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Key Facts: VA ESC QI Exam

USD 85

PSI QI Specialty Fee

DPOR Board for Contractors / PSI Specialty CIB

Open Book

Book Policy

PSI Specialty CIB

ESC

Official Specialty Abbreviation

18VAC50-22-30

QI exam required

Technical Examination

DPOR A501-27EXINFO 09/01/2025

Virginia Electronic/Communication Service Contracting Qualified Individual Examination is the official DPOR/PSI specialty exam for the ESC specialty (18VAC50-22-30). PSI fee is USD 85. Official item count is on the PSI specialty outline.

Sample VA ESC QI Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the VA ESC QI exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Under 18VAC50-22-30, Electronic/communication service contracting (ESC) covers installation, repair, improvement, or removal of electronic or communications systems annexed to real property that operate at which maximum voltage?
A.30 volts or less
B.50 volts or less
C.120 volts or less
D.150 volts or less
Explanation: 18VAC50-22-30 defines ESC as work on electronic or communications systems annexed to real property, including telephone wiring, computer cabling, sound systems, data links, network installation, television and cable TV wiring, antenna wiring, fiber optics, or other systems that operate at 50 volts or less. Line-voltage branch circuits at 120 V are electrical (ELE) work, not ESC.
2Which Board for Contractors classification is also authorized to perform the work defined as Electronic/communication service contracting (ESC)?
A.Electrical contractors (ELE)
B.Fire suppression contracting (FSP)
C.Home improvement contracting (HIC)
D.Underground utility and excavating contracting (UUC)
Explanation: 18VAC50-22-30 states that the ELE classification also provides the ESC function. ELE covers electrical work under the USBC, including ESC and fire-alarm specialty work. HIC, FSP, and UUC do not authorize communications-system installation.
3Which of the following jobs is within the ESC specialty as defined in 18VAC50-22-30?
A.Installing a 120/240 V service panel and branch circuits for a tenant fit-out
B.Pulling 277 V lighting homeruns to fluorescent fixtures
C.Installing Category 6 data cabling and fiber between a telecommunications room and work-area outlets
D.Landing 208 V three-phase conductors on a rooftop HVAC disconnect
Explanation: ESC expressly includes computer cabling, data links, data and network installation, and fiber optics on systems at 50 V or less. Service equipment, lighting homeruns, and HVAC power wiring are line-voltage electrical work and require the ELE classification.
4A Virginia contractor holds only the ESC specialty. Which project must be declined or subcontracted to a properly classified firm?
A.Replacing telephone station cable to wall jacks
B.Installing a 70-volt distributed paging system
C.Pulling RG-6 television drops to living-room outlets
D.Installing 120 V receptacle circuits to feed rack-mounted network switches
Explanation: Telephone, 70 V sound, and television wiring are listed ESC systems at 50 V or less (a 70 V distributed-audio line is a constant-voltage speaker circuit, not a 120 V power circuit). Installing 120 V receptacle branch circuits is line-voltage electrical work and is outside ESC even when the receptacles will feed communications equipment.
5Which system listed in 18VAC50-22-30 is part of the ESC specialty?
A.Water-sprinkler fire suppression
B.Antenna wiring
C.Natural-gas appliance piping
D.Structural steel erection
Explanation: The ESC definition specifically names antenna wiring along with telephone, computer cabling, sound, data/network, television/CATV, and fiber optics. Sprinklers, gas piping, and steel erection are other specialties.
6How does Virginia distinguish fire-alarm work from ESC when both may operate at 50 volts or less?
A.Fire-alarm systems that operate at 50 volts or less are the FAS specialty, not ESC
B.Any 50-volt system, including fire alarm, may be installed under ESC alone
C.Fire alarm is always line-voltage ELE work and never a separate specialty
D.ESC covers fire-alarm control panels; FAS covers only notification appliances
Explanation: 18VAC50-22-30 defines fire alarm systems contracting (FAS) as installation, repair, or improvement of fire-alarm systems that operate at 50 volts or less. ESC covers communications and other ≤50 V electronic systems listed in its definition, not the FAS fire-alarm specialty. ELE may perform both functions.
7A bid includes (1) Cat6A horizontal cabling, (2) OM4 fiber backbone, and (3) a new 200 A, 120/240 V panelboard with 20 A receptacle circuits for the MDF. Which statement is correct for an ESC-only firm?
A.All three items are ESC because they serve a communications room
B.The panelboard is ESC if it feeds only IT equipment
C.Only the fiber is ESC; copper data cable is electrical work
D.Items 1 and 2 are ESC; item 3 is line-voltage electrical work outside ESC
Explanation: Computer cabling and fiber optics are named ESC systems. A 200 A panelboard and 120 V receptacle circuits are building power, even when they serve IT gear. An ESC-only contractor must not treat line-voltage power wiring as communications work.
818VAC50-22-30 limits ESC to electronic or communications systems that are which of the following?
A.Rented portable equipment that is never fastened to the building
B.Utility-owned outside-plant only, never premises wiring
C.Temporary construction-trailer phone sets only
D.Annexed to real property
Explanation: The regulation requires the systems to be annexed to real property—permanently installed telephone, data, sound, CATV, antenna, or fiber systems. Portable, unattached gear is not the licensed contracting function described in 18VAC50-22-30.
9Which task is a listed ESC function rather than line-voltage electrical work?
A.Landing feeder conductors in a 480 V switchboard
B.Installing parking-lot site lighting at 277 V
C.Replacing a 240 V water-heater circuit
D.Installing fiber-optic backbone between telecommunications rooms
Explanation: Fiber-optics installation is named in the ESC definition. Switchboards, water-heater circuits, and site lighting are line-voltage electrical installations outside ESC.
10An owner wants doorbell, intercom, and analog CCTV cabling at 24 V DC plus new 120 V lighting in the same corridor. What is the correct ESC-only scope decision?
A.Install all of it; anything in a corridor is communications work
B.Install only the lighting; low-voltage signaling is always FAS
C.Install the 24 V doorbell, intercom, and CCTV cabling; leave the 120 V lighting to an ELE contractor
D.Refuse the entire job because CCTV is never ESC
Explanation: Doorbell, intercom, and analog CCTV at 24 V are electronic/communications-type systems at 50 V or less and fit ESC. Corridor lighting at 120 V is line-voltage electrical work and is not converted to ESC by being in the same space.

