Tennessee CE Electrical Contractor

Tennessee CE Electrical Contractor Exam: Complete Study Guide (2026)

Passing the Tennessee Electrical Contractor exam is the gateway to working as a licensed electrical contractor in the state. Whether you're sitting for this test for the first time or coming back after a previous attempt, understanding exactly what the exam covers — and how to prepare for it — makes a real difference. This guide walks you through the exam format, topic breakdown, sample questions, approved references, and practical study strategies so you can walk in confident on test day.

Exam Overview

The Tennessee CE electrical contractor test is administered by Prov and consists of 100 scored questions. You have 300 minutes (5 hours) to complete it. The passing score is 73%, which means you need at least 73 correct answers to pass.

The exam is delivered in an open-book format at a Prov testing center. You can bring approved reference materials into the room, but there are rules: no handwritten notes, no Post-it notes, no moveable tabs, and no photocopied books. Only clean, approved references are allowed.

Results are immediate. Once you finish, your score appears by email, and candidates testing at a physical center receive a printed score report before leaving. If you don't pass, you'll also get a diagnostic breakdown showing which topic areas need more work — genuinely useful for planning your next attempt.

For the full list of approved references and testing policies, check the official exam bulletin.

Topics Covered on the Tennessee CE Electrical Contractor Exam

The exam draws questions from 12 topic areas. Here's what each covers and how many questions you can expect from each:

• Wiring and Protection — 23 questions. Branch-circuit ratings, GFCI/AFCI requirements, grounding and bonding, overcurrent protection, and service requirements. This is the single heaviest section — prioritize it.
• Wiring Methods and Materials — 15 questions. Conductor ampacity, insulation types, parallel conductors, cable wiring methods (NM, AC, MC, and others), and raceway methods (EMT, PVC, RMC, etc.).
• General Electrical Knowledge — 14 questions. NEC definitions, code structure, equipment approval and listing (Article 110), working space clearances, and grounding basics.
• Motors and Controls — 10 questions. Branch-circuit conductor sizing, short-circuit protection ratings from Table 430.52, overload protection, disconnecting means, and controller types.
• Communication Systems — 7 questions. Article 800 (communications grounding), cable type classifications (CMP, CMR, CM, CMX), primary protector requirements, CATV grounding (Article 820), and antenna systems (Article 810).
• Equipment for General Use — 6 questions. Motor circuit calculations, transformer overcurrent protection, luminaire installation, and disconnecting means requirements.
• OSHA Safety — 6 questions. Lockout/tagout, PPE and arc flash categories, shock protection boundaries, and GFCI/assured equipment grounding programs.
• Code Reading — 5 questions. NEC structure (Chapters 1–9 and Annexes), mandatory vs. permissive language, and key definitions.
• Special Occupancy — 4 questions. Hazardous location classification (Class I, II, III; Division 1 and 2), material groups, and protection techniques.
• Special Equipment — 4 questions. Hazardous location classification with Zones, T-codes, protection techniques, and bonding in classified locations.
• Hazardous Locations — 4 questions. Class/Division/Group classifications, protection methods (explosionproof, dusttight, intrinsically safe), equipment marking, and wiring methods.
• Plan Reading — 2 questions. Electrical symbols for outlets, switches, wiring notation, transformers, motors, and control devices on drawings.

Focus your heaviest study time on Wiring and Protection, Wiring Methods and Materials, and General Electrical Knowledge — together they account for more than half the exam.

Sample Questions

Here are five real-style questions from the Tennessee CE electrical contractor practice test. Try them before checking — no peeking at answers!

