Maryland Master Electrician Practice Exam
Free Practice Exam
Test your knowledge with 10 questions from our pool of 20 free questions.
- 10 questions per attempt
- 30 minute time limit
- Unlimited attempts
- A new mix each time
- Instant results
Full Practice Exam
Complete exam simulation matching the real PSI test format.
- 90 questions (same as real exam)
- 240 minute time limit
- 8 topic areas covered
- 438 questions in pool
- Detailed explanations
Texts preferred · 9am–9pm Central
Maryland Master Electrician: Practice Exam Guide
What's on the exam
Questions per topic, out of 90The Maryland Master Electrician exam is 90 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 70%. The exam is worth 100 points (Electrical Theory items count 2 points each), so passing requires 70 of the 100 points.
Two ways to practice here:
Free practice exam — 10 questions per attempt, drawn from a limited pool. Retake it as many times as you want. Good for getting a feel for question style and format before you commit to serious prep.
Full practice exam — 90 questions, 240-minute time limit, mirrors the real thing exactly. Questions are pulled from a pool of 438 items, so every attempt gives you a different mix. No two exams are identical. Questions are built from the same topic blueprint the official test provider uses.
Start with the free exam. If you're serious about passing, move to the full exam — you need volume and variety to be ready.
Calculations 30 items (33% of the exam)
This is the heaviest section. One-third of your score lives here. You must be able to work through:
- Branch-circuit and feeder load calculations for dwelling units using both the standard method and the optional method. Know NEC, Section 220.82(B) and 220.82(C)(3), (C)(4), and (C)(5) for optional method dwelling loads. Know NEC, Section 220.52(A) for small-appliance and laundry circuits.
- Service load calculations for multifamily occupancies using NEC Table 220.84 and the optional calculation at NEC, Section 220.83(A) and 220.83(B). Commercial demand factor work also appears here.
- Motor circuit conductor sizing — single motor, multiple motors, and combination loads. NEC, Section 430.22 and 430.24 are heavily tested. You'll size conductors using full-load current from NEC, Section 430.6(A)(1), not nameplate amps.
- Motor branch-circuit short-circuit and ground-fault protection using NEC, Table 430.52 and the exceptions at NEC, Section 430.52(C)(1) Exception No. 1 and Exception No. 2.
- Motor overload protection sizing per NEC, Section 430.32(A)(1), (A)(2), and 430.32(C). Know the trip current percentages cold.
- Conductor ampacity correction and adjustment factors — ambient temperature correction and bundling adjustment. NEC, Section 310.15(B)(2) governs adjustment factors for more than three current-carrying conductors.
You will have access to an online calculator at the test center; personal calculators and other personal items are not permitted in the examination room. Work every step. A single missed multiplier costs you the question.
Wiring and Protection 14 items
NEC-based questions across overcurrent protection, conductor protection, and service equipment. Expect questions on standard overcurrent device ratings from NEC, Section 240.6(A), next-size-up rules at NEC, Section 240.4(B), and feeder protection under NEC, Section 215.3. Available fault current marking requirements from NEC, Section 110.24(A) and 110.24(B) appear in this section.
Wiring Methods and Materials 13 items
Covers permitted wiring methods, installation requirements, and physical protection rules. Know pull and junction box sizing per NEC, Section 314.28(A)(1) and 314.28(A)(2). Understand wiring in ducts and plenums under NEC, Section 300.22(B) and 300.22(C)(1). Protection through wood members is governed by NEC, Section 300.4(A)(1). Aboveground methods for over 1000 volts fall under NEC, Section 300.37.
Electrical Theory 10 items
Definitions, Ohm's Law, AC theory, troubleshooting, and instruments. Questions come straight from Article 100 definitions — know the exact NEC definitions for terms like separately derived system, ground fault, overload, selective coordination, interrupting rating, voltage to ground, and neutral point. Metric prefixes, resistance principles, and conductor conductivity show up here too.
Special Occupancies 8 items
Class I hazardous locations dominate. Know Division classifications under NEC, Section 500.5(B)(2) and 500.5(C)(1). Wiring methods for Class I, Division 1 and Division 2 are tested — see NEC, Section 501.10(A)(2)(3) and NEC, Section 501.10(B)(1)(6). Sealing requirements under NEC, Section 501.15(A)(1) and 501.15(B)(2) are specific and commonly tested.
