VA Journeyman Electrician Exam Flashcards

Q: How many questions are on the Virginia Journeyman Electrician exam and how much time do I get?

The journeyman electrician portion has 70 multiple-choice items with a passing score of 49 (70%), and you get 210 minutes (3.5 hours) to complete it. This is confirmed directly by PSI's current Candidate Information Bulletin for Virginia DPOR, dated July 23, 2026.

Q: What NEC edition does the Virginia Journeyman Electrician exam use in 2026?

NEC 2020 (NFPA 70, 2020 Edition) is the electrician-only reference for the exam, alongside NFPA 70E, 2024 Edition for electrical safety questions. Virginia has not adopted the 2023 NEC for this exam as of August 2026 -- PSI's official reference-material list confirms both editions.

Q: Is the Virginia electrician exam open book, and what can I bring?

Yes. You may bring your own NEC 2020, NFPA 70E (2024), and the 18VAC50-30 Board for Contractors regulations. References may be highlighted, underlined, or indexed before the exam but must contain no writing done during the exam, and only permanent tabs are allowed -- no removable tabs, loose pages, or unbound references.

Q: How is the Virginia Journeyman Electrician exam content organized?

PSI's official outline breaks the 70 items into 24 topic areas grouped into 12 broad subjects: Virginia Board regulations (standards of practice, conduct, renewal, definitions, qualification, revocation), general electrical knowledge, branch circuits, services and feeders, grounding and bonding, conductors and cables, raceways and boxes, special occupancies and equipment, motors and controls, utilization equipment and lighting, low-voltage and communication systems, and electrical safety.

Q: How often must I renew my Virginia electrician license, and is continuing education required?

Licenses expire 3 years from the last day of the month they were issued (18VAC50-30-120.A). As a condition of renewal, electrical-designation tradesmen must satisfactorily complete 3 hours of board-approved continuing education relating to code changes (18VAC50-30-120.C).

Q: What experience do I need to sit for the Virginia journeyman electrician exam?

You need one of several education-plus-experience combinations under 18VAC50-30-39.B, ranging from a bachelor's degree in a related engineering field plus 1 year of experience up to 8 years of practical experience with no formal vocational training. Completing an approved apprenticeship program (per Section 54.1-1131 A 3 of the Code of Virginia) exempts you from the journeyman exam entirely (18VAC50-30-50.B).

Question 1

Who administers the Virginia Journeyman Electrician exam, and what regulation governs it?

Accepted Answer

PSI administers the exam on behalf of the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) Board for Contractors. The governing rules are the Individual License and Certification Regulations, 18VAC50-30, issued under Title 54.1, Chapter 11 of the Code of Virginia.

Question 2

How does 18VAC50-30-10 define 'Electrician' in Virginia?

Accepted Answer

A tradesman who performs the construction, repair, maintenance, alteration, or removal of electrical systems regulated under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (13VAC5-63). This is a specific regulatory definition, not just a general job title.

Question 3

Per 18VAC50-30-39.B, how much practical experience does a journeyman electrician applicant need with NO formal vocational training?

Accepted Answer

8 years of practical experience in the trade. The sliding scale runs from a bachelor's degree in a related engineering field (1 year of experience) down to no formal training (8 years), with vocational-hour tiers in between: 240 hrs/4 yrs, 160 hrs/5 yrs, 80 hrs/6 yrs, 40 hrs/7 yrs.

Question 4

How often must a Virginia journeyman electrician license be renewed, and what continuing education is required?

Accepted Answer

Every 3 years from the last day of the month it was issued (18VAC50-30-120.A). Renewal requires satisfactorily completing 3 hours of board-approved continuing education for the electrical trade designation (18VAC50-30-120.C).

Question 5

If a Virginia tradesman license lapses, how long can it still be reinstated instead of requiring a brand-new application?

Accepted Answer

Up to 24 months after the expiration date (18VAC50-30-130.D). After 24 months, the individual must apply as a new applicant and meet the entry requirements in effect at that time, though they remain eligible to sit for the same category and specialty exam as the expired license.

Question 6

Can a Virginia tradesman license be transferred to another person, and what's the deadline to report a change of address?

Accepted Answer

No license or certification issued by the board may be assigned or transferred (18VAC50-30-170). A regulant must report any change of address in writing within 30 days of the change, and a P.O. box alone is not an acceptable address of record (18VAC50-30-160).

Question 7

Under 18VAC50-30-190, what counts as evidence of job 'abandonment' by a Virginia tradesman?

