Licensed Electrical Contractor Practice Test PDF (Free Printable 2026)

The electrical contractor licensing exam tests your mastery of the National Electrical Code (NEC), load calculation methods, grounding and bonding requirements, motor circuit protection, conduit fill rules, and the business law knowledge required to operate a licensed electrical contracting business. Passing requires both deep code knowledge and the ability to apply that knowledge quickly under timed exam conditions.

This free PDF gives you a printable set of practice questions covering all the major NEC articles and business law topics tested on state electrical contractor licensing exams. Download it below, print it, and work through it away from the screen — the same way you'll take the real exam.

What the Electrical Contractor Practice Test PDF Covers

The questions in this PDF map to the knowledge areas most frequently tested on state electrical contractor licensing exams, organized by NEC article and topic.

NEC Article 100 Definitions

Understanding precise NEC definitions is foundational. Exam questions test your ability to distinguish a grounded conductor (the neutral) from an equipment grounding conductor, identify where the service begins and ends, differentiate a feeder from a branch circuit, and classify conductors by their function in the system. Misidentifying these terms leads to incorrect answers on downstream code application questions.

Load Calculations (NEC Article 220)

Article 220 calculations are the core of most contractor exams. You need to calculate general lighting loads using the volt-amperes-per-square-foot values from Table 220.12, add the mandatory small appliance circuit loads (1,500 VA each, minimum two circuits per dwelling), apply demand factors from the appropriate tables, and size the service entrance conductors based on the calculated demand load. Practice calculating both standard and optional method dwelling unit loads.

Branch Circuit Requirements (NEC Article 210)

Article 210 governs outlet spacing (no point on a wall more than 6 feet from a receptacle), AFCI protection requirements for dwelling unit living areas and bedrooms, GFCI protection requirements by location type, and the distinction between 15A and 20A branch circuit applications. Questions frequently test which specific locations require GFCI versus AFCI versus both.

Grounding and Bonding (NEC Article 250)

Article 250 is a deep and frequently tested topic. Key areas include system grounding requirements, the main bonding jumper connecting the equipment grounding conductor to the grounded conductor at the service, the grounding electrode system (ground rods, concrete-encased electrodes, metal water pipe), and the prohibition against connecting grounded and grounding conductors together at downstream panels (separately derived systems are an exception).

Motor Circuits (NEC Article 430)

Motor circuit sizing requires using nameplate full-load ampere (FLA) values and Table 430.52 to size branch circuit overcurrent protection. Overload protection is sized at 115–125% of FLA depending on the motor service factor. Motor feeders are sized based on the largest motor load plus 25% added to the largest motor's FLA. Questions also test branch circuit conductor sizing from Table 310.16 based on motor FLA.

Conduit Fill Calculations

NEC Chapter 9 and its tables govern conduit fill. The allowable fill percentages are: 53% for one conductor, 31% for two conductors, and 40% for three or more conductors. You'll use Annex C tables to look up the maximum number of conductors of a given size for a specific conduit type and trade size, or calculate fill manually using conductor cross-sectional areas from Table 5.

Business Law for Electrical Contractors

Contractor licensing exams include business law questions on state licensing requirements and reciprocity, contract formation and breach, the difference between employees and subcontractors, workers' compensation coverage requirements, general liability versus builders' risk insurance, and surety bond requirements. Lien law basics — mechanics' lien filing deadlines and procedures — also appear on many state exams.

How to Study With This PDF

Because most state electrical contractor licensing exams are open-book, your goal is not memorization alone — it is speed and accuracy with the codebook. Practice answering questions by locating the relevant NEC section quickly, reading the precise code language, and applying it to the scenario in the question. Tabbing your codebook at the most-tested articles before exam day is essential.

After working through the PDF, identify every question you missed and mark its NEC article reference. If you missed more than one question from the same article, do a full review of that article in the codebook. Pay special attention to Article 220 load calculations and Article 250 grounding — these two topics account for a disproportionate share of exam questions on most state exams.

For business law questions, check your state's contractor licensing board website for the specific statutes referenced on your exam. Business law content varies significantly by jurisdiction, and the PDF questions cover the most common topics tested nationally.