Mississippi - NASCLA ACCREDITED TRADE EXAMINATION FOR ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS

Mississippi - NASCLA ACCREDITED TRADE EXAMINATION FOR ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS Exam Study Guide

This guide covers what you need for the Mississippi - NASCLA ACCREDITED TRADE EXAMINATION FOR ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS exam: the key facts from the official bulletin, the topics it tests, the reference books, sample questions with answers, and a plan to prepare. PSI gives the exam.

Mississippi - NASCLA ACCREDITED TRADE EXAMINATION FOR ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS Exam at a Glance

Here are the exam's key facts from the official bulletin:

On exam day

• You must bring one valid, unexpired identification bearing your signature and photo, matching the name under which you registered.
• Arrive at the examination site at least 30 minutes before your appointment.
• Candidates bring their own references, which may not be written in and may not contain any additional loose or attached papers; such materials are removed and confiscated.
• References may be highlighted, underlined and indexed beforehand but not written in, and may be tabbed only with permanent tabs.
• Candidates may use a silent, nonprinting, non-programmable calculator for this examination.
• Personal belongings, including electronic devices, outerwear, hats, and writing devices, must be stored in secure storage outside the examination room.

References you may bring

• Physical Diagram/Blueprint Packet (handed out onsite at the testing center)
• National Electrical Code or National Electrical Code Handbook (2020 or 2023)
• Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR 1926 - OSHA Construction Industry Regulations (2024)
• Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR 1910 - OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Standards (2024)
• A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (2021, 7th edition)
• ANSI/ASHRAE/IES 90.1-2022, Energy Standard for Sites and Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings - I-P edition
• NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management (Basic 14th Ed., 2024)
• NFPA 70E - Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace (2024)
• Ugly's Electrical References (2023 Edition)
• Understanding Electrical Theory for NEC Applications
• Ferm's Fast Finder Index (listed as an Optional Reference)
• Key Word Index by Tom Henry, Based on the National Electrical Code (listed as an Optional Reference) (2017, 2020, 2023 Ed)

Scheduling, changes and retakes

• Candidates register and schedule either over the Internet at PSI's website or by telephone with a PSI registrar.
• The Board notifies PSI of your eligibility, PSI emails a confirmation notice, and you have 6 months from the date of eligibility to take the examination.
• A candidate may cancel and reschedule without forfeiting the fee if notice is received 2 days before the exam date; fees are not refundable or transferable but are held on file for one year from the initial registration date.
• If you miss the appointment, cancel late, arrive after the start time, or lack proper ID, your registration and fee are forfeited and you must re-register.
• Your score is given immediately on screen after the examination, with a performance summary if you pass or a diagnostic report if you do not.
• A failing candidate may retest an unlimited number of times during the 6-month eligibility period, after which reapplication with the Board is required.
• After passing and meeting all licensing requirements, the Board reviews applications weekly and the license or certificate arrives about one week after approval.

Source: STATE OF MISSISSIPPI CONTRACTOR EXAMINATIONS CANDIDATE INFORMATION BULLETIN, Updated 1/29/2026. Check the bulletin before test day: fees and rules can change.

What the Mississippi - NASCLA ACCREDITED TRADE EXAMINATION FOR ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS Exam Covers

The official content outline has 9 topics:

How to Prepare for the Mississippi - NASCLA ACCREDITED TRADE EXAMINATION FOR ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS Exam

Start with the books. This is an open-book exam, so the references on the bulletin's list are your main study tool. Get the editions the bulletin names.

Learn where things are. Read the table of contents and the index of each book until you know where every major subject lives. On test day, finding an answer fast matters more than memorizing it.

Highlight the sections you use most. The exam facts above list the bulletin's rules on tabs and markings, so follow them exactly.

Spend most of your time on the biggest topics. General Code Requirements and Wiring and Protection make up 34% of the exam.

Take timed practice exams. The clock trains you to find answers at the pace the real exam needs: about 2 minutes 42 seconds per question.

Aim to pass more than once. One passing score can be luck. Several in a row means you're ready.

Reference Books for the Mississippi - NASCLA ACCREDITED TRADE EXAMINATION FOR ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS Exam

The bulletin lists the reference materials allowed in the examination center for this exam, including a blueprint packet that is handed out onsite, the NEC, OSHA regulations and several other titles, plus two optional references.

