CALIFORNIA ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR (C-
10) LICENSE EXAM ACTUAL PREP QUESTIONS
AND WELL REVISED ANSWERS
1. Which of the following is the primary purpose of the National Electrical
| | | | | | | | | | |
Code (NEC)?
| |
A. To establish pricing standards for electrical contractors
| | | | | |
B. To regulate employment of electricians
| | | |
C. To ensure safe installation of electrical wiring and equipment
| | | | | | | |
D. To set licensing requirements for contractors
| | | | |
The NEC provides guidelines to protect people and property from electrical
| | | | | | | | | |
| hazards through safe design and installation practices.
| | | | | |
2. Before beginning an electrical installation, a contractor must first obtain:
| | | | | | | | |
A. Equipment warranties |
B. A building permit | |
C. A labor union approval
| | |
D. An insurance certificate | |
A building permit ensures that installations meet local and state safety codes
| | | | | | | | | | |
| and are subject to inspection.
| | | |
3. What is the minimum size copper grounding electrode conductor (GEC)
| | | | | | | | |
required for a 200-amp service?
| | | | |
A. 6 AWG |
B. 4 AWG |
C. 2 AWG |
, D. 8 AWG |
The NEC specifies minimum conductor sizes based on service rating; for
| | | | | | | | | |
| 200-amp services, 4 AWG copper is required. | | | | | |
4. Which of the following describes a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter)?
| | | | | | | | | |
A. A device that measures voltage
| | | |
B. A device that stores energy
| | | |
C. A device that protects people from electrical shock by detecting
| | | | | | | | |
current leakage
| |
D. A device that steps down voltage
| | | | |
GFCIs detect current leakage to ground and interrupt the circuit to prevent
| | | | | | | | | | |
| electric shock. |
5. In California, a licensed electrical contractor is required to:
| | | | | | | |
A. Only supervise apprentices | |
B. Perform inspections |
C. Pull permits for electrical work and ensure code compliance
| | | | | | | |
D. Work without any permits if under $500 | | | | | |
California law mandates licensed contractors to obtain permits and comply
| | | | | | | | |
| with code standards.
| |
6. Which type of conduit is approved for outdoor use and direct burial?
| | | | | | | | | | |
A. EMT
B. RMC (Rigid Metal Conduit) | | |
C. FMC
D. ENT
RMC is durable, corrosion-resistant, and suitable for direct burial
| | | | | | | |
| applications.
7. When sizing a service conductor, which of the following is a key factor?
| | | | | | | | | | | |
A. Color of insulation | |
, B. Total load demand in amps | | | |
C. Type of building paint | | |
D. Number of doors in the building | | | | |
Conductor size must safely carry the expected load without overheating.
| | | | | | | | |
8. The term “ampacity” refers to:
| | | |
A. Voltage drop in a circuit | | | |
B. The maximum current a conductor can safely carry
| | | | | | |
C. Transformer efficiency |
D. Electrical resistance |
Ampacity is the safe current-carrying capacity of a wire as determined by NEC
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| tables.
9. What is the maximum spacing allowed for a standard residential ceiling
| | | | | | | | | |
outlet?
|
A. 6 feet |
B. 12 feet |
C. 18 feet |
D. 24 feet |
NEC requires receptacles so that no point along a wall is more than 6 feet
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| from an outlet, effectively spacing them no more than 12 feet apart.
| | | | | | | | | | |
10. For a 120/240-volt single-phase dwelling, what type of wiring is most
| | | | | | | | | |
commonly used?
| |
A. Aluminum conduit only | |
B. Non-metallic sheathed cable (NM-B) | | |
C. RMC with copper only | | |
D. MC cable only | |
NM-B (Romex) is widely used in residential wiring for simplicity and NEC
| | | | | | | | | | |
| compliance.
, 11. The main purpose of a bonding jumper is to:
| | | | | | | |
A. Increase voltage |
B. Reduce conductor size | |
C. Ensure electrical continuity between metal parts
| | | | |
D. Decrease resistance of a resistor | | | |
Bonding jumpers connect metal components to prevent shock hazards.
| | | | | | | |
12. In California, how long must an electrical contractor keep records of work
| | | | | | | | | | |
performed?
|
A. 6 months |
B. 1 year | |
C. 3 years |
D. 5 years |
California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) requires records
| | | | | | |
| retention for three years. | | |
13. What color is typically used for an equipment grounding conductor?
| | | | | | | | |
A. Red
B. Blue
C. Green or bare | |
D. Yellow
NEC specifies green or bare copper for grounding conductors.
| | | | | | | |
14. Which type of breaker is designed to protect against short circuits and
| | | | | | | | | | |
overloads?
