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 toward the limited-energy articles from DLI’s knowledge-area list for the license.
Power Limited Technician exam
80 scored · 330 min- Class 1, 2, 3 and 4 circuits and limited-energy wiring12
- Wiring methods, boxes and cable trays10
- Fire alarm systems8
- Communications, antenna, CATV and broadband systems8
- General electrical knowledge (Articles 90, 100, 110)6
- Grounding and bonding6
- Theory and calculations6
- Hazardous (classified) locations5
- Special occupancies and ITE rooms5
- Emergency, standby and power production systems4
- Low-voltage lighting and equipment3
- Optical fiber3
- Overcurrent protection of small conductors2
- Minnesota laws and rules2
On the 2026 NEC
The 2026 NEC moved the limited-energy cable and raceway tables into Articles 722 and 723. Study material written for the 2023 edition sends you to the old tables; every question here cites the 2026 section.
| Topic | 2023 NEC | 2026 NEC |
|---|---|---|
| Applications of Class 2, Class 3 and PLTC cables in buildings722.120 | Table 722.135(B) | Table 722.120 |
| Permitted limited-energy cable substitutions722.122 | Table 722.135(E) | Table 722.122 |
| Applications of power-limited fire alarm (PLFA) cables722.170 | Table 760.154 | Table 722.170 |
| Applications of communications wires and cables722.130 | Table 800.154(a) | Table 722.130 |
| Communications raceways and cable routing assembliesArticle 723 | Tables 800.154(b) and (c) | Tables 723.20 and 723.30 |
| Ampacity of 4-pair Class 2 and 3 cables (PoE)722.140 | Table 725.144 | Table 722.140(B)(2) |
What's Included
Every plan gets the same full-access study library.
Frequently asked questions
How is the Minnesota Power Limited Technician exam structured?+
One exam of 80 multiple-choice questions in 5½ hours, all worth the same, and you need 70%. DLI rates power limited questions at the same difficulty as the Class A master exam, with extra information in the stems and plausible wrong answers.
Is it only low-voltage articles?+
No. DLI’s knowledge-area list for the license also covers Articles 90 through 110, grounding and bonding, Chapter 3 wiring methods, hazardous locations, special occupancies, emergency and standby systems, and electrical theory. Class 1 through 4 circuits, fire alarm, optical fiber and communications are the core, but not the whole exam.
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.
What do I need before I can sit the exam?+
36 months of experience installing technology circuits and systems. An approved two-year technical college program counts for 12 months, other approved training for up to 12, and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering qualifies you without installation experience. Apply to DLI with the $50 application and examination fee.
Can I work on my own with a power limited license?+
Not as a stand-alone business. DLI requires a power limited technician to be a W-2 employee of a licensed technology system or electrical contractor, or of a registered employer. Unlicensed workers may do the work under a power limited technician’s supervision when both work for the same employer.
What continuing education do I need to renew?+
16 hours per renewal, at least 4 of them on the National Electrical Code; up to 12 may be related technical subjects or the Minnesota Electrical Act and Rules.
Ready to pass your exam?
Practice the full exam on the current code, with every calculation worked out.
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