About 37.5% of people who took an NC electrical exam in fiscal year 2024–25 passed. That's roughly 761 of 2,029 test-takers, from the state electrical board's annual report. Fewer than 42% passed in every year JCR could find, so give yourself 6–8 weeks of study with full-length timed practice.
NC electrical exam pass rate by year
The NC State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors (NCBEEC) doesn't post a pass rate. But NC law (G.S. 93B-2) makes it report how many people took its exam and how many failed.
JCR found those reports and did the math: (took − failed) ÷ took.
| Fiscal year (July–June) | Took the exam | Failed | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–25 | 2,029 | 1,268 | 37.5% |
| 2022–23 | 1,704 | 1,098 | 35.6% |
| 2021–22 | 1,471 | 920 | 37.5% |
| 2020–21 | 1,388 | 881 | 36.5% |
| 2019–20 | 932 | 552 | 40.8% |
| 2018–19 | 1,160 | 676 | 41.7% |
JCR couldn't find the 2023–24 report online, so that year is missing.
One total covers all 10 license classes, from the 25-question pool bonding exam to the 100-question Unlimited. The reports give no first-try rate and no reasons.
Testing soon? Take JCR's NC exam prep class: two full days in person ($845) in Raleigh, Asheville, Mooresville (Charlotte area) or Winston-Salem, or live on Zoom on Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings. All materials are included except the NFPA 70 and 72 books. 93% pass rate for JCR classroom students.
Rather study on your own? The $495 NC self-study package has 500+ practice questions, 100 video lessons, a 152-page study manual and permanent code tabs you can bring into the NC exam.
How hard is the NC electrical exam?
Hard enough that most people fail. The main exams give you 6 hours for 100 questions, with a 70% pass mark. That's 3.6 minutes per question, lookups included.
It's open book, but most questions expect you to find the answer in the 2020 NEC, NFPA 72 or the NASCLA guide. The NCBEEC exam handbook says Intermediate and Unlimited questions are harder than Limited ones.
Why people fail the NC electrical exam
- The clock. One slow calculation can eat 10 minutes and leave no time for the last 20 questions. Practice 100 questions in one sitting to learn your pace.
- Slow code lookups. Knowing the trade isn't knowing where the NEC says it. Learn the book's layout and tab it. Permanent tabs are allowed, sticky flags aren't.
- Calculations. Each main exam has about 11 load calculation questions and 7 to 9 motor questions. Know the handbook's rounding rule: drop a fraction of an ampere below 0.5, and round up at 0.5 or more. So 99.5 A becomes 100 A, and 99.4 A becomes 99 A.
- NC law and business. About 15 to 18 questions per main exam cover NC licensing law (G.S. 87, Article 4), the board's rules, the NASCLA guide, NFPA 72 and plan reading.
- Misreading. The handbook says to answer only what's asked and apply NEC exceptions unless the question rules them out. "EXCEPT" and "I only / II only / both / neither" questions catch fast readers.
A 6–8 week study plan for the NC electrical exam
Plan on 6–8 weeks, about an hour a night. The handbook agrees: about 45 to 60 minutes a day.
| Week | Focus |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Read the handbook. Learn the NEC layout (Chapters 1–4 general rules, 5–7 special topics, Chapter 9 tables) and tab your books. |
| Week 2 | Grounding and bonding (Article 250) and boxes (Article 314) |
| Week 3 | Wiring methods, ampacity (Table 310.16), raceway fill (Chapter 9) and overcurrent protection (Article 240) |
| Week 4 | Load calculations (Article 220) and services (Article 230) |
| Week 5 | Motors (430), air conditioning (440), transformers (450), pools (680). Intermediate and Unlimited add hazardous locations (500s), health care (517) and emergency systems (700). |
| Week 6 | NC law and rules, the NASCLA business chapters, NFPA 72 and the handbook's plans |
| Weeks 7–8 | Timed practice exams, 100 questions in 6 hours. Look up every miss, then take another. |
Taking a class? Book the workshop 1–8 weeks before your exam. For a warm-up, try these 2020 NEC practice test questions or JCR's free 25-question mock exam.
NC electrical exam pass rate FAQ
What is the pass rate for the NC electrical exam?
About 37.5% in fiscal year 2024–25, when 2,029 took an exam and 1,268 failed. In the six years JCR could find, it ran from about 36% to 42%, for all license classes combined.
Does NCBEEC publish pass rates for the Limited or Unlimited exam?
No. The board's annual report gives one combined total for all exams. No official Limited-only or Unlimited-only rate is available.
How many questions can I miss on the NC electrical exam?
On the 100-question Limited, Intermediate or Unlimited exam, you need 70 right. That means you can miss 30.
What happens if I fail the NC electrical exam?
You wait 3 months to retest in the same class, then reapply and pay $125 again. Your score report shows your weak areas, and a one-time review of the failed exam costs $25 (NC exam guide).
Beat the odds with JCR's NC workshop
JCR posts a 93% pass rate for JCR classroom students. The workshop is two full days. Take it in person for $845 in Raleigh, Asheville, Mooresville (Charlotte area) or Winston-Salem, or live on Zoom.
It includes the mock exam, video lessons and study manual. Licensed electricians who attend in person earn 16 hours of CEU credit, plus a free 8-hour online CE course.
Studying solo? The $495 self-study package gives instant access to its videos and digital practice exams.
More North Carolina guides
- NC electrical license guide
- How to become an electrician in NC
- NC electrical exam
- NC Limited vs Intermediate vs Unlimited
- NC Limited electrical license
- NC Unlimited electrical license
- NC SP-SFD license
- NC low voltage license (SP-FA/LV)
- NC statement of bonding ability
- NC electrical license reciprocity
- NC electrician CE requirements
- NC electrical CE online
- NC license lookup and CE hours check
Sources JCR checked
- NCBEEC annual report, FY 2024–25
- NCBEEC annual report, FY 2022–23
- NCBEEC annual report, FY 2021–22
- NCBEEC annual report, FY 2020–21
- NCBEEC annual report, FY 2019–20
- NCBEEC annual report, FY 2018–19
- G.S. 93B-2: Annual reports
- NCBEEC Examination Information Handbook (July 2026)
- NCBEEC: Examinations
JCR checked each exam count above against NCBEEC's filed annual reports on October 14, 2026.