How to Pass the Tennessee CE Electrical Contractor Exam
You don't have to guess how to prepare for the Tennessee CE Electrical Contractor exam. This guide lays it out: the key facts from the official bulletin, the topics on the test, the books you need, sample questions with answers, and a study plan you can follow. PROV gives the exam.
Tennessee CE Electrical Contractor Exam Basics
Here's what the official bulletin says about the exam:
| Questions | 100 questions |
| Time limit | 5 hours |
| Passing score | 73% correct |
| Books in the exam room | Open book |
| Exam fee | $53 |
On exam day
- A current, valid, government-issued photo ID (driver's license, passport or military ID) is required, and you must also sign the log and be photographed.
- Arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment, when the doors open for check-in.
- Exams are open book, all reference materials are inspected before entry, and books with handwritten notes, moveable tabs, Post-it notes, photocopies or study guides are not allowed.
- Only highlighting and permanent tabs are allowed in reference books; handwritten notes, moveable tabs and Post-it notes are prohibited.
- Only simple 4-function calculators are permitted, and a simple calculator is built into the test.
- Cell phones, cameras, recorders, smart watches and other communication devices are prohibited in the testing room, note-taking is not allowed, and a simple calculator is built into the test.
References you may bring
- NFPA 70 - National Electric Code 2017
- Ugly's Electrical References (2020)
- OSHA 29 CFR 1926
- American Electrician's Handbook (17th Edition)
- NFPA 70E - Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace (2017)
- NFPA70E - Handbook for Electrical Safety in the Workplace (2017)
- International Building Code (2021)
Scheduling, changes and retakes
- To register and schedule for testing, go to https://www.provexam.com/register or call Prov at 866-720-7768.
- Only the CMC and CMC-A examinations require Board approval before scheduling; all other candidates register directly with Prov.
- You must contact Prov at least three business days before your test date to change or cancel, and rescheduling by that deadline is free.
- Arriving late after the session has begun means being turned away with fees forfeited, and failing to appear forfeits the exam fees.
- Results are scored immediately and reported by email, showing the numerical score and pass/fail, with a diagnostic report for candidates who fail.
- Failed exams may be retaken as many times as necessary with no waiting period, at $53 per attempt.
- After passing, the candidate must submit a license application with the score report to the Board, which decides whether the candidate qualifies.
Source: Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors Candidate Information Bulletin, TNCONT_CIB 2026.08.18. Check the bulletin before test day: fees and rules can change.
What's on the Tennessee CE Electrical Contractor Exam
The official content outline splits the exam into 12 topics:
| Topic | Questions | Share of the exam |
|---|---|---|
| General Electrical Knowledge | 14 | 14% |
| Plan Reading | 2 | 2% |
| Code Reading | 5 | 5% |
| Wiring and Protection | 23 | 23% |
| Wiring Methods and Materials | 15 | 15% |
| Equipment for General Use | 6 | 6% |
| Motors and Controls | 10 | 10% |
| Communication Systems | 7 | 7% |
| Special Occupancy | 4 | 4% |
| Special Equipment | 4 | 4% |
| Hazardous Locations | 4 | 4% |
| OSHA Safety | 6 | 6% |
Your Tennessee CE Electrical Contractor Study Plan
Your books are your best friend on this exam. It's open book, so the references on the bulletin's list are what you'll use on test day. Get your own copies in the editions the bulletin names.
Get to know them early. Spend time with each book's table of contents and index until you can find any major subject quickly. On an open-book exam, finding answers fast is the skill that counts.
Make the books yours. Highlight the sections you keep coming back to. The exam facts above list the bulletin's rules on tabs and markings, so follow them exactly.
Put your energy where the points are. Wiring and Protection and Wiring Methods and Materials make up 38% of the exam, so start there.
Practice with the clock running. Our timed practice exams help you build the pace the real exam needs: about 3 minutes per question. Every attempt is another rep.
Keep going until you pass practice exams consistently. One good score is a great start. A few passing scores in a row is how you know you're ready.
Books You'll Need for the Tennessee CE Electrical Contractor Exam
The CE exam references are the 2017 NFPA 70 National Electric Code, Ugly's Electrical References 2020, OSHA 29 CFR 1926 and the American Electrician's Handbook 17th Edition, plus three alternate (PSI-approved) references usable through January 1, 2027: NFPA 70E Standard 2017, the NFPA 70E Handbook 2017 and the 2021 International Building Code.
