Tennessee - CE - Electrical Contractor

Tennessee CE Electrical Contractor Exam: Complete 2026 Study Guide

You've put in the hours on the job. Now it's time to make it official. The Tennessee CE Electrical Contractor exam stands between you and a state contractor license — and with a 300-minute window and 100 questions covering everything from the NEC to OSHA safety rules, it rewards candidates who prepare with a plan. This guide walks you through exactly what's on the exam, which study materials to bring, and how to practice smart so you walk in confident. Start with our free practice exam to get a feel for the format right now.

Exam Overview: What to Expect on Test Day

The Tennessee CE Electrical Contractor exam is administered by Prov and consists of 100 questions with a 5-hour (300-minute) time limit. To pass, you need a score of at least 73% — meaning you must answer 73 or more questions correctly.

This is an open-book exam, which is good news. You can bring approved reference materials into the testing room. That said, open-book doesn't mean easy — the questions are specific and code-heavy, and hunting through the NEC under time pressure is a skill in itself. Handwritten notes, Post-it notes, moveable tabs, and photocopied books are not allowed. Bring clean, tabbed originals.

The exam is delivered at Prov testing centers. You'll receive your results by email as soon as you finish, and candidates testing at a physical center also get a printed score report before leaving. If you don't pass, you'll receive a diagnostic breakdown by subject area — useful information for your next attempt.

For full exam rules and scheduling details, check the official exam bulletin.

Topics Covered on the Tennessee CE Electrical Contractor Test

The exam spans 12 major subject areas drawn from the NEC, OSHA standards, and general electrical knowledge:

• General Electrical Knowledge (14 questions) — Core electrical theory, installation principles, and code fundamentals
• Wiring and Protection (23 questions) — The largest section; covers services, feeders, branch circuits, overcurrent protection, and grounding
• Wiring Methods and Materials (15 questions) — Conductors, cables, raceways, and boxes
• Motors and Controls (10 questions) — Motor circuits, transformers, and generators
• Communication Systems (7 questions) — Low voltage, alarms, signaling, and communications
• Equipment for General Use (6 questions) — Lighting, signs, and general-use equipment
• OSHA Safety (6 questions) — 29 CFR 1926 construction safety requirements
• Code Reading (5 questions) — Applied NEC interpretation and code lookup
• Special Occupancy (4 questions) — Specific building types with elevated requirements
• Special Equipment (4 questions) — Non-standard equipment categories under the NEC
• Hazardous Locations (4 questions) — Classified locations and explosion-proof requirements
• Plan Reading (2 questions) — Blueprint and diagram interpretation

Wiring and Protection is by far the most heavily weighted area — nearly a quarter of the exam. Prioritize it, but don't ignore the smaller sections; those 4- and 5-question topics can still make or break a 73% score.

Sample Questions from the Tennessee CE Electrical Contractor Exam

Here are five representative questions drawn from across the exam topics. Read through them carefully — they show exactly the style and depth of knowledge the PROV Electrical Exam tests.

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

Per NEC 225.30, a building or other structure that is served by a feeder or branch circuit shall be supplied by how many supplies, unless otherwise permitted?
A) One
B) Two
C) Three
D) Six

Question 2 — General Knowledge and Electrical Installation Requirements (Medium)

According to OSHA 29 CFR 1926.400, Subpart K covers electrical safety requirements necessary for the practical safeguarding of employees involved in construction work and is divided into four major divisions and applicable definitions.

Question 3 — Conductors and Cables (Medium)

Per NEC 310.15(B), ampacity correction factors for conductors in raceway or cable are applied when the ambient temperature differs from what standard temperature?
A) 20°C (68°F)
B) 25°C (77°F)
C) 30°C (86°F)
D) 40°C (104°F)

Question 4 — Overcurrent Protection (Medium)

According to NEC Article 240, what is the definition of a 'Tap Conductor'?
A) A service conductor that has overcurrent protection at its point of supply
B) A conductor, other than a service conductor, that has overcurrent protection ahead of its point of supply that exceeds the value permitted for similar conductors protected as described elsewhere in 240.4
C) A conductor that is permanently connected to a panelboard with its own dedicated overcurrent device
D) A conductor used exclusively for motor control circuits that does not require overcurrent protection

Question 5 — General Knowledge and Electrical Installation Requirements (Medium)

Before work begins on or near electric lines and equipment, what must be determined regarding existing characteristics and conditions?
A) Only the nominal voltages of lines and equipment
B) Only the locations of circuits and equipment
C) Characteristics and conditions related to safety, including nominal voltages, hazardous induced voltages, condition of poles, and environmental conditions
D) Only whether the lines are energized or de-energized

Not sure which answers are correct? Don't guess — take our free practice exam and find out how you do under timed conditions.