Accepted Answer

An unjustified cessation of contracted work for 30 days or more is considered evidence of abandonment. Abandonment, along with negligence, incompetence, and misrepresentation, is a prohibited act that can trigger board discipline -- including remedial education, a monetary penalty, or revocation, suspension, or non-renewal of the license (18VAC50-30-185).

Question 8

What is Ohm's Law, and how do you find power (watts) from voltage and current?

Accepted Answer

Ohm's Law: E = I x R (Voltage = Current x Resistance). Power: P = E x I (Watts = Voltage x Current). Combined, these two formulas let you derive every other single-phase power/resistance/current relationship tested on the exam.

Question 9

In a series circuit versus a parallel circuit, how does total resistance behave?

Accepted Answer

Series circuit: total resistance is the SUM of all resistances (Rt = R1 + R2 + R3...), and the same current flows through every component. Parallel circuit: total resistance is always LESS than the smallest branch resistance, while voltage is the same across every branch.

Question 10

If a Virginia electrician exam question's reference sources seem to give conflicting legal requirements, which one governs?

Accepted Answer

The state-specific code, law, or regulation overrides the national one. PSI's official candidate bulletin states this directly: if two legal requirements appear to conflict, the state-specific requirement wins, and information from the references on the official test-reference list overrides information from other sources or persons.

Question 11

What is the difference between AC (alternating current) and DC (direct current)?

Accepted Answer

AC reverses direction periodically (60 Hz in the U.S.) and is what utilities distribute because transformers can efficiently step its voltage up or down. DC flows in one direction only and is typical of batteries, PV panels, and many control circuits, which is why inverters and rectifiers exist to convert between the two.

Question 12

A 120V circuit supplies a resistive heater drawing 12A. Using Watt's Law, what is the load in watts, and how many amps would that same wattage draw on a 240V circuit?

Accepted Answer

P = E x I = 120V x 12A = 1,440 watts. On a 240V circuit, the same 1,440W load draws I = P / E = 1,440 / 240 = 6A -- half the current at double the voltage, which is exactly why higher voltages move the same power through smaller, cheaper conductors.

Question 13

Per NEC 2020, 210.12(A), which rooms in a dwelling unit require AFCI protection, and which don't?

Accepted Answer

AFCI protection covers habitable and living areas -- bedrooms, living areas, kitchens, and similar rooms -- plus closets, hallways, and laundry areas. The exclusions worth memorizing are bathrooms, garages, unfinished basements, and outdoor locations, which are not on the AFCI list.

Question 14

What must Virginia's required small-appliance branch circuits (SABCs) serve in a dwelling kitchen, and what are they NOT allowed to serve?

Accepted Answer

Per NEC 210.52(B)(1), the 2 required 20A small-appliance branch circuits must serve all kitchen/pantry/dining-area countertop and wall/floor receptacle outlets, INCLUDING receptacles for refrigeration equipment. Per 210.52(B)(2), they may not serve any other outlets such as general lighting outlets or built-in appliances -- the only narrow exceptions are a receptacle for an electric clock and supplemental equipment for a gas range.

Question 15

What is the general rule for how much of a branch circuit's ampere rating a continuous load can occupy?

Accepted Answer

A continuous load (one running 3 or more hours) may not exceed 80% of the branch-circuit ampere rating, unless the circuit and its overcurrent device are listed for 100% continuous operation. This 125% sizing rule (load divided by 0.8) shows up constantly in load and OCPD calculations.

Question 16

Under NEC 2020, 230.71, what is the default number of service disconnecting means for a single service, and when can more be used?

Accepted Answer

The 2020 NEC default is ONE disconnecting means per service (230.71(A)). Two to six disconnects are permitted only when installed as separate enclosures, separate panelboards each with its own main, switchboard vertical sections with barriers, or switchgear/metering-center compartments (230.71(B)) -- six breakers grouped in a single ordinary enclosure no longer qualifies, which is a significant change from earlier NEC editions.

Question 17

What is the difference between a 'service' and a 'feeder' in the NEC?

Accepted Answer

A service is the conductors and equipment that deliver power FROM the utility supply TO the premises wiring system, ending at the service disconnect. A feeder is any set of conductors between the service equipment (or another source, like a separately derived system) and the final branch-circuit overcurrent device.

Question 18

What is the minimum service disconnecting-means rating required for a one-family dwelling per NEC 2020, 230.79(C)?

Accepted Answer

Not less than 100 amperes, 3-wire. This rule in 230.79(C) is unconditional -- it applies to every one-family dwelling regardless of the number of branch circuits or the calculated load. Most modern homes are sized well above this code minimum in practice.

