Important Virginia licensing fact: the Virginia Master Electrician license is an individual tradesman credential. It is not automatically a contractor business license. Master status means advanced ability to plan, lay out, and supervise electrical installation, repair, and maintenance work, while contractor licensing governs the business that contracts for regulated work.
Virginia defines a Master as a person who has the ability, proficiency, and qualifications to plan and lay out installation details and supervise the work of installing, repairing, and maintaining the applicable materials and equipment. The Master must have enough working knowledge to comply with the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.
For electricians, that responsibility reaches beyond performing the work. A Master Electrician should be able to evaluate the installation, apply electrical code requirements, plan the job, make design and calculation decisions, and supervise electrical work carried out by others.
The examination reflects that higher level. It contains more questions than the Journeyman exam and places heavier emphasis on services, feeders, grounding, motors, electrical fundamentals, conductor and raceway calculations, and code application.
Licensing authority: Virginia Board for Contractors / DPOR.
Testing provider: PSI.
Exam: Virginia Master Electrician portion.
Questions: 90.
Time: 270 minutes.
Passing score: 63 correct answers, or 70%.
Format: computer based and open book.
Current NEC basis: National Electrical Code, NFPA 70, 2020.
Current safety reference: NFPA 70E, 2024.
Virginia regulatory reference: Board for Contractors Individual License and Certification Regulations.
Journeyman route: hold a valid Journeyman Electrician license for at least one year.
Experience route: nine years of practical electrical experience.
For Virginia-specific master preparation, review the Virginia Master Electrician Online Exam Prep Course .
The Master path begins with qualifying experience, continues through Board approval and PSI testing, and ends with license issuance and ongoing renewal requirements.
| Step | Requirement | What to Verify |
|---|---|---|
| Confirm Basic Eligibility | Virginia Tradesman Rules | Applicant must be at least 18 and provide required identification and experience documentation |
| Choose Master Electrical | Trade Designation | Apply for the Master Electrical designation rather than Journeyman Electrical |
| Journeyman Route | Current Virginia Rule | Hold a valid Journeyman Electrician license in the trade for at least one year |
| Experience Route | Current Virginia Rule | Document nine years of practical experience in the electrical trade |
| Verify Experience | Documentation | Use reference letters or other documentation accepted under current Virginia experience-verification rules |
| Submit the Application | Virginia DPOR | Use the current Tradesman Exam and License Application and current fees |
| Receive Exam Approval | Virginia Board | Board approval is required before scheduling the Master examination with PSI |
| Pass the Master Exam | PSI | 90 questions, 270 minutes, 63 correct, open book |
| Receive the License | Virginia DPOR | Complete all remaining application and licensing requirements |
| Maintain the License | Renewal + CE | Electrician licenses currently use a three-year term and require 3 hours of Board-approved electrical continuing education for renewal |
Use the current Virginia DPOR Tradesmen Program, Virginia Administrative Code, and PSI Candidate Information Bulletin as the final authority before applying, ordering final exam-room books, or scheduling the examination.
| Verified Point | Authority | Current Result |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing authority | Virginia DPOR | Virginia Board for Contractors Tradesmen Program |
| Testing provider | Virginia DPOR | PSI Services LLC |
| Pre-approval | Virginia DPOR | Required before scheduling the Master Electrician examination |
| Exam questions | PSI 7/23/2026 Bulletin | 90 items |
| Exam time | PSI 7/23/2026 Bulletin | 270 minutes |
| Passing score | PSI 7/23/2026 Bulletin | 63 correct answers |
| Exam fee | Virginia DPOR | $125 for the Master Tradesman examination, verify before scheduling |
| Exam format | PSI 7/23/2026 Bulletin | Open book |
| Code basis | PSI 7/23/2026 Bulletin | National Electrical Code, NFPA 70, 2020 |
| Safety reference | PSI 7/23/2026 Bulletin | NFPA 70E, 2024 |
| Regulatory reference | PSI 7/23/2026 Bulletin | Virginia Board for Contractors Individual License and Certification Regulations |
| Journeyman eligibility route | 18VAC50-30-39 | Valid Journeyman Electrician license held for at least one year |
| Experience eligibility route | 18VAC50-30-39 | Nine years of practical electrical experience |
| License term | 18VAC50-30-120 | Three years from the last day of the month in which the electrician license was issued |
| Continuing education | 18VAC50-30-120 | 3 hours of Board-approved electrical continuing education for renewal or reinstatement |
| 2026 technology fee | Virginia DPOR | Separate technology fee applies to certain DPOR transactions beginning July 1, 2026 |
Current code-cycle warning: PSI says candidates may use other editions of references when permitted, but code questions are based on the edition listed in the bulletin. The current listed Virginia electrician code edition is the 2020 NEC.
The current Master Electrician outline contains 90 items across 24 published categories. The test mixes Virginia licensing rules, electrical theory, NEC application, system design, calculations, installation requirements, equipment, and safety.
Three of the largest categories contain 8 questions each: Service and Feeders, Grounding and Bonding, and Motors and Controls. These categories require both code knowledge and accurate calculations. They are not good places to rely on "I usually do it this way."
