These five free practice questions follow the 2020 NEC section of Washington's 01 general journey level electrician exam. Per PSI's Washington bulletin, that exam has 60 NEC and theory questions in 3 hours plus 17 Washington codes questions in 1 hour, and you need 70% on each section. Work them with your code book open, then check the answer key.
| Quick facts | Washington 01 electrician exam |
|---|---|
| Who certifies you | Washington L&I (Department of Labor and Industries) |
| Test company | PSI |
| NEC and theory section | 60 questions, 3 hours, 70% to pass |
| Washington codes section | 17 questions on RCW 19.28 and WAC 296-46B, 1 hour, 70% to pass |
| Books | Open book. Permanent tabs and highlighting are allowed. Writing in the book is not. |
Washington electrical practice test: 5 questions
Question 1: Working space
A 480Y/277-volt switchboard has exposed live parts on both sides of the aisle in front of it. What is the minimum depth of working space?
- 3 feet
- 3½ feet
- 4 feet
- 5 feet
Question 2: 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 3: 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 4: GFCI protection
In a dwelling, which general-purpose 125-volt, 15- and 20-amp receptacles need GFCI protection? Assume no exception applies. (1) Receptacles in a laundry area. (2) Receptacles in a finished basement.
- One only
- Two only
- Both one and two
- Neither one nor two
Question 5: Appliances
A 50-gallon storage water heater is rated 4,500 watts at 240 volts. What is the minimum ampacity for its branch-circuit conductors?
- 18.75 amps
- 20 amps
- 23.44 amps
- 28.13 amps
Getting ready for the 01 exam? JCR's Washington course is built on the 2020 NEC that PSI uses for the code section.
For $495 you get 100 video lessons, a 152-page workbook, a 500+ question mock exam and permanent tabs for your code book. Videos and practice exams open right after checkout.
Answers with the 2020 NEC section
Commit to all five answers. Then open each one.
Show the answer to question 1Hide the answer to question 1
1. C, 4 feet (NEC Table 110.26(A)(1))
The switchboard is 277 volts to ground, which falls in the 151–600 volt row. Exposed live parts on both sides is Condition 3, so the minimum depth is 4 feet. Condition 2 (grounded parts across the aisle) would be 3½ feet. See all three conditions explained.
Show the answer to question 2Hide the answer to question 2
2. 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 3Hide the answer to question 3
3. 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 4Hide the answer to question 4
4. C, both one and two (NEC 210.8(A)(5) and (10))
The 2020 NEC requires GFCI protection for these general-purpose receptacles in laundry areas and in basements, finished or not. The question excludes special exceptions. Older editions limited the basement rule to unfinished basements, which is why many people pick "one only." See every dwelling GFCI location.
Show the answer to question 5Hide the answer to question 5
5. C, 23.44 amps (NEC 422.13)
The heater draws 4,500 ÷ 240 = 18.75 amps. Storage water heaters of 120 gallons or less get branch-circuit conductors and overcurrent protection sized at no less than 125% of their rating: 18.75 × 1.25 = 23.44 amps.
How to prepare for the Washington electrician exam
- Pace at 3 minutes a question on the 60-question NEC section.
- Study the state codes too. The 17 Washington codes questions are scored as their own section, and you need 70% there as well.
- Tab RCW 19.28 and WAC 296-46B along with your NEC. Permanent tabs only.
- Plan 6–8 weeks, about an hour a night, ending with timed practice tests.
See every exam class, fee and retake rule in the Washington electrician exam guide.
Washington electrical practice test FAQ
Is the Washington electrician exam open book?
Yes. You bring the 2020 NEC, RCW 19.28 and WAC 296-46B. They can have permanent tabs and highlighting but no writing.
What score do I need on the Washington 01 exam?
70% on each section. If you fail one section, you retake only that section.
Are these the actual PSI questions?
No. They are JCR mock exam questions written on the 2020 NEC in the style of license exams.
Study the 2020 NEC for Washington's exam
JCR's Washington course covers the 2020 NEC that PSI tests. For $495 you get video lessons, digital practice exams and JCR's workbook.
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More Washington guides
Sources JCR checked
- PSI Washington electrical candidate bulletin
- Washington L&I: electrical exams
- NFPA 70, 2020 edition: Table 110.26(A)(1), 210.8(A), 314.16(B), 422.13, Chapter 9 Table 1
JCR checked each answer against the 2020 NEC and the exam format against PSI's Washington bulletin on October 21, 2026.