VA Board Regulations (18VAC50-30)
14%of exam
General Knowledge & Fundamentals
10%of exam
Branch Circuits & Load Calcs
9%of exam
Services & Feeders
7%of exam
Grounding & Bonding
9%of exam
Conductors & Cables
10%of exam
Table 310.16Ampacity vs OCPDInsulation TypesAdjustment Factors
Raceways & Boxes
10%of exam
Motors, Transformers & Controls
7%of exam
Overload SizingBranch-Circuit SizingMotor Circuit PickerTransformer Protection
Special Occupancies & Equipment
9%of exam
Hazardous LocationsPoolsHealthcare SpacesSigns
Utilization, Lighting & Low-Voltage
13%of exam
Luminaire ClearancesAppliance DisconnectsClass 2/3 CircuitsEmergency vs Standby
Electrical Safety
6%of exam
Working SpaceArc Flash BoundariesNFPA 70E PPEHeadroom Rule
Quick Facts
- Exam
- VA Journeyman Electrician
- Questions
- 70 multiple-choice
- Time
- 210 min (3.5 hrs)
- Pass
- 49 of 70 (70%)
- Format
- Open book
- Code
- NEC 2020
- Admin
- PSI for DPOR
- Fee
- $100 + $171.75
Journeyman vs Master Scope
Journeyman
- Works under supervision
- Performs installations
- Passes journeyman exam
Master
- Can supervise/contract
- Broader scope of work
- Separate master exam
Supervised work vs oversight
Licensing & Renewal
- Governing reg
- 18VAC50-30
- License term
- 3 years
- Renewal CE
- 3 hrs code update
- Reinstatement window
- 24 months, else new app
- License transfer
- Not assignable
- Address change
- Report within 30 days
- Administrator
- PSI for DPOR
- Apprenticeship
- Exempts journeyman exam
Standards, Conduct & Reciprocity
- Abandonment
- 30+ days unjustified stop
- Discipline triggers
- Negligence, incompetence, misrepresentation
- Reference rule
- State overrides national
- Open book
- No exam-day writing
- Tabs
- Permanent only, no loose
- Reciprocity (journeyman)
- DC, KY, WV
- Reciprocity (master)
- AL, MD, NC, OH
- Universal recognition
- 3+ yr license, no discipline
NEC Chapter Map
Ch2 Wiring, Ch3 Methods, Ch4 Equipment
Ch 2: wiring/protectionCh 3: methods/materialsCh 4: equipmentCh 5: special occupancies
Which NEC Article Covers It?
- Grounding/bonding question→Article 250
- Branch-circuit rule→Article 210
- Feeder/load calc→Article 220
- Service equipment→Article 230
- Conductor ampacity→Article 310
- Box or conduit fill→Art 314 / Ch 9
- Motor circuit→Article 430
- Swimming pool→Article 680
- Healthcare patient space→Article 517
- Hazardous classified location→Article 500
Electrical Theory
- Ohm's Law
- E = I x R
- Watt's Law
- P = E x I
- Series circuit
- R adds, current shared
- Parallel circuit
- R drops, voltage shared
- AC
- Reverses direction, 60 Hz
- DC
- One direction only
- Power factor
- True power / apparent
Feeder vs Branch Circuit
Feeder
- Supplies panelboards
- No utilization equipment
- Sized by demand load
Branch circuit
- Supplies outlets/equipment
- Ends at utilization equipment
- Sized by connected load
Distribution vs final circuit
Branch Circuit Protection
- AFCI rooms
- Bedrooms, living areas, kitchens
- AFCI exclusions
- Baths, garages, unfinished basement
- SABC count
- 2 circuits, 20A each
- SABC scope
- Kitchen/pantry/dining receptacles only
- Continuous load
- Max 80% of rating
- 100%-rated ckt
- Needs listed equipment
- Multiwire branch
- Shared neutral, common trip
- 14 AWG limit
- 15A circuits only
GFCI vs AFCI
GFCI
- Detects ground fault
- Protects from shock
- Wet/damp locations
AFCI
- Detects arc fault
- Protects from fire
- Habitable rooms
Shock protection vs fire protection
Load Calculations
- General lighting
