Mississippi Residential Electrician

Mississippi Residential Electrician Exam: What You Need to Know in 2026

You've put in the hours on the job. Now you need to pass one test to make it official. The Mississippi Residential Electrician exam is 60 questions, open book, and administered by PSI. Pass it, and you're licensed. Fail it, and you're burning time and money on a retake. This guide covers the exam format, every topic on the test, sample questions, and what you need to study — so you walk in ready. Start with our free practice exam to see where you stand right now.

Exam Overview

Here are the facts you need before you register:

• Questions: 60 scored questions
• Time limit: 180 minutes (3 hours)
• Passing score: 70% — that means 42 correct out of 60
• Format: Computer-based, open book
• Administered by: PSI

The exam is open book, but don't let that fool you. You won't have time to look up every answer. The open-book format rewards people who already know the material and can use their references to confirm details — not people who are reading the NEC for the first time mid-test.

You'll get your score immediately after finishing. Pass, and you get a notification and performance summary. Don't pass, and you get a diagnostic report showing which topics gave you trouble — useful information for your next attempt.

Register through PSI at the exam registration page or call (855) 557-0619. Check the official exam bulletin for full candidate instructions.

Topics Covered on the Mississippi Residential Electrician Exam

The 60 questions are distributed across nine topic areas. Here's the breakdown, ordered by weight on the real exam:

1. Services, Feeders, and Branch Circuits — 15 questions
   The largest section. Covers service conductor clearances, disconnect requirements, entrance conductor sizing, branch circuit ratings, and feeder load calculations.

2. General Electrical Knowledge — 13 questions
   GFCI and AFCI protection requirements, branch circuit conductor sizing, overcurrent devices, and grounding/bonding fundamentals.

3. Grounding and Bonding — 6 questions
   Electrode systems, conductor sizing, equipment grounding conductors, bonding jumpers, and bonding of piping and structural metal.

4. Overcurrent Protection — 5 questions
   Standard ampere ratings, conductor protection rules, device location requirements, tap conductor rules, and ground-fault protection of equipment.

5. Conductors and Cables — 5 questions
   Ampacity tables (Table 310.16 and related), temperature and adjustment factors, insulation designations, minimum conductor sizes, and conductor identification.

6. Raceways and Boxes — 4 questions
   Conduit types and uses, securing requirements, conduit fill calculations, bend limits, and box fill calculations.

7. Lighting — 4 questions
   Installation requirements by location, recessed luminaire rules (IC vs. non-IC), support methods, grounding of luminaires, and wiring requirements.

8. Specialty — 4 questions
   Pools, spas, hot tubs, and fountains: GFCI requirements, equipotential bonding, underwater luminaires, receptacle clearances, and pool motor wiring.

9. Safety — 4 questions
   GFCI and assured equipment grounding programs, lockout/tagout, PPE for electrical work, working clearances, and system grounding.

Services, Feeders, and Branch Circuits carries the most weight. General Electrical Knowledge is close behind. Those two sections alone account for 28 of the 60 questions — nearly half the exam. That's where to focus the most study time.

Sample Mississippi Residential Electrician Exam Questions

Here are four actual-style questions to show you what the Mississippi electrical practice exam looks like:

Question 1 — Services, Feeders, and Branch Circuits (Medium)

What is the minimum vertical clearance required for overhead service conductors over residential property and driveways where the voltage does not exceed 300 volts to ground?

• A) 12 feet
• B) 18 feet
• C) 10 feet
• D) 15 feet

Question 2 — Specialty (Easy)

Wiring methods installed in corrosive environments around pools shall contain an insulated copper equipment grounding conductor sized per Table 250.122 but not smaller than ______ AWG.

• A) 14
• B) 10
• C) 12
• D) 8

Question 3 — Services, Feeders, and Branch Circuits (Hard)

A feeder disconnect rated 1000 amperes or more, installed on a solidly grounded wye electrical system of more than 150 volts to ground but not exceeding 600 volts phase-to-phase, is required to be provided with ground-fault protection of equipment. True or False?

Question 4 — Specialty (Easy)

The disconnecting means for air-conditioning or refrigerating equipment is permitted to be installed on panels designed to allow access to the equipment. True or False?

Know the answers? Take our free practice exam and put yourself to the test.

What Types of Questions to Expect

Here's what each topic actually tests — and how many practice questions we have available for each:

General Electrical Knowledge (148 practice questions) — Expect questions on where GFCI and AFCI protection is required, how to size branch circuit conductors, and how to select the right overcurrent device for a given application.

Services, Feeders, and Branch Circuits (75 practice questions) — Questions here cover overhead clearance calculations, service disconnect rules, entrance conductor sizing, and feeder load math. Expect some calculation-based problems.

Overcurrent Protection (49 practice questions) — These questions test standard fuse and breaker ratings, where overcurrent devices must be located, tap conductor length rules, and when ground-fault protection of equipment is required.

Grounding and Bonding (114 practice questions) — Covers electrode system types and installation, grounding electrode conductor sizing from Table 250.66, equipment grounding conductor identification and sizing, and bonding requirements for piping and service equipment.

Conductors and Cables (130 practice questions) — Expect Table 310.16 lookups, ambient temperature correction factors, adjustment factors when more than three conductors share a raceway, insulation type identification (THWN, XHHW, USE, etc.), and minimum conductor size rules.

Raceways and Boxes (74 practice questions) — Questions cover conduit type identification (EMT, PVC, IMC, FMC, and others), Chapter 9 fill percentage calculations, maximum bend rules, and box fill calculations based on conductor count and volume.

Lighting (54 practice questions) — Tests knowledge of where luminaires must be rated for wet or damp locations, IC vs. non-IC recessed fixtures, weight limits for outlet-box-supported fixtures, and conductor insulation requirements inside luminaires.

Specialty (26 practice questions) — Pool and spa questions: GFCI protection distances, equipotential bonding grid requirements, wet-niche vs. dry-niche luminaire rules, and minimum clearances for receptacles near water.

Safety (121 practice questions) — Covers GFCI use and assured equipment grounding programs in construction, lockout/tagout procedures, required PPE types, and NEC working clearance dimensions around electrical equipment.

In total, we have 791 practice questions across all nine topics.

Study Materials for the Mississippi Residential Electrician Exam

This is an open-book exam. You need the right references — and you need to be able to use them fast.

Required references you must bring:
- NEC 2020 (National Electrical Code)
- OSHA 29 CFR 1926 — OSHA Standards for the Construction Industry. Safety questions on the exam draw directly from this.
- IRC 2021 — International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings. Know where to find residential construction requirements quickly.
- Ugly's Electrical References (George V. Hart, 2017)

Your references may be highlighted, underlined, and tabbed with permanent tabs. They cannot have handwritten notes or loose papers inserted.

Tools that save time during the exam:

• Sharpie Tank Highlighters — A set of 12 fluorescent highlighters in assorted colors. Color-code by topic: one color for grounding, another for overcurrent protection, another for service rules. When you're under the clock, you find the right page in seconds instead of flipping around.

• Redi-Tag Permanent White Tabs — 375 adhesive laser tabs per pack. Tab every major NEC article, every table you'll reference (310.16, 250.66, Chapter 9), and the relevant OSHA sections. These stay put and give you a labeled index in every book.

If your books aren't tabbed and color-coded before test day, you're wasting time you don't have.

Study Tips for the Mississippi Residential Electrician Exam

Practice against the clock. The exam gives you 3 hours for 60 questions — that's 3 minutes per question. Sounds like plenty until you're doing a feeder calculation under pressure. Use timed practice tests to build your pacing. When the format feels routine, the clock stops being a problem.

Read every explanation, win or lose. Getting a question right by guessing doesn't help you. Read the explanation every time — right or wrong. That's how you understand the underlying NEC rule, so you can answer a reworded version of the same question without hesitation.

Practice in the real format. Our full practice exam mirrors the actual PSI exam: same 60 questions, same 180-minute limit, same topic breakdown. Practicing in that format means no surprises on test day. The detailed score breakdown by topic also tells you exactly where to spend your final review hours.

Tab your books before test day. Don't show up with clean, un-tabbed references. You should be able to open to Table 310.16, Article 230, or NEC 250 in under 10 seconds.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the Mississippi Residential Electrician exam and how long do I have?
The exam has 60 scored questions. You have 180 minutes — 3 hours — to complete it.

What is the passing score for the Mississippi Residential Electrician exam?
You need a minimum of 70%, which works out to 42 correct answers out of 60.

How much does it cost to take the exam?
The exam fee is $120 per examination portion. That applies whether it's your first attempt or a retake. The fee is not refundable or transferable.

How do I register for the exam?
Your eligibility must be confirmed by the Mississippi Contractor Licensing Board before you can register. Once PSI emails you a confirmation notice, you can register online at the exam registration page (available 24 hours a day) or by phone at (855) 557-0619.

Is the exam open book?
Yes. You may bring the NEC 2020, OSHA 29 CFR 1926, IRC 2021, and Ugly's Electrical References (Hart, 2017). Books may be highlighted, underlined, and permanently tabbed — but no handwritten notes and no loose papers.

What ID do I need?
One valid, non-expired photo ID that also bears your signature: a driver's license, state-issued ID, U.S. passport, U.S. military ID, alien registration card, or Canadian government-issued ID. The name must exactly match your registration.

Can I use a calculator?
Yes — a silent, battery-operated, non-programmable calculator with no paper tape and no alphabetic keyboard.

What if I fail?
You can retest as many times as needed during your 6-month eligibility window. If you don't pass within that window, you'll need to reapply with the Mississippi Contractor Licensing Board before retesting.

When do I get my results?
Immediately. Your score appears on the computer screen as soon as you finish. Pass and you get a performance summary. Don't pass and you get a topic-by-topic diagnostic report.

What topics does the exam cover?
Nine topic areas: General Electrical Knowledge (13 items), Services, Feeders, and Branch Circuits (15 items), Overcurrent Protection (5 items), Grounding and Bonding (6 items), Conductors and Cables (5 items), Raceways and Boxes (4 items), Lighting (4 items), Specialty (4 items), and Safety (4 items). Full details are on the state licensing website.

Get Started Today

The Mississippi Residential Electrician exam is straightforward if you prepare for it the right way. Know your NEC, tab your books, and practice in the real exam format. Start free — take our free practice exam and see which topics need work. When you're ready to go deep, the full practice exam gives you 791 questions across all nine topic areas with a detailed score breakdown so you know exactly where to focus before test day.

You've done the job. Now pass the test.