CME Professional Standards & Ethics 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A master electrician's license is suspended. Which of the following is CORRECT regarding work already contracted?
- Work may continue under a journeyman's supervision
- All work requiring a master electrician license must stop until the license is reinstated or a licensed replacement is obtained (Correct answer)
- The general contractor can assume the electrical license
- Work may continue if the client provides written consent
Correct answer: All work requiring a master electrician license must stop until the license is reinstated or a licensed replacement is obtained
A suspended license means the individual can no longer legally supervise or perform licensed electrical work, regardless of existing contracts.
Question 2: Which document establishes the minimum safety standards that a master electrician must follow for electrical installations in the United States?
- OSHA 29 CFR 1910
- NFPA 70 (National Electrical Code) (Correct answer)
- IEEE Std 1584
- ANSI/NECA 1
Correct answer: NFPA 70 (National Electrical Code)
NFPA 70, the National Electrical Code, is the foundational standard for safe electrical installation adopted by most US jurisdictions.
Question 3: A master electrician notices that a previous contractor's wiring is code-compliant under an older adopted edition but unsafe by current standards. The BEST course of action is to:
- Ignore it since it passed inspection under the old code
- Inform the owner of the risk and recommend upgrading to current standards (Correct answer)
- Immediately rewire without the owner's knowledge
- File a complaint against the previous contractor only
Correct answer: Inform the owner of the risk and recommend upgrading to current standards
Informing the owner of the risk respects their autonomy while fulfilling the master electrician's professional duty to disclose hazards.
Question 4: What does professional competence require of a master electrician who is asked to design a complex arc flash mitigation system outside their experience?
- Proceed and learn on the job
- Decline or associate with a qualified specialist before accepting the work (Correct answer)
- Complete the work and hire a consultant only if problems arise
- Charge a premium and attempt the design
Correct answer: Decline or associate with a qualified specialist before accepting the work
Professional ethics require recognizing the limits of one's competence and seeking appropriate expertise before undertaking work beyond those limits.
Question 5: Which action BEST protects a master electrician from liability when a client makes a verbal change order that alters the original scope of work?
- Proceed with the change immediately to maintain client satisfaction
- Document the change in writing, obtain the client's signature, and adjust the contract price accordingly (Correct answer)
- Refuse all change orders unless the project is complete
- Note it only in the internal job log
Correct answer: Document the change in writing, obtain the client's signature, and adjust the contract price accordingly
Written, signed change orders create a clear record of scope changes and protect both parties from future disputes.
Question 6: Under ethical professional standards, a master electrician should maintain job-site records for a minimum period after project completion primarily because:
- Insurance companies require it for premium discounts
- Records support warranty claims, defend against liability, and may be required by state law (Correct answer)
- The NEC mandates a specific retention period for all contractors
- Records are needed only for commercial projects
Correct answer: Records support warranty claims, defend against liability, and may be required by state law
Maintaining records defends against future liability claims and meets potential statutory retention requirements.
Question 7: A master electrician is aware that a competitor is performing unlicensed electrical work in the jurisdiction. The professional course of action is to:
- Confront the competitor directly on the job site
- Report the unlicensed activity to the appropriate licensing authority (Correct answer)
- Post about it on social media to warn clients
- Ignore it because it is not your responsibility
Correct answer: Report the unlicensed activity to the appropriate licensing authority
Reporting unlicensed activity to the licensing authority protects the public and upholds the integrity of the profession.
CME Professional Standards & Ethics 3
A master electrician's license is suspended.
Which of the following is CORRECT regarding work already contracted?