Equipment for General Use 9 items
Motor controllers, switches, panelboards, appliances, and luminaires. NEC, Section 430.83(C)(1) for motor controller ratings, NEC, Section 404.8(A) for switch accessibility, and NEC, Section 422.11(E) for appliance overcurrent protection all appear. Know the difference between a switchboard, panelboard, and switchgear per Article 100 definitions.
Special Equipment 4 items
Signs and outline lighting (Article 600) and cranes and hoists (Article 610) appear here. NEC, Section 600.23(D), 600.23(E), and 600.32(A)(4) and (A)(5) are cited references. NEC, Section 610.33 and 610.57 cover cranes.
Special Communications 2 items
Two questions, minimal weight. Know the basics of emergency systems under NEC, Section 700.10(D)(2) and 700.12(C), and legally required standby per NEC, Section 701.12.
Question 1
When modifications to the electrical installation occur that affect the available fault current at the service, what action is required regarding the service equipment?
- A. The building owner must notify all tenants of the change in available fault current
- B. The service equipment must be replaced with equipment rated for the new fault current
- C. A new arc-flash study must be submitted to the utility company
- D. The available fault current shall be verified or recalculated and the field marking adjusted to reflect the new level
Correct Answer: D
NEC, Section 110.24(B) is direct: when modifications affect available fault current at the service, you verify or recalculate it, and you update the field marking. The code does not require equipment replacement as a default, does not require tenant notification, and does not require an arc-flash study submission to the utility. The marking requirement is what makes this a code-compliance question, not an engineering judgment question.
Question 2
Which of the following aboveground wiring methods is permitted for circuits rated over 1000 volts nominal?
- A. Nonmetallic-sheathed cable (Type NM)
- B. Electrical nonmetallic tubing (ENT)
- C. Underground feeder cable (Type UF)
- D. Electrical metallic tubing (EMT)
Correct Answer: D
Per NEC, Section 300.37, aboveground conductors over 1000 volts must be installed in rigid metal conduit, intermediate metal conduit, EMT, rigid thermosetting or thermoplastic conduit, cable trays, auxiliary gutters, busways, cablebus, or other identified raceways, or as exposed runs of listed metal-clad cable. NM cable, ENT, and UF cable are not on that list. EMT is — and that's the answer.
70% is the line. The exam is worth 100 points across 90 questions, so that's 70 points.
Your first practice score is a diagnostic, not a verdict. That's useful — it shows you where the gaps are before they cost you on the real exam.
Look at your results by topic, not just your total. A 75% overall score that hides a 40% on Calculations is a problem — Calculations is 33% of the exam. A weak topic at that weight can pull your total below the line even if everything else is solid.
Scoring between 70% and 78% on practice usually means you're close but not there yet. The real exam will have questions you haven't seen. Build a buffer. Aim for consistent 80%+ on full practice attempts before you sit.
Use each attempt to identify which NEC sections you're guessing on. Then go look them up. Targeted review beats re-reading chapters you already know.
The Calculations section carries the most points. Thirty items, 30 of the exam's 100 points. Common mistakes:
- Using nameplate amperes instead of NEC table full-load current for motor calculations. NEC, Section 430.6(A)(1) requires table values. Using the nameplate gets you the wrong answer every time.
- Skipping the demand factor step on dwelling or multifamily service calculations. NEC Table 220.84 and the optional method rules have specific demand percentages — apply them.
- Misapplying conductor ampacity adjustment factors. Forgetting to apply both a temperature correction and a bundling adjustment when both conditions exist is a common error.
- Picking the wrong standard overcurrent device size — know NEC, Section 240.6(A) ratings by memory, and know when next-size-up under NEC, Section 240.4(B) applies and when it doesn't.
On code questions:
- Mixing up hazardous location Division 1 and Division 2 wiring method requirements. They're different. Know which methods are restricted to which division.
- Confusing Article 100 definitions. Overload, overcurrent, ground fault, and fault current have distinct definitions. Questions hinge on the exact language.
On time: 240 minutes for 90 questions is 2 minutes 40 seconds per question. The calculation problems eat more time. Don't let theory questions bleed into your calculation budget.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total questions | 90 |
| Time limit | 240 minutes |
| Passing score | 70% (exam scored out of 100 points) |
| Number of topic areas | 8 |
| Heaviest topic | Calculations (30 items) |
| Practice pool (full exam) | 438 questions |
| Free practice questions | 10 per attempt |