- 3 VA per sq ft
- Floor area
- Outside dimensions
- Excluded areas
- Porches, garages, unfinished space
- Standard method
- Article 220 Part III
- Optional method
- 220.82, single dwelling
- Range demand
- Table 220.55
Service vs Feeder
Service
- Utility to disconnect
- Ends at service equipment
- One set per building
Feeder
- Disconnect to branch OCPD
- Can start anywhere downstream
- Multiple feeders allowed
Where the run starts
Services & Feeders Basics
- Service
- Utility to disconnect
- Feeder
- Disconnect to branch OCPD
- Disconnect count
- 1 default, up to 6
- Grouping rule
- Separate enclosures required
- Dwelling minimum
- 100A, 3-wire
- Service conductors
- Sized to calculated load
Grounding Electrode Order
Water pipe, then Ufer, ring, or rod
Use what's already presentUfer: rebar in footingRing: buried bare copperRod: 8 ft driven
Grounding vs Bonding
Grounding
- Connects to earth
- Uses an electrode
- Limits voltage to ground
Bonding
- Joins metal parts
- Keeps continuity
- Clears fault current
Earth path vs metal path
Pick a Grounding Electrode
- Metal water pipe present→Use as electrode(10 ft+ contact)
- Rebar in footing→Ufer ground(20 ft min)
- No natural electrode→Driven ground rod(8 ft min)
- Only gas piping present→Not a valid electrode
- Multiple electrodes exist→Bond them together(250.50)
Grounding Electrodes
- Water pipe
- 10 ft+ underground contact
- Ufer ground
- 20 ft rebar or wire
- Ground ring
- 20 ft bare copper loop
- Ground rod
- 8 ft, 5/8 in min
- Listed rod
- Smaller diameter allowed
- Gas piping
- Not a valid electrode
- Multiple electrodes
- Must bond together
Bonding & Conductor Sizing
- Grounding
- System-to-earth connection
- Bonding
- Metal parts joined, continuous
- GEC size
- Table 250.66, by service
- EGC size
- Table 250.122, by OCPD
- Main bonding jumper
- At service only
- System bonding jumper
- Separately derived systems
Ampacity vs OCPD Rating
Ampacity
- Table 310.16 value
- Based on insulation temp
- Conductor's safe current
OCPD rating
- Breaker or fuse size
- Rounds to standard size
- Protects the conductor
What wire carries vs what trips
Conductor Ampacity
- Table 310.16
- Base ampacity table
- 60/75/90C columns
- Match insulation rating
- Termination cap
- 110.14(C) limits final rating
- 100A rule
- 60C unless otherwise marked
- Adjustment (4-6)
- 80% of table value
- Adjustment (7-9)
- 70% of table value
- Ambient correction
- Table 310.15(B)(1)
Conductor & Insulation Types
- THHN
- 90C dry/damp only
- THWN
- 75C wet locations
- THWN-2
- 90C wet and dry
- 12 AWG Cu
- Min for 20A circuit
- 14 AWG Cu
- Min for 15A circuit
- Grounded conductor
- White or gray
- EGC
- Green or bare
Box Fill Build Order
Wires, then devices x2, clamps and EGC as one
Conductors: actual countDevice: 2x its sizeClamps: one allowanceEGC: one allowance
Choose a Raceway
- Wet, corrosive, underground→PVC conduit(needs separate EGC)
- Need extra physical protection→RMC
- Standard indoor branch wiring→EMT(metal path bonds)
- Flexible near vibration, wet→LFMC
- Flexible, dry locations only→ENT
Box Fill
- 14 AWG
- 2.00 in3 per conductor
- 12 AWG
- 2.25 in3 per conductor
- 10 AWG
- 2.50 in3 per conductor
- Device (switch/recep)
- 2x largest connected wire
- All EGCs
- 1 allowance, largest size
- All clamps
- 1 allowance total
- Fixture stud/hickey
- 1 allowance per size
Conduit Fill & Bends
- 1 conductor
- 53% fill max
- 2 conductors
- 31% fill max
- 3+ conductors
- 40% fill max
- Bend limit
- 360 deg between pulls
