North Carolina Residential Single-Family Dwelling Electrical Contractor
Licensing Exam Practice Questions & Answers (2026–2027) | Updated
MCQs with Detailed Rationales | NEC-Based NC Residential Electrical
Exam
SECTION A: NORTH CAROLINA LICENSING LAW & ADMINISTRATION
Question 1
According to NC General Statutes Chapter 87, Article 4, which entity is responsible
for licensing electrical contractors in North Carolina?
A) North Carolina Department of Labor
B) North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors
C) North Carolina Department of Business and Professional Regulation
D) North Carolina Electrical Safety Authority
Answer: B) North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors
Rationale: The NC State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors is the
governing body responsible for licensing and regulating electrical contractors in
North Carolina as outlined in Chapter 87, Article 4 of the NC General Statutes. The
Board develops its own licensing examinations and determines the scores that
applicants must achieve to pass them.
Question 2
What is the minimum total experience required for an applicant to qualify for the
SP-SFD license in North Carolina?
A) 2,000 hours
B) 3,000 hours
C) 4,000 hours
D) 5,000 hours
Answer: B) 3,000 hours
,Rationale: The NC Board requires a minimum of 3,000 hours of verifiable
electrical experience for the SP-SFD license. Of this, at least 2,000 hours must be
primary (direct) electrical work experience under a qualified individual.
Question 3
Which North Carolina statute defines the scope of a Residential Dwelling license?
A) NC Gen. Stat. § 20-140.1
B) NC Gen. Stat. § 87-4-10
C) NC Gen. Stat. § 66-5-5
D) NC Gen. Stat. § 90-1-2
Answer: B) NC Gen. Stat. § 87-4-10
Rationale: NC Gen. Stat. § 87-4-10 specifically defines and limits the Residential
Dwelling license to work on one- and two-family dwellings. The SP-SFD license
authorizes electrical work specifically in single-family residential dwellings.
Question 4
Under NC Administrative Code, Chapter 18B, what is required for license renewal
for SP-SFD electricians?
A) Passing a written exam every year
B) Completion of continuing education hours
C) Submission of a new application every 3 months
D) Providing a bond of $10,000 annually
Answer: B) Completion of continuing education hours
Rationale: The NC Administrative Code Chapter 18B requires completion of
continuing education hours for license renewal to ensure licensees stay current
with code changes and industry practices. The course ELC-3100A3 at Wake Tech,
for example, is approved for 24 hours of Continuing Education Credit by the NC
State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors.
,Question 5
What is the maximum number of continuing education hours required for SP-SFD
license renewal per 12-month period?
A) 4 hours
B) 8 hours
C) 10 hours
D) 16 hours
Answer: C) 10 hours
Rationale: Up to 10 hours of continuing education are required per 12-month
period for SP-SFD license renewal.
Question 6
Which of the following may be engaged in by a firm holding a North Carolina
Electrical Contracting License in the Limited Classification?
A) Any electrical project regardless of value
B) An electrical project having a value of $60,000 or less and 600 volts or less
C) Only single-family dwelling projects
D) Unlimited commercial projects
Answer: B) An electrical project having a value of $60,000 or less and 600 volts
or less
Rationale: The Limited Classification license restricts electrical contracting work
to projects valued at $60,000 or less and operating at 600 volts or less.
Question 7
Which of the following is a prohibited act for an SP-SFD licensee in North
Carolina?
A) Installing a 30-A GFCI in a garage
B) Wiring a commercial office building
, C) Replacing a faulty breaker in a residential panel
D) Adding a new receptacle in a kitchen countertop
Answer: B) Wiring a commercial office building
Rationale: SP-SFD licensees may not perform work on commercial occupancies;
doing so is a prohibited act under G.S. 87-4. The license is specifically restricted to
residential single-family dwellings.
Question 8
Under NC Administrative Code Title 21, Chapter 18B, the waiting period between
examination attempts for an SP-SFD applicant is:
A) 7 days
B) 14 days
C) 30 days
D) 60 days
Answer: B) 14 days
Rationale: The code requires a 14-day waiting period between examination
attempts for any electrical license.
Question 9
The NC lien law requires a contractor to file a lien notice within how many days
after completing work on a residential project?
A) 30 days
B) 45 days
C) 60 days
D) 90 days
Answer: B) 45 days
Rationale: North Carolina General Statutes § 44-27 require a lien notice to be
filed within 45 days of completion.