Branch Circuits, Conductors and Cables, and Raceways and Boxes contain 7 questions each. Together, the six largest technical areas account for 45 of the 90 questions. That is exactly half of the examination.
Electrical-Electronic Fundamentals and Utilization Equipment contain 5 questions each. General Electrical Knowledge, Special Occupancies, and Safety contain 4 questions each.
The exam also includes Virginia-specific categories covering Standards of Practice, Standards of Conduct, Renewal and Reinstatement, Definitions, Qualification for Licensure, and Revocation of Licensure. Those categories total 10 questions.
The remaining outline includes Requirements for Electrical Installations, Special Equipment, Electrical Signs and Outline Lighting, Lighting, General Low Voltage Requirements, Communication Systems, and Fire Detection and Alarm Systems. Master preparation therefore needs range, not just a heroic relationship with Article 250.
Master-level preparation should combine code navigation, electrical calculations, design thinking, and Virginia licensing rules. The exam gives you more time than many trade tests, but the problems can also require more steps.
Service and Feeders: practice service calculations, service conductors, disconnects, feeders, panelboards, load calculations, demand factors, neutral loads, and overcurrent protection.
Grounding and Bonding: review grounding electrode systems, bonding, equipment grounding conductors, grounding electrode conductors, separately derived systems, services, transformers, and sizing tables.
Motors and Controls: practice motor conductor sizing, short-circuit and ground-fault protection, overload protection, disconnects, controllers, multiple-motor calculations, and related equipment.
Conductors, Raceways, and Boxes: practice conductor ampacity, adjustment and correction, raceway fill, box fill, pull boxes, support, wiring methods, and Chapter 9 tables.
Electrical Fundamentals: review current, voltage, resistance, power, single-phase and three-phase relationships, transformers, voltage drop, and multi-step electrical calculations.
Virginia Regulations: study standards of practice, conduct, renewal, reinstatement, definitions, Master qualification, and revocation. A ten-question regulatory block can move a borderline score in either direction.
For structured preparation, review the Virginia Master Electrician Online Exam Prep Course .
The Master exam rewards candidates who can recognize what kind of problem they are looking at before they begin searching. A service calculation, a Virginia conduct rule, a motor-protection problem, and an NFPA 70E safety question need different tools.
Virginia Master Electrician preparation for code lookup, advanced calculations, electrical safety, and state licensing responsibilities.
Move from Master eligibility through experience verification, Board approval, PSI testing, license issuance, and renewal.
Use either the one-year valid Journeyman Electrician route or the nine-year practical-experience route under current Virginia regulations.
Collect the license history, reference letters, employment records, or other documentation needed to verify your electrical experience.
Use the current Virginia Tradesman Exam and License Application and current fee schedule.
The Board reviews the application and determines whether the Master examination qualification has been satisfied.
Study with the 2020 NEC, NFPA 70E 2024, and the current Virginia Individual License and Certification Regulations.
Complete 90 open-book questions within 270 minutes and earn at least 63 correct answers.
Follow DPOR instructions for any remaining documentation, fees, or processing requirements.
Track the three-year license term and complete the required three hours of Board-approved electrical continuing education for renewal.
The current PSI outline contains 90 items. The bars below compare each category with the largest eight-question groups.
Largest technical block: Service and Feeders, Grounding and Bonding, Motors and Controls, Branch Circuits, Conductors and Cables, and Raceways and Boxes combine for 45 of the 90 questions. That is exactly half of the exam.
The current PSI bulletin identifies the materials used to prepare the electrician examinations. Use the newest official bulletin as the final authority for your scheduled test.
| Reference | Primary Study Use | Preparation Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Board for Contractors Individual License and Certification Regulations | Standards of practice, conduct, definitions, qualification, renewal, reinstatement, revocation, and state licensing responsibilities | Virginia regulatory questions |
| National Electrical Code, NFPA 70, 2020 | Branch circuits, services, feeders, grounding, conductors, raceways, boxes, motors, equipment, occupancies, low voltage, communications, and installation requirements | Primary electrical code reference |
| NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, 2024 | Electrical hazards, safe work practices, risk reduction, PPE, and electrical workplace safety | Safety |
Important reference note: some older book-package pages may show references used under an earlier bulletin, and 1 Exam Prep also sells 2023 and 2026 NEC study products. The current PSI bulletin dated July 23, 2026 lists the 2020 NEC, NFPA 70E 2024, and the Virginia Individual License and Certification Regulations for electrician exams. Match your final exam-room preparation to the current PSI bulletin.
Current PSI book rules: all examinations are open book, but candidates must bring their own approved references. No study guides, loose papers, or unbound references are permitted. References may be highlighted, underlined, and indexed before testing. Permanent tabs are allowed, removable tabs are not, and reference materials containing writing are not allowed.
Virginia's definition of Master focuses on advanced responsibility. A Master Electrician has the ability, proficiency, and qualifications to plan and lay out the details of electrical installations and supervise the work of installing, repairing, and maintaining electrical materials and equipment.
That means the Master credential is about more than performing electrical work correctly. It also represents the ability to organize the installation, apply code requirements, make technical decisions, check work, and supervise others.
