NORTH DAKOTA MASTER ELECTRICIAN EXAMINATION
COMPLETE PRACTICE EXAM – 400 QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED
SOLUTIONS UPDATED TO CURRENT NEC CYCLE
SECTION 1: NEC GENERAL REQUIREMENTS & DEFINITIONS (Questions 1-50)
1. According to the National Electrical Code, what is the primary purpose of
requiring electrical installations to comply with minimum safety standards
throughout their design, installation, and maintenance?
A. To reduce installation costs for contractors
B. To provide practical safeguarding of persons and property from electrical
hazards
C. To guarantee uninterrupted electrical service under every condition
D. To maximize equipment operating efficiency regardless of installation quality
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: NEC 90.1(A) states that the purpose of the Code is the practical
safeguarding of persons and property from hazards arising from the use of
electricity. It establishes minimum safety requirements rather than guaranteeing
service continuity or equipment efficiency.
2. What NEC article covers grounding and bonding?
A. Article 110
B. Article 210
C. Article 230
D. Article 250
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Article 250 of the NEC governs all grounding and bonding requirements
for electrical systems.
3. The maximum number of disconnects allowed for a service is:
A. 4
B. 5
C. 6
D. Unlimited
1
,Correct Answer: C
Rationale: NEC 230.71 permits up to six service disconnecting means per service.
4. What is the minimum working space depth required for equipment operating
at up to 150 volts to ground?
A. 2 feet
B. 3 feet
C. 4 feet
D. 5 feet
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: NEC 110.26(A)(1) requires a minimum working space depth of 3 feet
for equipment with voltage to ground up to 150V.
5. The minimum cover depth for rigid metal conduit (RMC) under a residential
driveway is:
A. 6 inches
B. 12 inches
C. 18 inches
D. 24 inches
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: NEC Table 300.5 requires 12 inches of cover for rigid metal conduit
under residential driveways.
6. A neutral conductor is considered a current-carrying conductor for ampacity
adjustment when:
A. It carries only unbalanced current in a multiwire branch circuit
B. It is part of a 3-wire, single-phase circuit supplying a resistive load
C. It is part of a 4-wire, 3-phase wye system where the load is nonlinear
D. It serves as the grounded conductor for a service
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: NEC 310.15(E) requires the neutral to be counted as a current-carrying
conductor in a 4-wire, 3-phase wye system when the load consists of nonlinear
loads (e.g., harmonics).
2
,7. The minimum size copper equipment grounding conductor for a 60-ampere
overcurrent device is:
A. 14 AWG
B. 12 AWG
C. 10 AWG
D. 8 AWG
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: NEC Table 250.122 requires a 10 AWG copper equipment grounding
conductor for a 60A overcurrent protective device.
8. What is the maximum allowable fill for a conduit containing three or more
conductors?
A. 31%
B. 40%
C. 53%
D. 60%
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: NEC Chapter 9, Table 1 allows a maximum fill of 40% for conduits with
three or more conductors.
9. Which of the following is NOT an identified purpose of the NEC?
A. Safeguarding persons from electrical hazards
B. Safeguarding property from electrical hazards
C. Ensuring energy efficiency of electrical equipment
D. Establishing minimum safety requirements
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: NEC 90.1(A) and (B) state the Code is for safety and minimum
standards, not energy efficiency or design specifications.
10. The term "readily accessible" means:
A. Capable of being reached quickly without climbing over obstacles
B. Requires a tool to open a door or cover
3
, C. Located in a locked room
D. Only accessible to qualified persons
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: NEC Article 100 defines "readily accessible" as capable of being
reached quickly for operation, renewal, or inspections, without requiring the use
of tools or climbing over obstacles.
11. The interrupting rating of a circuit breaker must be at least the:
A. Continuous load current
B. Available fault current at its terminals
C. Normal operating current of the load
D. Locked-rotor current of the largest motor
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: NEC 110.9 requires equipment intended to interrupt current at fault
levels to have an interrupting rating sufficient for the nominal circuit voltage and
the current available at its terminals.
12. When a dwelling unit has a 200-ampere service, the minimum size of the
grounded service conductor (neutral) per Table 250.102(C)(1) for copper is:
A. 4 AWG
B. 3 AWG
C. 2 AWG
D. 1/0 AWG
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: For a 200A service, Table 250.102(C)(1) specifies the minimum copper
grounded conductor size as 4 AWG for service-entrance conductors.
