Frequently Asked Questions
Find quick answers to common questions about our electrical exam prep, CEU courses, workshops, and training process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find quick answers to common questions about our electrical exam prep, CEU courses, workshops, and training process.
Choose a self-study bundle for instruction and practice at your own pace, or a live workshop for classroom instruction. If you need practice without the video course and manual, choose the 2020 NEC mock exam. Match the product to your exam jurisdiction and edition before ordering.
NCBEEC currently lists the 2020 NEC for its licensing exams. Follow the Board for any change. Other exams use different editions: Tennessee LLE and CE trade exams use the 2017 NEC; Memphis/Shelby County uses the 2020 NEC. Check your exact exam and edition before choosing a course.
Full exam-prep bundles include a printed manual, mock-exam booklet and study tabs, plus online video lessons and digital practice. NEC and NFPA codebooks are sold separately. Check the product's included-materials list. If your class or exam is soon, contact us before ordering to check delivery timing.
Use the enrollment email from JCR and sign in with the email address used at checkout. Our Student Help page explains account access and course submission. If a purchased course is missing, email info@jcrproductions.com with your order number so we can help.
You can register before completing your study. Start with the included manual and videos, then use practice questions to choose what to review next. Most students who pass study 6–8 weeks, about an hour a night. If your class is soon, contact JCR for help prioritizing.
Bring the NEC edition named for your class or exam. Most JCR continuing-education workshops use the 2020 NEC; do not assume your licensing-exam edition is the class edition.
For Tennessee exam prep, the state-administered LLE and CE trade exams use the 2017 NEC, while Memphis/Shelby County’s separate ICC T16/T17 path uses the 2020 NEC.
- Picture ID for check-in
- Calculator and a notebook
- Your JCR workbook, if applicable
Approval depends on your state, license classification and the specific course. Check your state's requirements and the class listing before registering. Complete all course requirements and follow the CE submission instructions. NC reporting is included; other-state reporting may have a separate fee. Call 704.696.8555 if you need help confirming a course.
First choose the commercial Electrical (EL) path or the Residential Electrician path; they have separate applications.
An eligible NC license earned by examination may qualify you for a waiver of the electrical trade exam. It does not waive South Carolina Business & Law or the remaining license requirements. Check the Board's current waiver rules and reference list for your path before applying.
NC Limited, Intermediate, Unlimited and SP-SFD qualifiers need eight CE hours per annual license period; the other special restricted classifications need four. At least half must meet the Board's classroom requirement. Extra approved hours may carry forward to the following two license periods. Check the current NCBEEC rules and your CE balance; do not assume passing the exam supplies your renewal hours.
For live online study, choose a course approved by NCBEEC for classroom credit. See current JCR NC CE classes.
When you renew your license, NC will use your continuing education hours as part of your “payment” for your renewal. If you happen to have a mix of classroom hours and non-classroom hours in your bank, they will take half of your classroom and half of your non-classroom - so you don’t have to worry that in one renewal all of your in person hours get used!
If at any time you want to check the status of your license, you can either log in to your online account, or check in the public view at www.ncbeec.org. You will see a menu bar on the page that says “Check CE Credit”. This will take you to a search page where you may search by license number or by name as the NC Board has it listed.
If you click on your name, you will see the following information about your license:
- if the license is Active or Inactive,
- when the license expires,
- if there is enough continuing education to renew your license (True/False),
- a comment of what type of continuing education is needed (classroom or non-classroom),
- and how many hours you currently have out of the required amount.
Getting your CEUs (Continuing Education Units) are only one part of it. You also need to login to your account to renew the license.
- Login at www.ncbeec.org
- You’ll see “Renewal Needed” in Red. Click on the “View” button to begin
- Then click on “Renew License”
They will ask you to verify some information for accuracy - your contact information, your email, mailing
address.
JCR does not currently offer a dedicated NASCLA electrical exam course.
For Tennessee contractor applicants, the Board accepts the NASCLA National Electrical exam as a waiver of the Tennessee contractor trade exam. It does not replace Tennessee Business & Law, the contractor-license application, or local requirements, and it does not apply to the Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) path.
The current Prov Tennessee bulletin lists the NASCLA Electrical Contractor exam at 110 questions, 4.5 hours, and 73% to pass. Exam rules and references can change, so confirm with the Tennessee Board and the current Prov bulletin before registering.
Tennessee Board trade-exam waiver guidance · Current Prov Tennessee bulletin
A Statement of Bonding Ability is not a bond itself. It confirms that a surety would issue a bond of the required size. NC requires a statement for both Intermediate and Unlimited licenses; use the form for your classification on the NCBEEC licensing page.
We recommend reaching out to one of the bonding companies below that regularly handles this form for North Carolina licensees:
Recommended Bonding Companies:
- Jet Insurance Company
Website: https://jetsurety.com
Phone: (855) 296-2663 - Bond Exchange
Website: https://bondexchange.com
Email: support@bondexchange.com
Phone: (800) 438-1162 - Lance Surety Bonds
Website: https://www.lancesuretybonds.com
Phone: (877) 514-5146
When you contact them, let them know you need a Statement of Bonding Ability for your NC license classification and they should know exactly what to do. Some may have you complete a quick financial questionnaire first to confirm eligibility.
What level of license do I want?
Start by choosing the license level you want (Limited, Intermediate, Unlimited, etc.) and checking that you have the experience to qualify for that exam. Our NC license guide covers the current requirements, application steps and official forms. (See additional state requirements here)
Time to study for the exam.
JCR Productions offers study materials and workshops to help you succeed on your exam. How long to study: Most students who pass study 6–8 weeks, about an hour a night.
A few helpful tips:
- Don’t memorize answers to sample test questions. Learn how to find the answers in the code instead.
- Make a study plan and stick to it. A steady hour a day works better than cramming.
- Once NCBEEC approves your application, you have 90 days to take your exam. Plan your study and workshop dates to fit that window.
If you need help in doing the paperwork to apply for your licensing exam, contact Lisa Adams with Licenses Etc at 239.777.1028.
See our NC license guide for the application steps and official forms.
Not right now. Our workshops were approved by the NC Alarm Systems Licensing Board in the past, but as our courses change they don’t always fit what that Board requires. We’ll apply again as we add new courses. Call (704) 696-8555 if you need alarm-board credit and we’ll point you in the right direction.
Each state has different requirements for their state exam. However, most include contractor business related questions to ensure you understand ethical business principles and can provide positive business relationships with the public. Each state will inform you on what reference guide they will base these questions (often available online).
Some references include:
- NASCLA® Contractor’s Guide to Business, Law, and Project Management
- OSHA Guidelines
- PSI Electrical Contractors Examination Candidate Information Bulletin of North Carolina
- State Specific Contractor’s Guides
- State Specific General Statutes and Administrative Rules.
The NC self-study bundle and JCR exam-prep workshops include NC business-law instruction. NC business-law practice is also included in JCR's 500+ question mock exam. Do not assume these NC questions prepare you for another state's Business & Law exam; check the state course page for what is included.
Regardless of where your license expired, you will need to contact that state’s board and ask what you need to do. Our Helpful Links page will take you to each board’s website for contact information.
Often, your options are based on how much time has lapsed and whether your license was in good standing prior to that lapse.
JCR staff is happy to help steer you in the right direction. Give us a call 704-696-8555 or send us an email info@jcrproductions.com and we’ll help direct you to the correct resource.
The best way to contact Victor is via email. You can email him directly at victor@jcrproductions.com.
If you contact our office at 704.696.8555, we may be able to assist you directly. If not, we will gladly forward your question to Victor.