What Types of Questions to Expect

Our question bank for the Tennessee CE electrical contractor practice test includes 606 practice questions spread across all 12 exam topics. Here's what each section tests and how many questions we have for it:

• General Knowledge and Electrical Installation Requirements (120 questions) — Core theory, code application, and OSHA construction safety concepts from 29 CFR 1926
• Building Code Requirements (25 questions) — IBC provisions affecting electrical installations, occupancy classifications, and code compliance
• Services, Feeders, and Branch Circuits (55 questions) — Supply calculations, conductor sizing, load requirements, and NEC rules for services, feeders, and branch circuit wiring
• Overcurrent Protection (58 questions) — Fuse and breaker sizing, tap conductor rules, short-circuit and ground-fault protection
• Grounding and Bonding (55 questions) — Grounding electrode systems, equipment grounding conductors, bonding jumpers, and NEC grounding requirements
• Conductors and Cables (41 questions) — Ampacity tables, temperature correction factors, cable types, and conductor selection
• Raceways and Boxes (40 questions) — Conduit fill calculations, raceway types, box fill requirements, and installation rules
• Hazardous Locations, Special Occupancies, and Special Equipment (59 questions) — Classified location rules, explosion-proof equipment, specific occupancy requirements, and special equipment NEC articles
• Low Voltage, Alarms, Signaling Systems, and Communications (34 questions) — Class 2 and 3 circuits, fire alarm wiring, data and communication system installations
• Lighting, Signs and General Use Equipment (30 questions) — Luminaire installation, sign circuits, receptacle requirements, and general-use appliance rules
• OSHA and NFPA 70E Safety (30 questions) — Personal protective equipment, arc flash boundaries, lockout/tagout procedures, and construction site electrical safety
• Motors, Transformers, and Generators (59 questions) — Motor branch circuit sizing, overload protection, transformer installation, and generator requirements

Required Study Materials

This is an open-book exam, so what you bring to the table literally matters. These three references are approved for the Tennessee CE Electrical Contractor exam and cover the vast majority of what you'll be tested on:

NEC 2017 — National Electrical Code
This is the core reference. Nearly every technical question on the exam traces back to an NEC article. Invest time tabbing the sections you use most — Article 240, 310, 230, 250, and 430 get heavy traffic on this exam. Know your way around it before test day.

OSHA 29 CFR 1926 — Standards for the Construction Industry
Subpart K covers electrical safety in construction and accounts for 6 questions on the exam. The questions tend to be precise — exact definitions, division breakdowns, and specific safety requirements. This book is essential for those points.

Ugly's Electrical References 2020
Ugly's is compact, practical, and fast to search. It's excellent for quick lookups on conduit fill, wire sizing, motor data, and transformer calculations. It's also an approved reference, so bring it. Think of it as your cheat sheet that's actually allowed.

For a complete list of approved references, review the official exam bulletin before your exam date.

Study Tips for the Tennessee CE Electrical Contractor Exam

Practice until passing feels normal. Take a full practice exam several times. The goal is to consistently score above 73% so that clearing the threshold feels routine before you sit for the real thing. Our full practice exam mirrors the actual test — same question count, same time limit, same topic breakdown.

Use the open-book format strategically. Work through every question once: answer the ones you know cold and flag the ones you're unsure about. Come back to the flagged ones in your second pass. You can bookmark questions for review, just like on our practice exams. Don't sink more than a minute or two into any single question — the clock keeps running.

Aim to pass, not to be perfect. Your license won't show your exam score. Squeak by at 73% or ace it at 95% — the license looks identical either way. As we like to say, C's get licenses. Don't tally your running score during the exam; that mental pressure drags performance down.

Tab your books before test day. On an open-book exam, speed of lookup is a real skill. Practice finding answers in your NEC under a time limit during your study sessions so the motion is automatic on exam day.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

How do I register for the exam?
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.

How many questions are on the exam and how long do I have?
100 questions, 5 hours (300 minutes).

What is the passing score?
73%. All Tennessee contractor exams use this standard — you need 73 correct answers out of 100.

What topics are covered?
General Electrical Knowledge (14), 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. Handwritten notes, Post-it notes, moveable tabs, and photocopies are not allowed.

What reference books are allowed?
Approved references include the NEC 2017, NEC Handbook 2017, NFPA 70E (2012 and 2017 editions), Ugly's Electrical References 2020, American Electrician's Handbook 17th Edition, the International Building Code (2012 and 2021), and OSHA 29 CFR 1926. Through January 1, 2027, alternate references from prior vendor PSI are also permitted as listed in the exam bulletin.

What ID do I need?
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's the retake policy?
No waiting period, no limit on retakes. Once your score report is processed, register for the next available date. The retake fee is $53.

When do I get my results?
Immediately after you finish the exam — results are sent by email, and in-person test-takers also receive a printed score report before leaving. Candidates who don't pass get a diagnostic report highlighting weak subject areas.

For licensing requirements beyond the exam, visit the state licensing website.

Ready to Start Preparing?

The Tennessee CE Electrical Contractor exam is thorough, but it's very passable with the right materials and consistent practice. Get your NEC tabbed, know your OSHA Subpart K, and use practice exams to build the speed and confidence you'll need on test day.

Start for free today — take our free practice exam with 10 questions drawn from real exam topics and get a feel for what's ahead. When you're ready to go deeper, upgrade to the full practice exam for 606 questions, topic-by-topic scoring, and a format that mirrors the actual test. You've got this.