NORTH CAROLINA RESIDENTIAL SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR LICENSING 2026/2027 ACTUAL EXAM
APPROVED QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES (100% EXPERT VERIFIED SOLUTIONS) LATEST
UPDATED VERSION 2026 EDITION |GUARANTEED PASS A+ (BRAND
NEW!) |JUST RELEASED
What is the minimum size copper grounding electrode conductor required for a
200-ampere residential single-family dwelling service, assuming the service
entrance conductors are 2/0 AWG copper?
A) 6 AWG
B) 4 AWG
C) 4 AWG - CORRECT ANSWER
D) 2 AWG
Rationale: NEC Table 250.66 specifies that for 2/0 AWG copper service entrance
conductors, the grounding electrode conductor shall not be smaller than 4 AWG
copper. This ensures a low-impedance path to ground for fault currents and
lightning.
In a dwelling unit, where are arc-fault circuit-interrupter (AFCI) protection
required for 120-volt, 15 and 20 ampere branch circuits according to NEC 2023?
A) Only in bedrooms and living rooms
B) All 120-volt, 15 and 20 ampere circuits in the dwelling unit
C) All 120-volt, 15 and 20 ampere circuits except those supplying bathrooms,
garages, outdoors, and unfinished basements - CORRECT ANSWER
D) Only in kitchens and laundry areas
Rationale: NEC 210.12(A) requires AFCI protection for all 120V, 15A and 20A
branch circuits supplying outlets in dwelling unit areas such as kitchens, family
rooms, dining rooms, living rooms, bedrooms, hallways, and laundry areas, with
exceptions for bathrooms, garages, outdoors, and unfinished basements.
,What is the maximum number of 12 AWG THHN conductors permitted in a 4-inch
square by 1½-inch deep metal outlet box (21 cubic inches) with no devices,
clamps, or equipment grounding conductors?
A) 9
B) 9 - CORRECT ANSWER
C) 10
D) 11
Rationale: NEC Table 314.16(B) gives 2.25 cu in for 12 AWG. 21 cu in / 2.25 =
9.33, so 9 conductor’s maximum.
A single-family dwelling has a floor area of 2,800 square feet, two small appliance
branch circuits, and one laundry branch circuit. Using the standard method of NEC
Article 220, what is the general lighting and receptacle load before applying
demand factors?
A) 7,000 VA
B) 8,400 VA - CORRECT ANSWER
C) 9,000 VA
D) 10,500 VA
Rationale: NEC 220.12 requires 3 VA per square foot for dwelling units. 2,800 sq.
ft. × 3 VA = 8,400 VA. Additionally, two small appliance circuits at 1,500 VA
each (3,000 VA) and one laundry circuit at 1,500 VA are added, but the question
asks only for general lighting and receptacle load, which is the 3 VA per sq. ft.
What is the minimum required clearance for service-drop conductors above a
residential driveway that is not subject to truck traffic?
A) 10 feet
, B) 12 feet - CORRECT ANSWER
C) 15 feet
D) 18 feet
Rationale: NEC 230.24(B) requires service-drop conductors to have a vertical
clearance of 12 feet above residential driveways and other areas subject to
pedestrian or light vehicle traffic.
A 120-volt, 20-ampere branch circuit supplies a single bathroom in a dwelling.
How many receptacle outlets are required to be GFCI-protected?
A) Only the receptacle within 3 feet of the sink
B) All receptacles in the bathroom
C) All receptacles in the bathroom - CORRECT ANSWER
D) No GFCI protection required for 20A circuits
Rationale: NEC 210.8(A)(1) requires all 125-volt, 15 and 20 ampere receptacles
installed in bathrooms of dwelling units to have GFCI protection, regardless of
proximity to sink.
For a residential single-family dwelling, what is the minimum size copper
equipment grounding conductor required for a 40-ampere branch circuit?
A) 12 AWG
B) 10 AWG - CORRECT ANSWER
C) 8 AWG
D) 6 AWG
Rationale: NEC Table 250.122 specifies that for a 40-ampere overcurrent device,
the minimum copper equipment grounding conductor is 10 AWG.
When installing nonmetallic-sheathed cable (NM) in an unfinished basement,
where the cable is run perpendicular to the floor joists, how must it be protected?
