Virginia Master Electrician Exam Day: PSI, Your Own Code Books, and Pacing 4½ Hours

Virginia Master Electrician Exam Day: What to Expect

PSI gives the Virginia electrical exams on computer, at a test center or by remote proctoring. The centers are in Virginia, plus Salisbury, Maryland and Johnson City, Tennessee. Here is what the day looks like.

Before you go

• Schedule with PSI once DPOR approves you. Your $125 exam fee is good for one year and is non-refundable.
• Cancel or reschedule at least two days ahead, on PSI's website or by phone. A voicemail or email does not count.
• Missing it costs the fee. A missed appointment, a late arrival or missing ID all forfeit it.

Arrival and ID

Arrive 30 minutes early with one valid, unexpired photo ID that carries your signature, in exactly the name you registered under.

The books are yours

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

• the DPOR Individual License and Certification Regulations booklet (18VAC50-30 and Title 54.1 Chapter 11 of the Code of Virginia, "Last Updated August 1, 2025"),
• NFPA 70, 2020 edition (the NEC),
• NFPA 70E, 2024 edition.

You may highlight, underline and add permanent tabs. You may not use removable tabs, write in the books or bring loose pages; anything you downloaded must be bound.

Handheld calculators are not allowed. PSI provides an LCD writing tablet for working.

At the computer

An untimed tutorial of up to 15 minutes comes first. Then the clock starts: 90 scored questions in 4½ hours, plus up to 10 unscored experimental questions that count against your time.

Pacing

That is 3 minutes per scored question, less once experimental items are added.

• Do not let one long lookup or calculation eat your time; know your tabs before you go in.
• Answer every question.
• Check the clock at the halfway mark: about 45 done at 2 hours 15 minutes.

Scoring

You need 63 of 90 (70%), scored as one exam — the ten law questions count with everything else. Your score shows on screen when you finish and is also emailed. If you fail, the report breaks your result down by area.

Before you go

Sit a full-length practice exam first. Our free practice test gives you 10 questions on the 2020 NEC, and the full exam prep has timed full-length practice exams weighted like the PSI outline, including law and 70E safety. For eligibility, see Virginia Master Electrician requirements.