One exam, 90 questions
You need 70% overall. Calculations sit inside the outline areas rather than in a separate portion, and our full-length practice exam draws from each area in the same proportions.
Master Electrician exam
90 scored · 270 min- Virginia law and regulations10
- General electrical knowledge4
- Requirements for electrical installations3
- Electrical-electronic fundamentals5
- Branch circuits7
- Service and feeders8
- Grounding and bonding8
- Conductors and cables7
- Raceways and boxes7
- Special occupancies4
- Special equipment2
- Electrical signs and outline lighting2
- Motors and controls8
- Utilization equipment5
- Lighting2
- General low-voltage requirements1
- Communication systems1
- Fire detection and alarm systems2
- Safety (NFPA 70E)4
On the 2020 NEC — not the 2023
Virginia's exam tests the 2020 NEC. Much of today's study material is written for the 2023 edition, which renumbered these rules. Every question here cites the 2020 section.
| Topic | 2023 NEC (not on your exam) | 2020 NEC |
|---|---|---|
| Dwelling general lighting load (3 VA per ft² in both)220.14(J) | 220.41 | 220.14(J) |
| Non-dwelling general lighting unit loads220.12 | Table 220.42(A) | Table 220.12 |
| Lighting load demand factors220.42 | Table 220.45 | Table 220.42 |
| Non-dwelling receptacle demand factors220.44 | Table 220.47 | Table 220.44 |
| EV charging load in a load calculationArticle 220 | 7,200 VA or the nameplate (220.57) | No such rule |
| Class 1 remote-control and signaling circuitsArticle 725 | Articles 722 and 724 | Article 725 |
What's Included
Every plan gets the same full-access study library.
Frequently asked questions
How is the Virginia Master Electrician exam structured?+
One PSI exam of 90 scored questions in 4½ hours; you need 63 correct (70%). Ten questions are Virginia law and regulations; the master exam puts more weight than the journeyman on services and feeders, grounding, motors and electrical fundamentals. Up to 10 unscored trial questions may be added, and they count against your time.
Which code edition is the exam on?+
The 2020 NEC. PSI's bulletin says code questions are based only on the edition it lists, and Virginia's next code cycle is not expected to take effect until about October 2027. Prep written for the 2023 NEC cites the load-calculation tables under different numbers.
Is the exam open book?+
Yes. Bring your own NFPA 70 (2020), NFPA 70E (2024) and the DPOR Individual License and Certification Regulations. Highlighting, underlining and permanent tabs are allowed; removable tabs, handwritten notes and loose pages are not. Handheld calculators are not allowed.
What does the law part cover?+
Ten of the scored questions come from the Board for Contractors regulations (18VAC50-30) and Title 54.1 Chapter 11 of the Code of Virginia: standards of practice and conduct, renewal and reinstatement, definitions, qualification and revocation. They are scored together with the code questions, not as a separate portion.
How do I schedule, and what if I miss it?+
Once DPOR approves you, schedule with PSI online or by phone, at a center or by remote proctoring. Cancel or reschedule at least two days ahead; a missed appointment, a late arrival or missing ID forfeits the fee. Your score shows on screen when you finish, with a breakdown by area if you fail.
How often do I renew?+
Every three years, for $160, with three hours of continuing education on building code changes from a Board-approved provider.
What do I need before I can sit the exam?+
One of: a Virginia journeyman license held for at least one year, a residential license held for three years, or nine years of practical experience in the trade. The PSI exam fee is $125.
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