About the VA ESC QI Exam

The Virginia Electronic/Communication Service Contracting Qualified Individual Examination is the official PSI technical examination for the ESC specialty. 18VAC50-22-30 defines the specialty as installation, repair, improvement, or removal of electronic or communications systems annexed to real property, including telephone, computer cabling, sound, data, television, antenna, and fiber systems that operate at 50 volts or less. The PSI specialty examination fee is USD 85. The examination is open book. Official scored item count, time, and passing score appear on the PSI specialty content outline. This bank is an English-language MCQ study adaptation. It does not replace required trade experience, pre-license education, board approval, or the official examination.

Exam sponsor: PSI Services (for the Virginia Board for Contractors / DPOR). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

Computer-based open-book multiple-choice Qualified Individual examination for the ESC specialty. Official 18VAC50-22-30 scope: installation, repair, improvement, or removal of electronic or communications systems annexed to real property, including telephone, computer cabling, sound, data, television, antenna, and fiber systems that operate at 50 volts or less.

Time Limit

120 minutes

Passing Score

66% (33 of 50 correct)

Exam / Certification Fees

USD 85

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

study

ESC Scope

ESC Scope within the official ESC specialty definition

study

Structured Cabling

Structured Cabling within the official ESC specialty definition

study

Fiber Optics

Fiber Optics within the official ESC specialty definition

study

Low-Voltage Systems

Low-Voltage Systems within the official ESC specialty definition

study

Jobsite Safety

Jobsite Safety within the official ESC specialty definition

Preparing for the VA ESC QI Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 66% (33 of 50 correct)
  • Assessment: Computer-based open-book multiple-choice Qualified Individual examination for the ESC specialty. Official 18VAC50-22-30 scope: installation, repair, improvement, or removal of electronic or communications systems annexed to real property, including telephone, computer cabling, sound, data, television, antenna, and fiber systems that operate at 50 volts or less.
  • Time limit: 120 minutes
  • Exam / certification fees: USD 85 Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
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VA ESC QI: Suggested Study Strategy

1Study the official 18VAC50-22-30 ESC specialty definition
2Use the PSI specialty content outline and listed references
3Permanent tabs are allowed in listed code books; study guides are not permitted in the PSI center
4This bank is an English-language MCQ study aid, not an official PSI form

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the Virginia ESC Qualified Individual exam?

The DPOR-approved PSI specialty content outline lists 50 scored questions, 120 minutes, and a minimum passing score of 66% (33 of 50 correct). PSI may also administer 5 to 10 unscored experimental items. Those numbers are published on the individual specialty content outline linked from the Contractor Specialty Examination CIB, not in the main bulletin.

How much does the Virginia ESC QI exam cost?

PSI charges USD 85 for a Qualified Individual specialty examination (DPOR Board for Contractors page and PSI Specialty CIB).

What work does a Virginia ESC specialty cover?

18VAC50-22-30 defines this specialty as installation, repair, improvement, or removal of electronic or communications systems annexed to real property, including telephone, computer cabling, sound, data, television, antenna, and fiber systems that operate at 50 volts or less.

Is this practice bank the official PSI exam?

No. This is an English-language multiple-choice study adaptation. It is not an official translation, format simulation, or substitute for the PSI examination or required field experience.