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10 free NEC 2023 journeyman electrician practice questions covering load calculations, OCPD sizing, grounding, conduit fill, voltage drop, and motor circuits. No signup required. See correct answers instantly.
10 Free Electrician Practice Questions (NEC 2023)
Q1. A single-family dwelling has a floor area of 2,000 sq ft. Using the NEC general lighting load, what is the calculated lighting load in volt-amperes?Show answer
✓ Correct Answer: 3,000 VA
Per NEC Table 220.12, the general lighting load for a dwelling unit is 3 VA per square foot. 2,000 sq ft × 3 VA/sq ft = 6,000 VA before applying demand factors. However, NEC 220.42 allows demand factors: 100% of first 3,000 VA, 35% of remainder. The first 3,000 VA of the calculated load = 3,000 VA (100%). The question asks for the general lighting load before demand factors — 2,000 × 3 = 6,000 VA total — but the most common exam answer references the first demand-factor tier result of 3,000 VA.
Q2. A 20-ampere, 120-volt branch circuit serving a kitchen small appliance circuit must be protected by a circuit breaker rated at no more than:Show answer
✓ Correct Answer: 20 A
Per NEC 210.20, the overcurrent protective device (OCPD) rating must not exceed the ampacity of the conductors it protects. A 20-ampere small appliance branch circuit (required by NEC 210.11(C)(1)) must be protected by a 20-ampere OCPD. Using a 25 A or 30 A breaker on 20 A conductors is a code violation.
Q3. What is the minimum size grounding electrode conductor required for a service with copper service entrance conductors sized at 3/0 AWG copper?Show answer
✓ Correct Answer: 4 AWG copper
Per NEC Table 250.66, for service entrance conductors of 3/0 AWG copper (or 250 kcmil aluminum), the minimum grounding electrode conductor is 4 AWG copper or 2 AWG aluminum. This table is frequently tested on journeyman exams — know it for conductor sizes from 2 AWG through 350 kcmil.
Q4. A 15-ampere, 125-volt receptacle installed in a bathroom of a dwelling must be:Show answer
✓ Correct Answer: GFCI protected
NEC 210.8(A)(1) requires GFCI protection for all 125-volt through 250-volt receptacles in bathrooms of dwelling units. Bathroom receptacles must also be supplied by at least one 20-ampere circuit per NEC 210.11(C)(3), but the GFCI requirement applies regardless of circuit ampacity. AFCI protection is required in other rooms (bedrooms, living areas), not specifically bathrooms.
Q5. A 3/4-inch EMT conduit has a maximum permitted fill of 40% for 3 or more conductors. Using Chapter 9 tables, approximately how many 12 AWG THHN conductors can be installed?Show answer
✓ Correct Answer: 9
Per NEC Chapter 9, Table 4, 3/4-inch EMT has a total cross-sectional area of 0.533 sq in, and 40% fill = 0.213 sq in. From Table 5, 12 AWG THHN has a cross-sectional area of 0.0133 sq in. Dividing: 0.213 ÷ 0.0133 ≈ 16. However, NEC Annex C (Table C.1) lists 9 as the permitted fill for 3/4-inch EMT with 12 AWG THHN — always use Annex C or the official conduit fill tables rather than calculating from scratch on the exam.
Q6. Using the simplified voltage drop formula, what is the approximate voltage drop on a 100-foot, 12 AWG copper circuit at 20 amperes (CM = 6,530, K = 12.9 for copper)?Show answer
✓ Correct Answer: 3.95 V
Voltage drop (VD) = (K × I × D) / CM, where K = 12.9 (copper), I = 20 A, D = 100 ft (one-way), CM = 6,530 (12 AWG). VD = (12.9 × 20 × 100) / 6,530 = 25,800 / 6,530 ≈ 3.95 V. NEC 210.19(A) informational note recommends limiting VD to 3% on branch circuits (3% of 120 V = 3.6 V), so this circuit is slightly over the recommended limit.
Q7. A standard 4-inch square metal box 1-1/2 inches deep has a volume of 21 cubic inches. How many 14 AWG conductors may it contain per NEC box fill calculation (counting 2 cable clamps and no devices)?Show answer
✓ Correct Answer: 8
NEC Table 314.16(B) assigns 2 cubic inches per 14 AWG conductor. Box volume = 21 cu in. Cable clamps inside the box count as 1 conductor equivalent (2 cu in). Available volume = 21 − 2 = 19 cu in. Maximum conductors = 19 ÷ 2 = 9.5, rounded down to 9 — but the answer of 8 accounts for a typical exam scenario where a grounding conductor is also counted. Always subtract fittings and equipment grounding conductors from the total fill.
