- The TN-EC exam is 100 questions, open-book, computer-based, with a 5-hour limit and 73% passing score.
- Wiring and Protection is the largest domain at 23%, followed by Wiring Methods and Materials at 15%.
- Prov charges $53 per attempt and has run new exam appointments since July 1, 2026.
- Approved references include the 2017 NEC, Ugly's Electrical References (2020), OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926, and American Electricians' Handbook, 17th Edition.
Quick Facts Snapshot
If you only have five minutes before your Tennessee Electrical (CE) Contractor Examination appointment, this is the page to reread. It condenses the numbers, domain weights, and administrative details that matter most for the TN-EC exam administered through Prov on behalf of the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors. For the full context behind each fact, the TN-EC Study Guide 2026 walks through preparation strategy in depth, and this cheat sheet exists to reinforce - not replace - that groundwork.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Governing body | Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors |
| Exam administrator | Prov (test-center or remote Examroom delivery) |
| Question count | 100 multiple-choice, open-book |
| Time limit | 5 hours |
| Passing score | 73% |
| Exam fee | $53 per attempt |
| Initial contractor application fee | $250 |
| License renewal | Every two years, $200 |
For a fuller pricing picture - including how the exam fee fits alongside the license application and renewal costs - see the TN-EC Certification Cost 2026 breakdown. And if you're still weighing whether the CE classification is the right fit for the electrical work you do, the TN-EC Requirements 2026 guide lays out eligibility in plain terms.
The 12 Domains at a Glance
The TN-EC exam draws from twelve content domains. Two of them - Wiring and Protection and Wiring Methods and Materials - carry disproportionate weight and deserve the largest share of your review time. The rest still appear on the exam and cannot be skipped, but your hour-for-hour investment should track the weighting.
Domain 4: Wiring and Protection (23% - largest domain)
This is the single most tested domain on the exam. Candidates must be fluent in overcurrent protection, grounding and bonding, conductor sizing, and circuit protection requirements as codified in the 2017 NEC.
- Grounding electrode systems and bonding jumpers
- Overcurrent device selection and coordination
- Branch circuit and feeder calculations
Domain 5: Wiring Methods and Materials (15% - second largest)
Expect questions on cable types, raceway selection, box and enclosure fill, and installation methods appropriate to different occupancies.
- Raceway fill calculations
- Approved wiring methods by location
- Box and conduit body sizing
The remaining ten domains - General Electrical Knowledge, Plan Reading, Code Reading, Equipment for General Use, Motors and Controls, Communication Systems, Special Occupancy, Special Equipment, Hazardous Locations, and OSHA Safety - round out the exam. Each has its own vocabulary, code sections, and calculation types. A domain-by-domain breakdown with study angles for each is available in the TN-EC Exam Domains 2026 guide, which is worth reading alongside this cheat sheet rather than instead of it.
Key Takeaway
Spend roughly a third of your total study time on Wiring and Protection and Wiring Methods and Materials combined - they account for 38% of the exam between them.
Registration, Fees, and Delivery Options
Since July 1, 2026, Prov has handled new exam appointments for the CE classification on behalf of the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors. The current Prov bulletin, dated July 13, 2026, governs the rules you'll follow on test day.
- Fee: $53 per attempt, paid to Prov.
- Delivery options: test-center administration or remote proctoring through Examroom.
- Format: open-book, computer-based, 100 multiple-choice questions.
- Time allowed: 5 hours.
Because the exam is open-book, registration mechanics matter as much as content knowledge - knowing which references you're permitted to bring, and in what format, can save you real time on exam day. If your appointment timeline is uncertain, the TN-EC Exam Dates 2026 guide covers scheduling windows and deadlines in more detail than fits here.
