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10 free NEC journeyman electrician practice questions (2023 NEC — the most widely adopted edition; confirm which edition your state tests) covering load calculations, OCPD sizing, grounding, conduit fill, voltage drop, and motor circuits. No signup required. See correct answers instantly.
Electrician / NEC · Question 1 of 5
What is the minimum size copper grounding electrode conductor required for a service supplied by 3/0 AWG copper service-entrance conductors?
Pick an answer to see the explanation + an instant AI breakdown.
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: 6,000 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. That 6,000 VA is the calculated general lighting load the question asks for. Demand factors (NEC 220.42 / 220.45 — 100% of the first 3,000 VA, then 35% of the remainder) are applied in a later step to size the service or feeder, not to the general lighting load itself. A common exam trap is stopping at the 3,000 VA first-tier figure — read carefully whether the question asks for the lighting load or the demand-adjusted load.
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: 16
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. Annex C, Table C.1 gives the same answer: 16 conductors of 12 AWG THHN fit in 3/4-inch EMT. On the exam, go straight to Annex C when all conductors are the same size and type; calculate from Chapter 9 Tables 4 and 5 only when sizes are mixed.
Q6. A single-phase, 120-volt branch circuit uses 12 AWG copper and runs 100 feet one way from the panel to a 20-ampere load. Using VD = 2 × K × I × D ÷ CM (CM = 6,530, K = 12.9 for copper), what is the approximate voltage drop?Show answer
✓ Correct Answer: 7.90 V
On a single-phase circuit the current travels out on one conductor and back on the other, so the one-way distance is doubled: VD = (2 × K × I × D) ÷ CM = (2 × 12.9 × 20 × 100) ÷ 6,530 = 51,600 ÷ 6,530 ≈ 7.90 V. That is about 6.6% of 120 V, well above the 3% (3.6 V) recommended for branch circuits in the NEC 210.19(A) informational note, so the next larger conductor should be considered. The 3.95 V choice is the trap: it forgets the factor of 2 and gives the drop of one conductor only.
Q7. A standard 4-inch square metal box 1-1/2 inches deep has a volume of 21 cubic inches. It contains internal cable clamps but no devices, fittings or equipment grounding conductors. How many 14 AWG conductors may be added per NEC box fill calculation?Show answer
✓ Correct Answer: 9
NEC Table 314.16(B) assigns 2.00 cubic inches to each 14 AWG conductor. One or more internal cable clamps together count as a single conductor volume (314.16(B)(2)), so 2.00 cu in is reserved for them. Available volume = 21 − 2 = 19 cu in, and 19 ÷ 2 = 9.5, which rounds DOWN to 9 conductors. Never round box fill up. Had the box also contained equipment grounding conductors, they would count as one more 2.00 cu in volume (314.16(B)(5)) and the answer would drop to 8.
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. 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 = (2 × K × I × D) / CM for single-phase circuits (use 1.732 instead of 2 for three-phase), 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.
How do I pass the journeyman electrician exam?Show
Prepare for speed, not just knowledge: most journeyman exams are open-book, so the NEC codebook only helps if you can find answers fast. Tab the most-tested articles (210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 310, 314, 430 and Chapter 9), memorize the formulas for voltage drop, box fill and conduit fill, and practice full dwelling load calculations from scratch. Then take timed practice sets, review every miss, and confirm your state's NEC edition, question count and passing score (commonly 70%) with your licensing board or exam provider before test day.
How Do I Pass the Journeyman Electrician Exam? (Free Checklist)
Short answer: on an open-book NEC exam, speed finding the right article and table decides the result. Tab your codebook, memorize the three math formulas, and practice under a clock. Passing scores, NEC edition and question counts differ by state, so confirm yours with your licensing board or exam provider.
The week before
- Tab Articles 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 310, 314, 430 and Chapter 9, then time yourself finding five items per article.
- Work one full dwelling load calculation from scratch each day until the steps feel automatic.
- Drill the formulas: voltage drop (2 × K × I × D ÷ CM single-phase), box fill (round down) and conduit fill (40% for three or more conductors).
- Run a timed practice set, list every miss by article, and re-study only those.
Exam-day checklist
- Bring required ID, and check what your test site allows: which NEC edition, tabs, and calculator type.
- Do the quick questions first and flag long load calculations for the end.
- For lookup questions, go to the index, then the article, then the table. Do not read around.
- Write each calculation step down. Most lost points come from skipped steps and wrong rounding.
- Budget about two minutes per question and keep a buffer to revisit flagged items.
Keep going: complete journeyman exam guide, how to tab your NEC book, conduit and box fill worked examples, and the journeyman electrician practice test.
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