|
A. GFCI
B. AFCI
C. Standard circuit breaker | |
D. Surge protector |
10) LICENSE EXAM ACTUAL PREP QUESTIONS
AND WELL REVISED ANSWERS
1. Which of the following is the primary purpose of the National Electrical
| | | | | | | | | | |
Code (NEC)?
| |
A. To establish pricing standards for electrical contractors
| | | | | |
B. To regulate employment of electricians
| | | |
C. To ensure safe installation of electrical wiring and equipment
| | | | | | | |
D. To set licensing requirements for contractors
| | | | |
The NEC provides guidelines to protect people and property from electrical
| | | | | | | | | |
| hazards through safe design and installation practices.
| | | | | |
2. Before beginning an electrical installation, a contractor must first obtain:
| | | | | | | | |
A. Equipment warranties |
B. A building permit | |
C. A labor union approval
| | |
D. An insurance certificate | |
A building permit ensures that installations meet local and state safety codes
| | | | | | | | | | |
| and are subject to inspection.
| | | |
3. What is the minimum size copper grounding electrode conductor (GEC)
| | | | | | | | |
required for a 200-amp service?
| | | | |
A. 6 AWG |
B. 4 AWG |
C. 2 AWG |
, D. 8 AWG |
The NEC specifies minimum conductor sizes based on service rating; for
| | | | | | | | | |
| 200-amp services, 4 AWG copper is required. | | | | | |
4. Which of the following describes a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter)?
| | | | | | | | | |
A. A device that measures voltage
| | | |
B. A device that stores energy
| | | |
C. A device that protects people from electrical shock by detecting
| | | | | | | | |
current leakage
| |
D. A device that steps down voltage
| | | | |
GFCIs detect current leakage to ground and interrupt the circuit to prevent
| | | | | | | | | | |
| electric shock. |
5. In California, a licensed electrical contractor is required to:
| | | | | | | |
A. Only supervise apprentices | |
B. Perform inspections |
C. Pull permits for electrical work and ensure code compliance
| | | | | | | |
D. Work without any permits if under $500 | | | | | |
California law mandates licensed contractors to obtain permits and comply
| | | | | | | | |
| with code standards.
| |
6. Which type of conduit is approved for outdoor use and direct burial?
| | | | | | | | | | |
A. EMT
B. RMC (Rigid Metal Conduit) | | |
C. FMC
D. ENT
RMC is durable, corrosion-resistant, and suitable for direct burial
| | | | | | | |
| applications.
7. When sizing a service conductor, which of the following is a key factor?
| | | | | | | | | | | |
A. Color of insulation | |
, B. Total load demand in amps | | | |
C. Type of building paint | | |
D. Number of doors in the building | | | | |
Conductor size must safely carry the expected load without overheating.
| | | | | | | | |
8. The term “ampacity” refers to:
| | | |
A. Voltage drop in a circuit | | | |
B. The maximum current a conductor can safely carry
| | | | | | |
C. Transformer efficiency |
D. Electrical resistance |
Ampacity is the safe current-carrying capacity of a wire as determined by NEC
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| tables.
9. What is the maximum spacing allowed for a standard residential ceiling
| | | | | | | | | |
outlet?
|
A. 6 feet |
B. 12 feet |
C. 18 feet |
D. 24 feet |
NEC requires receptacles so that no point along a wall is more than 6 feet
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| from an outlet, effectively spacing them no more than 12 feet apart.
| | | | | | | | | | |
10. For a 120/240-volt single-phase dwelling, what type of wiring is most
| | | | | | | | | |
commonly used?
| |
A. Aluminum conduit only | |
B. Non-metallic sheathed cable (NM-B) | | |
C. RMC with copper only | | |
D. MC cable only | |
NM-B (Romex) is widely used in residential wiring for simplicity and NEC
| | | | | | | | | | |
| compliance.
, 11. The main purpose of a bonding jumper is to:
| | | | | | | |
A. Increase voltage |
B. Reduce conductor size | |
C. Ensure electrical continuity between metal parts
| | | | |
D. Decrease resistance of a resistor | | | |
Bonding jumpers connect metal components to prevent shock hazards.
| | | | | | | |
12. In California, how long must an electrical contractor keep records of work
| | | | | | | | | | |
performed?
|
A. 6 months |
B. 1 year | |
C. 3 years |
D. 5 years |
California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) requires records
| | | | | | |
| retention for three years. | | |
13. What color is typically used for an equipment grounding conductor?
| | | | | | | | |
A. Red
B. Blue
C. Green or bare | |
D. Yellow
NEC specifies green or bare copper for grounding conductors.
| | | | | | | |
14. Which type of breaker is designed to protect against short circuits and
| | | | | | | | | | |
overloads?
|
A. GFCI
B. AFCI
C. Standard circuit breaker | |
D. Surge protector |
