NC Limited Electrical License (2026): Requirements + Practice Test

An NC Limited electrical license needs 3,000 hours of experience and 70% on a 100-question exam on the 2020 NEC, taken with your code books open. It covers jobs up to $60,000 each on equipment rated 1,000 volts or less. NCBEEC, the state electrical contractors board, issues it, and its 2026 exam handbook has the exam forms.

What are the NC Limited electrical license requirements?

1. Be 18 with 3,000 hours, at least 2,000 primary. Helper time outside a state-approved apprenticeship counts at 80%.
2. Apply. Send the Examination Application, your forms and the $125 fee to NCBEEC.
3. Test within 90 days. Approval covers one try. Fail, and you reapply and wait 3 months to retest.
4. Get licensed. File the New License Application with the $100 yearly fee.
5. Take the board's free 4-hour Laws and Rules class within 12 months after, or up to 90 days before, you become a qualified individual, someone the board certifies after passing its exam (rule .1101).

Bigger jobs need an Intermediate or Unlimited license.

What's on the NC Limited electrical license test?

Approximate questions per subject (handbook):

• Special occupancies means mobile homes, mobile home parks and swimming pools (including underwater lighting) only.
• The 18-question law and business group covers NC licensing law (G.S. 87, Article 4), board rules (21 NCAC 18B), the NASCLA guide, NFPA 72 and the Lighting and Power Plans in the handbook.
• Math: round 0.5 amp or more up. Drop smaller fractions. Apply any NEC exception the question doesn't rule out.
• Books: bring your own. Permanent tabs like JCR's are fine. Sticky notes and stapled or divider tabs aren't. Pencil notes must be highlighted.

For test-day ID rules, see JCR's NC electrical exam guide.

NC Limited electrical license practice test: 8 questions

Allow 3.6 minutes per question, with your 2020 NEC open.

Question 1: Dwelling load calculation

A 2,400 sq ft single-family house has two small-appliance branch circuits and one laundry circuit. Using the standard method, what is the demand load for the general lighting, small-appliance and laundry loads combined?

1. 11,700 VA
2. 7,200 VA
3. 6,045 VA
4. 4,095 VA

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Answer: C, 6,045 VA. General lighting is 2,400 × 3 VA = 7,200 VA (220.14(J)). Add 1,500 VA each for the two small-appliance circuits and the laundry circuit (220.52(A) and (B)): 11,700 VA. Table 220.42 takes the first 3,000 VA at 100% and the other 8,700 VA at 35%: 3,000 + 3,045 = 6,045 VA. Choice A skips the demand factors.

Question 2: Box fill

A 4 in. × 1½ in. square metal box has no internal clamps and no devices. Four 12 AWG and two 10 AWG insulated conductors are spliced inside. One 12 AWG and one 10 AWG equipment grounding conductor also land in the box. What volume does the box need?

1. 14.0 cubic inches
2. 16.5 cubic inches
3. 18.75 cubic inches
4. 21.0 cubic inches

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Answer: B, 16.5 cubic inches. Table 314.16(B): four 12 AWG at 2.25 = 9.0, plus two 10 AWG at 2.50 = 5.0. Up to four grounds count as one allowance, sized by the largest (314.16(B)(5)): add 2.50. The box holds 21.0 cubic inches (Table 314.16(A)), so it works. Choice C counts each ground separately.

Question 3: AFCI protection

In a dwelling unit, 120-volt, 15- and 20-amp branch circuits supplying outlets in which area do NOT need AFCI protection under 210.12(A)?

1. Hallways
2. Laundry areas
3. Bathrooms
4. Closets

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Answer: C, bathrooms. Section 210.12(A) lists the main living areas, including bedrooms, closets, hallways and laundry areas. Bathrooms aren't listed, though their receptacles need GFCI under 210.8(A).

Question 4: GFCI in a small commercial building

A small commercial building has 125-volt, 20-amp receptacles in each location below. Which one does 210.8(B) NOT require to have GFCI protection?

