ICC's national master and journeyman electrician exams are T16 (Master, 100 questions in 5 hours), T17 (Journeyman, 80 in 4 hours) and T18 (Residential, 60 in 3 hours), all open book on the 2020 NEC at $120 each. From December 1, 2026 the passing score is built into the exam ID: T16-N-75% is the only master version, while the journeyman and residential exams come as separate 70% and 75% versions that ICC will not swap.
Not sure a national exam is the one you need? Compare state options in JCR's master electrician exam guide and journeyman electrician exam guide, and Kansas candidates should read the Kansas KGD, KGH and KGX guide first. The figures below come from ICC's 2021 National Contractor/Trades bulletin and State of Kansas bulletin, both published October 12, 2026.
Studying for T16, T17 or T18? Every one is graded on the 2020 NEC, the edition JCR's 2020 NEC self-study bundle teaches.
$495 gets you: a 152-page exam prep manual with a six-week study plan, 100 video lessons (21 hours), mock exam questions on paper and in JCR's digital mock exam app, and permanent code book tabs, which ICC allows.
Find your baseline first: 25 free 2020 NEC practice questions.
ICC T16, T17 and T18 electrician exams at a glance
| Quick facts | T16 Master | T17 Journeyman | T18 Residential |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exam IDs | T16-N-75% | T17-N-70%, T17-N-75% | T18-N-70%, T18-N-75% |
| Questions | 100 | 80 | 60 |
| Time limit | 5 hours | 4 hours | 3 hours |
| Fee (Pearson VUE) | $120 | $120 | $120 |
| Approved books | 2020 NEC + Ugly's, open book | 2020 NEC + Ugly's, open book | 2020 NEC + Ugly's, open book |
What changes on December 1, 2026
- Two passing-score suites. ICC's national exams split into 70% and 75% versions, and the required score is written into the exam ID.
- No conversions. ICC's 2021 exam FAQ says scores can't be transferred, converted or re-reported under the other version. Score 73% on T17-N-75% and you have not passed T17-N-70%.
- Master stays at 75%. ICC says the master exam has historically required 75%, so there is no 70% T16.
- Bulletins by code year. ICC now posts separate 2015, 2018, 2021 and 2024 national bulletins; the T-series lives in the 2021 bulletin, built on the 2021 I-Codes and 2020 NEC.
- Kansas 2014 NEC exams close. 554, 558 and 565 can't be newly registered at Pearson from December 1; seats already booked still run.
The T-series IDs aren't new: ICC's August 2025 national exam list already showed T16-N, T17-N and T18-N on the 2020 NEC. The December change is the score-specific ID.
Which series matches which NEC edition
| Series | NEC edition | Master, journeyman, residential |
|---|---|---|
| F | 2014 | F16-N, F17-N, F18-N |
| G | 2017 | G16, G17, G18 |
| T | 2020 | T16-N-75%, T17-N-70%/75%, T18-N-70%/75% |
| R | 2023 | R16-N-75%, R17-N-70%/75%, R18-N-70%/75% |
A T17 pass is a 2020 NEC pass. If your agency names a G- or R-series exam instead, the T-series won't substitute.
T16, T17 and T18 content outlines
ICC publishes percentages; the question counts are JCR's arithmetic (percent × total, rounded), so treat them as approximate.
| Content area | T16 (100) | T17 (80) | T18 (60) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wiring methods and materials | 19% (~19) | 26% (~21) | 13% (~8) |
| Branch circuits and conductors | 16% (~16) | 19% (~15) | 25% (~15) |
| Services and service equipment | 16% (~16) | 11% (~9) | 22% (~13) |
| General knowledge | 12% (~12) | 6% (~5) | 12% (~7) |
| Special occupancies and equipment | 12% (~12) | 11% (~9) | 7% (~4) |
| Equipment and devices | 10% (~10) | 13% (~10) | 8% (~5) |
| Motors and generators | 8% (~8) | 6% (~5) | Not listed |
| Feeders | 4% (~4) | 4% (~3) | 13% (~8) |
| Control devices | 3% (~3) | 4% (~3) | Not listed |
- T17 journeyman: about one question in four is wiring methods, so Chapter 3 tabs matter most.
- T18 residential: services plus branch circuits make up 47%; expect dwelling load calculations, GFCI/AFCI and grounding.
