Try five free Philadelphia electrical practice questions with answers and 2020 NEC references. This 2020 NEC set is for candidates preparing for Philadelphia’s ICC Exam 211. Passing the exam is one part of the electrical contractor license process; the city has additional application and training requirements. Work with your code book open, record your answers, then open the explanations below.
Start with the Philadelphia exam guide for the official bulletin, approved books, exam format and registration steps.
Studying for ICC Exam 211? JCR's Philadelphia package is built on the 2020 NEC, the edition ICC tests. For $495 you get 100 video lessons (21 hours), JCR's 152-page workbook with a six-week plan, a 500+ question mock exam in print and online, and permanent tabs ICC allows in your code book.
Which Philadelphia exam are you preparing for?
| Quick facts | Philadelphia electrical exam |
|---|---|
| Exam | ICC 211, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia) Standard Master Electrician, from the ICC Philadelphia bulletin (March 15, 2026) |
| Format | 100 multiple-choice questions, 5 hours, open book |
| Passing score | 75%, per the ICC exam catalog |
| Books | 2020 NEC and Ugly's Electrical References (any edition) |
| Fee and test site | $115, at a Pearson VUE test center |
| License you get | Electrical Contractor License from L&I |
Use ICC Exam 211’s reference list. Study the other permitted reference material and complete the city’s licensing requirements separately.
Philadelphia electrical practice test: 5 questions
Use 15 minutes as a practice target. This is a short NEC lookup drill, not a full-length exam or a prediction of your score. Questions are selected from JCR’s practice bank and may also appear in other JCR state guides.
Question 1: Box fill
A metal box has four 12 AWG insulated conductors, two 12 AWG equipment grounding conductors and one receptacle on a single yoke. It has no internal clamps or fittings. What minimum box volume do these require?
- 13.5 cubic inches
- 15.75 cubic inches
- 18 cubic inches
- 20.25 cubic inches
Question 2: Conduit fill
Five individual conductors are installed in a complete conduit run longer than 24 inches. No special fill allowance applies. What is the most of the conduit's cross-section they may fill?
- 31 percent
- 40 percent
- 53 percent
- 60 percent
Question 3: Services
Overhead 120/240-volt service conductors cross a residential driveway. What is the minimum clearance above final grade?
- 10 feet
- 12 feet
- 15 feet
- 18 feet
Question 4: Motors
A 10 hp, 230-volt, single-phase motor runs in continuous duty. What is the minimum ampacity for its branch-circuit conductors?
- 50 amps
- 57.5 amps
- 62.5 amps
- 68.75 amps
Question 5: Luminaires
A homeowner wants a chain-hung pendant above a bathtub. The code bans it within 3 feet horizontally of the tub. How high above the tub rim does that zone reach?
- 6 feet
- 7 feet
- 8 feet
- 10 feet
Answer key with 2020 NEC sections
Finish all five before opening the answers. Give yourself one point for each correct choice, then look up every missed section.
Show the answer to question 1Hide the answer to question 1
1. B, 15.75 cubic inches (NEC 314.16(B))
Count 4 for the insulated conductors. All the equipment grounding conductors count as 1 when there are four or fewer. The yoke counts as 2. That's 7 × 2.25 cubic inches (the 12 AWG allowance) = 15.75. Walk through more box fill examples.
Show the answer to question 2Hide the answer to question 2
2. B, 40 percent (NEC Chapter 9, Table 1)
Over 2 conductors may fill 40% of the conduit. One conductor may fill 53%, and two may fill 31%. See a full conduit fill example.
Show the answer to question 3Hide the answer to question 3
3. B, 12 feet (NEC 230.24(B)(2))
Overhead service conductors need 12 feet over residential property and driveways when the voltage is 300 volts or less to ground. A 120/240-volt service is 120 volts to ground. Over public streets, alleys and parking areas with truck traffic, it's 18 feet.
Show the answer to question 4Hide the answer to question 4
4. C, 62.5 amps (NEC Table 430.248 and 430.22)
Use the table current, not the nameplate. Table 430.248 lists 50 amps for a 10 hp, 230-volt single-phase motor. Section 430.22 requires 125% of that: 50 × 1.25 = 62.5 amps. The 57.5-amp choice is the table value for a 200-volt motor.
Show the answer to question 5Hide the answer to question 5
5. C, 8 feet (NEC 410.10(D)(1))
The zone runs 3 feet out horizontally and 8 feet up from the top of the tub rim or shower threshold. It includes the space right over the tub. Cord-connected luminaires, chain-hung or pendant luminaires, lighting track and paddle fans can't be in it.
How to study after this practice test
- Log the lookup. Write down the article, section or table you used and how long it took to find.
- Work the calculation again. Keep the units and intermediate steps so you can find an arithmetic error.
- Use your exam’s edition. A newer installation code is not automatically the edition used for your license test.
- Cover the full outline. Use ICC Exam 211’s reference list. Study the other permitted reference material and complete the city’s licensing requirements separately.
Philadelphia electrical practice test FAQ
Are these actual licensing exam questions?
No. These are JCR practice questions selected to help you study NEC rules. They are not supplied or endorsed by the exam vendor or licensing board.
Does getting all five right mean I am ready?
Five questions are too small a sample to judge readiness. Use a full practice exam, review the official content outline and practice every required subject.
Which NEC edition does this practice test use?
This set uses the 2020 NEC. This 2020 NEC set is for candidates preparing for Philadelphia’s ICC Exam 211. Passing the exam is one part of the electrical contractor license process; the city has additional application and training requirements.
Keep practicing for your Philadelphia exam
Use the course links above for the exam and edition you are taking. Review the complete Philadelphia exam guide before you order.
Try JCR’s free NEC practice app. Check the edition shown in the app before using its questions for your exam.
More Philadelphia guides
Sources and answer references
- ICC Philadelphia Contractor/Trades Examination Information Bulletin (March 15, 2026)
- ICC exam catalog: 211-PA-PH
- ICC: What should I bring to the test site?
- ICC: What score do I need to pass?
- ICC: When and where can I test?
- Pearson VUE: ICC Contractor/Trades
- Philadelphia L&I: Electrical Contractor License
- Philadelphia L&I: Trade licenses
- Pennsylvania L&I: Contractor licensing
- NFPA 70, 2020 edition: see the section citations in each answer.
- JCR washington electrical practice test: source practice-bank questions.
- JCR maryland electrical practice test: source practice-bank questions.
Reviewed October 22, 2026. NEC answers and section references checked against the stated edition in NFPA LiNK. Exam information follows the linked official bulletins. Questions are selected from JCR’s shared practice bank, with clarifications where needed.