- The NH-ME exam has 126 questions across 12 domains, in this fixed order and count: 21, 9, 19, 5, 2, 2, 3, 12, 6, 8, 14, 25.
- Administrative (25 questions) and General Electrical Knowledge (21 questions) together make up over a third of the exam.
- Motors and Generators carries 19 questions - the third-largest domain and a common weak spot for candidates.
- Prov's 2026 bulletins have listed both NEC 2020 and NEC 2023 depending on issue date - confirm your assigned edition before buying books.
NH-ME Exam Overview
The New Hampshire Master Electrician License Exam (NH-ME), administered through the New Hampshire Electricians' Board and the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification, uses Prov as its testing vendor. Candidates sit for a computer-based, open-book, four-option multiple-choice exam consisting of 126 questions spread across a 5-hour window. A scaled score of 70% is required to pass. Unlike many trade exams, NH-ME organizes its content into 12 distinct domains rather than a handful of broad categories, and each domain carries a fixed, published number of questions.
This structure matters for how you prepare. Instead of studying "the NEC" generically, you're studying 12 discrete slices of electrical knowledge, each with its own weight on exam day. Candidates who understand exactly how many questions come from each domain can allocate study hours proportionally instead of spreading effort evenly across topics that don't carry equal exam weight. For a broader look at how difficult this distribution makes the exam relative to other license tests, see How Hard Is the NH-ME Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026.
How the 12 Domains Are Weighted
Prov's candidate information bulletins list the same 126-question subject allocation regardless of which bulletin version you reference. The domain order and question counts are fixed as follows:
| Domain | Name | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Electrical Knowledge | 21 |
| 2 | Equipment for General Use | 9 |
| 3 | Motors and Generators | 19 |
| 4 | Control Devices | 5 |
| 5 | Special Conditions | 2 |
| 6 | Special Equipment | 2 |
| 7 | Special Occupancies | 3 |
| 8 | Services and Service Equipment | 12 |
| 9 | Branch Circuits and Conductors | 6 |
| 10 | Feeders | 8 |
| 11 | Wiring Methods & Materials | 14 |
| 12 | Administrative | 25 |
Three domains dominate the exam by question count: Administrative at 25 questions is the single largest domain, General Electrical Knowledge follows at 21, and Motors and Generators rounds out the top three at 19. Together these three domains account for 65 of the 126 questions - more than half the exam. That means a candidate who masters Administrative, General Electrical Knowledge, and Motors and Generators has a mathematical head start toward the 70% passing threshold before touching the smaller domains.
At the other end, Special Conditions and Special Equipment each carry only 2 questions apiece - the lightest domains on the exam. Special Occupancies isn't far behind at 3 questions. These low-count domains still require baseline familiarity, but they should not consume disproportionate study time relative to their exam-day impact.
Key Takeaway
Rank your study hours by question count, not by chapter length in your reference books. A domain with 2 questions deserves far less review time than one with 25, even if the underlying code text is lengthy.
Domain-by-Domain Breakdown
Below is what each of the 12 NH-ME domains actually covers on exam day, based on its role in the overall 126-question structure.
Domain 1: General Electrical Knowledge (21 questions)
The second-largest domain, testing broad foundational concepts that underpin every other domain - definitions, general requirements, and core electrical theory a master-level candidate is expected to apply without hesitation.
- Foundational code definitions and general provisions
- Basic circuit theory as applied to real installations
Domain 2: Equipment for General Use (9 questions)
Covers switches, receptacles, luminaires, appliances, and other equipment installed across residential, commercial, and industrial settings.
- Equipment listing and general-use installation rules
- Common equipment scenarios a master electrician signs off on
Domain 3: Motors and Generators (19 questions)
The third-largest domain on the exam. Expect detailed questions on motor circuit conductors, overload protection, disconnecting means, and generator installation requirements.
- Motor branch-circuit and feeder conductor sizing
- Overload and short-circuit protection coordination
Domain 4: Control Devices (5 questions)
Focuses on switches, contactors, and other devices that control motors and equipment, including their placement and rating requirements.
- Control circuit conductor requirements
- Disconnect and control device placement rules
Domain 5: Special Conditions (2 questions)
One of the smallest domains, addressing emergency systems and related special-condition wiring. Review this domain but don't over-invest study time here.
- Emergency and standby system basics
Domain 6: Special Equipment (2 questions)
Tied for the lightest domain by question count, covering specialized equipment installations that fall outside general-use categories.
- Specialized equipment installation requirements
Domain 7: Special Occupancies (3 questions)
A small but distinct domain testing knowledge of occupancy-specific wiring requirements that differ from standard installations.
- Occupancy-specific code deviations
Domain 8: Services and Service Equipment (12 questions)
A mid-weight domain covering service entrance conductors, service equipment ratings, grounding, and disconnecting means - core master-level responsibilities.
- Service sizing and equipment rating calculations
- Grounding and bonding at the service
Domain 9: Branch Circuits and Conductors (6 questions)
Tests branch-circuit sizing, conductor ampacity, and load calculations that a master electrician must apply on nearly every job.
- Conductor ampacity and derating
- Branch-circuit load calculations
Domain 10: Feeders (8 questions)
Covers feeder conductor sizing, overcurrent protection, and the calculations that connect service equipment to downstream panels.
- Feeder sizing and demand factor calculations
Domain 11: Wiring Methods & Materials (14 questions)
The fourth-largest domain, testing raceway types, cable systems, boxes, and the practical installation methods used across job sites.
- Raceway and cable system selection rules
- Box and enclosure sizing requirements
Domain 12: Administrative (25 questions)
The single largest domain on the entire exam, covering New Hampshire-specific licensing law, board rules, and administrative procedures rather than pure code content. Underestimating this domain is a common mistake because it feels less "technical" than the others - yet it carries more questions than any other section.
