What's on the Wisconsin Master Electrician Exam? Topics, Code Changes, and How It Differs From Journeyman
The Wisconsin Master Electrician exam: 50 open-book questions on the 2023 NEC, SPS 316 and SPS 305, how our practice exams weight the topics (DSPS publishes no outline), the 2017-to-2023 renumbering, and how to study.
Contents
What's on the Wisconsin Master Electrician Exam?
The master exam is 50 questions in 4 hours, open book, 70% to pass, on the 2023 NEC and the Wisconsin rules in SPS 316 and SPS 305. That is half the questions of the journeyman exam in the same time. Like the journeyman exam, DSPS publishes no content outline and no pass rates.
How our practice exams weight it
The split below is our own blueprint, not an official DSPS breakdown. It is how our 50-question practice exam is weighted.
| Area | Questions (of 50) |
|---|---|
| Branch Circuits and Load Calculations | 8 |
| Services and Feeders | 6 |
| Grounding and Bonding | 5 |
| Wiring Methods, Raceways, and Boxes | 5 |
| Motors, Controls, and Transformers | 5 |
| General Knowledge and Definitions | 3 |
| Overcurrent Protection | 3 |
| Conductors | 3 |
| Equipment for General Use | 3 |
| Special Occupancies | 3 |
| Special Equipment and Systems | 3 |
| Wisconsin Electrical Code (SPS 316) | 2 |
| Wisconsin Credential Rules (SPS 305) | 1 |
How it differs from the journeyman exam
Against our 100-question journeyman blueprint, the master blueprint leans toward design-side work: load calculations, services and feeders, and motors and transformers take a bigger share, while grounding and wiring methods take less. With only 50 questions, each one is 2% of your score, and you need 35 right to pass.
Expect more questions that combine several rules or several steps:
- Service and feeder load calculations for dwellings and non-dwellings, including the neutral.
- Motor circuits — conductors, branch-circuit protection and feeders for several motors.
- Transformers — overcurrent protection and the secondary conductors.
On the 2023 NEC
Wisconsin moved from the 2017 NEC to the 2023 NEC effective September 1, 2026. Material written for older editions numbers several rules differently:
| Topic | Older editions | 2023 NEC (your exam) |
|---|---|---|
| Non-dwelling general lighting unit loads | Table 220.12 | Table 220.42(A) |
| Lighting load demand factors | Table 220.42 | Table 220.45 |
| Non-dwelling receptacle demand factors | Table 220.44 | Table 220.47 |
| EV charging load in a load calculation | No rule | 220.57: 7,200 VA or the nameplate, whichever is larger |
| Class 1 remote-control and signaling circuits | Article 725 | Article 724 (general rules in Article 722) |
Wisconsin's changes to the NEC
Subchapter IV of SPS 316 holds Wisconsin's changes, additions and omissions to the NEC, organized by NEC article. Some NEC requirements are simply not adopted. For example, under SPS 316.230 (4) the emergency disconnect requirements of NEC 230.85 are not included as part of Wisconsin's code. Tab SPS 316 next to the matching NEC articles so you check both.
A study plan
- Load calculations until they are automatic, on the 2023 numbering.
- Services, feeders, motors and transformers — Article 430's tables and transformer protection.
- Grounding and bonding, and the wiring-methods tables.
- Read SPS 316 and SPS 305 once. They go in your binder, and they are worth three questions on our blueprint.
- Take a timed 50-question exam before the real one.
Our free practice test gives you 10 questions on the 2023 NEC with every calculation worked out. The full exam prep has a timed 50-question practice exam built on the blueprint above. See also Wisconsin Master Electrician exam day and the Wisconsin electrician hub.
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