North Carolina electrical exam practice
Free NC Electrical License Practice Test
Try 25 free questions on the 2020 NEC, the Code edition used on North Carolina’s Limited, Intermediate and Unlimited exams. You see each answer with its Code reference as soon as you finish. No payment or card needed.
- 25 free questions
- 2020 NEC
- Answers with Code references
Have your 2020 NEC open and a timer running, the same way you’ll test at PSI.
What the NC electrical exam looks like
Limited, Intermediate and Unlimited
- 100 multiple-choice questions
- 6 hours on a computer at a PSI test center
- 70% to pass, with your score the same day
- You schedule with PSI after the Board approves your application, then have 90 days to test
Books you can bring
- 2020 NEC (NFPA 70)
- 2013 NFPA 72 for Limited, Intermediate, Unlimited, SP-SFD and SP-FA/LV
- NASCLA Contractors Guide, North Carolina Electrical 14th edition
- Permanent tabs only, such as JCR’s permanent tabs. No loose papers or writing in the book during the exam
Which exam are you taking?
Limited
3,000 hours of experience. Jobs up to $60,000.
Intermediate
5,750 hours of experience. Jobs up to $150,000.
Unlimited
9,000 hours of experience. No job limit.
All three exams use the same format and books. For experience forms, fees and the application steps, read our NC electrical license guide.
How to get the most from a practice test
- Take it open book, the way the real exam works. The test rewards finding the answer fast, not memorizing it.
- Time yourself. On the real exam you have about 3½ minutes per question.
- Look up every question you missed using the Code reference, and note which article it came from.
- Work on the weak articles, then retake timed questions until finding the section feels automatic.
What the free test doesn’t cover: the 25 questions are NEC questions. The NC exam also tests NC electrical licensing law, Board rules and business topics from the NASCLA guide. JCR’s self-study package and workshops cover those too.
Want more practice?
Two-Day Exam Prep Class
$845Two full days, live in Raleigh, Asheville, Mooresville (Charlotte area) or Winston-Salem, or live on Zoom. Manual, videos and mock exam included. 93% pass rate for JCR classroom students.
See class datesNC Self-Study Package
$495152-page manual, 21 hours of video, 500+ questions and the digital mock exam. Covers the NEC, NFPA 72 and NC business and law.
View self-study2020 NEC Mock Exam
$150500+ practice questions on paper and online, with an NEC reference for every answer.
View the mock examCommon questions
Is the NC electrical exam open book?
Yes. You can bring the 2020 NEC, the 2013 NFPA 72 (where your class requires it) and the NASCLA Contractors Guide, North Carolina Electrical 14th edition. No other books are allowed.
How many questions are on the NC Limited, Intermediate and Unlimited exams?
Each has 100 multiple-choice questions, and you get 6 hours.
What score do I need to pass?
70%. PSI gives you your score the same day.
Is this practice test specific to North Carolina?
The questions are on the 2020 NEC, which is the edition North Carolina tests on. They don’t cover NC law, Board rules or the NASCLA business material, so study those separately or with a JCR course.
How long should I study for the NC electrical exam?
Most students who pass study 6–8 weeks, about an hour a night, with plenty of timed practice.
Ready to see where you stand?
25 questions, instant answers, no card needed.
Exam details last checked against the NCBEEC exam handbook in October 2026. Handbooks change, so check yours the week you book.