What's on the Tennessee CE Electrical Contractor Exam? The Prov Outline

What's on the Tennessee CE Electrical Contractor Exam?

The Tennessee CE Electrical Contractor trade exam has 100 questions, and you need 73% to pass. It is open book on the 2017 NEC, with Ugly's Electrical References (2020), OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR 1926) and the American Electrician's Handbook (17th edition) also on the reference list. The counts below are from Prov's Tennessee bulletin dated August 18, 2026. The separate Business & Law exam is not covered here.

The outline

What changed from PSI's exam

PSI's version had a 5-question Building Code Requirements area on the IBC and an OSHA and NFPA 70E safety area. Prov's outline drops both: plan reading (2) and code reading (5) replace the building code area, and safety is OSHA only. Prov also added the American Electrician's Handbook to the reference list and allowed 5 hours instead of 260 minutes. Until January 1, 2027, you may still bring the books PSI listed (NFPA 70E 2017 and its handbook, and the 2021 IBC).

Where each area lives

Prov does not map its areas to NEC articles. Its area names follow the NEC's chapters, so this is where you will find the rules for each one.

• Wiring and Protection: Chapter 2: branch circuits, feeders, load calculations (220), services (230), overcurrent protection (240) and grounding and bonding (250).
• Wiring Methods and Materials: Chapter 3: Articles 300, 310, 312, 314 and the cable and raceway articles.
• General Electrical Knowledge: electrical theory and math from Ugly's and the American Electrician's Handbook.
• Motors and Controls: Articles 430 and 440, and industrial control panels (409).
• Communication Systems: Chapter 8, with the signaling and fire alarm circuits of Articles 725 and 760.
• Equipment for General Use: Chapter 4: cords, switches, receptacles, panelboards, luminaires, appliances, heating, generators and transformers.
• OSHA Safety: 29 CFR 1926, especially Subpart K (electrical).
• Code Reading: Articles 90, 100 and 110: how the code is arranged, definitions and general requirements.
• Special Occupancy: Chapter 5 outside the hazardous articles: health care, assembly, agricultural and temporary installations.
• Special Equipment: Chapter 6 (signs, pools, solar, elevators, welders) and emergency and standby systems (700 through 702).
• Hazardous Locations: Articles 500 through 516.
• Plan Reading: reading electrical drawings: one-line diagram symbols, meter and relay markings, and scaling circuit lengths. The American Electrician's Handbook covers the symbols.

How to study

1. Learn the 2017 numbering. Most newer material is written for the 2020 or 2023 NEC. In 2017, the ampacity table is Table 310.15(B)(16), and the non-dwelling lighting loads are in Table 220.12.
2. Weight your time like the exam. Chapter 2 alone is 23 questions, and Chapters 2 and 3 together are 38.
3. Know your handbook. The 14 general knowledge questions draw on electrical theory, so tab the formula sections of Ugly's and the American Electrician's Handbook.
4. Pace yourself. 100 questions in 5 hours is 3 minutes each, but the clock keeps running during breaks.

Practice for the exam

Our Tennessee CE practice test draws from all 12 areas in the same proportions, and every code explanation cites the 2017 NEC section. For test-day logistics, see the CE exam day.