- New Hampshire electrical licensing statutes and board rules
- Administrative procedures every master-level applicant must know
NEC Edition and Reference Confirmation
One detail candidates frequently overlook: Prov's own bulletins have not always agreed on the assigned NEC edition. An August 6, 2026 bulletin labels the master exam "2020" and lists NEC 2020 as the reference, while a June 24, 2026 bulletin labels the same exam "2023" and lists NEC 2023. Both bulletins otherwise agree on the identical 126-question, 12-domain subject allocation described above - only the code edition designation differs.
Because of this discrepancy, you should confirm your specific assigned NEC edition directly with Prov before purchasing code books or working through code-specific practice questions. Buying the wrong edition of the NEC, or practicing tab placement and code references against the wrong year, wastes preparation time you can't get back. Listed references also include the American Electrician's Handbook and Ugly's Electrical References, along with the specified New Hampshire laws and rules - all editions should be matched to whichever edition your authorized exam actually uses.
Key Takeaway
Call or check with Prov to confirm your exact NEC edition (2020 or 2023) before tabbing your code book or buying study materials - don't assume based on the calendar year you're testing in.
Because this is an open-book exam, how you prepare your reference materials matters almost as much as what you study. Permanent tabs, highlighting, and pen underlining are all allowed inside your code book and references. Handwritten notes, movable tabs, and any inserted study material are prohibited. At test centers, a simple four-function calculator is permitted; remote candidates must have physical calculators removed from the testing area entirely. For a full walkthrough of exactly what counts as a passing effort and how the scoring threshold works, see NH-ME Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Mapping a Study Timeline to the Domains
Because question counts vary so widely by domain - from 25 down to just 2 - the smartest way to build a study calendar is to sequence heavier domains earlier, when you have the most review passes left before test day, and cluster the lightest domains together near the end.
Administrative + General Electrical Knowledge
- Review New Hampshire licensing statutes and board rules (25 questions)
- Work through general electrical definitions and foundational theory (21 questions)
Motors and Generators + Wiring Methods & Materials
- Drill motor circuit sizing and protection rules (19 questions)
- Study raceway, cable, and box requirements (14 questions)
Services, Feeders, and Branch Circuits
- Practice service and feeder sizing calculations (12 and 8 questions)
- Review branch-circuit load calculations (6 questions)
Remaining Domains + Full Timed Practice
- Cover Equipment for General Use, Control Devices, Special Occupancies, Special Conditions, and Special Equipment (a combined 21 questions)
- Run at least one full 126-question, 5-hour timed practice session
This sequencing isn't a generic template - it's built directly from the NH-ME question distribution. If your schedule is tighter or longer, the underlying principle still holds: study the 25-question and 21-question domains first, and don't let the 2-question domains steal time from them. For a more detailed week-by-week study plan, including reference book prep and open-book exam strategy, see NH-ME Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt.
Registration, Fees, and Retake Mechanics
Before you can sit for the domains covered above, you need to satisfy eligibility and registration requirements specific to NH-ME. Standard eligibility requires passing the journeyman examination and completing 2,000 hours of field experience as a journeyman before you're permitted to sit for the master exam. State approval must precede scheduling, and once approved, your testing voucher remains valid for 365 days. A full breakdown of who qualifies and how to document your hours is available in NH-ME Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
The exam fee is $90 for both initial and repeat attempts. Separately, master license application processing and licensing, renewal, or reinstatement runs $198 for a two-year term under Plc 1002.13. These are distinct costs - the exam fee gets you into the testing room; the licensing fee is what makes you a licensed master electrician once you pass. A complete cost breakdown covering both figures, plus continuing education expenses, is available in NH-ME Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
Beyond the exam itself, master electricians in New Hampshire must complete a 15-hour NEC-cycle update course, including at least one hour covering New Hampshire law, rules, and installation concerns. This continuing education requirement runs on its own cycle, separate from the two-year license renewal term. Because it's tied to code cycles rather than your license anniversary, it's worth tracking independently - a topic covered alongside broader scheduling logistics in NH-ME Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
Once you've mapped out the domains, confirmed your NEC edition, and understand the fee structure, the most efficient next step is running full-length practice exams that mirror the real 126-question, 5-hour format. You can start building that familiarity on the NH-ME practice test platform, which mirrors the domain weighting described throughout this guide. If you want a condensed, single-page reference to keep next to your code book while you drill, check the NH-ME Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts.
Key Takeaway
Register only after confirming eligibility and NEC edition - your 365-day voucher window is generous, but wasted time reviewing the wrong code edition or under-prioritizing Administrative can still cost you a passing score.
Practicing against realistic, domain-weighted question sets on the full NH-ME practice test suite is the most direct way to translate this domain map into exam-day performance, since drilling questions in proportion to their real weight builds the pacing instincts a 5-hour, 126-question exam demands.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 12 domains: General Electrical Knowledge, Equipment for General Use, Motors and Generators, Control Devices, Special Conditions, Special Equipment, Special Occupancies, Services and Service Equipment, Branch Circuits and Conductors, Feeders, Wiring Methods & Materials, and Administrative.
Administrative is the largest domain with 25 of the 126 total questions, followed by General Electrical Knowledge with 21 and Motors and Generators with 19.
Special Conditions and Special Equipment are the smallest domains, each contributing only 2 questions to the 126-question exam.
Prov bulletins have listed both, depending on the bulletin's issue date. Because the assigned edition can vary, confirm directly with Prov before selecting reference books or code-specific practice questions.
You may use permanent tabs, highlighting, and pen underlining in your open-book references, but handwritten notes, movable tabs, and inserted study material are prohibited. Test centers allow a simple four-function calculator; remote test-takers must have physical calculators removed entirely.