- The MD-ME exam is 90 questions worth 100 points, open-book, with a 4-hour limit and 70% passing score.
- Only the 2020 NEC is permitted in the testing room; handwritten notes and study guides are banned.
- Calculations is the largest domain - prioritize it in your last week of review.
- The exam fee is $65; failed attempts require a 30-day wait, then 60 days for later retests.
Quick-Reference Exam Snapshot
This is the one-page version of everything you need to know about the Maryland Master Electrician License Exam (MD-ME) heading into test day. It's administered by the Maryland State Board of Electricians through PSI, and it's structured differently than a lot of trade exams - it's open-book, but only for one specific code reference. Keep this table nearby as you finalize your registration and testing-room prep.
| Exam Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Administering body | Maryland State Board of Electricians (delivered via PSI) |
| Format | Computer-delivered, open-book |
| Question count | 90 questions |
| Total points | 100 points |
| Time limit | 4 hours |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Electrical Theory scoring | 10 questions worth 2 points each |
| Unscored questions | 5-10 experimental items may be added |
| Exam fee | $65 |
| Permitted reference | 2020 National Electrical Code |
Notice that Electrical Theory questions are weighted at two points instead of one - that alone accounts for 20 of the exam's 100 points from just 10 questions. If you want a deeper breakdown of how points map to each content area, the MD-ME Passing Score 2026 guide walks through the math in detail.
The 8 Domains at a Glance
The MD-ME exam draws from eight content domains. Understanding what each one actually tests - not just its name - is what separates candidates who pass on the first try from those who need a retest. For the full walkthrough of every domain with subtopics and NEC article references, see the MD-ME Exam Domains 2026 guide.
Domain 8: Calculations
This is the largest domain on the exam, and it's where candidates lose the most time under the 4-hour clock. Expect load calculations, conductor sizing, and demand factor problems that require you to work through NEC tables methodically.
- Practice load and demand calculations until table lookups become automatic
Domain 1: Electrical Theory
Only 10 questions, but each is worth double points. Covers Ohm's Law, power formulas, and circuit fundamentals that also underpin the Calculations domain.
- Master theory first - it reinforces every other domain
Domain 2: Wiring and Protection
Overcurrent protection, grounding and bonding, and branch-circuit requirements. Heavily tested and closely tied to real NEC article structure.
- Know grounding electrode system requirements cold
Domain 3: Wiring Methods and Materials
Conductor types, raceway fill, and installation methods across different occupancy types.
- Focus on conduit and cable applications by installation environment
Domain 4: Equipment for General Use
Switches, receptacles, motors, and general-use equipment installation rules.
- Review motor circuit protection requirements specifically
Domain 5: Special Occupancies
Hazardous locations, health care facilities, and other occupancy-specific NEC chapters.
- Memorize classification systems for hazardous locations
Domain 6: Special Equipment
Equipment like signs, X-ray, welders, and other specialized installations covered in NEC Chapter 6.
- Skim this chapter for installation-specific exceptions
Domain 7: Special Communications
Low-voltage and communications wiring requirements - typically a smaller share of questions but still testable.
- Don't skip this domain just because it feels minor
Key Takeaway
Since Calculations carries the most weight, schedule extra review sessions for load calculations, conductor sizing, and demand factors before moving to smaller domains.
What You Can (and Can't) Bring Into the Room
The MD-ME exam's open-book format is one of its most distinctive features, but the rules around it are strict. The current PSI bulletin permits the 2020 NEC as your testing-room reference - no other edition, and no substitute study guides.
- Allowed: Permanent tabs, highlighting, and underlining in your NEC codebook
- Not allowed: Handwritten notes, loose papers, or supplemental study guides
This means your tabbing strategy matters almost as much as your knowledge. A well-tabbed codebook lets you locate load calculation tables, grounding requirements, and hazardous-location classifications quickly under time pressure. Build your tabs around the domains you expect to spend the most time in - particularly Calculations, since it's the largest domain and often requires multiple table lookups per question.
