Minnesota Master Electrician
Practice the Minnesota Class A Master exam on the 2026 NEC — 80 questions in 5½ hours, the way DLI gives it, with every calculation computed and explained step by step.
One exam, 80 questions
You need 70% overall. Minnesota does not publish how many questions come from each area, so the counts below are our blueprint, weighted by NEC chapter from DLI’s knowledge-area list.
Class A Master exam
80 scored · 330 min- General electrical knowledge4
- Services, feeders, and branch circuits11
- Grounding and bonding10
- Overcurrent protection6
- Conductors and cables5
- Raceways and boxes6
- Special occupancies7
- Special equipment (incl. solar PV)6
- Electrical devices and equipment3
- Motors and A/C equipment6
- Transformers3
- Special conditions and systems3
- Electrical calculations8
- Minnesota laws and rules2
About the Class A Master Electrician License
Granted by Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) — Board of Electricity
Required to plan, lay out and supervise electrical work in Minnesota and to serve as the responsible licensed person for an electrical contractor.
Eligibility Requirements
60 months of experience, including planning, laying out and supervising electrical installations (at least 2 months each) and at least 12 months wiring for and installing electrical equipment.
On the 2026 NEC since August 17, 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
DLI lists the knowledge areas for each license but publishes no weights, so this is our blueprint, weighted by NEC chapter from that list. DLI rates master questions harder than journeyworker questions. An untabbed 2026 NEC, the Laws and Rules Booklet and a basic calculator are supplied at the exam.
- ✓Services, feeders, and branch circuits (11)
- ✓Grounding and bonding (10)
- ✓Electrical calculations (8) — service and feeder loads, motors, transformers, voltage drop
- ✓Special occupancies (7) — hazardous locations, health care, assembly
- ✓Overcurrent protection (6), special equipment including solar PV (6), motors and A/C (6)
- ✓Raceways and boxes (6), conductors and cables (5)
- ✓General electrical knowledge (4)
- ✓Electrical devices (3), transformers (3), special conditions and systems (3)
- ✓Minnesota laws and rules (2)
Scheduling & Fees
Where to take it
- Administered by
- Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry
- Retake policy
- Results are emailed within about two weeks. After a failed attempt you can reapply 30 days after notification, with a new application and the $50 application and examination fee.
Fees
- Application and examination
- $50
Keeping Your Certification Active
Renewal requirements
- Cycle
- Per license term
- Continuing education
- 16 hours — At least 12 of the 16 hours must be on the National Electrical Code. Masters are exempt in their first pro-rated license term.
Sources: DLI — Electrical License Examination Guide · Minn. Rules 3800.3520, experience requirements · Minn. Stat. 326B.092, license fees · Minnesota Electrical Association — Board of Electricity update, July 2026
Frequently asked questions
How is the Minnesota Class A Master exam structured?+
One exam of 80 multiple-choice questions in 5½ hours, all worth the same, and you need 70%. DLI rates master questions harder than journeyworker questions: more of them apply several code rules at once or need multi-step calculations.
Which code edition is the exam on?+
The 2026 NEC, in effect in Minnesota since August 17, 2026. The current exam format has been in place since September 8, 2026. 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 or calculator?+
No. The Department of Labor and Industry supplies a soft-cover 2026 NEC without tabs, the Laws and Rules Booklet (the Minnesota Electrical Act and Rules 3800 and 3801) and a basic desk calculator. No other materials are allowed, and copying questions or making notes about them is an automatic fail.
Does Minnesota publish how many questions come from each topic?+
No. DLI lists the knowledge areas each license is tested on, but not how many questions come from each. Our 80-question practice exam follows our own blueprint, weighted by NEC chapter from that list, with a small Minnesota laws and rules section.
What if I fail?+
Results are emailed, generally within two weeks. If you fail, you can apply to retake the exam 30 days after you are notified, with a new application and the $50 application and examination fee. Exams are scheduled ahead of time; walk-ins are not accepted.
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. Like the real exam, questions assume unity power factor unless they say otherwise.
What do I need before I can sit the exam?+
60 months of experience, including at least 2 months each of planning, laying out and supervising electrical installations and at least 12 months wiring for and installing electrical equipment (Minnesota Rules 3800.3520). Apply to DLI with the $50 application and examination fee.
What continuing education do I need to renew?+
16 hours per renewal, at least 12 of them on the National Electrical Code. A master license is exempt from CE in its first pro-rated term.
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