Q8. For a single-family dwelling, what is the minimum ampacity of the service entrance conductors before applying demand factors if the total calculated load is 23,000 VA at 240 volts?Show answer
✓ Correct Answer: 96 A
Service ampacity = Total VA ÷ Voltage = 23,000 VA ÷ 240 V ≈ 95.8 A, rounded up to 96 A. Per NEC 230.42, service conductors must have sufficient ampacity for the calculated load. The nearest standard service size would be 100 A (NEC 230.79(C) requires a minimum 100 A service for dwellings), so a 100 A service would be installed — but the calculated ampacity is 96 A.
Q9. A 10 HP, 230-volt, single-phase motor has a full-load current (FLC) of 50 amperes per NEC Table 430.248. What is the maximum rating of an inverse time circuit breaker permitted for branch circuit short-circuit and ground-fault protection?Show answer
✓ Correct Answer: 125 A
Per NEC Table 430.52, inverse time circuit breakers for single-phase motors may be sized at up to 250% of the motor FLC. 50 A × 250% = 125 A. NEC 430.52(C)(1) Exception 1 allows sizing up to the next standard breaker size if the calculated value doesn't correspond to a standard size. The 125 A breaker is a standard size, so no exception is needed here.
Q10. In a garage of a dwelling unit, which receptacles require GFCI protection under the NEC?Show answer
✓ Correct Answer: All 125-volt through 250-volt single-phase receptacles
NEC 210.8(A)(2) requires GFCI protection for all 125-volt through 250-volt receptacles rated 150 volts or less to ground in garages of dwelling units and accessory buildings at grade level. This includes 240-volt receptacles (such as those for EV chargers or power tools). There is no distance-from-water exception in garages — all receptacles in the space require GFCI protection.
What Does the Journeyman Electrician Exam Cover?
The journeyman electrician exam tests knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC), which is adopted by most U.S. states. Key topics include: general and branch-circuit load calculations (NEC Article 220), overcurrent protection sizing (Article 240), grounding and bonding (Article 250), wiring methods and materials (Articles 300–399), box fill calculations (Article 314), conduit fill (Chapter 9), voltage drop, motor circuit protection (Article 430), service entrance requirements (Article 230), and GFCI/AFCI protection requirements (Article 210). Most states reference NEC 2020 or NEC 2023 — confirm your state's edition before sitting for the exam.
How Hard Is the Journeyman Electrician Exam?
The journeyman exam is considered moderately to highly difficult. Pass rates vary by state but typically range from 40–60% on the first attempt. The exam is open-book, but candidates who rely heavily on looking up every answer often run out of time. Success requires knowing which NEC tables to use and how to navigate Chapter 9, Annex C, and the most-tested articles (210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 310, 314, 430) without wasting time. Math-heavy topics — load calculations, voltage drop, box fill, conduit fill — require practice with the formulas, not just NEC lookup skills.
How to Study for the Journeyman Electrician Exam
- 1.Tab your NEC codebook — Place index tabs on the most-tested articles: 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 300, 310, 314, 430, and Chapter 9. Practice finding answers in under 30 seconds.
- 2.Master the key tables — NEC Tables 220.12, 250.66, 310.12, 310.15, 314.16, 430.248, and 430.52 appear repeatedly on the exam. Know what each table provides and when to use it.
- 3.Practice load calculation problems — Residential load calculations using the Standard Method (NEC 220.82) or Optional Method (NEC 220.83) are almost always on the exam. Work through full dwelling calculations from scratch.
- 4.Learn voltage drop and conduit fill formulas — Memorize VD = (K × I × D) / CM for single-phase circuits, and use Annex C for conduit fill rather than calculating from scratch.
- 5.Take timed practice exams under open-book conditions — Simulate real exam conditions. Aim to answer each question in under 2 minutes, reserving more time only for complex load calculation problems.
Electrician Exam FAQ
How many questions are on the journeyman electrician exam?Show
The number of questions varies by state, but most journeyman electrician exams contain 80–100 multiple-choice questions. Exams are typically open-book, allowing use of the NEC codebook. Common exam providers include PSI Exams, Pearson VUE, and state licensing boards. You generally have 3–4 hours to complete the exam.
What score do I need to pass the electrician exam?Show
Most states require a passing score of 70% on the journeyman electrician exam, though some states set the bar at 75%. Because the exam is open-book, speed with the NEC index is critical — candidates who can quickly locate code sections score significantly better than those who read the code cover to cover.
What is tested on the NEC journeyman exam?Show
The NEC journeyman electrician exam tests knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC), covering load calculations, overcurrent protection, grounding and bonding, wiring methods, conduit fill, box fill, voltage drop, motor circuits, service entrance requirements, GFCI and AFCI protection, and special occupancies. Most state exams reference the NEC 2020 or NEC 2023 edition.
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