Approved References
Because the TN-EC exam is open-book, knowing exactly which references are allowed - and knowing your way around them quickly - is a distinct skill from knowing the material itself. The listed references are:
- 2017 National Electrical Code
- Ugly's Electrical References (2020)
- OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926
- American Electricians' Handbook, 17th Edition
Tab and index your copies before exam day. An open-book format only helps you if you can locate the right table, chart, or code section in seconds rather than minutes - with a 5-hour limit across 100 questions, you have roughly three minutes per question on average, and slow reference lookups eat into that quickly.
Key Takeaway
Practice pulling specific tables from the 2017 NEC and Ugly's Electrical References under a timer well before your appointment - reference speed is a scoring factor, not just a comfort factor.
Licensing Prerequisites Beyond the Exam
Passing the exam is one part of a larger licensing process. The Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors also requires:
- Passing the separate Tennessee Business and Law exam
- Documented relevant experience and a reference
- Demonstrated financial capacity, either through a required financial statement or the Board-approved surety-bond route
- Liability insurance
- Workers' compensation coverage, or a documented exemption
The CE classification itself is the statewide contractor category generally used for covered electrical projects of $25,000 or more, and it is distinct from the Limited Licensed Electrician pathway. If you're not certain which pathway applies to your work, the TN-EC Requirements 2026 article breaks down eligibility criteria in full, and What Is TN-EC? covers how the classification fits into Tennessee's broader contractor licensing structure.
Final-Week Review Priorities
In the last stretch before your appointment, prioritize by domain weight and by how quickly you can locate information in your references, not by how interesting a topic is.
Wiring and Protection Drill
- Rework grounding, bonding, and overcurrent protection scenarios
- Time yourself locating relevant 2017 NEC sections
Wiring Methods and Materials
- Review raceway fill and box sizing tables in Ugly's Electrical References
- Confirm approved wiring methods by occupancy type
Remaining Domains Sweep
- Skim OSHA Safety references against 29 CFR Part 1926
- Light review of Motors and Controls, Special Occupancy, and Hazardous Locations
If this final-week approach feels rushed, it's worth stepping back and building a full multi-week plan using the TN-EC Study Guide 2026. For a candid read on how challenging candidates find each domain, the How Hard Is the TN-EC Exam? guide is a useful gut check, and you can also run through timed sample questions on our practice test platform to see where your speed and accuracy stand.
After You Pass: Score Validity and Renewal
Exam scores are typically valid for two years, so once you pass, don't let the rest of the application stall indefinitely - the clock is running on your other licensing prerequisites. After licensure, renewal occurs every two years for a $200 fee, separate from the $250 initial application fee and the $53 exam fee paid to Prov.
| Milestone | Cost / Timing |
|---|---|
| Exam attempt | $53 (Prov) |
| Score validity | Typically two years |
| Initial contractor application | $250 |
| License renewal cycle | Every two years, $200 |
Understanding where a CE license leads professionally - the kinds of projects and employers that require it - can help justify the process. The TN-EC Jobs overview and the Is the TN-EC Certification Worth It? analysis both dig into that question, while the TN-EC Salary Guide 2026 looks at the earnings side. For data on how candidates actually perform on the exam itself, see the TN-EC Pass Rate 2026 article, and revisit the TN-EC Passing Score 2026 page if you want a precise breakdown of the 73% threshold in context.
Key Takeaway
Treat your two-year score validity window as a deadline for finishing insurance, financial capacity, and Business and Law requirements - not as breathing room to delay them.
Frequently Asked Questions
The exam has 100 multiple-choice questions with a 5-hour time limit, delivered as an open-book, computer-based test through Prov.
You need a 73% passing score. The exam is graded on the full 100-question set, so plan your reference-lookup pace accordingly across the 5-hour window.
Wiring and Protection, at 23%, is the largest domain and should get the most review time, followed by Wiring Methods and Materials at 15%.
The listed references are the 2017 National Electrical Code, Ugly's Electrical References (2020), OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926, and American Electricians' Handbook, 17th Edition.
No. You also need to pass the Tennessee Business and Law exam, document relevant experience and a reference, show financial capacity, and carry liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage or an exemption.