- NH-ME means New Hampshire Master Electrician License Exam, administered through Prov for the NH Electricians' Board.
- The exam has 126 questions across 12 domains, given in a 5-hour, open-book, computer-based format.
- Passing requires a 70% score; the exam fee is $90 for both initial and repeat attempts.
- Master license processing/renewal costs $198 for a two-year term under Plc 1002.13.
What NH-ME Means
NH-ME stands for the New Hampshire Master Electrician License Exam - the state-administered examination that licensed journeyman electricians in New Hampshire must pass before they can hold a master electrician license. It is not a national certification, a manufacturer credential, or a designation tied to any organization outside New Hampshire. The letters describe exactly what the exam is: a New Hampshire-specific test for candidates seeking master-level licensure.
Because "NH-ME" is a compact acronym, some search results and general electrical-industry pages describe unrelated credentials that happen to share the same letters. On this site, NH-ME refers only to the New Hampshire master electrician exam. If you're trying to confirm the basics before you dig into study material, our overview page on What Is NH-ME? covers the same ground from a slightly different angle, and NH-ME Certification walks through what holding the license actually authorizes you to do.
Who Oversees the NH-ME
The exam is set by the New Hampshire Electricians' Board, operating under the state's Office of Professional Licensure and Certification. Test delivery is handled by Prov, the third-party testing vendor that publishes candidate information bulletins, schedules exam appointments, and issues scores. This distinction matters: the Board sets licensing rules and content requirements, while Prov manages the day-to-day mechanics of scheduling, delivery, and score reporting.
Prov has published more than one bulletin in recent cycles, and the differences between them are worth knowing before you buy a single study book. We break down the scheduling side of this relationship in NH-ME Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
What the Exam Actually Looks Like
Once you know what NH-ME means administratively, the next layer of meaning is format. The exam is:
- Computer-based, delivered either at a physical test center or remotely through Examroom.ai
- 126 questions, four-option multiple choice
- Open-book, using an approved, edition-matched set of references
- 5 hours in length
- Scored on a 70% passing threshold
Remote testing requires a compatible computer - an iPad or tablet will not work for the remote delivery option. If you're weighing which delivery method suits your schedule and testing style, How Hard Is the NH-ME Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 compares the practical tradeoffs between test-center and remote sessions.
Key Takeaway
Because the exam is open-book, memorizing code text word-for-word matters less than knowing exactly where to find it fast. Tab your references before test day - permanent tabs, highlighting, and pen underlining are allowed, but handwritten notes, movable tabs, and inserted material are not.
The 12 Domains Behind the Acronym
The "ME" in NH-ME covers a specific body of master-level electrical knowledge, organized into 12 domains with fixed question counts that total 126:
Domain 12: Administrative - 25 questions
The single largest domain on the exam. Candidates should expect questions on licensing rules, permitting, and procedural requirements tied to New Hampshire law.
- Largest domain by question count on the entire exam
Domain 1: General Electrical Knowledge - 21 questions
Foundational theory and code fundamentals that support every other domain.
- Second-largest domain, right behind Administrative
Domain 3: Motors and Generators - 19 questions
Sizing, protection, and installation rules specific to rotating electrical machinery.
- Third-largest domain; a heavy-weight topic worth early study time
The remaining nine domains carry smaller but still meaningful shares of the exam: Equipment for General Use (9), Control Devices (5), Special Conditions (2), Special Equipment (2), Special Occupancies (3), Services and Service Equipment (12), Branch Circuits and Conductors (6), Feeders (8), and Wiring Methods & Materials (14). For a full breakdown of every domain with study guidance for each, see NH-ME Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 12 Content Areas.
| Domain | Question Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Why the Code Edition Behind NH-ME Matters
Part of understanding what NH-ME means in practice is understanding that the underlying code edition can shift between bulletins. Prov's August 6, 2026 bulletin labels the master exam as 2020 and lists NEC 2020, while its June 24, 2026 bulletin labels the same exam as 2023 and lists NEC 2023. Both bulletins assign the identical 126-question subject allocation across the 12 domains - only the referenced code edition differs.