Question 1 (Equipment for General Use)
You are reviewing plans for an outdoor ground sign to be constructed using a combustible structural frame. According to the IBC Appendix H, what is the maximum height above the ground permitted for this type of sign?
- A) 25 feet
- B) 35 feet
- C) 50 feet
- D) 100 feet

Question 2 (General Electrical Knowledge)
As a licensed electrical contractor, you are called to evaluate a commercial building's electrical installation. You notice equipment that is listed by a recognized testing laboratory. According to NEC Article 110.3(B), what is the requirement regarding the installation and use of this equipment?
- A) Listed equipment may be installed using any method the contractor deems appropriate
- B) Listed or labeled equipment shall be installed and used in accordance with any instructions included in the listing or labeling
- C) Listed equipment requires additional field testing before installation
- D) Listed equipment only needs to comply with local building codes, not manufacturer instructions

Question 3 (Wiring and Protection)
According to NEC Section 220.14(I), receptacle outlets shall be calculated at not less than how many volt-amperes for each single or multiple receptacle on one yoke?
- A) 90 volt-amperes
- B) 120 volt-amperes
- C) 180 volt-amperes
- D) 200 volt-amperes

Question 4 (Wiring and Protection)
According to NEC 240.13, ground-fault protection of equipment is required for solidly grounded wye electrical systems of more than 150 volts to ground but not exceeding 1000 volts phase-to-phase when the main disconnecting means is rated at what minimum amperage?
- A) 600 amperes or more
- B) 800 amperes or more
- C) 1000 amperes or more
- D) 1200 amperes or more

Question 5 (Hazardous Locations)
You are wiring a commercial repair garage that performs major repairs including fuel tank draining. The garage floor has adequate mechanical ventilation providing at least 1 ft³/min/ft² of floor area with suction taken from within 300 mm (12 in.) of floor level. Per NEC Table 511.3(C), what is the classification of the area up to 450 mm (18 in.) above the floor level?
- A) Class I, Division 1
- B) Class I, Division 2
- C) Unclassified
- D) Class II, Division 2

Not sure on a few of those? Take our free practice exam to test your knowledge and get a feel for the real thing.

What Types of Questions to Expect

Our full practice question bank contains 752 questions across all 12 topic areas. Here's what each area tests — and exactly how many practice questions we offer:

• General Electrical Knowledge (130 questions): NEC definitions, code authority, equipment listing requirements, working space clearances, and grounding fundamentals.
• Plan Reading (7 questions): Identifying outlet, switch, motor, transformer, and control device symbols; reading wiring notation for home runs and conductor counts.
• Code Reading (19 questions): Navigating NEC chapter structure, distinguishing mandatory from permissive rules, and locating definitions and equipment approval requirements.
• Wiring and Protection (224 questions): The largest section by far — branch-circuit load calculations, GFCI/AFCI location rules, grounding electrode systems, overcurrent device sizing, and service conductor requirements.
• Wiring Methods and Materials (104 questions): Ampacity table lookups with correction and adjustment factors, conductor insulation type selection, parallel conductor rules, and permitted uses for cable and raceway types.
• Equipment for General Use (38 questions): Motor branch-circuit sizing, transformer overcurrent protection and vault requirements, luminaire installation rules, and disconnecting means.
• Motors and Controls (90 questions): Applying the 125% FLC rule, reading Table 430.52, calculating overload trip thresholds, and selecting disconnecting means and controller types.
• Communication Systems (37 questions): Article 800/810/820 requirements — grounding conductors for communications, cable type selection by application, protector placement, and CATV bonding.
• Special Occupancy (31 questions): Class/Division classification, material group assignments, protection technique selection, and wiring method requirements for classified spaces.
• Special Equipment (19 questions): Zone classification, T-code equipment marking, protection techniques in hazardous locations, and bonding requirements.
• Hazardous Locations (27 questions): Class I/II/III Division 1 and 2 wiring methods, equipment marking, group identification, and protection method selection.
• OSHA Safety (26 questions): Lockout/tagout steps, arc flash PPE categories, approach boundary distances, and GFCI program requirements under 29 CFR 1926.

Approved Study Materials

The Tennessee CE electrical contractor test is open book, so having the right references — and knowing how to use them fast — is a genuine competitive advantage.

NEC 2017 (NFPA 70) — This is your primary reference. The 2017 edition is the code version approved for this exam. Tab it by article number, know the table locations (especially Articles 310, 430, and 240), and practice flipping to the right section under time pressure. If you're slow with the code, the 5-hour clock will feel tight.