Master Electricians still work within the electrical trade and the applicable Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, local permitting and inspection requirements, and other laws and regulations that apply to the work.
Master versus contractor: the Virginia Master Electrician license is an individual tradesman credential. Operating or qualifying a contractor business can involve separate Virginia contractor licensing requirements. Master status does not turn an individual license into a business license by electrical magic.
Virginia separates individual electrical credentials from contractor business licensing. The Master level represents greater planning and supervisory responsibility than the Journeyman level.
| Credential / Status | Main Purpose | Typical Qualification | Important Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Apprentice / Training Path | Build supervised education and practical experience | Training and experience under applicable workforce and trade rules | Preparation stage rather than Journeyman or Master licensure |
| Journeyman Electrician | Install, repair, and maintain electrical systems at journeyman level | Approved education/experience route, apprenticeship exemption, reciprocity, or other approved method | Can support Master exam eligibility after the required period |
| Master Electrician | Plan, lay out, and supervise electrical installations and advanced electrical work | At least 1 year holding a valid Journeyman license or 9 years practical experience | Higher individual tradesman level with planning and supervisory responsibility |
| Electrical Contractor Business | Contract for regulated electrical construction work as a business | Separate contractor licensing requirements, classifications, responsible management, and applicable qualifications | Business license rather than an individual electrician credential |
Experience verification: Virginia's current regulations allow trade experience to be verified through reference letters from qualifying sources such as building officials, inspectors, employers, contractors, engineers, architects, or clients who can attest to the applicant's work.
Build advanced calculations, fast code navigation, Virginia regulation knowledge, and full-length testing endurance.
The Virginia Master Electrician exam is broader and more calculation-heavy than the Journeyman exam. It expects the candidate to understand electrical theory, NEC rules, system planning, services, feeders, grounding, motors, conductors, raceways, equipment, safety, and Virginia licensing responsibilities.
Candidates receive 270 minutes for 90 items. That averages three minutes per question.
Three minutes is enough for a direct code lookup. It is much tighter for a multi-step service, motor, or conductor calculation. Strong candidates use quick questions to create time for the longer ones.
The six largest technical categories make up half of the exam. Service and Feeders, Grounding and Bonding, Motors and Controls, Branch Circuits, Conductors and Cables, and Raceways and Boxes should be practiced repeatedly.
Virginia regulatory questions also matter. A Master Electrician is expected to understand professional responsibility, not just electrical formulas. Treat the state rules like part of the exam, because PSI already does.
Exam-day priority: review the newest PSI Candidate Information Bulletin immediately before your appointment. The current bulletin is dated July 23, 2026, but testing policies and reference requirements can change.
Need tabs? Review the Virginia Master Electrician Pre-Printed Tabs .
Want newer-code study for professional development? 1 Exam Prep also offers 2023 NEC Virginia Master study products and 2026 NEC Virginia Master study products . For the current licensing exam, the PSI bulletin still bases electrician code questions on the 2020 NEC.

This Virginia-specific 1 Exam Prep image directly matches the Master Electrician exam-preparation topic.
• Virginia statewide Master Electrician license
• PSI-administered examination
• 90 questions
• 270-minute testing period
• 63 correct answers required
• 70% passing score
• Open-book preparation
• Current 2020 NEC code basis
• NFPA 70E 2024 safety reference
• Services, feeders, grounding, motors, conductors, raceways, and boxes
• Virginia standards of practice, conduct, qualification, and renewal
Master-level preparation means thinking beyond installation. You need to understand how to plan the work, apply the code, solve the calculations, supervise the installation, and handle the professional responsibilities that come with the higher license level.
Virginia Master Licensing
Master Qualification
Master Exam Basics
Exam Topics
Books and Open-Book Rules
Renewal and Career Responsibilities
1 Exam Prep
Watch this topic-specific 1 Exam Prep video about becoming a Virginia Master Electrician. Use it as a licensing overview, then pair it with the current 2026 PSI bulletin, Virginia Master qualification rules, 2020 NEC exam preparation, NFPA 70E review, and timed Master-level calculation practice.
Master study tip: use the video for the big picture, but prepare for the current test from the newest official outline. The exam is now 90 items, 270 minutes, and heavily weighted toward services, feeders, grounding, motors, conductors, raceways, branch circuits, calculations, and Virginia licensing responsibilities.
Combine current Virginia DPOR and PSI information with exam-matched 1 Exam Prep courses, 2020 NEC preparation, book packages, permanent tabs, calculation resources, and newer-code study products when useful for professional development.
Final verification rule: use the newest PSI bulletin for exam content, question counts, time, passing score, reference editions, and book rules. Use current Virginia DPOR and Virginia Administrative Code information for Master eligibility, experience verification, application fees, license terms, and continuing education.
Build faster NEC navigation, stronger Master-level calculations, better service and feeder design skills, confidence with grounding and bonding, motors, branch circuits, conductors, raceways, boxes, utilization equipment, Virginia tradesman regulations, NFPA 70E safety, and the full licensing path for the Virginia Master Electrician credential.
Questions? Call 877-775-9400
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Virginia Master Electrician Exam Prep