What NH-ME Means for Eligibility
The "Master" designation in NH-ME isn't just a title - it reflects a defined eligibility path. Standard eligibility requires:
- Passing the journeyman examination
- Completing 2,000 hours of field experience working as a journeyman
- Receiving state approval before scheduling the master exam itself
Once approved, the testing voucher issued to a candidate is valid for 365 days, giving a full year to schedule and sit for the exam. For a complete rundown of prerequisites and how to document them, see NH-ME Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Fees and Logistics Tied to the Name
Understanding NH-ME also means understanding what it costs to sit for and hold the license:
- Exam fee: $90, applied to both initial attempts and any repeat attempts
- Licensing cost: $198 for master license application processing, renewal, or reinstatement, covering a two-year term under Plc 1002.13
- Retake waiting period: two days between attempts before rescheduling
- Cancellation window: at least three days before your scheduled appointment
Beyond the exam itself, license holders must also complete a 15-hour NEC-cycle update course, including at least one hour on New Hampshire law, rules, and installation concerns - a requirement that sits separately from the two-year license renewal term. A full pricing breakdown, including how these figures stack up over a licensing career, is available in NH-ME Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
Key Takeaway
Budget for the $90 exam fee separately from the $198 licensing cost - they cover different stages of the process and aren't interchangeable.
Turning the Meaning Into a Study Plan
Once the acronym is demystified, the practical question is how to prepare efficiently given the exam's actual weight distribution. Since Administrative (25 questions), General Electrical Knowledge (21), Motors and Generators (19), and Wiring Methods & Materials (14) together account for nearly two-thirds of the exam, a study sequence that front-loads these domains makes sense before moving to smaller-weighted areas.
Heaviest Domains First
- Administrative (25 questions) - licensing rules, permitting, NH-specific procedure
- General Electrical Knowledge (21 questions) - code fundamentals and theory
Mid-Weight Technical Domains
- Motors and Generators (19 questions)
- Wiring Methods & Materials (14 questions)
- Services and Service Equipment (12 questions)
Remaining Domains and Reference Tabbing
- Equipment for General Use, Feeders, Branch Circuits and Conductors
- Control Devices, Special Occupancies, Special Conditions, Special Equipment
- Set permanent tabs in your approved references, matched to the confirmed code edition
Practicing under realistic conditions matters as much as content review. Since the exam allows a simple four-function calculator at test centers (remote testing requires physical calculators to be removed entirely), rehearse problems using only the calculator type you'll actually have on test day. Running full-length timed sets on our NH-ME practice test platform helps you get comfortable with the 5-hour, 126-question pace before the real appointment. For a deeper look at pacing strategy and first-attempt success, see NH-ME Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt.
If you want a fast reference to keep nearby during final review, NH-ME Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts condenses the fee structure, question counts, and eligibility rules into a single scannable page. And if you're still deciding whether the licensing path is worth pursuing given your career goals, Is the NH-ME Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and NH-ME Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis look at the broader picture beyond the exam itself.
FAQ
NH-ME stands for the New Hampshire Master Electrician License Exam, administered through Prov for the New Hampshire Electricians' Board and the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification.
No. NH-ME refers specifically to the master-level exam. Candidates must first pass the journeyman examination and log 2,000 hours of field experience as a journeyman before they're eligible to sit for the master exam.
The exam has 126 total questions spread across 12 domains, delivered as four-option multiple choice in a 5-hour, open-book, computer-based format.
A passing score is 70%. See NH-ME Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass for how that threshold applies across the exam's domains.
Yes, remote delivery is available through Examroom.ai in addition to physical test centers, but remote testing requires a compatible computer - tablets and iPads are not permitted, and physical calculators must be removed from the testing area.