Virginia Master Electrician
Practice at the real exam's pace
Every practice exam shows your time per question against the real exam's clock (3:00 here), and each topic lands in one of these:
What's on the exam
Questions per topic, out of 90Topics
Standards of Practice
Virginia Master Electrician | 3 questions (3% of exam)
Key Concepts
Unlicensed activity after expiration. Any regulated activity conducted subsequent to the expiration of the license may constitute unlicensed activity and may be subject to prosecution under Chapter 1 (§ 54.1-100 et seq.) or Chapter 11 (§ 54.1-1100 et seq.) of Title 54.1 (18 VAC 50-30-130(E)).
Unpaid penalties. Failure to timely pay any monetary penalty, reimbursement of cost, or other fee assessed by consent order or final order will result in delaying or withholding services provided by the department, including renewal, reinstatement, or processing of a new application (18 VAC 50-30-130(G)).
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.
Prohibited acts — 18 VAC 50-30-190 (any violation may result in disciplinary action):
Renewal and Reinstatement
Key Concepts
Expiration terms (18 VAC 50-30-120 A and B). 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. Except as otherwise provided in the chapter, all other licenses and certifications expire two years from the last day of the month of issuance.
Continuing education (18 VAC 50-30-120 C). 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 trade designations of **plumbing, electrical, and heating ventilation and cooling must satisfactorily complete three hours of continuing…
Definitions
Topic: NEC Article 100 — Definitions
Key Concepts
Scope and structure of Article 100. The article "contains only those definitions essential to the application of this Code," and "in general, only those terms that are used in two or more articles are defined in Article 100. Definitions are also found in 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 over 1000 volts, nominal; Part III applies to Hazardous (Classified) Locations. (NEC 2020, Article 100, Scope, p. 70-32)
Qualification for Licensure
Virginia Master Electrician Exam | 1 question (1% of exam)
Key Concepts
Master tradesman experience standards (18 VAC 50-30-39(D)). An applicant for examination to be licensed as a master in a trade must furnish evidence of one of the following: 1. Having held a valid residential HVAC tradesman or residential plumber tradesman license in the trade for which licensure is desired for three years; 2. Having held a valid journeyman license in the trade for which licensure is desired for a minimum of one year; or 3. Nine years of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired.
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. Any violation of the following may result in disciplinary action. High-value items:
General Electrical Knowledge
Virginia Master Electrician · 4 questions (4% of exam)
Key Concepts
Definitions (Article 100). A continuous load is a load where the maximum current is expected to continue for 3 hours or more; conductors and overcurrent devices serving continuous loads are generally sized at 125 percent of the load. Ampacity is the maximum current, in amperes, a conductor can carry continuously under the conditions of use without exceeding its temperature rating. A multiwire branch circuit consists of two or more ungrounded conductors with voltage between them plus a grounded conductor having equal voltage to each ungrounded conductor and connected to the system neutral.
Requirements for Electrical Installations
Requirements for Electrical Installations
Key Concepts
Equipment mounting, approval and marking - Electrical equipment shall be firmly secured to the surface on which it is mounted. Wooden plugs driven into holes in masonry, concrete, plaster, or similar materials shall not be used (110.13(A)). - Reconditioned equipment shall be marked with the name, trademark, or other descriptive marking of the reconditioning organization and the date of reconditioning, shall be identified as "reconditioned," and the original listing mark shall be removed. Approval shall not be based solely on the equipment's original listing (110.21(A)(2)). An exception applies in industrial occupancies where only qualified persons service equipment reconditioned by the owner/operator as part of a regular maintenance program. - Field-applied hazard labels…
Electrical-Electronic Fundamentals
Key Concepts
Purpose and performance of grounding/bonding (NEC 250.4). The effective ground-fault current path must be a low-impedance circuit capable of safely carrying the maximum ground-fault current likely to be imposed on it from any point on the wiring system to the electrical supply source. The earth shall not be considered as an effective ground-fault current path — 250.4(A)(5). The same prohibition is repeated for ungrounded systems in 250.4(B)(4) ("The earth shall not be considered as an effective fault-current path"). Bonding of equipment and of conductive materials likely to become energized must create a low-impedance path capable of carrying the maximum fault current likely to be imposed (250.4(B)(2), (B)(3)).
