West Virginia Electrician Exam
Need of a License: Master and journeyman electricians need a license to work in West Virginia.
Who Grants a License: Electrician licenses are granted by the Office of the State Fire Marshal.
Qualifications Needed to Receive a License
Master Electrician: A candidate must have 5 years’ experience with a combination of residential, commercial and industrial work.
Journeyman Electrician: A candidate must have 4 years’ experience OR have completed an approved apprenticeship program OR have completed an approved vocational course of no less than 1,080 hours.
Exam Requirements: A candidate for a master electrician license or a journeyman electrician license must pass the Master Electrician Examination or the Journeyman Electrician Examination, respectively.
How to Apply for a License: A candidate for licensure must complete/send an application to the Office of the State Fire Marshal. The telephone number to reach the office is (304) 558-2191.
An application to take the exam can be found here.
Test Content
Master Electrician Exam - The electrical contractor exam consists of 50 multiple choice questions (worth 1 point each) and 10 calculations (5 points each) which may include intricate calculations referencing service loads, power factor, voltage drop, service size, demand load, circuit resistance, outlet requirements, etc. A candidate needs at least an 80% grade to pass.
The exam covers the following subject areas:
- Business Organization
- Contracts
- Estimating and Bidding
- Financial Management
- Labor Law 8 Licensing
- Lien Law
- Project Management
- Risk Management
- Safety-OSHA
- Tax Law
- 3 Phase Calculation
- 3 Phase Theory
- Communications Systems
- Conduit Fill
- Definitions
- Electrical Theory/Trade Knowledge
- Equipment for General Use
- Range Calculations
- Service Loads
- Special Conditions
- Special Equipment
- Special Occupancies
- Tables and Examples
- Voltage Drop
- Wiring and Protections
- Wiring Methods
Journeyman Electrician Exam - The journeyman exam consists of 42 multiple choice questions (worth 2 points each) and 4 calculations (worth 4 points each) which may include simple calculations referencing power factors, voltage drops, resistance, circuit requirements, etc. A candidate needs at least an 80% grade to pass.
The exam covers the following subject areas:
- Business Organization
- Contracts
- Estimating and Bidding
- Financial Management
- Labor Law 8 Licensing
- Lien Law
- Project Management
- Risk Management
- Safety-OSHA
- Tax Law
- 3 Phase Calculation
- 3 Phase Theory
- Communications Systems
- Conduit Fill
- Definitions
- Electrical Theory/Trade Knowledge
- Equipment for General Use
- Range Calculations
- Service Loads
- Special Conditions
- Special Equipment
- Special Occupancies
- Tables and Examples
- Voltage Drop
- Wiring and Protections
- Wiring Methods
Fees: There is an examination fee.
Who Administers the Test: Office of the State Fire Marshal
License Renewal Requirements: Licenses expire yearly on June 30. If a licensee fails to renew the license within 12 months, the license may not be renewed and testing will have to be done again.
Applicable Code: NEC 2020
To prepare for your electrician exam, use the following two practice exams by Ray Holder (Master Electrician and Certified Electrical Trade Instructor) which have 300 questions with fully explained answers:
For more information on licensing and exam prep, go to Tests.com's Journeyman and Master Electrician Test Guide.
And take Tests.com's free Journeyman Electrician Practice Test and the Master Electrician Practice Test.
For electrician exam preparation products and services, such as study guides, practice tests, flashcards and courses, go to Tests.com's Journeyman Electrician Exam and Master Electrician Exam listings.
