Chicago DOB – Electrical Contractor
License Exam Practice Questions And
Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationale 2027 Q&A| Instant Download
Pdf.
1. Under the City of Chicago Department of Buildings licensing framework,
which statement best describes the role of an electrical contractor license?
A. It authorizes any individual to perform electrical work anywhere in Illinois
without additional licensing.
B. It authorizes a contractor to perform only plumbing and HVAC work
within Chicago.
C. It authorizes a properly licensed contractor to engage in regulated
electrical contracting activities in accordance with Chicago requirements
and applicable electrical codes.
D. It replaces the requirement to obtain electrical permits for individual
projects.
The electrical contractor license is a local authorization to conduct
electrical contracting activities subject to Chicago's licensing, permitting,
inspection, and code requirements. A contractor license does not eliminate
the need for project-specific permits or compliance with applicable
electrical regulations.
2. Which governmental department administers contractor licensing for
electrical contractors in the City of Chicago?
,A. Illinois Department of Transportation
B. Chicago Department of Water Management
C. Chicago Department of Public Health
D. Chicago Department of Buildings
The Chicago Department of Buildings administers licenses for contractors
involved in construction, maintenance, rehabilitation, and demolition of
buildings and building systems, including electrical contractors.
3. A licensed electrical contractor is preparing to begin electrical work on
a Chicago construction project. Which statement regarding licensing
and permitting is most accurate?
A. A contractor license automatically constitutes a permit for every project.
B. No permit is necessary when the contractor has an active license.
C. The contractor must maintain the required license and obtain the
applicable permit before performing work that requires permitting.
D. A permit is required only after the electrical inspection has failed.
A contractor license and a construction permit serve different purposes.
The license establishes authorization to operate as a contractor, while a
permit authorizes specified work at a particular project or property.
4. Which of the following is the primary purpose of an electrical code?
A. To establish material prices for electrical contractors
B. To regulate contractor advertising
C. To establish minimum requirements intended to protect persons and
property from electrical hazards
D. To determine the contractor's profit margin
Electrical codes establish enforceable technical requirements for electrical
installations, including wiring methods, overcurrent protection, grounding,
equipment installation, and other measures intended to reduce hazards
such as shock, fire, and equipment damage.
, 5. When determining the requirements applicable to electrical work in
Chicago, an electrical contractor should primarily rely upon which
combination of requirements?
A. Manufacturer advertising and customary trade practices only
B. Federal tax regulations and OSHA recordkeeping requirements only
C. The applicable Chicago Electrical Code, adopted national standards,
amendments, and other applicable Chicago requirements
D. The electrical code of any neighboring municipality
Chicago electrical work must comply with the applicable local electrical
requirements, including Chicago amendments and adopted electrical
standards. Project documents commonly identify the Chicago Electrical
Code and applicable national electrical requirements as governing criteria.
6. A 120-volt, single-phase, 20-ampere branch circuit supplies outlets in a
dwelling unit. Under the Chicago Electrical Code provision identified in
current Chicago plan documents, what type of protection is specifically
required for qualifying circuits?
A. Only surge protection
B. Only overtemperature protection
C. Listed combination-type arc-fault circuit-interrupter protection
D. Ground-fault protection in every circumstance regardless of location
Chicago plan requirements identify 120-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-
ampere branch circuits supplying qualifying dwelling-unit outlets and
devices as requiring listed combination-type AFCI protection.
7. What is the fundamental function of an overcurrent protective device
such as a circuit breaker?
A. Increase the available circuit voltage
B. Improve the power factor of every load
C. Open the circuit when excessive current occurs under conditions for
which the device is designed to operate
D. Provide permanent grounding to all equipment
, Overcurrent protective devices are intended to interrupt excessive current
and protect conductors and equipment from damage caused by overloads,
short circuits, and other fault conditions within their rated operating
characteristics.
8. A conductor is installed in a raceway with several other current-
carrying conductors. Which factor can affect the allowable ampacity of
the conductor?
A. The color of the conductor insulation
B. The manufacturer's logo on the raceway
C. The number of current-carrying conductors and the applicable
adjustment factors
D. The age of the electrician installing the conductors
When multiple current-carrying conductors occupy a raceway or cable,
heat dissipation can be reduced. Applicable code adjustment factors may
therefore require the conductor ampacity to be reduced.
9. Which conductor characteristic is most directly related to its ability to
carry current without exceeding its permitted temperature?
A. Conductor label color
B. Conductor length only
C. Conductor ampacity
D. Conduit trade name
Ampacity is the maximum current a conductor can carry continuously
under specified conditions without exceeding its temperature rating.
Proper conductor selection requires consideration of ampacity and
applicable correction and adjustment factors.
10. An electrical contractor selects a conductor based solely on the
circuit's nominal voltage and ignores ampacity. What is the principal
problem with this approach?
