Free practice test · 2026 NEC

Free journeyman electrician practice test

Take a free 30-question journeyman electrician practice test here, with no account: code questions and calculations on the 2026 NEC, scored when you finish, with your result by subject and every answer explained with the section to look up.

How this test works

Part	Questions	Time at the exam's pace
Code questions	20	46 minutes
Calculations	10	46 minutes

Questions are spread over every subject area of the Texas Journeyman Electrician outline in proportion to the number of questions each area has on the exam. The time is the exam's own minutes per question applied to this test, and the real exam passes at 70 percent on each portion. Keep your 2026 NEC open, as you will on the exam.

This version is on the 2026 NEC, which Texas, Colorado, Maine and Minnesota test. If your state tests the 2023 NEC, take the 2023 NEC version. See which edition your state tests.

Testing in Texas, Oklahoma, California, Kentucky, Iowa, Delaware, Alabama, Wyoming, South Dakota, Vermont, Utah, Colorado or Maine? Take the state version, which follows that state's own outline: Texas practice test · Oklahoma practice test · California practice test · Kentucky practice test · Iowa practice test · Delaware practice test · Alabama practice test · Wyoming practice test · South Dakota practice test · Vermont practice test · Utah practice test · Colorado practice test · Maine practice test.

The test

Part 1: Code questions

Question 1A panelboard is in a locked electrical room. The electrician has the key, and no climbing, ladders or moving obstacles are needed. Is it readily accessible? A. No; any lock makes it not readily accessible B. Yes; a key is not one of the tools the definition excludes C. No; it is only accessible D. Only if the room is unlocked during business hours

Question 2The specifications call for 12 AWG minimum on all branch circuits, while the code would allow 14 AWG on a 15-A circuit. What do you install on a 15-A circuit? A. 12 AWG, because the specifications may exceed the code minimum B. 14 AWG, because the code overrides the specifications C. Either, at the installer's choice D. 14 AWG, unless the inspector requires 12 AWG

Question 3A warehouse service is field marked 18,000 A available fault current, and its main breaker has an interrupting rating of 22,000 A. The utility then installs a larger transformer, and the new available fault current at the service is 30,000 A. What is required? A. Nothing; the marking is required only at the first installation B. Change the marking to 30,000 A; the existing breaker may stay because it was compliant when installed C. Recalculate, change the marking to 30,000 A, and replace the main breaker, since 22,000 A is no longer adequate D. Update only the arc-flash label

Question 4A qualifying metal underground water pipe is used as a grounding electrode. What additional electrode requirement applies? A. None, as long as it is in contact with earth for 10 ft or more B. A second connection to the water pipe at least 6 ft from the first C. A supplemental electrode only if the pipe is less than 25 ohms to earth D. It needs a second electrode of one of the kinds in 250.52(A)(2) to (A)(8)

Question 5A 200-A feeder runs from a house's main panel to a subpanel serving only the garage and shop. May Table 310.12(A) be used to size it? A. No; the feeder does not carry the entire load of the dwelling, so it is sized under 215.4 and the general ampacity rules B. Yes, any dwelling feeder from 100 to 400 A may use it C. Yes, if aluminum conductors are used D. Yes, at 83 percent of the subpanel's calculated load

Question 6A single (simplex) 15-ampere receptacle is the only outlet on an individual 20-ampere branch circuit. Is it permitted? A. Yes, Table 210.21(B)(3) allows 15 A receptacles on 20 A circuits B. Yes, if the load is 12 A or less C. Yes, because the receptacle is protected by the breaker D. No, a single receptacle on an individual branch circuit must be rated at least 20 A

Question 7May the required dwelling laundry branch circuit also supply a hallway lighting outlet? A. Yes, if the light is near the laundry area B. No; it supplies only the laundry area receptacle outlets C. Yes, if the circuit is not loaded beyond 80 percent D. Yes, any 20-ampere circuit may supply lighting

Question 8In Table 310.16, which temperature column is used for Type TW copper conductors? A. 75°C B. 60°C C. 90°C D. The aluminum 60°C column

Question 9Six 12 AWG equipment grounding conductors enter a box. Under the 2026 rule in 314.16(B)(5), what total allowance do they add? A. 1.5 allowances, or 3.375 cu in. B. 1 allowance, or 2.25 cu in. C. 6 allowances, or 13.5 cu in. D. 2 allowances, or 4.5 cu in.

Question 10A cabinet is flush mounted in a tile-faced concrete wall. How far may its front edge be set back from the finished surface? A. It must be flush or project B. No more than 1/8 in. C. No more than 3/8 in. D. No more than 1/4 in.