OSHA 29 CFR 1926 — Required for the OSHA Safety section. This covers lockout/tagout, PPE, GFCI programs, and electrical safety standards for construction. Six questions come from this area, so don't skip it.

Ugly's Electrical References 2020 — A compact quick-reference guide used by electricians in the field and on exams. It's great for fast lookups on ampacity, conduit fill, motor data, and more. Much faster to flip through than the full NEC for certain table-based questions.

Other approved references include the NEC 2017 Handbook, NFPA 70E (2012 or 2017 editions), the American Electrician's Handbook 17th Edition, and the International Building Code (2012 or 2021). Through January 1, 2027, references from the prior testing vendor (PSI) are also permitted as listed in the bulletin.

Study Tips for the Tennessee CE Electrical Contractor Exam

Start with practice exams. Our free practice exam gives you 10 questions at no cost — great for getting oriented. When you're ready to prep seriously, the full practice exam matches the real test: 100 questions, 300-minute time limit, and the same topic breakdown, with a detailed score report by subject area so you know exactly where to focus.

Take the practice exam multiple times. The goal is to consistently clear 73% so that passing feels routine, not stressful, when the real day arrives.

Work open-book efficiently. Answer what you know first, skip what you don't, then loop back. Flag questions for review and move on — don't lose 10 minutes on one hard question while the clock runs. Bookmark questions just like you can on our practice exams.

Aim to pass, not to be perfect. Your license doesn't show your score. Whether you hit 73% or 99%, you walk out with the same credential. As we like to say: C's get licenses. Don't tally your score as you go — that kind of running count adds pressure and hurts performance.

Study topics by their exam weight. Wiring and Protection (23 questions) and Wiring Methods and Materials (15 questions) are where your time pays off most. Don't over-invest in Plan Reading (2 questions) at the expense of the heavy hitters.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the exam cost?
The fee is $53, paid directly to Prov at registration. That same $53 applies whether it's your first attempt or a retake.

How do I register?
Register online at the exam registration page or call Prov at (866) 720-7768. You'll need your name, Social Security Number, address, email, and phone number ready.

How many questions are on the exam and how much time do I have?
The exam has 100 questions and you have 5 hours (300 minutes) to complete it.

What is the passing score?
All Tennessee contractor exams use a 73% passing standard. You need at least 73 correct answers out of 100.

What topics are covered?
The exam covers General Electrical Knowledge (14 questions), Wiring and Protection (23), Wiring Methods and Materials (15), Motors and Controls (10), Communication Systems (7), Equipment for General Use (6), OSHA Safety (6), Code Reading (5), Special Occupancy (4), Special Equipment (4), Hazardous Locations (4), and Plan Reading (2).

Is the exam open book?
Yes. You may bring approved references into the testing room. No handwritten notes, Post-it notes, moveable tabs, or photocopied materials are allowed.

What references are allowed?
Approved materials include the NEC 2017, NEC 2017 Handbook, NFPA 70E (2012 or 2017), Ugly's Electrical References 2020, American Electrician's Handbook 17th Edition, International Building Code (2012 or 2021), and OSHA 29 CFR 1926. Prior PSI-approved references are also accepted through January 1, 2027.

What ID do I need?
Bring a current, valid, government-issued photo ID — driver's license, passport, or military ID. Expired IDs, temporary paper licenses, and birth certificates are not accepted.

What if I fail?
There's no waiting period and no limit on retakes. Once your score report is processed, you can register for the next available date. The retake fee is the same $53.

When will I get my results?
Results arrive by email as soon as you finish. Testing center candidates also receive a printed score report before they leave. Failing candidates get a diagnostic report identifying weak subject areas — useful for targeted review before your next attempt.

Ready to Start Preparing?

The PROV Electrical Exam is thorough, but it's very passable with the right preparation. You've got 5 hours, your books in hand, and a clear picture of what's coming. Start with our free practice exam to get a baseline, then work through the full practice bank to build confidence across every topic. For more information on licensing requirements, visit the state licensing website. You've got this.