopted a particular code such as the NEC, local jurisdictions may have the liberty to make any modifications, replacements, or omissions to the code.

Here you’ll find the master electrician (or equivalent) exam requirements in each state, along with the national and international code the licensing board bases their exam questions on.

States that recognize “reciprocity” with other states allow those that already hold master electrician licenses in one of the reciprocal states to be granted a license without having to go through additional training and education.

Alabama

Only electrical contractor licenses are issued; exam required
Standards adopted from 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 issued; exam required
Standards adopted from 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 issued; exam required
Standards adopted from the NEC
Reciprocity with California, Nevada, and Utah

Arkansas

Must pass an exam to become a master electrician
Standards adopted from the NEC
Reciprocity with Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee

California

Only general electrician and contractor licenses issued; exam required
Standards adopted from the California Electrical Code (based on the NEC), the California Building Code (based on the IBC), and the California Fire Code (based on the IFC)
Reciprocity with Arizona, Nevada, and Utah

Colorado

Must pass an exam to become a master electrician
Standards adopted from the NEC
Reciprocity with Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming

Connecticut

Must pass an exam to become a master electrician
Standards adopted from the state’s Consumer Protection Department and Electrical Board of Occupational Licensing, both of which incorporate identical or similar elements as the NEC
No reciprocity

Delaware

Must pass an exam to become a general and limited master electrician
Standards adopted from the NEC
Reciprocity with Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, and Wyoming

District of Columbia

Must pass an exam to become a master electrician
Standards adopted from the NEC
No reciprocity

Florida

Must pass an exam to become a master electrician
Standards adopted from the NEC
Reciprocity with Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina

Georgia

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

Hawaii

Must pass an exam to become a master electrician
Standards adopted from the NEC

Idaho

Must pass an exam to become a master journeyman electrician
Standards adopted from the NEC
Reciprocity with Alaska, Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming

Illinois

May need to pass an examination to become a master electrician in some local jurisdictions
Standards adopted from the NEC
No reciprocity

Indiana

May need to pass an examination to become a master electrician in some local jurisdictions
Standards adopted from the NEC
No reciprocity

Iowa

May need to pass an examination to become a master electrician in some local jurisdictions
Standards adopted from the NEC and IBC
No reciprocity

Kansas

May need to pass an examination to become a master electrician in some local jurisdictions; passing the Block and Associates master electrician examination results in statewide eligibility for a master license
Standards adopted from the Kansas Fire Prevention Code, with state-owned buildings being subject to the NEC standards
No reciprocity

Kentucky

Must pass an exam to become a master electrician
Standards are adopted from the NEC
Reciprocity with Ohio

Louisiana

Must pass the Master Electrician 701 exam
Standards adopted from the NEC
Reciprocity with Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah

Maine

Must pass an open-book exam to become a master electrician
Standards adopted from the NEC
Reciprocity with Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Oregon, and Vermont

Maryland

Must pass a state code exam to become a master electrician
Standards adopted from the Maryland Building Performance Standards (MBPS) and the Maryland Building Rehabilitation Code (MBRC), both of which are in line with the NEC
Reciprocity with Delaware and Virginia

Massachusetts

Must pass an exam to become a master electrician
Standards adopted from the Massachusetts Electrical Code that is itself based on the NEC
Reciprocity with Maine, New Hampshire, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington

Michigan

Must pass an exam to become a master electrician
Standards adopted from the Michigan Electrical Code, which is based on the NEC
No reciprocity

Minnesota

Must pass an exam to become an “A” master electrician
Standards adopted from the NEC, the NESC, and the Minnesota State Building Code
Reciprocity with Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming

Mississippi

May need to pass an examination to become a master electrician in some local jurisdictions
No statewide adopted code
Reciprocity with Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Tennessee

Missouri

May need to pass an examination to become a master electrician in some local jurisdictions
No statewide adopted code; local code standards are based on the NEC
No reciprocity

Montana

Must pass an exam to become a master electrician
Standards adopted from the NEC
Reciprocity with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming

Nebraska

Must pass an exam to become a master electrician
Standards adopted from 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 an exam to become a master electrician
Standards adopted from the NEC
No reciprocity

New Hampshire

Must pass a written or oral exam to become a master electrician
Standards adopted from the NEC and NESC
Reciprocity with Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont

New Jersey

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

New Mexico

Only journeyman and contractor licenses issued; no exam required
No reciprocity

New York

May need to pass an examination to become a master electrician in some local jurisdictions
No statewide codes adopted, local codes may be based on the NEC
No reciprocity

North Carolina

May need to pass an examination to become an unlimited electrician in some local jurisdictions
Standards adopted from the North Carolina Building Code Council, which are based on the NEC
Reciprocity with Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia

North Dakota

Must pass a written exam to become a master electrician
Standards adopted from the NEC
Reciprocity with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming

Ohio

May need to pass an examination to become a master electrician in some local jurisdictions
Standards adopted from the NEC
Reciprocity with Kentucky and West Virginia

Oklahoma

Must pass a written exam to become a master electrician
Standards adopted from 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 a written exam to become a general supervising electrician
Standards adopted from the NEC and Oregon Electrical Specialty Code
Reciprocity with Arkansas, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming

Pennsylvania

May need to pass an examination to become a master electrician in some local jurisdictions
Standards adopted from 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 an exam to become a master electrician
Standards adopted from the NEC and the Rhode Island State Building Code
No reciprocity

South Carolina

Must pass an exam to become a master electrician
Standards adopted from the NEC
Reciprocity with Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah

South Dakota

Only journeyman and contractor licenses issued; exam required
Standards adopted from the NEC
No reciprocity

Tennessee

Tennessee’s equivalent to a master electrician is a contractor with a CE classification, which requires an examination
Standards adopted from the NEC and State Fire Marshall Regulation No. 15
Reciprocity with Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Michigan

Texas

Must pass an exam to become a master electrician
Standards adopted from the NEC
Master electrician reciprocity with Louisiana

Utah

Must pass a written and practical exam to become a master electrician
Standards adopted from the NEC
Master electrician reciprocity with Idaho, Oregon, and Wyoming

Vermont

Must pass a written and oral exam to become a master electrician
Standards adopted from the NEC
Reciprocity with Maine and New Hampshire

Virginia

Must pass an exam to become a master electrician
Standards adopted from the NEC and ICC
Reciprocity with Maryland and North Carolina

Washington

Must pass an exam to become a master electrician
Standards adopted from the NEC
Reciprocity with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Massachusetts, Minnesota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming

West Virginia

Must pass an exam to become a master electrician
Standards adopted from the NEC
Reciprocity with North Carolina, Ohio, and Virginia

Wisconsin

Must pass an exam to become a master electrician
Standards adopted from the NEC and Chapte-16 Electrical of the Wisconsin Administrative Rules
No reciprocity

Wyoming

Must pass an exam to become a master electrician
Standards adopted from the NEC
Reciprocity with Alaska, Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, New Hampshire, New Mexico, and Oklahoma