NORTH CAROLINA RESIDENTIAL SINGLE-FAMILY
DWELLING ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR LICENSING
EXAMINATION COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
DETAILED SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR
JUST RELEASED
Exam Coverage
1. Electrical Theory and Fundamentals
o Voltage, current, resistance, power calculations, Ohm's Law, and
circuit behavior.
2. National Electrical Code (NEC) Requirements
o Residential code applications, definitions, and installation standards.
3. Grounding and Bonding
o Grounding electrode systems, bonding requirements, and fault-current
paths.
4. Services and Service Equipment
o Service sizing, service disconnects, panelboards, and load
calculations.
5. Branch Circuits and Feeders
o Conductor sizing, overcurrent protection, feeder installations, and
circuit requirements.
6. Wiring Methods and Materials
o Nonmetallic cable, raceways, boxes, fittings, and conductor
installation requirements.
7. Residential Equipment Installation
o Receptacles, switches, luminaires, appliances, HVAC equipment, and
specialty circuits.
8. Safety Requirements
o GFCI protection, AFCI protection, working clearances, and safe work
practices.
9. Motor and Appliance Circuits
o Residential motors, air-conditioning equipment, and appliance branch
circuits.
10.Electrical Troubleshooting and Practical Applications
o Diagnosing faults, voltage drops, overloaded circuits, and installation
deficiencies.
,1.
A homeowner requests installation of a new branch circuit
supplying kitchen countertop receptacles. Which requirement
must be met for compliance?
A. Circuit may serve lighting outlets
B. Circuit may serve bedroom receptacles
C. Required small-appliance circuit must serve countertop
receptacles only as permitted
D. Circuit must be 10 amperes
Answer: C
Rationale: Small-appliance branch circuits are dedicated to
serving kitchen and dining area receptacles as permitted by
code.
2.
When calculating electrical power consumed by a residential
load operating at 240 volts and drawing 20 amperes
continuously, what is the power?
A. 2,400 watts
B. 4,800 watts
C. 3,600 watts
D. 1,200 watts
Answer: B
Rationale: Power equals voltage multiplied by current; 240 ×
20 = 4,800 watts.
3.
,A residential electrical contractor discovers a damaged
nonmetallic cable sheath during installation. What is the
most appropriate action?
A. Ignore minor damage
B. Wrap with tape regardless of extent
C. Replace or properly repair according to code requirements
D. Energize immediately
Answer: C
Rationale: Damaged cable insulation or sheath must be
corrected to maintain safety and code compliance.
4.
Which device is primarily intended to provide protection
against dangerous ground-fault shock hazards in residential
occupancies?
A. AFCI
B. GFCI
C. Disconnect switch
D. Contactor
Answer: B
Rationale: Ground-fault circuit interrupters protect people
from electrical shock hazards.
5.
Before installing service equipment in a dwelling, a contractor
should verify that the location provides adequate working
space primarily for what reason?
A. Decoration requirements
B. Equipment ventilation only
, C. Safe operation and maintenance access
D. Easier painting
Answer: C
Rationale: Working clearances allow safe servicing and
operation of electrical equipment.
6.
What is the primary purpose of bonding metallic electrical
components within a residential electrical system?
A. Increase voltage
B. Reduce conductor size
C. Establish an effective fault-current path
D. Eliminate overcurrent devices
Answer: C
Rationale: Bonding helps ensure fault current returns
effectively to facilitate breaker operation.
7.
A circuit breaker repeatedly trips after a new appliance is
connected. What is the most likely initial troubleshooting
consideration?
A. Appliance load may exceed circuit capacity
B. Ground rod is too long
C. Receptacle color is incorrect
D. Conduit is oversized
Answer: A
Rationale: Excessive load commonly causes breaker tripping.
8.
DWELLING ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR LICENSING
EXAMINATION COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
DETAILED SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR
JUST RELEASED
Exam Coverage
1. Electrical Theory and Fundamentals
o Voltage, current, resistance, power calculations, Ohm's Law, and
circuit behavior.
2. National Electrical Code (NEC) Requirements
o Residential code applications, definitions, and installation standards.
3. Grounding and Bonding
o Grounding electrode systems, bonding requirements, and fault-current
paths.
4. Services and Service Equipment
o Service sizing, service disconnects, panelboards, and load
calculations.
5. Branch Circuits and Feeders
o Conductor sizing, overcurrent protection, feeder installations, and
circuit requirements.
6. Wiring Methods and Materials
o Nonmetallic cable, raceways, boxes, fittings, and conductor
installation requirements.
7. Residential Equipment Installation
o Receptacles, switches, luminaires, appliances, HVAC equipment, and
specialty circuits.
8. Safety Requirements
o GFCI protection, AFCI protection, working clearances, and safe work
practices.
9. Motor and Appliance Circuits
o Residential motors, air-conditioning equipment, and appliance branch
circuits.
10.Electrical Troubleshooting and Practical Applications
o Diagnosing faults, voltage drops, overloaded circuits, and installation
deficiencies.
,1.
A homeowner requests installation of a new branch circuit
supplying kitchen countertop receptacles. Which requirement
must be met for compliance?
A. Circuit may serve lighting outlets
B. Circuit may serve bedroom receptacles
C. Required small-appliance circuit must serve countertop
receptacles only as permitted
D. Circuit must be 10 amperes
Answer: C
Rationale: Small-appliance branch circuits are dedicated to
serving kitchen and dining area receptacles as permitted by
code.
2.
When calculating electrical power consumed by a residential
load operating at 240 volts and drawing 20 amperes
continuously, what is the power?
A. 2,400 watts
B. 4,800 watts
C. 3,600 watts
D. 1,200 watts
Answer: B
Rationale: Power equals voltage multiplied by current; 240 ×
20 = 4,800 watts.
3.
,A residential electrical contractor discovers a damaged
nonmetallic cable sheath during installation. What is the
most appropriate action?
A. Ignore minor damage
B. Wrap with tape regardless of extent
C. Replace or properly repair according to code requirements
D. Energize immediately
Answer: C
Rationale: Damaged cable insulation or sheath must be
corrected to maintain safety and code compliance.
4.
Which device is primarily intended to provide protection
against dangerous ground-fault shock hazards in residential
occupancies?
A. AFCI
B. GFCI
C. Disconnect switch
D. Contactor
Answer: B
Rationale: Ground-fault circuit interrupters protect people
from electrical shock hazards.
5.
Before installing service equipment in a dwelling, a contractor
should verify that the location provides adequate working
space primarily for what reason?
A. Decoration requirements
B. Equipment ventilation only
, C. Safe operation and maintenance access
D. Easier painting
Answer: C
Rationale: Working clearances allow safe servicing and
operation of electrical equipment.
6.
What is the primary purpose of bonding metallic electrical
components within a residential electrical system?
A. Increase voltage
B. Reduce conductor size
C. Establish an effective fault-current path
D. Eliminate overcurrent devices
Answer: C
Rationale: Bonding helps ensure fault current returns
effectively to facilitate breaker operation.
7.
A circuit breaker repeatedly trips after a new appliance is
connected. What is the most likely initial troubleshooting
consideration?
A. Appliance load may exceed circuit capacity
B. Ground rod is too long
C. Receptacle color is incorrect
D. Conduit is oversized
Answer: A
Rationale: Excessive load commonly causes breaker tripping.
8.
