Mississippi Electrical Contractor License: Master Electrician Exam, Requirements and Fees

Mississippi Electrical Contractor License: Master Electrician Exam and Requirements

Mississippi has no statewide journeyman or master electrician license for individuals. The Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) licenses electrical contractors, and PSI gives the exams. For commercial work the license carries the Electrical major classification, and the trade exam for it is called the Master Electrician exam.

Cities and counties issue their own electrician cards to individuals. This article covers the state contractor license.

Residential electrical work needs a different classification: see Mississippi Residential Electrician requirements.

Who needs it

• Any contractor or subcontractor on a commercial job of $50,000 or more needs an MSBOC commercial license.
• Below $50,000, city and county rules apply.

The license belongs to the company. The company names a qualifying party, an owner, officer or responsible managing employee, who sits the exams for it. A qualifying party can qualify up to three companies at once. If the qualifying party leaves, the company has 90 days to find a replacement who passes.

Apply first, then test

You cannot schedule an exam until the Board makes you eligible. The commercial application needs:

• the $400 application fee
• experience in the Electrical classification, shown by at least three completed electrical jobs
• three reference letters, one from your bank
• a reviewed or audited financial statement prepared by a CPA, showing a net worth of at least $50,000 for a major classification
• a certificate of general liability insurance, at least $300,000 per occurrence and $600,000 aggregate, with MSBOC as certificate holder
• workers' compensation coverage if you have five or more employees
• proof that the qualifying party works for the company

The Board does not set a number of years of experience. It weighs your experience, past work and financial condition along with your exam results.

Once your application is in, the Board notifies PSI, and PSI emails you that you may schedule.

Two exams

	Master Electrician trade exam	Law and Business Management
Questions	80	50
Time	3 hours	2 hours
To pass	70%	70%
Book policy	Open book	Open book
References	2020 NEC, 29 CFR 1926, Ugly's Electrical References	NASCLA Contractors Guide, Mississippi 6th edition
PSI fee	$120	$120

What's on the Master Electrician exam breaks the 80 questions down. Our practice exam covers the trade exam only. We do not cover Law and Business Management yet.

Or take the NASCLA exam

The Board accepts the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Electrical Contractors (100 questions, 4.5 hours, 75% to pass, 2020 or 2023 NEC) instead of the Master Electrician exam. NASCLA is accepted by several states, so it suits a contractor who works across state lines. You still pass Law and Business Management. See the Mississippi NASCLA route.

Six months, unlimited retakes

From the date the Board makes you eligible, you have 6 months to pass, with unlimited retakes at $120 each. If you have not passed by then, you reapply to the Board.

Fees

Fee	Amount
Commercial application (MSBOC)	$400
PSI, per exam	$120
Annual renewal	$400
Renewal after expiration (up to 180 days)	$450
Exam waiver by reciprocity, per exam	$50
Each additional classification	$100

Renewal

The license renews every year. The Board emails a notice about 60 days ahead, but renewing is your responsibility. Renewal needs current insurance and a balance sheet showing the required net worth. A license expired more than 180 days cannot be renewed; you apply again.

Skipping the trade exam

The Board's reciprocity agreements waive a trade exam only. Law and Business Management is always required. For electrical, the list includes:

• Alabama Electrical Board (you must have taken the Alabama exam)
• North Carolina Electrical Contractors Board (Electrical and Alarm Systems exams; license held at least a year)
• Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (Electrical, HVAC, Plumbing, Refrigeration)
• South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board (Building and Electrical exams)
• Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (all exams)
• Louisiana: the formal agreement has ended, but the Board still accepts Louisiana passing scores.

Each has conditions, such as a current license and no recent discipline. Arkansas's agreement excludes electrical. Mississippi also recognizes out-of-state licenses under its Universal Recognition of Occupational Licenses Act and for military families.

Which NEC?

The 2020 NEC. PSI's bulletin says code questions are based only on the listed edition, and that is the only edition allowed in the test room. No change has been announced.

Getting ready

Try our free Mississippi Master Electrician practice test, or see the full exam prep. For the test itself, read Master Electrician exam day.