Where to get them:

• NEC 2023
• OSHA 29 CFR 1926
• Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, NFPA 70E
• NASCLA Contractors Guide 14th (national)
• Ugly's Electrical References 2023
• PMBOK Guide 7th
• ASHRAE 90.1-2022
• Holt Understanding Electrical Theory 2022
• OSHA 29 CFR 1910 (2024)

On Test Day

• Go through the whole exam first. Answer every question you know and bookmark the ones you don't. Every exam lets you come back to bookmarked questions, but some lock the questions you've seen once you take a break, so work your bookmarks before any break.
• Then go back to your bookmarks and work them out.
• Don't let one question eat your time. You have 270 minutes for 100 questions, which is about 2 minutes 42 seconds per question.
• Before you finish, answer anything you skipped. A blank can't earn a point.

Study Tips

Our practice exam is specifically designed to mimic the testing conditions at all exam centers. While untimed PDF study guides might help with studying, they don’t prepare you for the challenge of managing your time during an actual test.

Give yourself at least three to six weeks. Use your exam's candidate bulletin as your roadmap for what's tested, and spend your time on finding-it-fast skills over rote memorization. In practice, aim for three clean passes at 80% or higher — setting your practice bar above the real cut score gives you a comfortable margin on test day.

Know your way around each book's index and table of contents. Open-book exams reward speed: you need to find specific items quickly.

A little anxiety before an exam is completely normal — acknowledge it instead of fighting it. If you feel yourself spiraling on a question, pause and take a few slow breaths to reset. If your test center allows a short break, use it; just remember the clock usually keeps running.

Every exam you take will be different from the last. New questions, new order, but always based on the exam bulletin in terms of topics, questions and time.

Sample Mississippi - NASCLA ACCREDITED TRADE EXAMINATION FOR ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS Practice Questions

These questions come from our practice question bank, each with its answer and reference.

Sample 1 — General Equipment Use

Question: For a wye-start, delta-run connected motor, what is the minimum ampacity of the conductors between the controller and the motor as a percentage of the motor full-load current?

• A. 72 percent
• B. 125 percent
• C. 62.5 percent
• D. 58 percent

Correct Answer: A

Per NEC 430.22(C), for a wye-start, delta-run connected motor, the ampacity of conductors between the controller and the motor shall not be less than 72 percent of the motor full-load current rating. The informational note explains this is derived from 58% × 1.25 = 72%.

Reference: NEC 2023 Section 430.22(C)

Sample 2 — Electrical Theory and Principles

Question: Using Ohm's Law, what is the resistance of a circuit if the voltage is 240 volts and the current is 20 amperes?

• A. 12 ohms
• B. 15 ohms
• C. 8 ohms
• D. 20 ohms

Correct Answer: A

Using Ohm's Law formula R = E/I (Resistance = Volts/Amperes): R = 240V/20A = 12 ohms. This demonstrates the fundamental relationship between voltage, current, and resistance.

Reference: Ugly's Electrical References, 2023 ed., Ohm's Law, Page 1

Sample 3 — Safety

Question: A shopping center asks you to install a temporary 120-volt lighting system for seasonal decorative lighting. Under OSHA's general industry electrical design standards, temporary electrical power and lighting installations of 600 volts, nominal, or less may be used for decorative lighting, carnivals, and similar purposes for a period not to exceed:

• A. 60 days
• B. 90 days
• C. 180 days
• D. 30 days

Correct Answer: B

29 CFR 1910.305(a)(2)(i)(B) permits temporary electrical power and lighting installations of 600 volts, nominal, or less for a period not to exceed 90 days for Christmas decorative lighting, carnivals, and similar purposes. Other permitted uses (remodeling/maintenance/repair, and experimental or emergency work) have no fixed 90-day limit, and 1910.305(a)(2)(ii) requires the temporary wiring to be removed immediately upon completion of the project or purpose.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910 - OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Standards (General Industry), § 1910.305(a)(2)(i)(B), Page 884

Sample 4 — Project Design & Management

Question: What is the typical premium range for surety bonds, expressed as a percentage of the contract amount?

• A. Five percent to ten percent
• B. Ten percent to fifteen percent
• C. Three percent to five percent
• D. A half percent to two percent

Correct Answer: D

Bond premiums vary among surety companies but typically range from a half percent to two percent of the contract amount. Market conditions and prevailing industry practices set the percentage.

Reference: NASCLA Contractors Guide, Managing Risk chapter — Qualifying for a Bond section

Why Practice Online Instead of With a PDF

A PDF shows you questions. It doesn't show you the clock. Our practice exams are timed and on a screen, so you practice finding answers under time pressure, not just reading them. Each attempt draws a new set of questions from our bank, and your results break the score down by outline topic so you know what to study next.

Start Practicing

Take the free Mississippi - NASCLA ACCREDITED TRADE EXAMINATION FOR ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS practice exam to see where you stand, then work through the topics that need attention. For the official rules, read the exam bulletin, and see the licensing board's website.