Choose live Zoom if you want instructor help without traveling. Choose an in-person class if you need a dedicated classroom and fewer distractions. Choose self-study if you need flexible hours and can keep yourself on schedule. JCR offers all three. The best choice is the one that gives you enough instruction and enough time to practice.
Check your state’s exam requirements and NEC edition first. JCR’s current workshops teach the 2020 NEC. The live workshops and NC self-study bundle share the core workbook, videos, mock exam and code tabs. Live classes add scheduled instruction.
Zoom vs. in-person vs. self-study at a glance
| Option | Price and schedule | Good fit | Main tradeoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live Zoom | $760 · Four live, four-hour sessions | You want to ask questions and skip the drive. | You still need to attend at set times. |
| In person | $845 · Two full days in NC | You focus better away from work and home. | Travel, possible lodging and time off. |
| NC self-study | $495 · Set your own study hours | You need flexibility and follow a plan independently. | No scheduled live class is included. |
Prices reflect the current JCR listings. JCR also carries the 2020 NEC softbound code book.
Choose your JCR exam prep option
Live Zoom · $760 In-person classes · $845 NC self-study · $495
Testing outside NC or taking a specialty exam? Find your exam and matching materials, or call (704) 696-8555 for help choosing.
Live Zoom: instructor help without the travel
Good fit: you want someone to explain a calculation, answer a question or keep you moving through the material, but a trip to an NC classroom is inconvenient.
JCR’s Zoom exam prep currently runs on Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings, Eastern Time. You get 16 hours of live instruction spread across four sessions, with time to practice between them.
Advantages: live questions, a set schedule and no hotel or commute. Tradeoffs: you need reliable internet, a quiet workspace and uninterrupted time for each session. Logging in while doing another job defeats the purpose.
In person: protected time to focus
Good fit: you keep putting studying off, get interrupted at home, or want to work through difficult topics with an instructor in the room.
JCR’s two-day workshops put the live instruction into two full days. Bring your code books, work through the examples and ask questions as you go.
Advantages: a dedicated classroom, face-to-face questions and a clear commitment on your calendar. Tradeoffs: travel costs, time away from work and a concentrated pace. Plan time afterward to revisit anything that moved too quickly.
Self-study: control over your hours and pace
Good fit: your shifts change, you study in short blocks, or you prefer to pause and replay an explanation before moving on.
The $495 NC bundle includes a 152-page manual, 100 video lessons totaling 21 hours, 500+ practice questions, digital mock-exam access and permanent code tabs. It is built for the NC Limited, Intermediate and Unlimited exams.
Advantages: the lowest upfront price of these three options, no travel and control over your pace. Tradeoffs: you must set your own deadlines. Put study blocks on your calendar and use practice results to decide what needs more work.
Still deciding? Start with your biggest obstacle
- “I get stuck and need to ask questions.” Choose live Zoom or in person.
- “I understand the material, but my schedule changes every week.” Choose self-study.
- “I bought materials before and never finished.” Choose a live class and protect those dates.
- “I need to watch a calculation several times.” All three include video lessons to replay.
Whichever format you choose, answer practice questions with your exam books open. Find the rule behind each answer, review mistakes and work up to timed mock exams. A class gives you instruction. Practice builds the speed you need on test day.
Common questions
Is live Zoom the same as watching recorded videos?
No. Zoom classes happen at scheduled times with a live instructor and questions. Self-study uses recorded lessons you watch on your own schedule. JCR also makes Zoom exam-prep session recordings available on request.
Should I buy the self-study bundle before registering for a class?
The live workshops already include the core study materials. Check what comes with your class before buying them twice. If you already own JCR materials, call us before registering.
JCR package prices, formats and included materials checked October 26, 2026.
