Journeyman, master electricians, and anybody new to the field can find answers to questions about journeyman and masters electrical exams and licensing here. You will also find information about the NEC, state building departments, reciprocating licenses and more. Additional questions on our Code electrical exam licensing Seminars and Electrical Exam preparation products and Books are also addressed below.
If you have any questions about placing an order with Code Electrical Classes Inc. click how to order.
What is the National Electrical Code (NEC)?
What is the purpose of a license and how do I obtain one?
Where are the testing centers for electrical exams?
What exams do your electrical exam licensing books and seminars prepare students for?
What is the Business Law Exam?
Can I bring a highlighted and tabbed code book into the exam?
Q. What is the National Electrical Code (N.E.C.)?
A. The National Electrical Code (NEC) provides practical safeguarding of persons and property from hazards arising from the use of electricity. The NEC is updated every 3 years and considered to be the foundation for electrical safety.
Not all states are up to date with the current electrical code. You can find out which version your area is using by calling your local building department and talking to the electrical inspector or building official. In addition, some areas like New York City also require localized amendments.
Q. Why is it important to know the code?
A. By reading and understanding the code you will be learning the minimum safety standards that a person needs to know when working out in the field. We offer several electrical books to help the electrician or electrical engineer learn the National Electrical Code. Our pictorial workbooks are great for anyone teaching the NEC. They include pictures, questions, exam, answers and code references. Check out Tom Henry's Five Book Combo.
Q. What is the N.F.P.A.?
A. NFPA is an international nonprofit membership organization founded in 1896 as the National Fire Protection Association. Today, with more than 75,000 members representing nearly 100 nations and 320 employees around the world, NFPA serves as the world's leading advocate of fire prevention and is an authoritative source on public safety. You can reach them by calling 1-800-344-3555 or visit the NFPA website at www.nfpa.org.
Q. What is the purpose of an electrical license?
A. The major purpose of a license is to protect public health and safety by preventing unqualified people from practicing a given profession or occupation.
Q. How can I obtain an electrical license?
A. Call your local building department and get an application which will show the years of experience needed to sit for the exam. Then give us a call at 1-800-642-2633 so we can steer you in the right direction on what to study.
Q. What is the difference between the journeyman license and the masters license?
A. Usually, the journeyman license allows a person to work on a jobsite unsupervised while working for a licensed electrical contractor. The masters license allows you to go into business and pull the needed electrical permits, etc.
Q. What do I need to do to pull an electrical permit?
A. You will need to pass a Master electrician exam and obtain the Masters license. Sometimes you will also be required to pass an administration exam to be able to pull a permit. For study material see our master electrician book combos.
Q. What types of jobs require permits?
A. Check with your local building department. The rules change. Usually the rule is if you add to an existing circuit or if you install a new circuit you need to pull an electrical permit.
Q. Do I have to take the journeyman exam first or can I bypass it and take the master exam?
A. Check with your local building department or whomever you are signing up with to take the exam. In some cases if you have enough time in the field to take the master exam they will let you bypass the journeyman exam.
Q. After I pass my masters exam and obtain the license is that license good forever?
A. You will need to keep the license up to date. Most states or counties renew the licenses each year (pay a fee). Some states now are requiring the contractor to produce CEU's (continuing education units) or a number of contact hours in the code each renewal cycle along with a fee to be paid each time you renew. Our classes are approved for most states to award CEU's check out our online classes.
Q. Where are the testing centers for electrical exams?
A. They are usually held at a governmental office or local community college. Once qualified to take an electrical exam, your local building department will notify you of the exact place, time, and date.
Q. Where can I find building department phone numbers?
A. You can view a current listing of the contact information for each state by following this link: Building Departments. For local testing in the State of Florida check out the contact list for Florida counties.
Q. How many questions are generally on the exam?
A. It depends on the type of exam that you are taking and what company administers the exam. Get in contact with your local building department or whomever you are signing up with to take the test and ask them for a blueprint of the exam. The blueprint should show you the amount of questions and how much time you will have to complete the exam along with what the passing grade will be.
Q. What is the Business Law Exam?
A. The Business and Law examination is an open book examination that consists of multiple choice questions covering state and federal laws and business financial and accounting procedures. Usually only persons taking the electrical contractors exam are required to take this exam. Check with the building department and if you are required to take the exam get a list of books required to purchase for the exam.
Q. Who is OSHA?
A. OSHA stands for Occupational Safety & Health Administration. OSHA's mission is to assure the safety and health of America's workers by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach, and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual improvement in workplace safety and health. See the book OSHA Safety & Health Standards.
Q. I noticed on my application that the people that write my exam are from a company called Prometric but I keep hearing about a Block test. What's the difference?
A. When the testing company was formed originally it was called Block and Associates. Then they renamed it Experior then Prometric. Same people, same test. People that took there exam years ago would refer to it as a Block test (after the name).