- T16 master: general knowledge (theory, load calculations, plan reading) carries twice the journeyman weight, and motors climb to 8%.
T-series vs Kansas KGD, KGH and KGX
ICC's Kansas bulletin says no Kansas-specific exams will be written on the 2021 I-Codes; Kansas candidates who need that cycle take the national T-series. The 2017 NEC Kansas Standard exams stay available.
| Item | Kansas KGD, KGH, KGX | National T16, T17, T18 |
|---|---|---|
| NEC edition | 2017 | 2020 |
| Questions and time | 100/5 h, 80/4 h, 60/3 h | 100/5 h, 80/4 h, 60/3 h |
| Fee | $115 | $120 |
| Passing score | 75% (state requirement) | 75%; T17 and T18 also in 70% |
Your city decides. Wichita and Sedgwick County's MABCD accepts T16 for a master certificate alongside 554, KGD, F16 and G16, but its journeyman list names only 558 and KGH, and residential only 565 and KGX.
Taking KGD, KGH or KGX instead? Those are 2017 NEC exams; use the 2017 NEC self-study package.
2017 vs 2020 NEC numbering on the T-series
The 2020 NEC moved some of the most-tested Article 310 tables. On a T-series exam the 2020 location is the one that matters, and a 2017 tab set sends you to the wrong page.
| Rule | 2017 NEC | 2020 NEC (T-series) |
|---|---|---|
| Conductor ampacity table | Table 310.15(B)(16) | Table 310.16 |
| Ambient temperature correction | Table 310.15(B)(2)(a) | Table 310.15(B)(1) |
| More than 3 current-carrying conductors | Table 310.15(B)(3)(a) | Table 310.15(C)(1) |
| Dwelling service 83% rule | 310.15(B)(7) | 310.12 |
| Ground rod 8 ft soil contact | 250.53(G) | 250.53(A)(4) |
Some rules changed, not just their numbers: the 2020 dwelling GFCI list adds 250 V receptacles, all basements and outdoor outlets under 210.8(F). See 2020 NEC changes vs. 2017 and the Table 310.12 service conductor guide.
Booking, book and calculator rules and the 10-day retake wait are the same as for any ICC exam at Pearson VUE; your bulletin has the details.
ICC T16, T17 and T18 FAQ
What NEC edition is on the ICC T17 journeyman electrician exam?
The 2020 NEC. T16, T17 and T18 all list the 2020 NEC and Ugly's Electrical Reference (any edition) as the approved books.
How many questions are on the T16, T17 and T18 exams?
T16 Master has 100 questions in 5 hours, T17 Journeyman 80 in 4 hours and T18 Residential 60 in 3 hours. Each costs $120 at Pearson VUE.
What is the difference between T17-N-70% and T17-N-75%?
Only the passing score, but they are separate exams. ICC won't convert a score from one to the other, so confirm which one your jurisdiction accepts before you buy.
Is there a 70% version of the T16 master electrician exam?
No. ICC says the master exam has historically required 75%, so T16-N-75% is the only version.
Can Kansas candidates take T16 instead of KGD?
Only if their city or county accepts it. ICC offers both, but each jurisdiction sets its list; Wichita and Sedgwick County's MABCD, for example, accepts T16 for masters but not T17 or T18.
Pass T16, T17 or T18 on the 2020 NEC
The national exams reward fast, accurate lookups and clean calculations in the 2020 NEC. JCR's 2020 NEC bundle drills both with a manual, videos, mock exams and permanent tabs, and video and digital mock access arrive by email after checkout.
Want a baseline first? Try 25 free 2020 NEC practice questions.
Sources JCR checked
- ICC 2021 National Contractor/Trades bulletin (October 12, 2026)
- ICC State of Kansas bulletin (October 12, 2026)
- ICC: 2021 Contractor/Trades exam FAQs
- ICC: national contractor exams list (August 2025)
- ICC 2018 National Contractor/Trades bulletin
- ICC 2024 National Contractor/Trades bulletin
- ICC: Contractor/Trades exams
- MABCD: trade certificates
Reviewed November 6, 2026 against ICC's bulletins published October 12, 2026. NEC references are to the 2017 and 2020 editions. Licensing agencies set their own exam lists, so confirm yours before you book.