Question 19

When sizing a dwelling feeder or service under NEC Table 220.12, what is the standard general lighting load per square foot?

Accepted Answer

3 volt-amperes per square foot of dwelling floor area, using the outside dimensions of the building and excluding open porches, garages, and unused or unfinished spaces not adaptable for future use. This VA/sq ft figure is the starting point for both the standard and optional load-calculation methods.

Question 20

Name at least four types of grounding electrodes recognized in NEC 250.52(A), plus one thing explicitly excluded as an electrode.

Accepted Answer

Recognized electrodes include: metal underground water pipe, metal in-ground support structure, concrete-encased electrode ('Ufer ground'), ground ring, driven ground rod or pipe, other listed electrodes, and plate electrodes. Metal underground GAS piping systems are explicitly excluded from use as a grounding electrode (250.52(B)(1)).

Question 21

What are the minimum dimensions for a concrete-encased grounding electrode ('Ufer ground') under NEC 250.52(A)(3)?

Accepted Answer

At least 20 feet of one or more bare or zinc-galvanized steel reinforcing bars (1/2 inch minimum diameter), or 20 feet of bare copper conductor not smaller than 4 AWG, encased in at least 2 inches of concrete near the bottom of a foundation or footing, in direct contact with the earth.

Question 22

Under NEC 250.52(A)(5), what is the minimum length and diameter for a driven ground rod electrode?

Accepted Answer

A rod-type electrode must be at least 8 feet long. Stainless steel and copper- or zinc-coated steel rods must be at least 5/8 inch in diameter, UNLESS the rod is listed, in which case a smaller listed diameter (commonly 1/2 inch) is allowed. The 5/8-inch figure is the base material rule; it's the listing, not the metal type, that unlocks the smaller diameter.

Question 23

What's the practical difference between 'grounding' and 'bonding' in the NEC?

Accepted Answer

Grounding connects a system or equipment to the earth through a grounding electrode. Bonding joins metal parts together so they stay electrically continuous and carry fault current safely at the same potential. Together, grounding and bonding create the low-impedance path that lets an overcurrent device clear a ground fault quickly.

Question 24

In NEC 2020, what is the current name and location of the basic conductor ampacity table that older editions numbered 310.15(B)(16)?

Accepted Answer

It's Table 310.16. The 2020 NEC reorganized Article 310 -- moving medium-voltage content to a new Article 311 -- and restored the table's shorter, original designation. If you're studying with an older reference, remember: 310.15(B)(16) and Table 310.16 are the same table under different editions' numbering.

Question 25

Under NEC 2020, 310.15(C)(1), what happens to conductor ampacity when more than 3 current-carrying conductors are bundled together?

Accepted Answer

When more than 3 current-carrying conductors are installed in a raceway, cable, or bundled together without maintaining spacing, for a distance over 24 inches, each conductor's allowable ampacity must be reduced by the table's adjustment factor -- for example, 80% for 4-6 conductors, 70% for 7-9 conductors, and lower percentages as the count increases.

Question 26

How does conductor insulation temperature rating interact with the 60C/75C termination rule when reading Table 310.16?

Accepted Answer

You use the ampacity column matching the conductor's insulation rating (60C, 75C, or 90C), but the FINAL allowable ampacity is also capped by the lowest temperature rating of any connected termination or equipment per 110.14(C) -- commonly 60C for equipment rated 100A or less, and 75C above that, even if the wire itself is rated 90C.

Question 27

What is the difference between THHN, THWN, and THWN-2 conductor insulation ratings?

Accepted Answer

THHN alone is rated 90C for dry/damp locations only. THWN alone is rated 75C for wet locations. THWN-2 is dual-rated at 90C for BOTH wet and dry locations -- that's the entire point of the '-2' suffix, and it's why THHN/THWN-2 dual-marked wire is the common stock item: it gives you the 90C ampacity column while still being listed for wet locations.

Question 28

What is the smallest copper conductor size generally permitted for a 20-amp, 120-volt branch circuit under NEC 2020?

Accepted Answer

12 AWG copper, based on Table 310.16's 20A rating in the 60C column and the small-conductor rule in 240.4(D). A 14 AWG copper conductor is limited to a 15-amp circuit -- running 14 AWG on a 20A breaker is a classic, serious code violation to catch on exam questions.

Question 29

Under NEC 314.16(B), how much box-fill volume must be allowed per conductor for 14, 12, and 10 AWG wire?

Accepted Answer

14 AWG = 2.00 cubic inches per conductor, 12 AWG = 2.25 cubic inches, 10 AWG = 2.5 cubic inches. Multiply the per-conductor allowance by the number of conductor-equivalents present, plus extra allowances for devices, clamps, and grounding conductors, to find the minimum box size.