Licensing Exam Practice Questions & Answers (2026–2027) | Updated
MCQs with Detailed Rationales | NEC-Based NC Residential Electrical
Exam
SECTION A: NORTH CAROLINA LICENSING LAW & ADMINISTRATION
Question 1
According to NC General Statutes Chapter 87, Article 4, which entity is responsible
for licensing electrical contractors in North Carolina?
A) North Carolina Department of Labor
B) North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors
C) North Carolina Department of Business and Professional Regulation
D) North Carolina Electrical Safety Authority
Answer: B) North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors
Rationale: The NC State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors is the
governing body responsible for licensing and regulating electrical contractors in
North Carolina as outlined in Chapter 87, Article 4 of the NC General Statutes. The
Board develops its own licensing examinations and determines the scores that
applicants must achieve to pass them.
Question 2
What is the minimum total experience required for an applicant to qualify for the
SP-SFD license in North Carolina?
A) 2,000 hours
B) 3,000 hours
C) 4,000 hours
D) 5,000 hours
Answer: B) 3,000 hours
,Rationale: The NC Board requires a minimum of 3,000 hours of verifiable
electrical experience for the SP-SFD license. Of this, at least 2,000 hours must be
primary (direct) electrical work experience under a qualified individual.
Question 3
Which North Carolina statute defines the scope of a Residential Dwelling license?
A) NC Gen. Stat. § 20-140.1
B) NC Gen. Stat. § 87-4-10
C) NC Gen. Stat. § 66-5-5
D) NC Gen. Stat. § 90-1-2
Answer: B) NC Gen. Stat. § 87-4-10
Rationale: NC Gen. Stat. § 87-4-10 specifically defines and limits the Residential
Dwelling license to work on one- and two-family dwellings. The SP-SFD license
authorizes electrical work specifically in single-family residential dwellings.
Question 4
Under NC Administrative Code, Chapter 18B, what is required for license renewal
for SP-SFD electricians?
A) Passing a written exam every year
B) Completion of continuing education hours
C) Submission of a new application every 3 months
D) Providing a bond of $10,000 annually
Answer: B) Completion of continuing education hours
Rationale: The NC Administrative Code Chapter 18B requires completion of
continuing education hours for license renewal to ensure licensees stay current
with code changes and industry practices. The course ELC-3100A3 at Wake Tech,
for example, is approved for 24 hours of Continuing Education Credit by the NC
State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors.
,Question 5
What is the maximum number of continuing education hours required for SP-SFD
license renewal per 12-month period?
A) 4 hours
B) 8 hours
C) 10 hours
D) 16 hours
Answer: C) 10 hours
Rationale: Up to 10 hours of continuing education are required per 12-month
period for SP-SFD license renewal.
Question 6
Which of the following may be engaged in by a firm holding a North Carolina
Electrical Contracting License in the Limited Classification?
A) Any electrical project regardless of value
B) An electrical project having a value of $60,000 or less and 600 volts or less
C) Only single-family dwelling projects
D) Unlimited commercial projects
Answer: B) An electrical project having a value of $60,000 or less and 600 volts
or less
Rationale: The Limited Classification license restricts electrical contracting work
to projects valued at $60,000 or less and operating at 600 volts or less.
Question 7
Which of the following is a prohibited act for an SP-SFD licensee in North
Carolina?
A) Installing a 30-A GFCI in a garage
B) Wiring a commercial office building
, C) Replacing a faulty breaker in a residential panel
D) Adding a new receptacle in a kitchen countertop
Answer: B) Wiring a commercial office building
Rationale: SP-SFD licensees may not perform work on commercial occupancies;
doing so is a prohibited act under G.S. 87-4. The license is specifically restricted to
residential single-family dwellings.
Question 8
Under NC Administrative Code Title 21, Chapter 18B, the waiting period between
examination attempts for an SP-SFD applicant is:
A) 7 days
B) 14 days
C) 30 days
D) 60 days
Answer: B) 14 days
Rationale: The code requires a 14-day waiting period between examination
attempts for any electrical license.
Question 9
The NC lien law requires a contractor to file a lien notice within how many days
after completing work on a residential project?
A) 30 days
B) 45 days
C) 60 days
D) 90 days
Answer: B) 45 days
Rationale: North Carolina General Statutes § 44-27 require a lien notice to be
filed within 45 days of completion.
