Virginia Journeyman Electrician
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What's on the exam
Questions per topic, out of 70Topics
Standards of Practice
Key Concepts
Contractor classifications (Code of Virginia § 54.1-1100) - Class A: single contract or project value of $150,000 or more, or total value of all such work in any 12-month period of $1 million or more. - Class B: single contract or project $30,000 or more but less than $150,000, or 12-month total $250,000 or more but less than $1 million. - Class C: single contract or project over $1,000 but less than $30,000, or 12-month total less than $250,000. The Board shall require a master tradesman license as a condition of licensure for electrical, plumbing, and HVAC contractors. - "Value" means fair market value; when work is performed or supervised by a contractor, the contract price is…
Standards of Conduct
Key Concepts
Grounds for disciplinary action — 18 VAC 50-30-185 The board may impose remedial education, a monetary penalty in accordance with § 54.1-202 A of the Code of Virginia, or revoke, suspend, or refuse to renew any license or certification when the licensee or certificate holder has been found to have violated, or cooperated with others in violating, any provision of Chapter 1 (§ 54.1-100 et seq.) or Chapter 11 (§ 54.1-1100 et seq.) of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia or the regulations of the board. Note that remedial education is a legitimate disciplinary tool — not only revocation or fines.
Renewal and Reinstatement
Key Concepts
- Three-year license term for electricians. Licenses issued to electricians, gas fitters, liquefied petroleum gas fitters, natural gas fitter providers, HVAC tradesmen, or plumbers expire three years from the last day of the month in which they were issued as indicated on the license (18 VAC 50-30-120 A, Page 22).
- Two-year term for everything else. Except as otherwise provided, all other licenses and certifications issued under the chapter expire two years from the last day of the month of issuance (18 VAC 50-30-120 B, Page 22).
- Continuing education — 3 hours. As a condition of renewal or reinstatement and pursuant to § 54.1-1133 of the Code of Virginia, all individuals holding tradesman licenses with the…
Definitions
Key Concepts
Scope of Article 100. Article 100 "contains only those definitions essential to the application of this Code." In general, only terms used in two or more articles are defined here; other definitions appear in the XXX.2 sections of other articles. Part I applies wherever the terms are used throughout the Code; Part II applies to installations and equipment operating at over 1000 volts, nominal; Part III applies to Hazardous (Classified) Locations. (NEC 2020, Article 100, Scope)
Accessibility terms (NEC 2020, Article 100, Part I) - Accessible (as applied to equipment): capable of being reached for operation, renewal, and inspection. - Accessible (as applied to wiring methods): capable of being removed or exposed without damaging the building structure…
Qualification for Licensure
Key Concepts
- Journeyman defined. A "journeyman" is a person who possesses the necessary ability, proficiency and qualifications to install, repair, and maintain specific types of materials and equipment, utilizing a working knowledge sufficient to comply with the pertinent provisions of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code and according to plans and specifications (18 VAC 50-30-10, Page 7). An "electrician" is a tradesman who performs the construction, repair, maintenance, alteration or removal of electrical systems regulated under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (18 VAC 50-30-10).
- Scope of electrical work. Per 18 VAC 50-30-10(D), "electrical work" consists of, but is not limited to: (i) planning and layout of details for installation or modifications of electrical apparatus and controls…
Revocation of Licensure
Key Concepts
Grounds for disciplinary action (18 VAC 50-30-185). The board may impose remedial education, a monetary penalty in accordance with § 54.1-202 A of the Code of Virginia, or revoke, suspend, or refuse to renew any license or certification when the licensee or certificate holder has been found to have violated or cooperated with others in violating any provision of Chapter 1 (§ 54.1-100 et seq.) or Chapter 11 (§ 54.1-1100 et seq.) of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia, or the regulations of the board.