Question 11A hard-service cord is damaged in the field. What is the smallest conductor size for which the cord may be repaired by splicing? A. 14 AWG B. 16 AWG C. 12 AWG D. Any size; splices are permitted in all cords

Question 12A single non-motor appliance rated 12 A has no overcurrent protection rating marked. What is the maximum rating of its branch-circuit overcurrent device? A. 20 A B. 15 A C. 18 A D. 25 A

Question 13May a receptacle be installed face-up in the area below a kitchen sink? A. No B. Yes, if it is GFCI protected C. Yes, if it is a weather-resistant type D. Yes, if it serves only a disposal

Question 14What minimum ampere rating does 440.12(A) require for the disconnect of a hermetic motor-compressor? A. 125 percent of the rated-load current B. 115 percent of the greater of rated-load current or branch-circuit selection current C. 100 percent of the minimum circuit ampacity D. 175 percent of the rated-load current

Question 15A 60 kW generator serves an office building. In addition to the local prime-mover shutdown, where may its required remote emergency shutdown device be located? A. Inside the generator room next to the transfer switch B. Nowhere, because the local shutdown satisfies the requirement C. On the exterior of the generator enclosure, at a readily accessible location D. Inside the building at the main service panel only

Question 16Conductors supply several motors and no other load. How is their minimum ampacity found? A. 125 percent of the sum of all motor full-load currents B. 125 percent of the highest-rated motor's full-load current plus the full-load currents of all the others C. The sum of all motor full-load currents at 100 percent D. 125 percent of the largest motor only

Question 17A detached shed at a house is supplied by two 2-wire, 120-volt branch circuits and nothing else. What is the minimum rating of the disconnecting means under 225.39? A. 30 amperes B. 15 amperes C. 100 amperes D. 60 amperes

Question 18A county code requires standby power for a sewage pumping station and classes it as legally required standby, not emergency. Which article governs, and within what time must power be available? A. Article 700, within 10 seconds B. Article 702, with no time limit C. Article 701, within 60 seconds D. Article 701, within 10 seconds

Question 19Direct-buried communications cable runs in the same trench as direct-buried power conductors. Neither is in raceway or armored, and the power cable is not a type named in the exceptions. What separation does 800.47(B) require? A. 6 in. B. 18 in. C. 12 in. D. 24 in.

Question 20A commercial EVSE has a continuous output rating of 48 amperes and is not part of an assembly listed for 100 percent operation. What is the minimum standard rating of its branch-circuit overcurrent device? A. 50 A B. 48 A C. 70 A D. 60 A

Part 2: Calculations

Question 21A wire pull is measured at 8 ft 9 in. Write this length in decimal feet. A. 8.9 ft B. 8.09 ft C. 8.75 ft D. 105 ft

Question 22A service has 4 parallel sets of 600 kcmil copper conductors. What is the minimum size of a copper supply-side bonding jumper installed as a single jumper for all sets? A. 3/0 AWG B. 2/0 AWG C. 250 kcmil D. 300 kcmil

Question 23A 480-V, 3-phase feeder supplies 100 kVA of continuous load and 30 kVA of noncontinuous load, both balanced. Use 1.732 for √3. What minimum ampacity must the feeder have? Round to 0.1 A. A. 186.4 A B. 156.4 A C. 195.5 A D. 322.9 A

Question 24A branch circuit supplies an 18-A continuous load. THHN copper (90°C), terminals rated 75°C, in a raceway with 16 current-carrying conductors, 30°C ambient. What is the minimum conductor size? A. 10 AWG B. 12 AWG C. 8 AWG D. 14 AWG

Question 25Two 14-2 cables with ground enter a ceiling box through cable connectors whose clamping mechanism is outside the box. The box has a luminaire stud. Inside, a 6-in. 14 AWG bare pigtail joins the two grounds to the box. What is the required volume? A. 14.00 in.³ B. 10.00 in.³ C. 12.00 in.³ D. 16.00 in.³

Question 26A motor-compressor has RLA 30 A and BCSC 33 A. Copper THWN conductors, terminals rated 75°C. What is the minimum branch-circuit conductor size? A. 8 AWG B. 10 AWG C. 6 AWG D. 4 AWG

Question 27A 200-A (nameplate) generator has no overcurrent protection at its terminals, and its design and operation prevent overloading. Apply the 445.13(A) provision for such generators. What is the minimum ampacity of the conductors to the first overcurrent device? A. 200.0 A B. 230.0 A C. 250.0 A D. 173.9 A

Question 28A condensing unit's compressor nameplate reads: RLA 15.6 A, BCSC 18 A, LRA 92 A. The unit's minimum circuit ampacity is marked 22.5 A. What is the minimum ampere rating of the compressor disconnect? Round only the final answer, to 0.1 A. A. 20.7 A B. 25.9 A C. 17.9 A D. 22.5 A

Question 29A 12-A capacitor connects to the terminals of a motor whose circuit conductors have an ampacity of 65 A. What is the minimum ampacity of the capacitor conductors? Round only the final answer, to 0.1 A. A. 21.7 A B. 16.2 A C. 65.0 A D. 87.8 A

Question 30An EVSE is rated 10 kW at 240 V, single-phase. What is the minimum standard overcurrent device rating for its branch circuit? A. 60 A B. 45 A C. 70 A D. 110 A

Suggested time: 92 minutes

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Last verified November 11, 2026.