1. On the rooftop
2. Within 6 ft of a break-room sink
3. On a car dealership's showroom floor
4. In a locker room with showers

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Answer: C, the showroom floor. Section 210.8(B) covers garages, service bays and similar areas, but leaves out vehicle exhibition halls and showrooms. The other three locations are all on the list.

Question 5: Conductor ampacity

Five current-carrying 8 AWG THHN copper conductors share one raceway in a 30°C (86°F) space. The terminals are rated 75°C. What ampacity can you use for each conductor?

1. 40 amps
2. 44 amps
3. 50 amps
4. 55 amps

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Answer: B, 44 amps. THHN uses the 90°C column of Table 310.16: 55 amps for 8 AWG. Four to six current-carrying conductors take 80% (Table 310.15(C)(1)): 55 × 0.80 = 44 amps. Section 310.15(A) allows adjusting from the 90°C rating as long as the result doesn't exceed the 75°C terminal value of 50 amps, and 44 doesn't. Choice A adjusts the 75°C value instead.

Question 6: Grounding electrode conductor

A 200-amp dwelling service uses 3/0 AWG copper service-entrance conductors. The grounding electrode conductor runs only to two ground rods and doesn't continue to any other electrode. What is the smallest copper conductor the NEC requires?

1. 8 AWG
2. 6 AWG
3. 4 AWG
4. 2 AWG

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Answer: B, 6 AWG. Table 250.66 lists 4 AWG copper for 3/0 copper service conductors. But 250.66(A) caps the conductor to rods at 6 AWG copper when it doesn't extend to another electrode that needs a larger size.

Question 7: Dwelling service conductors

A one-family house has a 150-amp, 120/240-volt single-phase service that carries the whole load. No temperature correction or adjustment applies. What is the smallest aluminum service conductor allowed?

1. 1/0 AWG
2. 2/0 AWG
3. 3/0 AWG
4. 4/0 AWG

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Answer: B, 2/0 AWG. Section 310.12 lets dwelling services be sized at 83% of the rating: 150 × 0.83 = 124.5 amps. Table 310.12 lists 2/0 aluminum for 150 amps. Choice C, 3/0, is what Table 310.16 alone gives at the full 150 amps.

Question 8: NC licensing law

A building owner splits one electrical project into two contracts, $35,000 and $30,000, and awards both to the same Limited licensee. Under board rule .0303, can the Limited licensee take both?

1. Yes, because each contract is under $60,000.
2. Yes, if the owner signs the contracts on different days.
3. No, because the combined $65,000 is over the Limited limit.
4. No, because Limited licensees can't sign more than one contract a year.

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Answer: C. Under rule 21 NCAC 18B .0303, when a project is split into contracts, the combined value one licensee takes must stay within that license's limit. $65,000 is over $60,000, so the work needs an Intermediate or Unlimited licensee.

How do you pass the NC Limited electrical license test?

• Start 6–8 weeks out, about an hour a night.
• Study law and plans, the biggest block at about 18 questions.
• Tab Articles 220, 250, 310 and 314, plus the 210.8 and 210.12 lists.

Then try JCR's free 25-question mock exam and free NC practice test, and check the pass rates.

Common questions about the NC Limited license

How many questions can you miss on the NC Limited exam?

Thirty. You need 70 of 100 right. PSI shows your score at the end.

Can a Limited licensee work on 480-volt equipment?

Yes. Since January 1, 2025 (Session Law 2024-49), Limited jobs may use equipment rated up to 1,000 volts. The $60,000 limit still applies.

Do apprentice hours count toward the limited electrical license in NC?

Yes, as secondary experience. A state-approved apprenticeship counts at 100%, other apprentice or helper time at 80%. At least 2,000 hours must still be primary.

How long is an NC Limited license good for?

One year. Each renewal needs 8 hours of approved continuing education (CE) for the qualifier, the person named on the license.

New to NC licensing? Start with JCR's NC electrical license guide.