Question 30

In a box-fill calculation, how many extra volume allowances do ALL the equipment grounding conductors in the box count as, combined?

Accepted Answer

All the equipment grounding conductors together count as just ONE volume allowance, based on the largest grounding conductor present -- not one allowance per grounding wire. The same 'count as one' rule applies to all the internal cable clamps combined.

Question 31

What is the maximum percentage fill allowed in a conduit or tubing when it contains more than two conductors, per NEC Chapter 9, Table 1?

Accepted Answer

40% fill for three or more conductors, compared to 31% for two conductors and 53% for a single conductor. This limit leaves room for heat dissipation and keeps conductors physically pullable through the raceway.

Question 32

What is the general rule for the number of 90-degree bends allowed between pull points in a raceway run?

Accepted Answer

No more than the equivalent of four quarter-bends -- 360 degrees total -- is permitted between pull points such as boxes or conduit bodies. Exceeding this makes it extremely difficult to pull conductors through without damaging their insulation.

Question 33

How do EMT, RMC, and PVC conduit differ in typical use, and which one needs a separate equipment grounding conductor?

Accepted Answer

EMT (electrical metallic tubing) is thin-wall steel or aluminum, unthreaded, coupled with fittings -- common indoors. RMC (rigid metal conduit) is thick-wall threaded steel used where greater physical protection is needed. PVC (rigid nonmetallic conduit) resists corrosion for underground or wet/corrosive locations, but since it isn't conductive, it requires a separate wire-type equipment grounding conductor (250.118).

Question 34

Under NEC 2020, 680.26(B)(2), how far does the swimming pool 'perimeter surface' equipotential bonding requirement extend from the pool's inside wall?

Accepted Answer

3 feet horizontally beyond the inside walls of the pool, covering unpaved surfaces and paving alike. The bonding grid must attach to the pool's structural reinforcing steel (or an equivalent copper conductor grid) at a minimum of 4 points spaced uniformly around the pool's perimeter.

Question 35

What does NEC Article 517 require for the branch-circuit equipment grounding conductor in a hospital patient care space?

Accepted Answer

An insulated copper equipment grounding conductor is required, installed with the branch-circuit conductors in the same raceway, cable, or cord (517.13(B)). This redundant, low-impedance grounding path is on top of the normal metal-raceway wiring-method grounding path required by 517.13(A), because patient safety in these spaces has a much lower fault-current tolerance.

Question 36

How does a Class I hazardous location differ from a Class II hazardous location under the NEC?

Accepted Answer

Class I locations have flammable gases or vapors present in the air, such as a paint spray booth or fuel dispensing area. Class II locations have combustible DUST present, such as a grain elevator or flour mill. Each class also splits into Division 1 (hazard present under normal conditions) and Division 2 (hazard present only under abnormal conditions).

Question 37

What does NEC Article 600 require of an electric sign or outline lighting system's disconnecting means?

Accepted Answer

The disconnecting means must be within sight of the sign or lighting system it controls, or lockable if it isn't within sight, and it must be marked to identify the specific sign or lighting system it disconnects -- so the load being de-energized is unambiguous to anyone servicing it.

Question 38

How is a motor's overload protection sized under NEC 430.32(A)(1), and what determines which percentage applies?

Accepted Answer

125% of the motor's full-load current for a motor with a marked service factor of 1.15 or greater, OR a marked temperature rise of 40C or less. For all other motors -- lower service factor or higher temperature rise -- overload protection is sized at 115% of FLA. The larger 125% figure applies to the more thermally tolerant motors, which can safely absorb a bit more sustained overload margin before protection needs to act.

Question 39

Per NEC 430.22, how is a single continuous-duty motor's branch-circuit conductor typically sized relative to its full-load current?

Accepted Answer

Not less than 125% of the motor's full-load current rating, taken from the NEC ampacity tables (Tables 430.247-430.250), not the motor's nameplate current. The 125% sizing accommodates normal running current without treating brief startup inrush as a continuous load.

Question 40

What is the purpose of a motor controller, and how does it differ from the motor disconnecting means?

Accepted Answer

A controller starts, stops, and regulates the motor's speed or torque during normal operation. The disconnecting means (Article 430, Part IX) is a separate device -- often a switch or breaker -- that isolates the motor and controller from all ungrounded supply conductors for maintenance, and it must be located within sight of both the controller and the motor, or be lockable if that's impracticable.

Question 41

Under NEC 430.53, can two or more motors share a single branch circuit?

