Current Michigan Master format: the PSI exam contains 76 questions, allows 180 minutes, requires 75% to pass and is open book. The active exam basis is the 2023 NEC with Michigan Electrical Code Rules Part 8 and applicable state laws.
The Michigan Master Electrician examination is administered by PSI for the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Construction Codes. It tests advanced electrical code knowledge, electrical theory, calculations, state law and the additional planning and supervision knowledge expected at the Master level.
The exam covers grounding and bonding, overcurrent protection, wiring methods and installations, boxes and cabinets, services, feeders, motors and motor controls, special occupancies, load calculations, lighting, appliances, box and raceway fill, power-limited circuits, general trade knowledge and electrical theory.
Exam answer: 76 questions, 180 minutes, 75% passing score and open-book testing.
Code answer: the current Michigan and PSI exam basis is the 2023 NEC with Michigan Electrical Code Rules Part 8. Michigan is working on proposed 2026 NEC-based rules, but the current exam remains based on the 2023 NEC.
Contractor distinction: Michigan currently does not require a separate Electrical Contractor examination. A contractor license is a business credential requiring an associated Michigan Master Electrician responsible for code compliance.
The Master exam goes beyond the Journeyman level by adding knowledge required to plan and supervise electrical installations. That makes calculation accuracy, code navigation, system-wide planning and trade judgment especially important.
This page uses 10 official Michigan and PSI authority resources for exam, licensing, code, reference and contractor information, with 1 Exam Prep products used for study-material details.
PSI identifies these Master Electrician knowledge areas. The current bulletin does not publish individual question counts for each subject, so no unsupported official percentages are shown.
| Exam Area | What to Study | Official Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Grounding and Bonding | Grounding electrodes, bonding, equipment grounding, sizing and effective fault-current paths | PSI topic, count not published |
| Overcurrent Protection | Breakers, fuses, OCPD sizing, conductor protection and system protection requirements | PSI topic, count not published |
| Wiring Methods and Installations | Conductors, raceways, cables, support, protection, fittings and code-compliant installation methods | PSI topic, count not published |
| Boxes and Cabinets | Box fill, pull boxes, cabinets, conductor allowances and equipment installation | PSI topic, count not published |
| Services and Feeders | Service conductors, service equipment, feeder sizing, disconnects, load calculations and protection | PSI topic, count not published |
| Motors and Motor Controls | Motor conductor sizing, overloads, short-circuit protection, controllers and motor calculations | PSI topic, count not published |
| Special Occupancies | Hazardous locations, healthcare, pools, special equipment and occupancy-specific requirements | PSI topic, count not published |
| Load Calculations | Residential and commercial loads, demand factors, services, feeders and conductor sizing | PSI topic, count not published |
| Lighting and Appliances | Lighting loads, luminaires, controls, appliances and general-use equipment | PSI topic, count not published |
| Box and Raceway Fill | Box-volume calculations, conductor allowances, raceway fill and conductor-count rules | PSI topic, count not published |
| Power-Limited Circuits | Low-voltage, signaling and power-limited circuit requirements | PSI topic, count not published |
| Michigan Part 8 and State Laws | 2016 PA 407, 1972 PA 230, Michigan Electrical Code Rules Part 8 and state licensing requirements | Required exam content |
| Planning and Supervision | Master-level responsibility for planning, coordinating and supervising code-compliant electrical installations | Master-level knowledge area |
The Michigan Master Electrician license is the advanced personal electrical credential used for higher-level planning, supervision and code responsibility. It is also the key qualifying license connected to Michigan Electrical Contractor business licensing.
Age requirement: applicants must be at least 22 years old.
Total experience: at least 12,000 hours of qualifying electrical experience over at least six years.
Journeyman requirement: complete 4,000 hours as an electrical journey worker and hold the Michigan Journeyman Electrician license for at least two years.
Contractor path: Michigan Electrical Contractor licensing requires an associated Master Electrician responsible for code compliance. Michigan currently does not require a separate Electrical Contractor exam.
PSI does not publish official subject-by-subject question weights. These bars show study priorities based on repeated official exam topics and the added Master-level planning and supervision requirement, not official percentages.
The Master exam is open book, but the current PSI bulletin applies strict rules to reference editions, factory tabs, markings, binding and loose materials.
| Reference | Primary Use | Current PSI Rule |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 National Electrical Code | Core electrical code, calculations, wiring methods, services, grounding, motors and general installation questions | Current exam basis; qualifying factory markings/highlights and factory tabs only |
| 2023 Michigan Electrical Code Rules Part 8 | Michigan amendments and state-specific electrical requirements | Approved reference subject to current binding and no-markings rules |
| 2016 PA 407 Skilled Trades Regulation Act | Electrical licensing, supervision and skilled-trade regulation | Approved state-law reference |
| 1972 PA 230 State Construction Code Act | Construction-code administration, enforcement and adopted-code authority | Approved state-law reference |
| 2026 NEC Study Materials | Forward-looking code study and updated 1 Exam Prep Master Electrician preparation | Not the current Michigan exam basis; verify live PSI requirements before test day |
Maintain Journeyman licensure, complete the required experience, apply through LARA, prepare from the current 2023 NEC exam basis, pass the Master exam and then complete the Electrical Contractor business-license path if that is your goal.
Hold and maintain the Michigan Journeyman Electrician license for at least two years.
Document 4,000 hours as an electrical journey worker and at least 12,000 total qualifying hours over a minimum six-year period.
Submit the Master Electrician examination application and required experience documentation.
Use the 2023 NEC, Michigan Part 8 rules and applicable state acts under the current PSI material rules.
Focus on code navigation, services, feeders, calculations, grounding, protection, motors, special occupancies and planning and supervision.
Complete 76 questions within 180 minutes and earn at least 75 percent.
If you plan to operate an electrical contracting business, apply separately for the Michigan Electrical Contractor license and maintain the required Master Electrician association.
Open-book strategy: identify the subject first, locate the correct NEC article or Michigan rule, verify table notes and exceptions, complete the calculation carefully, and move on. With 76 questions in 180 minutes, you average about 2.37 minutes per question.
Michigan exam reminder: current 1 Exam Prep Master products are built around the 2026 NEC for updated study. The active Michigan Master Electrician examination is still based on the 2023 NEC, so candidates should follow the current PSI bulletin for test-day preparation.

The Master Electrician license is the advanced personal credential used for electrical planning, supervision and code responsibility. The Electrical Contractor license is the separate business credential required to operate an electrical contracting business.
· Master exam: 76 questions
· 180-minute testing limit
· 75% minimum passing score
· 2023 NEC exam basis
· 12,000 hours over at least six years
· No separate Electrical Contractor exam currently required
Michigan Master Electrician Exam Basics
Michigan Electrical Contractor Career Path
Build 2023 NEC navigation speed, advanced calculation accuracy, grounding and bonding confidence, service and feeder knowledge, motor-control skill, Michigan Part 8 awareness, planning judgment and full-length PSI testing endurance.
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Michigan Master Electrician Exam Prep