CO-ME Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling

How CO-ME Testing Actually Works

If you're picturing the Colorado Master Electrician License Exam like a college entrance exam with two or three set dates a year, reset that expectation. The CO-ME is a computer-based exam administered by PSI Services LLC on behalf of the Colorado State Electrical Board and the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). Computer-based testing at PSI centers is continuous - candidates book an individual appointment at a location and time that works for them, subject to seat availability at that specific test center.

That means "exam dates" for CO-ME aren't really calendar dates at all. They're scheduling windows tied to your eligibility approval, your local PSI test center's calendar, and - in 2026 specifically - a code-edition cutover that changes what the exam is written against. The rest of this article walks through exactly how those pieces fit together so you don't waste a scheduling slot studying the wrong code book.

The Critical 2026 Date: NEC Code Edition Transition

The single most important date on the 2026 CO-ME calendar isn't a testing window - it's a reference-material cutover. According to the PSI candidate information bulletin updated June 18, 2026, the examination references shift to the NEC 2026 edition effective August 1, 2026. Before that date, candidates test against the prior code cycle; on and after that date, questions are written and scored against NEC 2026.

Why this matters for scheduling: if you're deep into studying one code edition and your PSI appointment lands on the wrong side of August 1, 2026, you could be answering questions referencing sections, tables, or numbering that shifted between editions. Before you book, confirm which edition applies to your test date directly from the current PSI bulletin - don't rely on secondhand summaries, including this one, once the effective date has passed.

• Testing before August 1, 2026: Exam references the pre-2026 NEC cycle in effect at the time.
• Testing on or after August 1, 2026: Exam references NEC 2026.
• Test center materials: The center supplies the NEC and a formula reference page - you cannot bring your own code book, and the supplied copy cannot be written in, highlighted, underlined, or indexed.

From DORA Approval to PSI Scheduling

You can't just log into PSI and pick a date the way you'd book a flight. The Colorado process runs in a strict sequence, and each step has its own timing considerations:

1. Confirm eligibility. Colorado offers both an experience-based route (10,000 hours over at least five years, including planning, layout, and supervision work beyond journeyman-level duties) and education-based pathways for qualifying electrical-engineering or approved trade-school/community-college graduates. Review the full breakdown in our CO-ME Requirements 2026 guide before you assume you qualify.
2. Submit documentation to the Board. This means employer/master experience verification forms and, if applicable, transcripts from an approved program. Processing isn't instant - build in buffer time before you'd like to test.
3. Receive authorization to test. Once approved, you become eligible to schedule with PSI. Note that electrical contractor registration is a separate credential from the individual master license - approval for one doesn't automatically cover the other.
4. Book your PSI appointment. Choose a test center and time slot based on availability. This is the point where the NEC 2026 cutover date becomes relevant to your planning.
5. Sit for the exam, then apply for licensure. Passing the exam comes before submitting your DORA license application - passing does not waive the experience or education requirements you already had to document.

Because approval has to precede scheduling, the real "deadline" most candidates face isn't an exam date - it's making sure paperwork is submitted early enough that approval doesn't stall your target testing month.

Exam Day Timing and Format

Once you're at the test center, the clock structure is fixed regardless of which day you booked:

• 90 scored multiple-choice questions in 240 minutes.
• Up to 10 unscored (pretest) questions with an additional 30 minutes allotted.
• An onscreen calculator is provided - personal calculators and any personal reference material are prohibited.
• The test center supplies the NEC and a formula page, which cannot be marked, highlighted, or indexed in advance.

Passing requires 70%, or 63 of the 90 scored questions correct, across the whole exam - there is no separate pass/fail threshold per domain. That single detail should shape how you time your in-exam pacing and how you prioritize review before your appointment. For a deeper breakdown of exactly how that score is calculated, see CO-ME Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.

Fees, Retest Windows, and Deadlines

Budgeting for CO-ME isn't just about the first attempt. Colorado's fee structure is straightforward but worth knowing before you schedule:

Because there's no fixed national testing calendar, a "retest deadline" for CO-ME is really about how quickly you can rebook a PSI seat and how quickly you can close whatever knowledge gaps cost you points the first time. For a full cost picture beyond just exam fees - including licensing and renewal costs - see CO-ME Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.

Domain Weighting: What to Prioritize Before You Schedule

Before you lock in a test date, make sure your study plan reflects how the exam actually distributes its 90 scored questions across Colorado's 13 content domains. The official scored-item allocation is:

For a full walkthrough of every domain - not just the top two - see the CO-ME Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 13 Content Areas.

Building a Schedule-Aware Study Plan

Once you've booked (or are about to book) your PSI date, work backward from it. A generic weekly template won't help much here - what matters is matching study intensity to the actual question weight of each domain relative to your test date.

This sequencing only works if you actually know where you're weak. Run a full CO-ME Study Guide 2026 plan and take timed practice sets on our CO-ME practice test platform to see which domains need more of your remaining weeks before your PSI date locks in.

After Passing: Licensing and Renewal Dates

Passing the exam is not the finish line for scheduling purposes - it's the point where a new set of dates starts. Passing the CO-ME exam happens before you submit your DORA license application, and it does not waive the experience or education requirements you already documented to become eligible.

Once licensed, mark your calendar for the ongoing cycle:

• Renewal cycle: Active licenses renew every three years.
• Continuing education: 24 CE hours per renewal cycle, including at least 4 hours on NEC changes and no more than 4 safety hours.
• First renewal exemption: The first renewal of a license issued by examination is exempt from the CE requirement.
• Recordkeeping: Retain CE records for seven years in case of an audit.

Curious whether all of this - the fees, the hours, the scheduling logistics - actually pays off long-term? See Is the CO-ME Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and the CO-ME Salary Guide 2026 for context on where the license leads.

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