Q. What exams do your books and seminars prepare students for?
A. Our books and seminars are written and based on the National Electrical Code and designed to prepare an electrician for the Block, Prometric formerly Experior, ProV, Pearson Vue, I.C.C., N.A.I., P.S.I., AMP exams or any city, county, and state electrical exams.
Q. What resources are available to prepare for the electrical exam?
A. Our company offers electrical books, online classes, DVD's, audio tapes and CD's, etc. Call us at 1-800-642-2633 or check out our catalog.
Q. What is Ohm's Law and why is it important to know?
A. Ohm's Law is one of the most important things that you will use throughout your electrical career. It is a mathematical tool which is of the greatest use in determining an unknown factor of voltage, current or resistance in an electrical circuit in which the other two factors are known. For more information see Ohm's Law and Electrical Theory.
Q. What are Closed/Open Book questions?
A. Usually when you are asked a closed book type question it is a question dealing with theory or an on the job type knowledge question. Sometimes I have seen closed book questions dealing with Article 100 Definitions from the NEC, Article 230.24 Service Heights, Table 300.5 Burial Depths asked on the exam. On an open book type question it usually is found in the National Electrical Code Book. Watch for the wording of the question!! Find what you're looking for in the NEC with the key word index.
Q. Can I bring a highlighted and/or tabbed code book into the exam?
A. Check with the local building department or the person you registered with to take the exam to find out the rules on what you can bring in.The standard rule is that you can bring into the exam with you a paperback or looseleaf (notebook) code book. You can also bring in a tabbed and highlighted code book.
Q. After I complete the "Learn to be an Electrician" program will it qualify me to take the journeyman exam?
A. Becoming an electrician is like becoming a doctor. You have to first do the book work then you need some hands on practice (which the county will require) before taking the exam. In the program "Learn to be an Electrician" Tom Henry shares over 56 years of electrical knowledge with you so you don't have to go through what he did to learn the trade. The program starts with theory then advances to Ohm's law, magnetism, safety and tools, wiring methods, services, motors, inspection, maintenance, troubleshooting, etc. You will not only know how, but why you are doing something a particular way. After completing the program the hands on part is like taking a walk in the park.
Q. Who can I call to find out more information about electrical apprenticeship programs?
A. There are different programs available. IBEW, IEC, ABC, etc. In 1995 we released our own training program; as of June 2015 we have had over 1700 students from coast to coast. The advantage with our program is it is a learn at your own pace program. So you don't have to worry about missing a class due to overtime, sickness, etc. Check out the Learn to be an Electrician program.
Q. What is the National Safety Electrical Code (NSEC)?
A. The NSEC covers the utility company wiring.
Q. What is the UL Electrical Construction Materials (green) book?
A. This book has several purposes, some of which are: (a) to obtain the names of companies which are able to provide products bearing a Listing mark or Classification marking. (b) to obtain information pertaining to the form and nature of the Listing mark or Classification mark to be used for a specific class or category of product. (c) to obtain information or special conditions applying to the product or (d) to obtain the titles and designations of Standards that have been used for investigation of products in a specific category. See Electrical Construction Equipment Directory.
Q. I recently passed my master exam and I am planning to relocate to another state. Do I have to be retested again?
A. Some states will reciprocate. Some of the time it depends on who administered the exam (company, etc.) and what score was achieved to whether the state will reciprocate or not.
Q. Does your company offer any electrical exam preparation videos/dvd's to help you prepare for the electrical licensing exam or only books?
A. Yes, we do offer videos/dvd's. There is a set of nine dvd's for preparing for a journeyman electrical licensing exam and a set of twelve for the masters electrical licensing exam. We also offer audio cd's, flash cards and of course our easy to understand publications. You can see all of our electrical exam products at www.code-electrical.com
Q. I noticed on your website in your different combos of books you show journeyman combos and master combos of books. In the masters combos you show that you will receive a journeyman question and answer book along with a master question and answer book in the same combo. Why the journeyman book also?
A. Usually, a journeyman exam will cover the first four chapters of the code and stops when you hit chapter five (special occupancies) although I have seen questions on swimming pools article 680, mobile homes article 550, and some questions on class 1, 2, & 3 which are covered in the journeyman book. The master book gets more into detail of the special occupancies, etc. If you are interested in sitting for a master exam you need both books plus the rest of them. See our master electrician combo.
Q. How do I contact Prometric?
A. By going on their website at www.prometric.com
Q. How do I contact I.C.C.?
A. By going on their website at www.iccsafe.org
Q. How do I contact P.S.I.?
A. By going on their website at www.psiexams.com
If you need study materials for the Experior, Prometric, ProV, Pearson Vue, I.C.C., N.A.I., P.S.I., AMP exams or any city, county, and state electrical exams, see our Book Deals today!