Journeyman Electrician Exam: 20 Practice Questions

Grounding & Bonding

Where the questions actually come from. Study time should follow this shape.

Answer: #10 AWG copper or #8 AWG aluminum

NEC Table 250.122

Answer: #4 AWG copper

NEC Table 250.66

Answer: 6 feet minimum

NEC 250.53(B)

Overcurrent Protection

Answer: 15 amperes

NEC 240.4(D)

Answer: The secondary side, unless primary protection meets the requirements of NEC 240.21

NEC 240.21(C)

Answer: 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 125 (and continuing per 240.6(A))

NEC 240.6(A)

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Conductor Sizing & Ampacity

Answer: 65 amperes

NEC Table 310.16 (75°C column)

Answer: 80% of the conductor's ampacity

NEC Table 310.15(C)(1)

Answer: False — the neutral is not counted as a current-carrying conductor in this scenario

NEC 310.15(E)

Box Fill

Answer: 2 conductor volumes (based on the largest conductor connected to it)

NEC 314.16(B)(4)

Answer: 1 conductor volume total (based on the largest EGC present), regardless of how many there are

NEC 314.16(B)(5)

Branch Circuits & Receptacles

Answer: 12 feet (no point along the floor line can be more than 6 feet from a receptacle outlet)

NEC 210.52(A)(1)

Answer: A minimum of two 20A small appliance branch circuits

NEC 210.11(C)(1)

Answer: True

NEC 210.8(A)(1)

Motors

Answer: 125% of the motor full-load current

NEC 430.22(A)

Answer: NEC Tables 430.247 through 430.250 (use the table, not the nameplate, for conductor sizing and OCPD)

NEC 430.6(A)(1)

Services & Panels

Answer: 36 inches (Condition 1, 0-150V to ground = 36")

NEC Table 110.26(A)(1)

Answer: NEC 230.85

NEC 230.85 — Emergency disconnects for one- and two-family dwellings

Raceways & Wiring Methods

Answer: 40%

NEC Chapter 9, Table 1

Answer: 360 degrees total (four quarter bends or equivalent)

NEC 344.26 (RMC), 358.26 (EMT), and similar articles per raceway type

How to Use These Questions

Run through all 20 questions without looking at the answers first. Write down your answers and the NEC section you'd reference. Then check yourself. If you missed more than 5, spend time reviewing the specific NEC articles listed in the references.

The journeyman exam is an open-book test in most states, which means speed matters as much as knowledge. Practice finding answers quickly by tab number, article, and table. The faster you can navigate the codebook, the more questions you'll finish in time.

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Frequently asked questions

What is on the journeyman electrician exam?

Most jurisdictions use an open-book NEC exam weighted toward conductor sizing and ampacity, overcurrent protection, grounding and bonding, box and raceway fill, motors, and general branch circuit and feeder calculations. Many states add a business and law section. Check your own licensing board for the exact content outline and the code edition your exam is written to.

Is the journeyman exam open book?

In most jurisdictions, yes, with a clean, unmarked code book usually permitted and tabs often allowed. Rules vary, so verify with your board. Open book does not mean easy: the exams are timed, and candidates fail on navigation speed far more often than on knowledge.

Which NEC edition will my exam use?

Whichever edition your state has adopted for testing, which is not always the edition currently enforced for permits. Confirm with the board before you buy a code book. See the adoption tracker for the enforcement picture.

What is the fastest way to improve a practice score?

Drill navigation, not memorization. Time yourself finding twenty random requirements in the index and the table of contents. Most candidates who fail knew the material and ran out of clock.

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Exam Prep

// DisclaimerThe National Electrical Code® (NEC®) and NFPA 70® are registered trademarks and copyrighted publications of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). This article is an independent educational resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the NFPA. All code references in this article are paraphrased for educational purposes only and do not reproduce the official text of any NEC edition. This content is not a substitute for the official NFPA 70 publication. Electricians, contractors, and students are encouraged to purchase the official National Electrical Code from the NFPA at nfpa.org for complete and authoritative code text. Always verify requirements with the code edition adopted by your jurisdiction and your Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).

Journeyman Exam Prep: 20 Practice Questions With Answers