Prohibited acts (18 VAC 50-30-190). "The following acts are prohibited and any violation may result in disciplinary action by the board," including:
General Electrical Knowledge
Key Concepts
Definitions (Article 100) - Ampacity — "the maximum current, in amperes, that a conductor can carry continuously under the conditions of use without exceeding its temperature rating." - Continuous load — a load where the maximum current is expected to continue for 3 hours or more. - Branch circuit — the circuit conductors between the final overcurrent device protecting the circuit and the outlet(s). Individual = supplies only one utilization equipment; general-purpose = supplies two or more receptacles or outlets; multiwire = two or more ungrounded conductors with voltage between them plus a grounded conductor with equal voltage to each. - AFCI — a device intended to provide protection from the effects of arc faults by recognizing…
Requirements for Electrical Installations
Key Concepts
Equipment approval and examination. In judging equipment, suitability for installation and use in conformity with the Code shall be evaluated; equipment may be new, reconditioned, refurbished, or remanufactured (Article 110, "Examination" provision and its Informational Note No. 1). Overcurrent devices, total impedance, equipment short-circuit current ratings, and other circuit characteristics must be selected and coordinated so a fault is cleared without extensive damage (110.10). Unless identified for the operating environment, conductors and equipment shall not be in damp or wet locations or where exposed to deteriorating agents or excessive temperatures (110.11).
Electrical-Electronic Fundamentals
Topic: Electrical-Electronic Fundamentals
Key Concepts
Conductor minimums and ampacity basis (Article 310) - The minimum size of conductors for voltage ratings up to and including 2000 volts is 14 AWG copper or 12 AWG aluminum or copper-clad aluminum, except as permitted elsewhere in the Code — 310.3(A). - Conductors 8 AWG and larger installed in raceways shall be stranded unless specifically permitted or required to be solid — 310.3(C). - Table 310.16 applies where conductors are rated 0–2000 volts, rated 60°C/75°C/90°C, installed in a 30°C (86°F) ambient, and there are not more than three current-carrying conductors — 310.16. - Where more than three current-carrying conductors are present, apply the adjustment factors of Table 310.15(C)(1). A grounding or bonding…
Branch Circuits
Key Concepts
Voltage limitations (210.6). The nominal voltage of branch circuits shall not exceed the values permitted by 210.6(A) through (E). - 210.6(A): In dwelling units and guest rooms or guest suites of hotels, motels, and similar occupancies, voltage shall not exceed 120 volts, nominal, between conductors supplying luminaires or cord-and-plug-connected loads of 1440 volt-amperes, nominal, or less or less than ¼ hp. - 210.6(D)(1): Circuits exceeding 277 volts to ground and not exceeding 600 volts between conductors may supply auxiliary equipment of electric-discharge lamps in permanently installed luminaires mounted not less than 6.7 m (22 ft) on poles or similar structures for outdoor areas such as highways, roads, bridges, athletic fields, or parking lots, or **not less than…
Service and Feeders
Key Concepts
Disconnecting means at buildings/structures supplied by feeders (Article 225, Part II) - Means shall be provided for disconnecting all ungrounded conductors that supply or pass through the building or structure (225.31). - The disconnect is installed inside or outside the building or structure served, or where the conductors pass through, at a readily accessible location nearest the point of entrance of the conductors; for the purposes of this section, the requirements in 230.6 shall be utilized (225.32). Exceptions exist for single-management installations with documented safe switching procedures, Article 685 buildings, towers/poles used as lighting standards, and poles supporting signs under Article 600. - Maximum six disconnects per supply: not more than six switches or six circuit breakers…
Grounding and Bonding
Grounding and Bonding
Key Concepts
Effective ground-fault current path. "The earth shall not be considered as an effective ground-fault current path" — NEC 250.4(A)(5). This principle underlies the EGC and bonding rules throughout Article 250.
Objectionable current. If multiple grounding connections cause objectionable current and 250.4(A)(5) or (B)(4) are met, permitted alterations are: discontinue one or more but not all grounding connections; change locations of connections; interrupt continuity of the conductive path; or take other suitable remedial and approved action — 250.6(B). Temporary currents from abnormal conditions such as ground faults are not objectionable current — 250.6(C).