License Exam Practice Questions And
Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationale 2027 Q&A| Instant Download
Pdf.
1. Under the City of Chicago Department of Buildings licensing framework,
which statement best describes the role of an electrical contractor license?
A. It authorizes any individual to perform electrical work anywhere in Illinois
without additional licensing.
B. It authorizes a contractor to perform only plumbing and HVAC work
within Chicago.
C. It authorizes a properly licensed contractor to engage in regulated
electrical contracting activities in accordance with Chicago requirements
and applicable electrical codes.
D. It replaces the requirement to obtain electrical permits for individual
projects.
The electrical contractor license is a local authorization to conduct
electrical contracting activities subject to Chicago's licensing, permitting,
inspection, and code requirements. A contractor license does not eliminate
the need for project-specific permits or compliance with applicable
electrical regulations.
2. Which governmental department administers contractor licensing for
electrical contractors in the City of Chicago?
,A. Illinois Department of Transportation
B. Chicago Department of Water Management
C. Chicago Department of Public Health
D. Chicago Department of Buildings
The Chicago Department of Buildings administers licenses for contractors
involved in construction, maintenance, rehabilitation, and demolition of
buildings and building systems, including electrical contractors.
3. A licensed electrical contractor is preparing to begin electrical work on
a Chicago construction project. Which statement regarding licensing
and permitting is most accurate?
A. A contractor license automatically constitutes a permit for every project.
B. No permit is necessary when the contractor has an active license.
C. The contractor must maintain the required license and obtain the
applicable permit before performing work that requires permitting.
D. A permit is required only after the electrical inspection has failed.
A contractor license and a construction permit serve different purposes.
The license establishes authorization to operate as a contractor, while a
permit authorizes specified work at a particular project or property.
4. Which of the following is the primary purpose of an electrical code?
A. To establish material prices for electrical contractors
B. To regulate contractor advertising
C. To establish minimum requirements intended to protect persons and
property from electrical hazards
D. To determine the contractor's profit margin
Electrical codes establish enforceable technical requirements for electrical
installations, including wiring methods, overcurrent protection, grounding,
equipment installation, and other measures intended to reduce hazards
such as shock, fire, and equipment damage.
, 5. When determining the requirements applicable to electrical work in
Chicago, an electrical contractor should primarily rely upon which
combination of requirements?
A. Manufacturer advertising and customary trade practices only
B. Federal tax regulations and OSHA recordkeeping requirements only
C. The applicable Chicago Electrical Code, adopted national standards,
amendments, and other applicable Chicago requirements
D. The electrical code of any neighboring municipality
Chicago electrical work must comply with the applicable local electrical
requirements, including Chicago amendments and adopted electrical
standards. Project documents commonly identify the Chicago Electrical
Code and applicable national electrical requirements as governing criteria.
6. A 120-volt, single-phase, 20-ampere branch circuit supplies outlets in a
dwelling unit. Under the Chicago Electrical Code provision identified in
current Chicago plan documents, what type of protection is specifically
required for qualifying circuits?
A. Only surge protection
B. Only overtemperature protection
C. Listed combination-type arc-fault circuit-interrupter protection
D. Ground-fault protection in every circumstance regardless of location
Chicago plan requirements identify 120-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-
ampere branch circuits supplying qualifying dwelling-unit outlets and
devices as requiring listed combination-type AFCI protection.
7. What is the fundamental function of an overcurrent protective device
such as a circuit breaker?
A. Increase the available circuit voltage
B. Improve the power factor of every load
C. Open the circuit when excessive current occurs under conditions for
which the device is designed to operate
D. Provide permanent grounding to all equipment
, Overcurrent protective devices are intended to interrupt excessive current
and protect conductors and equipment from damage caused by overloads,
short circuits, and other fault conditions within their rated operating
characteristics.
8. A conductor is installed in a raceway with several other current-
carrying conductors. Which factor can affect the allowable ampacity of
the conductor?
A. The color of the conductor insulation
B. The manufacturer's logo on the raceway
C. The number of current-carrying conductors and the applicable
adjustment factors
D. The age of the electrician installing the conductors
When multiple current-carrying conductors occupy a raceway or cable,
heat dissipation can be reduced. Applicable code adjustment factors may
therefore require the conductor ampacity to be reduced.
9. Which conductor characteristic is most directly related to its ability to
carry current without exceeding its permitted temperature?
A. Conductor label color
B. Conductor length only
C. Conductor ampacity
D. Conduit trade name
Ampacity is the maximum current a conductor can carry continuously
under specified conditions without exceeding its temperature rating.
Proper conductor selection requires consideration of ampacity and
applicable correction and adjustment factors.
10. An electrical contractor selects a conductor based solely on the
circuit's nominal voltage and ignores ampacity. What is the principal
problem with this approach?
