Michigan Electrical Sign Contractor
License Exam Prep
Questions & Answers with Rationales
Covers: Sign Specialist & Sign Specialty Contractor licensing requirements,
Michigan Act 217 & Administrative Board Rules, business and
construction-lien law, NEC Article 600 (electric signs), grounding/bonding
and disconnecting means for signs, neon/LED/transformers and power
supplies, and general trade knowledge applied to sign work.
Michigan Electrical Sign Contractor Exam Page 1
, Section 1: Licensing Requirements & Qualifications
Question 1
What is the minimum number of hours of practical experience required
to qualify for the Sign Specialist license examination in Michigan?
Answer: 4,000 hours.
Rationale:
Michigan Administrative Rule R 338.1005c requires a minimum of 4,000
hours of practical experience obtained over a period of not less than two
years in the manufacture, installation, maintenance, connection, or repair of
electric signs and related wiring.
Question 2
Over what minimum period of time must the 4,000 hours of sign-related
experience be obtained?
Answer: Not less than 2 years.
Rationale:
The rule specifies both a total-hours requirement (4,000) and a minimum
time-in-trade requirement (2 years), so an applicant cannot compress the
experience into a shorter period.
Question 3
What minimum age is required to apply for the Sign Specialist
examination?
Answer: 18 years old.
Rationale:
Unlike the Journeyman and Master Electrician tracks, which require a
minimum age of 20, the Sign Specialist and related specialty exams require
applicants to be at least 18 years of age.
Question 4
Michigan Electrical Sign Contractor Exam Page 2
, In addition to work-hour documentation, what else must a Sign
Specialist applicant demonstrate before sitting for the exam?
Answer: Completion of an approved training course covering the
installation, maintenance, connection, or repair of electric signs and
related wiring.
Rationale:
R 338.1005c requires successful completion of an approved course, such as
one based on the sign electrician's workbook or an equivalent training
program, before an applicant is eligible to test.
Question 5
What passing score is required on the Sign Specialist examination?
Answer: 75%.
Rationale:
All Michigan electrical-family examinations (Journeyman, Master, Contractor,
Fire Alarm, and Sign Specialist) share the same 75% passing threshold.
Question 6
How long is the Sign Specialist examination, and how many questions
does it contain?
Answer: 60 minutes, 32 questions.
Rationale:
The Sign Specialist exam is shorter than the Journeyman or Master exams
because it is a narrower specialty test focused specifically on sign work.
Question 7
How many questions are on the Sign Specialty Contractor examination,
and what is the time limit?
Answer: 40 questions, 90 minutes.
Rationale:
All contractor-level exams administered by PSI (Electrical, Fire Alarm, and
Sign Specialty Contractor) use the same 40-question, 90-minute format with
Michigan Electrical Sign Contractor Exam Page 3
, a 75% passing score.
Question 8
Is a Sign Specialty Contractor license holder required to also hold a
Sign Specialist license?
Answer: No, but the contractor must employ or be associated with a
licensed Sign Specialist.
Rationale:
Similar to how an Electrical Contractor must have a Master Electrician of
record, a Sign Specialty Contractor license requires an associated, actively
employed Sign Specialist who is responsible for code compliance of the work
performed.
Question 9
What is unique among Michigan electrical-family licenses regarding the
Sign Specialty Contractor license and insurance?
Answer: It is the only license that requires proof of public liability
insurance before the license is issued.
Rationale:
A Sign Specialty Contractor must carry a liability policy (commonly cited at a
$1,000,000 level) prior to licensure, reflecting the elevated risk of structural
sign installation work such as pole signs and roof-mounted signage.
Question 10
May a Sign Specialist hold an association with more than one Sign
Specialty Contractor at the same time?
Answer: No, similar to a Master Electrician, a Sign Specialist may
generally be the responsible license holder for only one contractor at a
time.
Rationale:
This one-to-one relationship ensures a single, clearly accountable licensed
individual is responsible for code compliance on all sign work performed
under that contractor license.