If you're still unsure how difficult this open-book format actually is compared to closed-book trade exams, the How Hard Is the MD-ME Exam? guide breaks down where candidates typically struggle and why open-book doesn't mean easy.
Fees, Registration, and Retest Rules
Budgeting for the MD-ME exam involves more than just the test fee. Here's what you'll actually pay and what happens if you don't pass the first time.
- Exam fee: $65 per attempt
- Original Master license fee: $25
- License renewal fee: $31.50
If you fail your first attempt, you must wait 30 days before requesting a retest. If you fail again, subsequent retest requests require a 60-day wait. This makes first-attempt preparation especially valuable - a failed attempt doesn't just cost another $65, it costs at least a month of delay before you can try again. For a complete cost breakdown covering every fee across the licensing lifecycle, check the MD-ME Certification Cost 2026 guide.
Experience & Eligibility Shortcuts
Before you can even sit for the MD-ME exam, Maryland requires seven years of qualifying electrical-services experience under a licensed master electrician or a qualified government employee. This is one of the more substantial eligibility bars among trade licenses, but there's a built-in shortcut: applicants can receive credit for up to three years of that requirement through approved formal study or training programs.
That means a candidate with strong formal education could qualify with as little as four years of hands-on field experience combined with approved coursework. If you're mapping out your path to eligibility, the MD-ME Requirements 2026 guide covers exactly which programs and documentation the Board accepts.
Key Takeaway
Track your formal training hours early - documenting up to three years of approved coursework can shave real time off the seven-year experience requirement.
License Renewal & Insurance Minimums
Passing the exam is only part of maintaining your Master status. Once licensed, Maryland Master licenses are valid for two years. To renew, masters authorized to provide electrical services must:
- Complete 10 continuing-education hours
- Maintain at least $300,000 in general-liability insurance
- Maintain at least $100,000 in property-damage insurance
- Pay the $31.50 renewal fee
These insurance minimums exist because Master Electricians are frequently the ones signing off on permits and supervising apprentices and journeymen on job sites. If you're weighing whether pursuing this license is worth the ongoing renewal obligations, the Is the MD-ME Certification Worth It? ROI Analysis looks at the long-term picture, and the MD-ME Salary Guide 2026 covers how licensed masters are positioned in the job market once these requirements are met. For information on the types of roles that specifically call for this credential, see MD-ME Jobs.
Final-Week Review Plan
With 4 hours to answer 90 questions across eight domains, pacing matters as much as knowledge. Here's a simple final-stretch plan built around the domain weighting rather than a generic study calendar.
Calculations & Electrical Theory
- Drill load calculations and demand factor tables since Calculations is the largest domain
- Review Ohm's Law and power formulas - these double-weighted theory questions carry outsized point value
Wiring and Protection & Wiring Methods
- Rehearse grounding and bonding scenarios
- Confirm conduit fill and conductor selection rules by installation type
Equipment, Special Occupancies & Equipment
- Review motor protection and general-use equipment rules
- Skim hazardous location classifications and special equipment exceptions
Codebook Tabs & Timed Practice
- Finalize your 2020 NEC tabs by domain grouping
- Run a full timed practice session to test pacing across all 90 questions
For a more complete week-by-week strategy that goes beyond this final stretch, the MD-ME Study Guide 2026 lays out a full preparation timeline from day one. And if you want to see how your practice scores compare against the passing threshold before test day, you can run through timed questions on our practice test platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
The exam has 90 questions worth 100 total points, with a 4-hour time limit and a 70% passing score.
No. Handwritten notes, loose papers, and study guides are prohibited. You may only bring the 2020 NEC with permanent tabs, highlighting, and underlining.
Your first retest request requires a 30-day wait. If you fail again, subsequent retest requests require a 60-day wait before you can sit again.
Calculations is the largest domain on the MD-ME exam, so it deserves the most review time, followed closely by Electrical Theory due to its double-weighted questions.
Master licenses are valid for two years. Renewal requires 10 continuing-education hours, the $31.50 renewal fee, and maintaining the required liability and property-damage insurance minimums.