Branch Circuits
Key Concepts
Required dwelling unit branch circuits (210.11(C)) - Small-appliance: Two or more 20-ampere small-appliance branch circuits shall be provided for all receptacle outlets specified by 210.52(B) — 210.11(C)(1). Kitchen countertop receptacles must be supplied by not fewer than two small-appliance branch circuits — 210.52(B)(3). These circuits shall have no other outlets — 210.52(B)(2). - Laundry: At least one additional 20-ampere branch circuit for the laundry receptacle outlet(s) required by 210.52(F); this circuit shall have no other outlets — 210.11(C)(2). - Bathroom: One or more 120-volt, 20-ampere branch circuits for bathroom receptacle outlets required by 210.52(D); such circuits shall have no other outlets — 210.11(C)(3). - Garage: At least one 120-volt, 20-ampere branch circuit for receptacle outlets required by…
Service and Feeders
Key Concepts
Disconnecting means (feeder/branch-circuit supplied structures) - The disconnecting means for each supply shall consist of not more than six switches or six circuit breakers mounted in a single enclosure, in a group of separate enclosures, or in or on a switchboard or switchgear. There shall be no more than six disconnects per supply grouped in any one location. — 225.33(A) - Two to six disconnects permitted in 225.33 shall be grouped, and each disconnect shall be marked to indicate the load served. — 225.34(A) - Means shall be provided for disconnecting all ungrounded conductors that supply or pass through the building or structure; the disconnecting means shall be at a readily accessible location nearest the point of…
Grounding and Bonding
Key Concepts
- Purpose of grounding: "The earth shall not be considered as an effective ground-fault current path" (250.4(A)(5)). An effective path must be a low-impedance circuit able to carry maximum ground-fault current and operate the overcurrent device.
- Objectionable current: If multiple grounding connections cause objectionable current and 250.4(A)(5) or (B)(4) are still met, permitted alterations include discontinuing one or more but not all connections, changing their locations, interrupting the continuity of the path, or other approved remedial action (250.6(B)).
- Connections: Listed pressure connectors, terminal bars, exothermic welding, machine screw-type fasteners engaging not less than two threads, thread-forming screws, listed assemblies, and other listed means are permitted (250.8(A)). Devices depending solely on solder are prohibited (250.8(B)). -…
Conductors and Cables
Key Concepts
Conductor construction and minimum sizes - Minimum size for general wiring up to and including 2000 volts: 14 AWG copper or 12 AWG aluminum/copper-clad aluminum, except as permitted elsewhere [310.3(A)]. - Where installed in raceways, conductors 8 AWG and larger shall be stranded, unless specifically permitted or required to be solid [310.3(C)]. - Solid aluminum conductors 8, 10, and 12 AWG shall be AA-8000 series electrical grade aluminum alloy [310.3(B)]. - Fixture wires shall not be smaller than 18 AWG [402.6]. - Type MV minimum conductor size, 8001–15,000 volts: 2 AWG copper, aluminum, or copper-clad aluminum [Table 311.12(A)].
Raceways and Boxes
Virginia Master Electrician
Key Concepts
Box and conduit body basics - Round boxes shall not be used where conduits or connectors requiring locknuts or bushings are connected to the side of the box — 314.2. - Nonmetallic boxes are permitted with metal raceways or metal-armored cables where internal bonding means are provided between all entries — 314.3, Exception No. 1. - Conduit bodies enclosing 6 AWG conductors or smaller shall have a cross-sectional area not less than twice the cross-sectional area of the largest conduit or tubing to which they can be attached — 314.16(C)(1). - Boxes enclosing devices/utilization equipment supplied by 8, 6, or 4 AWG conductors need an internal depth of not less than **52.4 mm (2-1/16…
Special Occupancies
Key Concepts
Commercial Garages (Article 511)
- Scope: Locations used for service and repair of self-propelled vehicles in which volatile flammable liquids or flammable gases are used for fuel or power (511.1).
- Parking garages used for parking or storage shall be permitted to be unclassified (511.3(A)).
- Unventilated pits: Per Table 511.3(C), the entire space within any pit, below-grade work area, or subfloor work area that is not ventilated in a major repair garage is Class I, Division 1. Where such a space is ventilated at least 0.3 m³/min/m² (1 ft³/min/ft²) of floor area, with suction taken within 300 mm (12 in.) of floor level, it is Division 2.