- EMT
- Thin-wall, unthreaded
- RMC
- Thick-wall, threaded
- PVC
- Nonmetallic, needs separate EGC
Motor Overload Percentage
High SF or low rise: 125%, else 115%
SF >= 1.15: 125%Temp rise <= 40C: 125%Otherwise: 115%Base = nameplate FLA
Size a Motor Circuit
- Need motor FLC→Table 430.247-250(Not nameplate)
- Size branch conductor→125% of FLC(430.22)
- Motor SF >= 1.15→125% FLA overload(430.32(A)(1))
- Motor SF < 1.15→115% FLA overload
- Place disconnect→Within sight or lockable
- Multiple small motors→Group circuit if listed(430.53)
Motor Sizing
- Branch conductor
- 125% of table FLC
- FLC source
- Tables 430.247-430.250
- Overload (SF>=1.15)
- 125% of nameplate FLA
- Overload (SF<1.15)
- 115% of nameplate FLA
- Disconnect location
- Within sight or lockable
- Group motors
- Allowed under 430.53 limits
- Transformer protection
- Table 450.3 percentages
Class I vs Class II Locations
Class I
- Flammable gas or vapor
- Paint booths, fuel areas
Class II
- Combustible dust
- Grain, flour facilities
Gas/vapor vs dust
Special Occupancies
- Class I
- Flammable gas or vapor
- Class II
- Combustible dust
- Division 1
- Hazard normally present
- Division 2
- Hazard abnormal only
- Pool bonding
- 3 ft perimeter, 4 pts
- Patient care EGC
- Insulated copper, redundant path
- Sign disconnect
- Within sight or lockable
Emergency vs Standby Systems
Emergency (Art 700)
- Life safety loads
- 10-second transfer
Legally required standby (701)
- Required by code/authority
- Longer transfer allowed
Life safety vs required backup
Utilization Equipment & Lighting
- Closet surface fixture
- 12 in clearance
- Closet recessed fixture
- 6 in clearance
- Recessed non-IC housing
- 3 in from insulation
- Housing clearance
- 1/2 in from wood
- Appliance disconnect
- In-sight switch or lockable
- Utilization equipment
- Uses power, doesn't distribute
Low-Voltage & Communications
- Class 2/3
- Power-limited, Article 725
- Communications
- Article 805, primary protector
- Fire alarm NPLFA
- Non-power-limited, Article 760
- Fire alarm PLFA
- Power-limited, Article 760
- CATV
- Article 820
Electrical Safety
- 0-150V working space
- 3 ft, all conditions
- 151-600V Cond 1
- 3 ft depth
- 151-600V Cond 2
- 3.5 ft depth
- 151-600V Cond 3
- 4 ft depth
- Working width
- 30 in minimum
- Headroom
- 6.5 ft (78 in)
- Arc flash assessment
- Before energized-equipment work
- Approach boundaries
- Limited, restricted, arc flash
Common Traps
Bathroom AFCI assumption
Bathroom needs GFCI only ≠ AFCI excludes bathrooms
14 AWG on 20A breaker
14 AWG maxes at 15A ≠ 20A needs 12 AWG
Nameplate vs table FLC
Nameplate sizes overload only ≠ Table sizes branch conductor
PVC self-grounding myth
PVC is nonmetallic ≠ Needs separate EGC wire
Reciprocity assumption
DC/KY/WV is journeyman only ≠ VA exam still required
Open book misconception
No writing on exam day ≠ Permanent tabs only
Retake wait myth
No 3-fail wait period ≠ Just seat availability limit
Last Minute
- 1.70 questions, 210 minutes, 49 pass
- 2.Open book: bring NEC, 70E, regs
- 3.Permanent tabs only, no loose pages
- 4.State-specific rule beats national rule
- 5.AFCI = habitable rooms; GFCI = wet areas
- 6.12 AWG minimum on 20A circuits
- 7.Box fill: 14g 2.0in, 12g 2.25in
- 8.Motor branch conductor = 125% table FLC
- 9.Overload 125% high SF, else 115%
- 10.Ground rod: 8 ft, 0.625 in
- 11.License: 3-year term, 3 CE hrs
- 12.Journeyman reciprocity: DC, KY, WV only
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