Where to get them:
Test Day Tips
Start with a quick pass through the whole exam. Answer every question you're sure about and bookmark the rest. Every exam lets you return to bookmarked questions, so nothing is lost by moving on.
Then come back to your bookmarks and work through them one at a time. Keep an eye on the clock: you have 5 hours for 100 questions, which is about 3 minutes per question. Before you finish, make sure every question has an answer. A blank can't earn a point.
Study Tips
On an open-book exam, work through every question once: answer the ones you know and skip the ones you don't. Then go back to the ones you flagged. You can bookmark questions for later review, just like on our exams — and don't sink too much time into any single question. The clock is still running.
Your license won't show your exam score. Whether you ace it or squeak by, you walk out licensed either way — as we like to say, C's get licenses. Aim to pass, not to be perfect, and don't tally your score as you go; that pressure only drags your performance down.
Try These Tennessee CE Electrical Contractor Practice Questions
Give these a try. They come from our practice question bank, each with its answer and reference.
Sample 1 — Motors and Controls
Question: For legally required emergency systems, transfer switches must be:
- A. Manual only
- B. Automatic only
- C. Automatic or manual with supervision
- D. Not required
Correct Answer: B
NEC 2026, 700.6 (NEC 2023: 700.5) and 701.6 (NEC 2023: 701.5): transfer equipment for emergency and legally required standby systems must be automatic; manual-only transfer is not permitted.
Reference: NEC 2017 Section 701.5(A)
Sample 2 — Communication Systems
Question: According to Article 840, which of the following does a premises-powered broadband communications system typically consist of?
- A. A network interface unit powered by the communications utility's network
- B. An optical fiber, twisted pair, or coaxial cable supplying a broadband signal to a network terminal that is powered at the premises
- C. A direct-buried power cable supplying 240 volts to customer equipment
- D. A wireless transmitter powered by solar panels on the customer's roof
Correct Answer: B
According to the National Electrical Code or National Electrical Code Handbook (Page 1095), Article 840.1 Informational Note No. 1 describes a typical system as an optical fiber, twisted pair, or coaxial cable to the premises supplying a broadband signal to a network terminal that converts the broadband signal into component electrical signals, with powering typically accomplished through a premises power supply.
Reference: NEC 2017 Section 840.1
Sample 3 — Equipment for General Use
Question: You are a licensed electrical contractor installing a 200 kVA dry-type transformer indoors in a warehouse. The transformer has Class 155 insulation. Per NEC 450.21(B), Exception No. 1, what minimum horizontal separation from combustible material is required in lieu of installing the transformer in a fire-resistant room?
- A. 300 mm (12 in.)
- B. 1.22 m (4 ft)
- C. 1.83 m (6 ft)
- D. 3.05 m (10 ft)
Correct Answer: C
Per NEC 450.21(B), Exception No. 1, transformers with Class 155 or higher insulation systems may be installed outside a fire-resistant room if separated from combustible material by a fire-resistant, heat-insulating barrier or by not less than 1.83 m (6 ft) horizontally and 3.7 m (12 ft) vertically.
Reference: NEC 2017 Section 450.21(B), Exception No. 1
Sample 4 — OSHA Safety
Question: According to NFPA 70E PPE categories in Ugly's Electrical References, PPE Category 3 requires arc-rated clothing with a minimum arc rating of ______ cal/cm².
- A. 4
- B. 8
- C. 25
- D. 40
Correct Answer: C
According to Ugly's Electrical References (Pages 182-183), the NFPA 70E PPE Category system specifies four categories. PPE Category 1 requires a minimum arc rating of 4 cal/cm², Category 2 requires 8 cal/cm², Category 3 requires 25 cal/cm², and Category 4 requires 40 cal/cm².
Reference: Ugly's Electrical References 2020, Page 182
Why Practice Online?
Reading questions in a PDF is a start, but it doesn't prepare you for the clock. Our practice exams are timed and on a screen, so you build speed along with knowledge. Each attempt draws a new set of questions from our bank, and your results show your score by topic so you know where to focus next.
Ready to Start?
Take the free Tennessee CE Electrical Contractor practice exam and see where you stand today. Then focus on the topics that need the most work. For the official rules, read the exam bulletin, and see the licensing board's website.