North Carolina Residential Single-Family
Dwelling Electrical Contractor Licensing Exam
Questions And Correct Answers (Verified
Answers) Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant
Download Pdf
QUESTIONS 1–50
1. The minimum service entrance rating for a new single-family
dwelling in North Carolina is:
A. 60 amps
B. 100 amps
C. 125 amps
D. 150 amps
Answer: B
100 amps is the NEC minimum for a dwelling unit service.
2. The minimum burial depth for a PVC Schedule 40 electrical conduit
under a residential driveway is:
A. 12 inches
B. 18 inches
C. 24 inches
D. 36 inches
Answer: C
,PVC under driveways must be at least 24 inches deep when not GFCI-
protected.
3. Receptacles in a residential garage must be protected by:
A. AFCI only
B. GFCI only
C. Both GFCI and AFCI
D. Neither
Answer: B
Garages require GFCI protection; AFCI is not required for garage
receptacles.
4. A 20-amp small appliance branch circuit must use conductors no
smaller than:
A. 16 AWG
B. 14 AWG
C. 12 AWG
D. 10 AWG
Answer: C
20-amp circuits require minimum 12 AWG copper.
5. The maximum allowable voltage drop for a branch circuit feeder to
ensure efficiency is recommended to be:
A. 3%
B. 5%
,C. 8%
D. 10%
Answer: A
NEC recommends 3% max on branch circuits for good performance.
6. The required minimum height for service drop conductors above a
residential walkway is:
A. 8 ft
B. 10 ft
C. 12 ft
D. 15 ft
Answer: B
Service drops must be at least 10 ft above pedestrian areas.
7. Kitchen countertop receptacles must be installed so that no point
along the wall line is more than how many feet from a receptacle?
A. 2 ft
B. 4 ft
C. 6 ft
D. 8 ft
Answer: B
Spacing requires no point more than 24 inches from a receptacle outlet.
8. A bathroom requires at least how many 20-amp branch circuits?
, A. None
B. One
C. Two
D. Three
Answer: B
Bathrooms require one 20-amp circuit for receptacles.
9. Smoke alarms must be on which type of circuit?
A. Dedicated
B. Multi-wire
C. AFCI-protected
D. GFCI-protected
Answer: C
Smoke alarms in dwelling units must be protected by AFCI.
10. The minimum working space depth in front of a 120/240-V
residential panelboard is:
A. 24 inches
B. 30 inches
C. 36 inches
D. 48 inches
Answer: C
36 inches is required for equipment 150 V to ground or less.
11. Receptacles in unfinished basements must be protected by:
Dwelling Electrical Contractor Licensing Exam
Questions And Correct Answers (Verified
Answers) Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant
Download Pdf
QUESTIONS 1–50
1. The minimum service entrance rating for a new single-family
dwelling in North Carolina is:
A. 60 amps
B. 100 amps
C. 125 amps
D. 150 amps
Answer: B
100 amps is the NEC minimum for a dwelling unit service.
2. The minimum burial depth for a PVC Schedule 40 electrical conduit
under a residential driveway is:
A. 12 inches
B. 18 inches
C. 24 inches
D. 36 inches
Answer: C
,PVC under driveways must be at least 24 inches deep when not GFCI-
protected.
3. Receptacles in a residential garage must be protected by:
A. AFCI only
B. GFCI only
C. Both GFCI and AFCI
D. Neither
Answer: B
Garages require GFCI protection; AFCI is not required for garage
receptacles.
4. A 20-amp small appliance branch circuit must use conductors no
smaller than:
A. 16 AWG
B. 14 AWG
C. 12 AWG
D. 10 AWG
Answer: C
20-amp circuits require minimum 12 AWG copper.
5. The maximum allowable voltage drop for a branch circuit feeder to
ensure efficiency is recommended to be:
A. 3%
B. 5%
,C. 8%
D. 10%
Answer: A
NEC recommends 3% max on branch circuits for good performance.
6. The required minimum height for service drop conductors above a
residential walkway is:
A. 8 ft
B. 10 ft
C. 12 ft
D. 15 ft
Answer: B
Service drops must be at least 10 ft above pedestrian areas.
7. Kitchen countertop receptacles must be installed so that no point
along the wall line is more than how many feet from a receptacle?
A. 2 ft
B. 4 ft
C. 6 ft
D. 8 ft
Answer: B
Spacing requires no point more than 24 inches from a receptacle outlet.
8. A bathroom requires at least how many 20-amp branch circuits?
, A. None
B. One
C. Two
D. Three
Answer: B
Bathrooms require one 20-amp circuit for receptacles.
9. Smoke alarms must be on which type of circuit?
A. Dedicated
B. Multi-wire
C. AFCI-protected
D. GFCI-protected
Answer: C
Smoke alarms in dwelling units must be protected by AFCI.
10. The minimum working space depth in front of a 120/240-V
residential panelboard is:
A. 24 inches
B. 30 inches
C. 36 inches
D. 48 inches
Answer: C
36 inches is required for equipment 150 V to ground or less.
11. Receptacles in unfinished basements must be protected by:
