Colorado Master Electrician
Practice the Colorado Master Electrician exam the way PSI gives it — 90 questions weighted like the real outline, on the 2026 NEC. Every calculation is computed and explained step by step.
One exam, 90 questions
You need 70% overall, so a strong area can carry a weaker one. Calculations are one area of the exam, and our full-length practice exam draws from every area in the same proportions.
Master Electrician exam
90 scored · 240 min- General electrical knowledge6
- Services, feeders, and branch circuits11
- Grounding and bonding14
- Overcurrent protection5
- Conductors and cables4
- Raceways and boxes5
- Special conditions2
- Special occupancies9
- Special equipment9
- Electrical devices4
- Motors8
- Transformers4
- Electrical calculations9
100 items on the paper; 10 are unscored pretest items.
About the Master Electrician License
Granted by Colorado State Electrical Board — Division of Professions and Occupations (DORA)
Required to plan, lay out and supervise electrical work in Colorado; every electrical contractor needs a responsible master electrician.
Eligibility Requirements
10,000 hours over at least 5 years: the journeyman experience plus at least a year of planning, laying out, supervising and installing electrical wiring and equipment.
On the 2026 NEC since August 1, 2026
Study material written for the previous edition teaches these wrong. Every question here is grounded in the 2026 NEC.
| Topic | Previous edition | 2026 NEC |
|---|---|---|
| Dwelling general lighting load120.41 | 3 VA per ft² | 2 VA per ft² |
| Optional dwelling calculation120.82(B) | First 10 kVA at 100% | First 8 kVA at 100% |
| Load calculationsArticle 120 | Article 220 | Article 120 |
| EV charging load (nameplate, or 7,200 VA with none)120.57 | 220.57 | 120.57 |
| Transformer overcurrent protection450.5 | 450.3 | 450.5 (Table 450.5(B)) |
| Underground installations300.7 | 300.5 | 300.7 |
| Box fill table314.16(B) | Table 314.16(B) | Table 314.16(B)(4) |
| Motor branch-circuit protection table430.52(C)(1) | Table 430.52 | Table 430.52(C)(1) |
What's Included
Every plan gets the same full-access study library.
What the exam covers
The 13 content areas of the PSI candidate bulletin, by scored items. The 2026 NEC and a formula page are supplied at the test center, unmarked: you may not write in, highlight, underline or tab it, or bring anything else.
- ✓Grounding and Bonding (14)
- ✓Services, Feeders, and Branch Circuits (11)
- ✓Special Occupancies (9), Special Equipment (9)
- ✓Electrical Calculations (9)
- ✓Motors (8)
- ✓General Electrical Knowledge (6)
- ✓Overcurrent Protection (5), Raceways and Boxes (5)
- ✓Conductors and Cables (4), Electrical Devices (4), Transformers (4)
- ✓Special Conditions (2)
Scheduling & Fees
Where to take it
- Administered by
- PSI
- Retake policy
- You can retest after a failed attempt; each retest costs $73.
Fees
- Exam
- $78
- Retest
- $73
Keeping Your Certification Active
Renewal requirements
- Cycle
- Every 3 years
- Continuing education
- 24 hours — At least 4 of the 24 hours must cover National Electrical Code changes. The CE requirement does not apply to the first renewal after you pass the exam.
Sources: PSI — Colorado Electrical Candidate Information Bulletin (updated 6/18/2026) · State Electrical Board rules, 3 CCR 710-1 · C.R.S. 12-115-110, license qualifications · DPO — Electrical continuing education
Frequently asked questions
How is the Colorado Master Electrician exam structured?+
One PSI exam of 90 scored questions in 4 hours, plus up to 10 unscored pretest questions with 30 minutes added for them. You need 70% — 63 of the 90 scored items. Compared with the journeyman exam it weighs special occupancies, special equipment and motors more heavily, and grounding and bonding is again the largest area at 14 items.
Which code edition is the exam on?+
The 2026 NEC since August 1, 2026. PSI will still hand you a 2023 book on request until December 1, 2026; after that only the 2026 book is offered. Older prep material cites rules that have since moved, such as load calculations, now in Article 120 instead of Article 220.
Can I bring my own code book?+
No. PSI supplies the 2026 NEC and a formula page at the test center. You may not write in, highlight, underline or tab it, and you cannot bring any other material. An online calculator is provided.
Is there a Colorado law or rules section?+
No. Every scored item is on the NEC or electrical theory. The bulletin advises reviewing common theory formulas, which you need for the Electrical Calculations area.
How are the calculation questions checked?+
Every calculation answer — and every wrong option — is computed by code from the 2026 NEC tables and rules, not written by hand. The explanation walks through each step with the section it comes from.
What do I need before I can sit the exam?+
10,000 hours over at least 5 years — the journeyman experience plus at least a year of planning, laying out, supervising and installing electrical wiring and equipment. Graduate electrical engineers and trade-school graduates have shorter paths. A Colorado master license is not granted by reciprocity, so out-of-state masters take the exam too.
How often do I renew, and what does it take?+
Every 3 years. You need 24 hours of continuing education per license period, at least 4 of them on NEC changes; the requirement does not apply to your first renewal after passing the exam.
Ready to pass your exam?
Practice the full exam on the current code, with every calculation worked out.
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