Accepted Answer

Yes, under specific conditions -- for example, several motors rated 1 hp or less each drawing no more than 6A (430.53(A)), or a listed group motor installation with its own overall short-circuit/ground-fault protection sized for the group (430.53(B) and (C)). Outside those group-installation allowances, each motor typically gets its own dedicated branch circuit sized per Article 430.

Question 42

Under NEC 410.16, what is the minimum clearance from a clothes closet's storage space to a SURFACE-mounted incandescent or LED luminaire with a completely enclosed light source?

Accepted Answer

12 inches. A RECESSED incandescent or LED fixture with a completely enclosed light source only needs 6 inches of clearance, and surface-mounted or recessed fluorescent fixtures also use the 6-inch clearance. Pendant fixtures and open or exposed-lamp fixtures are not permitted in closet storage space at all.

Question 43

What does 'utilization equipment' mean in NEC Article 100, and what's a common example?

Accepted Answer

Utilization equipment is equipment that uses electric energy for electronic, electromechanical, chemical, heating, lighting, or similar purposes -- as opposed to equipment that just distributes or controls power, like a panelboard. Ranges, water heaters, motors, and fixed appliances are typical utilization-equipment examples covered under Articles 422 and 430.

Question 44

Per NEC 422.31(B), what disconnecting-means options exist for a permanently connected fixed appliance rated over 300 volt-amperes?

Accepted Answer

The branch-circuit switch or circuit breaker can serve as the disconnecting means if it's within sight of the appliance. If it's not within sight, the switch or breaker must be capable of being locked in the open position, so the appliance can be worked on safely without relying on someone else to keep the circuit open.

Question 45

What two different combustible-material clearance rules apply to a non-IC-rated recessed luminaire under NEC Article 410?

Accepted Answer

The fixture housing itself needs at least 1/2 inch of clearance from combustible material such as wood framing (410.116(A)(1)), while thermal insulation must be kept at least 3 inches away from the recessed housing, wiring compartment, and ballast (410.116(B)) -- unless the fixture is listed and marked 'Type IC' for direct contact with insulation.

Question 46

What distinguishes NEC Class 2 and Class 3 power-limited circuits (Article 725) from ordinary branch circuits?

Accepted Answer

Class 2 and Class 3 circuits are supplied by a power source, often a listed transformer or power supply, that limits voltage and current low enough that the wiring doesn't need the same overcurrent protection, insulation, and installation rules as normal power circuits. Common examples are thermostat wiring, doorbell circuits, and low-voltage lighting controls.

Question 47

How does the 2020 NEC separate communications circuits and fire alarm circuits from ordinary power wiring?

Accepted Answer

Communications circuits fall under Article 805 (Communications Circuits), which requires a listed primary protector at or ahead of the building's point of entrance (805.90), while grounding/bonding of that protector and the cable's metallic sheath is covered in Article 800 (800.100) -- the 2020 NEC split what older editions handled entirely under Article 800. Fire alarm circuits (Article 760) split into non-power-limited (NPLFA) and power-limited (PLFA) types with their own wiring and survivability rules, working alongside NFPA 72's performance requirements.

Question 48

Per NEC Table 110.26(A)(1), what are the minimum working-space depths for equipment rated 151-600 volts to ground, by condition, and what does 'Condition 2' mean?

Accepted Answer

3 feet under Condition 1 (exposed live parts on one side only, with no live or grounded parts on the other side, or all parts guarded), 3.5 feet under Condition 2 (exposed live parts on one side, grounded parts on the other), and 4 feet under Condition 3 (exposed live parts on both sides). The table's other tiers are 0-150V to ground (3 ft at every condition) and 601-1000V to ground (3/4/5 ft) -- always check voltage TO GROUND, not line-to-line voltage, before picking a row.

Question 49

What is the minimum headroom required for working space around electrical equipment under NEC 2020, 110.26(A)(3)?

Accepted Answer

6.5 feet (78 inches), measured from the grade, floor, platform, or working surface, extending the full width and depth of the required working space. The exception is service equipment or panelboards rated 200 amperes or less in EXISTING dwelling units, which are not required to meet the full 6.5-foot headroom.

Question 50

What is the purpose of an Arc Flash Risk Assessment under NFPA 70E (2024 Edition), and when is it required?

Accepted Answer

It's a hazard analysis that determines the likelihood and severity of an arc-flash incident for a specific task on energized equipment, so workers can select the correct PPE and establish an arc-flash boundary before starting work. NFPA 70E requires this assessment whenever a worker will interact with equipment that has not been placed in an electrically safe work condition.

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