Free practice test · California · 2023 NEC

California journeyman electrician practice test

A free practice test for the California General Electrician certification exam: 30 questions on the 2023 NEC, including the safety questions, in the proportions of the official outline. No account needed. You get your score by subject and every answer explained.

How this test works

Part	Questions	Time at the exam's pace
California General Electrician	30	81 minutes

Questions are spread over every subject area of the California 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. Keep a 2023 NEC open while you work; on the exam it is provided for you.

For code lookup speed, try the NEC code practice test. For the format, timing and what to bring, read the California Journeyman Electrician exam guide.

The test

Question 1A crew has locked and tagged open the disconnect for a motor control lineup that includes power factor correction capacitors. Before employees handle the conductors, what further step does 8 CCR 2320.4 require for the capacitors? A. None, because opening the disconnect removes every hazard B. Block their operation or dissipate their stored energy C. Post a high-voltage warning sign where equipment operators can see it D. Have the serving utility confirm that the capacitors are discharged

Question 2A crew runs corded tools from a 4-kW portable generator. Its 15- and 20-ampere receptacles are on a two-wire, single-phase circuit whose conductors are insulated from the generator frame and from all its grounded surfaces. Under 8 CCR 2405.4(c), do these receptacles need GFCI protection? A. Yes, because every 15- and 20-ampere receptacle that is not permanent wiring needs a GFCI B. Yes, because generator receptacles must instead be covered by an assured equipment grounding conductor program C. No, because a two-wire, single-phase generator of 5 kW or less with its circuit conductors insulated from the frame and grounded surfaces is exempt D. Only the 20-ampere receptacles need it; the 15-ampere receptacles are exempt

Question 3A helper on a jobsite suggests two shortcuts for a temporary circuit: using a bare copper wire as one circuit conductor, or driving a ground rod and using the earth as the return path. Under 8 CCR 2405.2(d), which shortcut may be used? A. The bare conductor, if it is run where no one can reach it B. The earth return, as long as a driven ground rod is used C. Neither one D. Both, on circuits under 50 volts

Question 4A branch circuit supplies a 46-A continuous load. THHN copper conductors; the terminals are not marked and the circuit is 100 A or less. No correction or adjustment factors apply. What is the minimum conductor size? A. 6 AWG B. 4 AWG C. 8 AWG D. 3 AWG

Question 5A branch circuit uses 12 AWG copper with 60°C terminals (20 A). No correction or adjustment applies. What is the largest continuous load it may carry under 210.19(A)(1)? A. 20 A B. 16 A C. 25 A D. 12.8 A

Question 6A branch circuit supplies 64 A of continuous and 10 A of noncontinuous load. Copper THWN, terminals rated 75°C, no correction or adjustment. What is the minimum conductor size? A. 4 AWG B. 2 AWG C. 3 AWG D. 6 AWG

Question 7Apply Table 220.55 Note 4. What is the branch-circuit load for one 12-kW household range? A. 12 kW B. 8 kW C. 9.6 kW D. 11 kW

Question 8A 7-kW counter-mounted cooktop and two 4-kW wall ovens in the same kitchen are supplied by one branch circuit. Applying Table 220.55 Note 6 (with Note 1), what is the branch-circuit load? A. 9.2 kW B. 15.0 kW C. 8.0 kW D. 14.0 kW

Question 9Apply Table 220.55 Note 4 (with Note 1). What is the branch-circuit load, in amperes at 240 V, for one 14.6-kW range? Round to 0.1 A. A. 36.7 A B. 60.8 A C. 38.3 A D. 33.3 A

Question 10Apply Table 220.55 Note 4 (with Note 1). A 15.3-kW range in an apartment is connected at 208 V. What is its branch-circuit load in amperes? Round to 0.1 A. A. 38.3 A B. 46.2 A C. 44.2 A D. 73.6 A

Question 11A motor-compressor is marked with a rated-load current of 18 A and a branch-circuit selection current of 22 A. What minimum ampacity must its branch-circuit conductors have? A. 22.5 A B. 22 A C. 50 A D. 27.5 A

Question 12A 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 13Branch-circuit conductors to a motor-compressor are 10 AWG copper with 60°C terminals (30 A). What is the largest value the greater of the compressor's RLA or BCSC can be? A. 37.5 A B. 30 A C. 24 A D. 28 A

Question 14A rooftop unit's compressor is marked RLA 62 A and BCSC 70 A. Copper THWN conductors, 75°C terminals. What is the minimum branch-circuit conductor size? A. 4 AWG B. 2 AWG C. 3 AWG D. 2/0 AWG