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR LICENSING 2026/2027 ACTUAL EXAM
APPROVED QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES (100% EXPERT VERIFIED SOLUTIONS) LATEST
UPDATED VERSION 2026 EDITION |GUARANTEED PASS A+ (BRAND
NEW!) |JUST RELEASED
What is the minimum size copper grounding electrode conductor required for a
200-ampere residential single-family dwelling service, assuming the service
entrance conductors are 2/0 AWG copper?
A) 6 AWG
B) 4 AWG
C) 4 AWG - CORRECT ANSWER
D) 2 AWG
Rationale: NEC Table 250.66 specifies that for 2/0 AWG copper service entrance
conductors, the grounding electrode conductor shall not be smaller than 4 AWG
copper. This ensures a low-impedance path to ground for fault currents and
lightning.
In a dwelling unit, where are arc-fault circuit-interrupter (AFCI) protection
required for 120-volt, 15 and 20 ampere branch circuits according to NEC 2023?
A) Only in bedrooms and living rooms
B) All 120-volt, 15 and 20 ampere circuits in the dwelling unit
C) All 120-volt, 15 and 20 ampere circuits except those supplying bathrooms,
garages, outdoors, and unfinished basements - CORRECT ANSWER
D) Only in kitchens and laundry areas
Rationale: NEC 210.12(A) requires AFCI protection for all 120V, 15A and 20A
branch circuits supplying outlets in dwelling unit areas such as kitchens, family
rooms, dining rooms, living rooms, bedrooms, hallways, and laundry areas, with
exceptions for bathrooms, garages, outdoors, and unfinished basements.
,What is the maximum number of 12 AWG THHN conductors permitted in a 4-inch
square by 1½-inch deep metal outlet box (21 cubic inches) with no devices,
clamps, or equipment grounding conductors?
A) 9
B) 9 - CORRECT ANSWER
C) 10
D) 11
Rationale: NEC Table 314.16(B) gives 2.25 cu in for 12 AWG. 21 cu in / 2.25 =
9.33, so 9 conductor’s maximum.
A single-family dwelling has a floor area of 2,800 square feet, two small appliance
branch circuits, and one laundry branch circuit. Using the standard method of NEC
Article 220, what is the general lighting and receptacle load before applying
demand factors?
A) 7,000 VA
B) 8,400 VA - CORRECT ANSWER
C) 9,000 VA
D) 10,500 VA
Rationale: NEC 220.12 requires 3 VA per square foot for dwelling units. 2,800 sq.
ft. × 3 VA = 8,400 VA. Additionally, two small appliance circuits at 1,500 VA
each (3,000 VA) and one laundry circuit at 1,500 VA are added, but the question
asks only for general lighting and receptacle load, which is the 3 VA per sq. ft.
What is the minimum required clearance for service-drop conductors above a
residential driveway that is not subject to truck traffic?
A) 10 feet
, B) 12 feet - CORRECT ANSWER
C) 15 feet
D) 18 feet
Rationale: NEC 230.24(B) requires service-drop conductors to have a vertical
clearance of 12 feet above residential driveways and other areas subject to
pedestrian or light vehicle traffic.
A 120-volt, 20-ampere branch circuit supplies a single bathroom in a dwelling.
How many receptacle outlets are required to be GFCI-protected?
A) Only the receptacle within 3 feet of the sink
B) All receptacles in the bathroom
C) All receptacles in the bathroom - CORRECT ANSWER
D) No GFCI protection required for 20A circuits
Rationale: NEC 210.8(A)(1) requires all 125-volt, 15 and 20 ampere receptacles
installed in bathrooms of dwelling units to have GFCI protection, regardless of
proximity to sink.
For a residential single-family dwelling, what is the minimum size copper
equipment grounding conductor required for a 40-ampere branch circuit?
A) 12 AWG
B) 10 AWG - CORRECT ANSWER
C) 8 AWG
D) 6 AWG
Rationale: NEC Table 250.122 specifies that for a 40-ampere overcurrent device,
the minimum copper equipment grounding conductor is 10 AWG.
When installing nonmetallic-sheathed cable (NM) in an unfinished basement,
where the cable is run perpendicular to the floor joists, how must it be protected?
