Page 1 of 60
NEW MEXICO NM ES-3 LOW VOLTAGE SPECIAL SYSTEMS
(UNDER 50 VOLTS) EXAM PREP 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS DETAILED RATIONALES GRADED A+
Part I: Scope, Definitions, and Licensing (Questions 1–20)
1. Under the NM ES-3 license, work is generally limited to special systems
operating at or below which voltage threshold?
A. 24 volts
B. 50 volts
C. 120 volts
D. 600 volts
Rationale: ES-3 work is defined as low-voltage special systems under 50 volts, so
the 50-volt threshold is the boundary that separates ES-3 scope from higher-
voltage electrical work .
2. The NM ES-3 classification specifically covers sound and alarm systems
operating at which maximum voltage?
A. 12 volts
B. 24 volts
C. 50 volts or less
D. 120 volts
1|Page
,Page 2 of 60
Rationale: The ES-3 specialty license authorizes work on sound and alarm
systems operating at 50 volts or less, including fire alarm, security, and low-
voltage signaling systems .
3. What is the passing score required on the NM CID ES-3 PSI exam?
A. 70%
B. 75%
C. 80%
D. 90%
Rationale: The ES-3 PSI exam requires a 75% passing score; on a 50-question
exam, that means at least 38 correct answers .
4. How many questions are on the NM CID ES-3 exam?
A. 25
B. 50
C. 100
D. 150
Rationale: The NM CID ES-3 is a 50-question PSI exam .
5. How much time is allowed to complete the NM CID ES-3 exam?
A. 60 minutes
B. 90 minutes
C. 145 minutes
D. 180 minutes
Rationale: The exam allows 145 minutes for completion .
2|Page
,Page 3 of 60
6. In addition to the technical ES-3 exam, what other exam must an ES-3 applicant
pass?
A. A design exam
B. A Business and Law exam
C. A NICET Level IV exam
D. A first-aid exam
Rationale: ES-3 applicants must pass two exams: the ES-3 Low Voltage technical
exam and the Business and Law exam .
7. Which of the following systems is most clearly within the ES-3 low-voltage
scope?
A. A 480-volt motor control center
B. A 24-volt fire alarm control panel
C. A 120-volt receptacle branch circuit
D. A 240-volt HVAC compressor circuit
Rationale: A 24-volt fire alarm control panel operates under 50 volts and is
within ES-3 scope, whereas the other options are standard power circuits above the
low-voltage threshold.
8. Which NEC article primarily governs fire alarm systems?
A. Article 250
B. Article 725
C. Article 760
D. Article 800
Rationale: Article 760 governs fire alarm systems, dividing circuits into power-
limited fire alarm (PLFA) and non–power-limited fire alarm (NPLFA) categories .
3|Page
, Page 4 of 60
9. Which NEC article governs Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 remote-control and
signaling circuits?
A. Article 250
B. Article 725
C. Article 760
D. Article 800
Rationale: Article 725 covers Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 circuits, including
power limitations and wiring methods for low-voltage control and signaling.
10. Which NEC article governs communications circuits such as telephone and
data?
A. Article 725
B. Article 760
C. Article 800
D. Article 820
Rationale: Article 800 governs communications circuits, including primary
protectors, cable ratings, and grounding requirements .
11. A technician is unsure whether a system is “low voltage” under the ES-3 scope.
The most reliable approach is to:
A. Assume any system under 120 volts qualifies
B. Verify the circuit voltage and the applicable NEC article before proceeding
C. Ask the customer to decide
D. Proceed if the wire is small
Rationale: Scope depends on actual circuit voltage and the governing NEC
article, not assumptions or wire size.
4|Page
NEW MEXICO NM ES-3 LOW VOLTAGE SPECIAL SYSTEMS
(UNDER 50 VOLTS) EXAM PREP 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS DETAILED RATIONALES GRADED A+
Part I: Scope, Definitions, and Licensing (Questions 1–20)
1. Under the NM ES-3 license, work is generally limited to special systems
operating at or below which voltage threshold?
A. 24 volts
B. 50 volts
C. 120 volts
D. 600 volts
Rationale: ES-3 work is defined as low-voltage special systems under 50 volts, so
the 50-volt threshold is the boundary that separates ES-3 scope from higher-
voltage electrical work .
2. The NM ES-3 classification specifically covers sound and alarm systems
operating at which maximum voltage?
A. 12 volts
B. 24 volts
C. 50 volts or less
D. 120 volts
1|Page
,Page 2 of 60
Rationale: The ES-3 specialty license authorizes work on sound and alarm
systems operating at 50 volts or less, including fire alarm, security, and low-
voltage signaling systems .
3. What is the passing score required on the NM CID ES-3 PSI exam?
A. 70%
B. 75%
C. 80%
D. 90%
Rationale: The ES-3 PSI exam requires a 75% passing score; on a 50-question
exam, that means at least 38 correct answers .
4. How many questions are on the NM CID ES-3 exam?
A. 25
B. 50
C. 100
D. 150
Rationale: The NM CID ES-3 is a 50-question PSI exam .
5. How much time is allowed to complete the NM CID ES-3 exam?
A. 60 minutes
B. 90 minutes
C. 145 minutes
D. 180 minutes
Rationale: The exam allows 145 minutes for completion .
2|Page
,Page 3 of 60
6. In addition to the technical ES-3 exam, what other exam must an ES-3 applicant
pass?
A. A design exam
B. A Business and Law exam
C. A NICET Level IV exam
D. A first-aid exam
Rationale: ES-3 applicants must pass two exams: the ES-3 Low Voltage technical
exam and the Business and Law exam .
7. Which of the following systems is most clearly within the ES-3 low-voltage
scope?
A. A 480-volt motor control center
B. A 24-volt fire alarm control panel
C. A 120-volt receptacle branch circuit
D. A 240-volt HVAC compressor circuit
Rationale: A 24-volt fire alarm control panel operates under 50 volts and is
within ES-3 scope, whereas the other options are standard power circuits above the
low-voltage threshold.
8. Which NEC article primarily governs fire alarm systems?
A. Article 250
B. Article 725
C. Article 760
D. Article 800
Rationale: Article 760 governs fire alarm systems, dividing circuits into power-
limited fire alarm (PLFA) and non–power-limited fire alarm (NPLFA) categories .
3|Page
, Page 4 of 60
9. Which NEC article governs Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 remote-control and
signaling circuits?
A. Article 250
B. Article 725
C. Article 760
D. Article 800
Rationale: Article 725 covers Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 circuits, including
power limitations and wiring methods for low-voltage control and signaling.
10. Which NEC article governs communications circuits such as telephone and
data?
A. Article 725
B. Article 760
C. Article 800
D. Article 820
Rationale: Article 800 governs communications circuits, including primary
protectors, cable ratings, and grounding requirements .
11. A technician is unsure whether a system is “low voltage” under the ES-3 scope.
The most reliable approach is to:
A. Assume any system under 120 volts qualifies
B. Verify the circuit voltage and the applicable NEC article before proceeding
C. Ask the customer to decide
D. Proceed if the wire is small
Rationale: Scope depends on actual circuit voltage and the governing NEC
article, not assumptions or wire size.
4|Page
