How Trade License Exams Work
A trade license exam is set by the state board and usually delivered by a testing company. The board approves the application first; only then can the candidate book a seat. This guide collects what the state sources on this site say about the exam itself.
Who gives the exam
Several boards name their vendor. Massachusetts uses PSI for electricians and for the Construction Supervisor License; Georgia's electrical and plumbing divisions use PSI; the Texas plumbing board sends master candidates to Pearson VUE; Michigan's residential builder exam is through PSI. California's Department of Industrial Relations schedules electrician certification exams through PSI, with exams on or after June 1, 2026 administered by CPS HR Consulting. New Hampshire lists approved private exam providers for plumbing and fuel gas.
Published pass marks and vendors
| State and trade | Level | Exam detail |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts electrician | Journeyman Electrician | vendor PSI |
| Massachusetts electrician | Master Electrician | vendor PSI |
| Massachusetts general contractor | Restricted Construction Supervisor (one- and two-family) | pass mark 70%, vendor PSI |
| Massachusetts general contractor | Unrestricted Construction Supervisor | pass mark 70%, vendor PSI |
| New Hampshire electrician | Journeyman Electrician | pass mark 70% |
| New Hampshire plumber | Journeyman Plumber | pass mark 70% |
| New Hampshire plumber | Master Plumber | pass mark 75% |
| Texas plumber | Master Plumber | vendor Pearson VUE |
| Georgia electrician | Electrical Contractor Class I (Restricted) | vendor PSI |
| Georgia electrician | Electrical Contractor Class II (Non-restricted) | vendor PSI |
| Georgia plumber | Journeyman Plumber | vendor PSI |
| Georgia plumber | Master Plumber Class I (Restricted) | vendor PSI |
| Georgia plumber | Master Plumber Class II (Non-restricted) | vendor PSI |
| Michigan general contractor | Residential Builder | vendor PSI |
| Michigan general contractor | Maintenance and Alteration Contractor | vendor PSI |
Worked example: New Hampshire plumber. The journeyman exam is passed at 70% and the master at 75%, and the master exam needs 6 months as a New Hampshire journeyman first. See the New Hampshire plumber page.
Worked example: Massachusetts construction supervisor. The handbook sets 70% on each exam, and the exam fee is $75 for the restricted or unrestricted exam. See the Massachusetts page.
Two-part exams
Several states split the exam into a trade part and a business and law part. North Carolina's plumbing and heating statute requires both parts and lets a candidate retake only the failed part within six months; Massachusetts electricians pay $135 to PSI covering a trade portion and a business and practical portion. California's CSLB requires written law and trade examinations for every contractor classification.
Retakes and waiting periods
The sources that address failure set real waits. Michigan bars a journeyman or master electrician candidate who fails twice in two years from retesting for a year and requires a Michigan electrical code course first. North Carolina's plumbing statute sets a 90-day wait. Florida's electrical board may require extra coursework after three failed attempts.
Before you book
Check three things on the board page: that your experience is approved, what the exam fee is (some boards collect it, some vendors do), and the code edition the exam uses. The timeline guide shows how much experience comes first, and the fees guide what the printed fees add up to.
Sources
The state pages linked above, each with its board page or statute and the date read (2026-10-20).
Questions
Do all states require an exam?
For skills licenses, nearly every source read requires one. Registration-only credentials such as Pennsylvania's home improvement registration and Rhode Island's contractor registration list no exam.
Where do I find the exam content outline?
From the testing vendor's candidate bulletin, linked from the board page. This site lists the vendor and pass mark only where the state source prints them.