Complete CAST Test Prep Course for Construction and Skilled Trades 2026

The CAST test is scored on the EEI Index scale of 1 to 10. There is no single universal passing score - each utility sets its own minimum threshold based on the role and its internal hiring standards. In practice, most utilities require a minimum index score of 4 or 5 to advance in the hiring process, while competitive positions at larger utilities often require a 6 or above.

Because retake opportunities are limited - most utilities enforce a 30-day minimum between attempts and allow no more than 2 attempts per 12-month period - knowing your target employer's threshold before you sit the test is essential. Some utilities, including Entergy and Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation, publish their retake policies directly on their careers pages.

For official test information, see the EEI's candidate resources page: https://www.eei.org/en/resources-and-media/industry-training

The CAST test is considered moderately to highly difficult for candidates without prior preparation, particularly the Mechanical Concepts and Graphic Arithmetic sections. The Mechanical Concepts section (44 questions) tests applied physics - gears, levers, pulleys, fluid mechanics, and basic electrical circuits - at a level that catches many candidates off guard if they haven't studied systematically.

Verified purchasers of our PrepPack consistently report that our practice materials are harder than the actual test - which is by design. Multiple candidates have noted after passing that the real exam felt significantly more manageable after working through our simulations. The Graphic Arithmetic section in particular is flagged as the area most candidates underestimate.

Most utilities enforce a mandatory waiting period before you can retake the CAST test - typically 30 days minimum - and limit candidates to 2 attempts within any 12-month period. Some employers, including Entergy Corporation and Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation, apply these limits strictly and track attempts across their hiring systems.

This means a failed first attempt does not typically end your candidacy permanently, but it does reduce your remaining window significantly. If you fail your first attempt, your second attempt becomes your last opportunity for at least a year - making preparation before your next sitting critical.

The CAST-R (Revised) version follows the same retake policies. If you are unsure of your specific employer's policy, check their careers page directly or contact their HR department before scheduling your exam.

No. Calculators are not permitted on the EEI CAST test. All mathematical calculations in the Graphic Arithmetic and Mathematical Usage sections must be completed manually, under timed conditions. This is one of the most common surprises for first-time test takers - the math itself is not advanced, but performing it accurately under time pressure without a calculator requires specific practice.

Our PrepPack replicates these exact conditions: all practice tests are timed and calculator-free, so you build the mental arithmetic speed and accuracy the real test demands before test day.

The CAST test is used by the majority of U.S. investor-owned electric utilities as a mandatory screening step for lineman, electrician, substation, and other construction and skilled trades positions. Based on official utility career pages and EEI Testing Consortium membership, confirmed CAST test employers include:

• ComEd (Exelon subsidiary, Illinois) - requires CAST for electrical construction and skilled trades roles; administered at ComEd testing facilities
• Ameren (Illinois and Missouri) - uses CAST for operations and field positions across its service territory
• PECO (Exelon subsidiary, Pennsylvania) - requires CAST for construction trades and lineworker hiring
• CenterPoint Energy (Texas, Indiana, Minnesota) - publishes official EEI test brochures and practice materials for applicants directly on its careers site
• PSEG (New Jersey) - runs quarterly CAST testing sessions for both external applicants and internal UWUA union members
• American Electric Power / AEP (multi-state) - uses CAST across AEP Ohio and AEP Texas service territories for operations and maintenance hiring
• Georgia Power (Southern Company subsidiary) - requires CAST for construction trades and lineman roles in its Georgia service territory
• BGE (Exelon subsidiary, Maryland) - administers CAST for skilled trades positions in the Baltimore-area service territory
• DTE Energy (Michigan) - requires EEI testing for technical and field operations positions
• FPL / NextEra Energy (Florida) - uses CAST as part of its skilled trades hiring process
• Eversource Energy (Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire) - administers EEI assessments including CAST for construction and technical roles
• Duke Energy (Southeast and Midwest U.S.) - uses CAST for construction and plant roles alongside POSS and MASS
• NV Energy (Nevada) - confirmed CAST user with specific interview and testing processes for field roles

Each utility manages its own testing schedule, location, and minimum score threshold. If you have been invited to take the CAST test, check your employer's careers page directly for location and scheduling details.

A lineman (also called an electrical lineworker) is a skilled trades professional responsible for installing, maintaining, and repairing the overhead and underground power lines that form the electrical distribution and transmission grid. It is one of the most physically demanding and technically complex entry-level roles in the energy sector - linemen work at height, in all weather conditions, and around high-voltage equipment where errors can be fatal.

Because of this, investor-owned electric utilities use the Edison Electric Institute CAST Test as a standardized screening tool before hiring. The test measures the four cognitive competencies most predictive of safe, effective performance in the role: the ability to read technical diagrams (Graphic Arithmetic), apply mathematical reasoning to field problems (Mathematical Usage), understand mechanical and electrical principles (Mechanical Concepts), and interpret safety procedures and operational documents (Reading Comprehension).

After completing your payment, you will receive two emails: a payment receipt and a login link with your account details. Once you log in and reset your password, you will have instant, unlimited access to your PrepPack.

You can start practicing immediately with tailored questions and detailed explanations, tracking your performance along the way. Your progress is saved, allowing you to revisit previous attempts as many times as you like. If you need more time, you can extend your subscription by contacting c.serv@jobtestprep.com.

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