Idaho Master Electrician Exam Day: PSI, Your NEC and Ugly's, and Scoring 75

Idaho Master Electrician Exam Day: What to Expect

PSI gives Idaho's master electrician exam for the Idaho Electrical Board (DOPL). Since December 1, 2025 it has been an Idaho-specific exam. The logistics match the journeyman exam; the difference is the 75 you need to pass.

Booking

Create a PSI account, select the Idaho master exam and complete the application, which is accepted automatically. Then pay $75 and schedule online, or call PSI at 855-340-3713. The fee is good for one year from payment and is not refundable.

Idaho test centers are in Boise, Moscow, Lewiston, Twin Falls and Idaho Falls, plus Spokane Valley, Washington. You may also test at PSI centers in Washington, Oregon, Wyoming or Nevada.

Cancel or reschedule at least 2 days ahead, or you forfeit the fee. Voicemail and email are not accepted.

What to bring

• One current government-issued photo ID with your signature.
• Your references (see below).
• A calculator: silent, nonprinting and non-programmable.

Arrive 15 minutes early.

Your references

The exam is open book, and you bring your own books. Required:

• NFPA 70, the National Electrical Code: 2020 edition OR 2023 edition.
• Ugly's Electrical References, 2023 edition.

Optional: Ferm's Fast Finder Index or the Tom Henry Key Word Index, 2020 or 2023 edition. The bulletin says the exam was not developed from these; they only speed up finding things in the NEC.

Preparing your books:

• Highlighting, underlining and permanent indexing are allowed, done before the exam.
• No writing in the books during the exam.
• No loose papers or Post-it notes.

The bulletin says Code questions use only the listed NEC editions, so either book is valid. Idaho enforces the 2023 NEC. Idaho's own amendments are not on the reference list, so answer from the NEC as printed.

The clock

100 questions in 270 minutes (4½ hours).

Pacing

That is 2 minutes 42 seconds per question.

• Chapters 2, 3 and 4 are 65 of the 100 items. Tab Articles 220, 230, 240, 250, 310, 430 and 450 so they open in seconds.
• Use Ugly's for theory and formulas. Theory is only 10 items, and Ugly's formulas help with motor, transformer and voltage-drop calculations in the Code areas as well.
• Do not let one lookup eat your time. Give your best answer and move on.
• Answer every question.
• Check the clock at 2 hours 15 minutes: about 50 done.

Scoring

You need a 75. That means getting at least 75 of the 100 right, assuming every item is scored; the bulletin does not say whether any are unscored. Your score appears on screen when you finish, and if you do not pass, you get a diagnostic report.

If you do not pass

You can retake as many times as you need, at $75 per attempt. The bulletin states no waiting period. Use the diagnostic report to target your weakest areas before you book again.

After you pass

Apply for your license through DOPL at edopl.idaho.gov. The master license comes with a journeyman license at no extra cost.

Before you go

Sit a full-length, timed practice exam first, and aim comfortably above 75. Our free practice test gives you a feel for the questions, and the full exam prep has full-length practice exams weighted to the PSI outline, with every answer explained. Our questions stick to rules that read the same in the 2020 and 2023 NEC, so they work whichever book you bring. For eligibility, see Idaho Master Electrician requirements.