Conductors and Cables
Key Concepts
Minimum sizes, material, stranding - Minimum conductor size for voltage ratings up to and including 2000 volts: 14 AWG copper or 12 AWG aluminum or copper-clad aluminum, except as permitted elsewhere in the Code — 310.3(A). - Solid aluminum conductors 8, 10, and 12 AWG shall be made of an AA-8000 series electrical grade aluminum alloy — 310.3(B). - Where installed in raceways, conductors 8 AWG and larger shall be stranded, unless specifically permitted or required to be solid — 310.3(C). - Fixture wires shall not be smaller than 18 AWG — 402.6. Ampacity of 16 AWG fixture wire is 8 amperes — Table 402.5. - Type MV minimum conductor size for 8001–15,000 volts is 2 AWG…
Raceways and Boxes
Key Concepts
Box fill (314.16). Volumes in 314.16(B)(1) through (B)(5) are added together; no allowance is required for small fittings such as locknuts and bushings. Each conductor originating outside and terminating/splicing in the box counts once (314.16(B)(1)). One or more internal cable clamps = a single volume allowance based on the largest conductor present (314.16(B)(2)). Each yoke or strap with one or more devices = a double volume allowance based on the largest conductor connected to a device supported by that yoke (314.16(B)(4)). Conduit bodies enclosing 6 AWG or smaller must have a cross-sectional area not less than twice that of the largest conduit attached (314.16(C)(1)). Boxes enclosing devices supplied by 8, 6, or 4 AWG conductors need an…
Special Occupancies
Key Concepts
Commercial garages (Article 511) - Parking garages used for parking or storage are permitted to be unclassified — 511.3(A). - Per Table 511.3(C), the entire space within any pit, below-grade work area, or subfloor work area that is not ventilated is Division 1 (Zone 1) in a major repair garage and Division 2 in a minor repair garage; where such a space is provided with ventilation of at least 0.3 m³/min/m² (1 ft³/min/ft²) of floor area with suction taken from a point within 300 mm (12 in.) of floor level, it is Division 2 in a major repair garage and unclassified in a minor repair garage. - Areas adjacent to classified locations (stock rooms, switchboard rooms, similar)…
Special Equipment
Key Concepts
Elevators, dumbwaiters, escalators, moving walks, platform lifts, stairway chairlifts (Article 620) - Supply voltage shall not exceed 300 volts between conductors unless otherwise permitted in 620.3(A) through (C) (620.3). Branch circuits/feeders to motor controllers, driving machine motors, machine brakes, motor-generator sets, and door operator circuits shall not exceed 1000 volts; where voltage exceeds 600 volts, "DANGER — HIGH VOLTAGE" labels complying with 110.21(B) are required (620.3(A)). Heating and air-conditioning circuits on the car are likewise limited to 1000 volts (620.3(C)). - Conductors to hoistway door interlocks from the hoistway riser shall be flame retardant and suitable for not less than 200°C (392°F) — Type SF or equivalent, or physically protected by an approved method meeting the same…
Electrical Signs and Outline Lighting
Virginia Journeyman Electrician
Key Concepts
Scope (600.1). Article 600 covers installation of conductors, equipment, and field wiring for electric signs, retrofit kits, and outline lighting, regardless of voltage. All installations using neon tubing — signs, decorative elements, skeleton tubing, or art forms — are covered.
Neon secondary wiring over 1000 volts (600.32): - Wiring methods (A)(1): rigid metal conduit, intermediate metal conduit, liquidtight flexible nonmetallic conduit, flexible metal conduit, liquidtight flexible metal conduit, electrical metallic tubing, metal enclosures; on insulators in metal raceways; or other equipment listed for use with neon secondary circuits over 1000 volts. - (A)(2) Conduit or tubing shall contain only one conductor. - (A)(3) Conduit or tubing shall be a minimum of **metric designator 16…
Motors and Controls
Key Concepts
Conductor sizing — single motor. Conductors supplying a single motor used in a continuous duty application shall have an ampacity of not less than 125 percent of the motor full-load current rating as determined by 430.6(A)(1) (430.22). Table values (Tables 430.247–430.250) — not nameplate amps — are used for conductor ampacity, switch ratings, and branch-circuit short-circuit and ground-fault protection; separate motor overload protection is based on the motor nameplate current rating (430.6(A)(1) and (A)(2)).