Question 15A hermetic motor-compressor has a rated-load current of 18 A and no branch-circuit selection current marked. Applying 440.22(A) with no exceptions, what is the largest standard short-circuit and ground-fault protective device permitted? A. 30 A B. 35 A C. 25 A D. 40 A

Question 16A motor-compressor nameplate shows RLA 22 A and BCSC 25 A. Applying 440.22(A) with no exceptions, what is the largest standard short-circuit and ground-fault protective device permitted? A. 45 A B. 35 A C. 40 A D. 30 A

Question 17A motor-compressor has RLA 26 A (no BCSC marked). Apply 440.22(A) Exception No. 1. What is the largest standard short-circuit and ground-fault protective device permitted? A. 45 A B. 60 A C. 35 A D. 50 A

Question 18A motor-compressor with RLA 16 A (no BCSC) trips its breaker on starting. Apply 440.22(A) Exception No. 2. What is the largest standard device rating permitted? A. 40 A B. 25 A C. 35 A D. 30 A

Question 19A motor-compressor shows RLA 28 A and BCSC 30 A. Conductors are THWN copper with 75°C terminals. Applying 440.32 for the conductors and 440.22(A) with no exceptions for the device, what are the minimum conductor size and the largest standard short-circuit and ground-fault device? A. 8 AWG; 60 A B. 8 AWG; 50 A C. 10 AWG; 45 A D. 6 AWG; 50 A

Question 20An appliance on an individual branch circuit is marked 28 A. It is not a continuous load and is not motor-operated. What is the minimum ampacity of the branch-circuit conductors? A. 28 A B. 35 A C. 30 A D. 22.4 A

Question 21A non-motor appliance marked 26 A operates as a continuous load on an individual branch circuit. The breaker and assembly are not listed for 100 percent loading. What is the minimum branch-circuit rating? A. 26.0 A B. 39.0 A C. 32.5 A D. 20.8 A

Question 22A 4,500-W, 240-V appliance (not continuous, not motor-operated) is on an individual branch circuit. The terminals are unmarked and the circuit is under 100 A. What is the minimum copper conductor size? A. 10 AWG B. 14 AWG C. 8 AWG D. 12 AWG

Question 23A non-motor appliance marked 26 A runs continuously. Its breaker and assembly are listed for continuous operation at 100 percent of rating. What is the minimum branch-circuit rating? A. 32.5 A B. 39.0 A C. 26.0 A D. 20.8 A

Question 24A 6,000-W, 240-V non-motor appliance is a continuous load on an individual branch circuit. Terminals are unmarked (circuit under 100 A); copper conductors. What is the minimum conductor size? A. 10 AWG B. 8 AWG C. 12 AWG D. 4 AWG

Question 25A single non-motor appliance rated 12 A, with no overcurrent device rating marked, is on its own branch circuit. What is the largest overcurrent device 422.11(E) permits? A. 15 A B. 18 A C. 20 A D. 10 A

Question 26A single non-motor appliance rated 28 A is marked "maximum overcurrent device 30 A". What is the largest overcurrent device permitted? A. 30 A B. 40 A C. 35 A D. 20 A

Question 27A single non-motor appliance rated 18 A has no marked overcurrent device rating. Use the 422.11(E)(3) allowance for the next higher standard rating where 150 percent is not a standard size. What is the largest device permitted? A. 25 A B. 20 A C. 35 A D. 30 A

Question 28An unmarked 4,200-W, 240-V single non-motor appliance is on its own circuit. Do not use the next-higher-rating allowance. What is the largest standard overcurrent device 422.11(E) permits? A. 30 A B. 25 A C. 20 A D. 35 A

Question 29Under 29 CFR 1910.333(b)(2)(iv)(B), a qualified person tests the circuit parts that workers will be exposed to and confirms they are de-energized. What else must that same test determine? A. Whether the conductor insulation meets a minimum resistance value B. The available fault current at the point of work C. Whether the breaker trip settings match the coordination study D. Whether any energized condition exists because of induced voltage or unrelated backfeed, even though parts of the circuit were shut off

Question 30A dwelling 120-volt, 20-ampere branch circuit supplies the receptacles in two bedrooms. Does 210.12(B) require AFCI protection? A. No, because 20-ampere circuits are not covered B. No, because receptacles need only GFCI C. Yes D. Only for new construction with sleeping rooms over 70 sq ft

Suggested time: 81 minutes

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Last verified November 11, 2026.