13. A single receptacle installed on an individual branch circuit must have an
ampere rating:
A. Equal to the branch circuit rating
B. Greater than the branch circuit rating
C. Not less than the branch circuit rating
D. Less than the branch circuit rating
4
COMPLETE PRACTICE EXAM – 400 QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED
SOLUTIONS UPDATED TO CURRENT NEC CYCLE
SECTION 1: NEC GENERAL REQUIREMENTS & DEFINITIONS (Questions 1-50)
1. According to the National Electrical Code, what is the primary purpose of
requiring electrical installations to comply with minimum safety standards
throughout their design, installation, and maintenance?
A. To reduce installation costs for contractors
B. To provide practical safeguarding of persons and property from electrical
hazards
C. To guarantee uninterrupted electrical service under every condition
D. To maximize equipment operating efficiency regardless of installation quality
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: NEC 90.1(A) states that the purpose of the Code is the practical
safeguarding of persons and property from hazards arising from the use of
electricity. It establishes minimum safety requirements rather than guaranteeing
service continuity or equipment efficiency.
2. What NEC article covers grounding and bonding?
A. Article 110
B. Article 210
C. Article 230
D. Article 250
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Article 250 of the NEC governs all grounding and bonding requirements
for electrical systems.
3. The maximum number of disconnects allowed for a service is:
A. 4
B. 5
C. 6
D. Unlimited
1
,Correct Answer: C
Rationale: NEC 230.71 permits up to six service disconnecting means per service.
4. What is the minimum working space depth required for equipment operating
at up to 150 volts to ground?
A. 2 feet
B. 3 feet
C. 4 feet
D. 5 feet
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: NEC 110.26(A)(1) requires a minimum working space depth of 3 feet
for equipment with voltage to ground up to 150V.
5. The minimum cover depth for rigid metal conduit (RMC) under a residential
driveway is:
A. 6 inches
B. 12 inches
C. 18 inches
D. 24 inches
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: NEC Table 300.5 requires 12 inches of cover for rigid metal conduit
under residential driveways.
6. A neutral conductor is considered a current-carrying conductor for ampacity
adjustment when:
A. It carries only unbalanced current in a multiwire branch circuit
B. It is part of a 3-wire, single-phase circuit supplying a resistive load
C. It is part of a 4-wire, 3-phase wye system where the load is nonlinear
D. It serves as the grounded conductor for a service
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: NEC 310.15(E) requires the neutral to be counted as a current-carrying
conductor in a 4-wire, 3-phase wye system when the load consists of nonlinear
loads (e.g., harmonics).
2
,7. The minimum size copper equipment grounding conductor for a 60-ampere
overcurrent device is:
A. 14 AWG
B. 12 AWG
C. 10 AWG
D. 8 AWG
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: NEC Table 250.122 requires a 10 AWG copper equipment grounding
conductor for a 60A overcurrent protective device.
8. What is the maximum allowable fill for a conduit containing three or more
conductors?
A. 31%
B. 40%
C. 53%
D. 60%
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: NEC Chapter 9, Table 1 allows a maximum fill of 40% for conduits with
three or more conductors.
9. Which of the following is NOT an identified purpose of the NEC?
A. Safeguarding persons from electrical hazards
B. Safeguarding property from electrical hazards
C. Ensuring energy efficiency of electrical equipment
D. Establishing minimum safety requirements
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: NEC 90.1(A) and (B) state the Code is for safety and minimum
standards, not energy efficiency or design specifications.
10. The term "readily accessible" means:
A. Capable of being reached quickly without climbing over obstacles
B. Requires a tool to open a door or cover
3
, C. Located in a locked room
D. Only accessible to qualified persons
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: NEC Article 100 defines "readily accessible" as capable of being
reached quickly for operation, renewal, or inspections, without requiring the use
of tools or climbing over obstacles.
11. The interrupting rating of a circuit breaker must be at least the:
A. Continuous load current
B. Available fault current at its terminals
C. Normal operating current of the load
D. Locked-rotor current of the largest motor
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: NEC 110.9 requires equipment intended to interrupt current at fault
levels to have an interrupting rating sufficient for the nominal circuit voltage and
the current available at its terminals.
12. When a dwelling unit has a 200-ampere service, the minimum size of the
grounded service conductor (neutral) per Table 250.102(C)(1) for copper is:
A. 4 AWG
B. 3 AWG
C. 2 AWG
D. 1/0 AWG
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: For a 200A service, Table 250.102(C)(1) specifies the minimum copper
grounded conductor size as 4 AWG for service-entrance conductors.
13. A single receptacle installed on an individual branch circuit must have an
ampere rating:
A. Equal to the branch circuit rating
B. Greater than the branch circuit rating
C. Not less than the branch circuit rating
D. Less than the branch circuit rating
4