Special connections. Multispeed motor: branch-circuit conductors on the line side of the controller are based on the highest full-load current rating shown on the nameplate (430.22(B)). Wye-start, delta-run: conductors between controller and motor not less than 72 percent of FLC (430.22(C)). Part-winding: **62.5…
Utilization Equipment
Key Concepts
Luminaires in clothes closets (410.16). Permitted types: surface-mounted or recessed incandescent/LED with completely enclosed light sources, surface-mounted or recessed fluorescent, and surface fluorescent/LED identified for installation within the storage space [410.16(A)]. Not permitted: incandescent luminaires with open or partially enclosed lamps and pendant luminaires or lampholders [410.16(B)]. Clearances from the nearest point of the storage space [410.16(C)]: 12 in. surface incandescent/LED with completely enclosed source on wall above door or ceiling; 6 in. surface fluorescent; 6 in. recessed incandescent/LED with completely enclosed source; 6 in. recessed fluorescent. Clothes closet storage space is defined in 410.2 (1.8 m/6 ft or highest rod; 600 mm/24 in. horizontally; 300 mm/12 in. or shelf width at the ceiling).
Lighting
Virginia Journeyman Electrician — 2 questions (3% of exam) All references are to NEC 2020 (NFPA 70).
Key Concepts
Luminaires in specific locations (410.10) - Wet locations: marked "Suitable for Wet Locations." Damp locations: marked "Suitable for Wet Locations" or "Suitable for Damp Locations" — either is acceptable [410.10(A)]. Water must not enter or accumulate in wiring compartments, lampholders, or other electrical parts. - Corrosive locations: luminaire must be of a type suitable for such locations [410.10(B)]. - Commercial cooking hoods: luminaire identified for the use, constructed to exclude vapors/grease from lamp and wiring compartment, corrosion-resistant smooth exposed parts, and wiring methods not exposed within the hood [410.10(C)]. - Bathtub/shower: no cord-connected, chain-/cable-/cord-suspended luminaires, lighting track, pendants, or paddle…
General Low Voltage Requirements
Key Concepts
Article 411 — Low-Voltage Lighting
- Scope (411.1): Covers lighting systems and their associated components "operating at no more than 30 volts ac or 60 volts dc. Where wet contact is likely to occur, the limits are 15 volts ac or 30 volts dc."
- System composition and output rating (411.3): A low-voltage lighting system consists of an isolating power supply, low-voltage luminaires, and associated equipment all identified for the use. "The output circuits of the power supply shall be rated for 25 amperes maximum under all load conditions."
- Listing (411.4): Systems must comply with 411.4(A) (a listed system, where luminaires, power supply, and luminaire fittings including exposed bare conductors are listed as part of the…
Communication Systems
Communication Systems (Chapter 8, NEC 2020)
Key Concepts
Separation from lightning conductors. Where practicable, at least 1.8 m (6 ft) shall be maintained between lightning conductors and all communications wires and cables and CATV-type coaxial cables on buildings (800.53). For receiving-station lead-ins, the clearance between lead-in conductors and any conductor forming part of a lightning protection system shall not be less than 1.8 m (6 ft) (810.18(A)).
Separation from electric light and power — three different numbers. - On the outside of buildings: coaxial cable attached to buildings shall have at least 100 mm (4 in.) from electric light, power, Class 1, or non-power-limited fire alarm (NPLFA) conductors not in raceway or cable, or be permanently separated by…
Fire Detection and Alarm Systems
Key Concepts
Circuit classification (NEC 760.2, 760.35). A fire alarm circuit is the portion of the wiring system between the load side of the overcurrent device or the power-limited supply and the connected equipment of all circuits powered and controlled by the fire alarm system. Circuits are classified as either non-power-limited or power-limited. An NPLFA circuit is powered by a source complying with 760.41 and 760.43; a PLFA circuit is powered by a source complying with 760.121. Per 760.35, NPLFA circuits follow Parts I and II of Article 760; PLFA circuits follow Parts I and III.
Safety
NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace (2024 Edition)
Key Concepts
The 50-volt threshold. Energized electrical conductors and circuit parts operating at voltages equal to or greater than 50 volts shall be put into an electrically safe work condition before an employee performs work if the employee is within the limited approach boundary, or if the employee interacts with equipment where conductors are not exposed but an increased likelihood of injury from an arc flash hazard exists. [110.2(B)] Exception No. 5 addresses conductors operating at less than 50 volts. [110.2(B) Exception No. 5]