Michigan Electrical Sign Contractor Exam Page 4
License Exam Prep
Questions & Answers with Rationales
Covers: Sign Specialist & Sign Specialty Contractor licensing requirements,
Michigan Act 217 & Administrative Board Rules, business and
construction-lien law, NEC Article 600 (electric signs), grounding/bonding
and disconnecting means for signs, neon/LED/transformers and power
supplies, and general trade knowledge applied to sign work.
Michigan Electrical Sign Contractor Exam Page 1
, Section 1: Licensing Requirements & Qualifications
Question 1
What is the minimum number of hours of practical experience required
to qualify for the Sign Specialist license examination in Michigan?
Answer: 4,000 hours.
Rationale:
Michigan Administrative Rule R 338.1005c requires a minimum of 4,000
hours of practical experience obtained over a period of not less than two
years in the manufacture, installation, maintenance, connection, or repair of
electric signs and related wiring.
Question 2
Over what minimum period of time must the 4,000 hours of sign-related
experience be obtained?
Answer: Not less than 2 years.
Rationale:
The rule specifies both a total-hours requirement (4,000) and a minimum
time-in-trade requirement (2 years), so an applicant cannot compress the
experience into a shorter period.
Question 3
What minimum age is required to apply for the Sign Specialist
examination?
Answer: 18 years old.
Rationale:
Unlike the Journeyman and Master Electrician tracks, which require a
minimum age of 20, the Sign Specialist and related specialty exams require
applicants to be at least 18 years of age.
Question 4
Michigan Electrical Sign Contractor Exam Page 2
, In addition to work-hour documentation, what else must a Sign
Specialist applicant demonstrate before sitting for the exam?
Answer: Completion of an approved training course covering the
installation, maintenance, connection, or repair of electric signs and
related wiring.
Rationale:
R 338.1005c requires successful completion of an approved course, such as
one based on the sign electrician's workbook or an equivalent training
program, before an applicant is eligible to test.
Question 5
What passing score is required on the Sign Specialist examination?
Answer: 75%.
Rationale:
All Michigan electrical-family examinations (Journeyman, Master, Contractor,
Fire Alarm, and Sign Specialist) share the same 75% passing threshold.
Question 6
How long is the Sign Specialist examination, and how many questions
does it contain?
Answer: 60 minutes, 32 questions.
Rationale:
The Sign Specialist exam is shorter than the Journeyman or Master exams
because it is a narrower specialty test focused specifically on sign work.
Question 7
How many questions are on the Sign Specialty Contractor examination,
and what is the time limit?
Answer: 40 questions, 90 minutes.
Rationale:
All contractor-level exams administered by PSI (Electrical, Fire Alarm, and
Sign Specialty Contractor) use the same 40-question, 90-minute format with
Michigan Electrical Sign Contractor Exam Page 3
, a 75% passing score.
Question 8
Is a Sign Specialty Contractor license holder required to also hold a
Sign Specialist license?
Answer: No, but the contractor must employ or be associated with a
licensed Sign Specialist.
Rationale:
Similar to how an Electrical Contractor must have a Master Electrician of
record, a Sign Specialty Contractor license requires an associated, actively
employed Sign Specialist who is responsible for code compliance of the work
performed.
Question 9
What is unique among Michigan electrical-family licenses regarding the
Sign Specialty Contractor license and insurance?
Answer: It is the only license that requires proof of public liability
insurance before the license is issued.
Rationale:
A Sign Specialty Contractor must carry a liability policy (commonly cited at a
$1,000,000 level) prior to licensure, reflecting the elevated risk of structural
sign installation work such as pole signs and roof-mounted signage.
Question 10
May a Sign Specialist hold an association with more than one Sign
Specialty Contractor at the same time?
Answer: No, similar to a Master Electrician, a Sign Specialist may
generally be the responsible license holder for only one contractor at a
time.
Rationale:
This one-to-one relationship ensures a single, clearly accountable licensed
individual is responsible for code compliance on all sign work performed
under that contractor license.
Michigan Electrical Sign Contractor Exam Page 4