- Adjacent areas: Stock rooms, switchboard rooms and similar…
Special Equipment
Key Concepts
Elevators, dumbwaiters, escalators, moving walks, platform lifts, stairway chairlifts (Art. 620) - Supply voltage shall not exceed 300 volts between conductors unless otherwise permitted in 620.3(A) through (C) — 620.3. Power circuits to door operator controllers, motor controllers, driving machine motors, machine brakes, and motor-generator sets shall not exceed 1000 volts; where voltage exceeds 600 volts, "DANGER — HIGH VOLTAGE" labels are required — 620.3(A). Heating/air-conditioning branch circuits on the elevator car are also limited to 1000 volts — 620.3(C). - Hoistway door interlock conductors 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 rating —…
Electrical Signs and Outline Lighting
Electric Signs and Outline Lighting (Article 600)
Key Concepts
Scope and listing - Article 600 covers installation of conductors, equipment, and field wiring for electric signs, retrofit kits, and outline lighting, regardless of voltage, including all installations using neon tubing (600.1). - Fixed, mobile, or portable electric signs, section signs, outline lighting, PV powered signs, and retrofit kits shall be listed and labeled, provided with installation instructions, and installed in conformance with that listing, unless otherwise approved by special permission (600.3). - Field-installed skeleton tubing is not required to be listed where installed in conformance with the Code (600.3(A)). Outline lighting is not required to be listed as a system when it consists of listed luminaires wired per…
Motors and Controls
Key Concepts
Conductor sizing (Part II). Conductors supplying a single motor in continuous duty must 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]. Per 430.6(A)(1), the values in Table 430.247 through Table 430.250 — not the nameplate current — are used to size conductors, switches, and branch-circuit short-circuit and ground-fault protection; separate overload protection is based on the nameplate current [430.6(A)(2)].
Special cases under 430.22: - DC motor, rectifier-supplied: single-phase half-wave bridge = 190 percent of motor FLC; single-phase full-wave = 150 percent [430.22(A)]. - Multispeed motor: line-side branch-circuit conductors are based on the highest full-load current shown on the nameplate [430.22(B)]. - Wye-start, delta-run: controller-to-motor conductors…
Utilization Equipment
Virginia Master Electrician | 5 questions (6% of exam)
Key Concepts
Luminaires (Article 410) - All luminaires, lampholders, and retrofit kits shall be listed — 410.6. Luminaires, lampholders, and retrofit kits shall not be reconditioned — 410.7. - Wet locations: luminaires must be marked "Suitable for Wet Locations"; damp locations: marked "Suitable for Wet Locations" or "Suitable for Damp Locations" — 410.10(A). Corrosive locations require a type suitable for such locations — 410.10(B). Luminaires under metal-corrugated sheet roof decking: not less than 38 mm (1½ in.) from the lowest surface of the decking to the top of the luminaire — 410.10(F). - Clothes closets — permitted types: surface-mounted or recessed incandescent or LED with completely enclosed light sources; surface…
Lighting
Key Concepts
Luminaire locations (Article 410, Part II) - Wet/damp locations: luminaires must be installed so water cannot enter or accumulate in wiring compartments, lampholders, or other electrical parts. Wet-location luminaires are marked "Suitable for Wet Locations"; damp-location luminaires are marked "Suitable for Wet Locations" or "Suitable for Damp Locations" — 410.10(A). Corrosive locations require a type suitable for the location — 410.10(B). - Bathtub/shower areas: no cord-connected, chain-, cable-, or cord-suspended luminaires, lighting track, pendants, or ceiling-suspended (paddle) fans within a zone 900 mm (3 ft) horizontally and 2.5 m (8 ft) vertically from the top of the bathtub rim or shower stall threshold — 410.10(D)(1). Luminaires within the outside dimension of the tub/shower up to 2.5 m…
General Low Voltage Requirements
Key Concepts
Low-voltage lighting (Article 411) - Article 411 covers lighting systems and components operating at no more than 30 volts ac or 60 volts dc; where wet contact is likely, the limits are 15 volts ac or 30 volts dc (411.1). - A low-voltage lighting system consists of an isolating power supply, low-voltage luminaires, and associated equipment all identified for the use; output circuits of the power supply shall be rated 25 amperes maximum under all load conditions (411.3). - Lighting systems shall be supplied from a maximum 20-ampere branch circuit (411.7). - Listed systems or systems assembled from listed parts shall not be reconditioned (411.4). - Secondary circuits shall not be grounded, shall be insulated from the…
Communication Systems
Virginia Master Electrician | 1 question (~1% of exam)
Key Concepts
Separation distances — memorize the whole ladder. This topic is dominated by "how many inches/feet" questions, and the numbers differ by article:
- 1.8 m (6 ft) from lightning conductors. Where practicable, a separation of 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). The same 6 ft applies to lead-in conductors and any conductor forming part of a lightning protection system (810.18(A)).
- 100 mm (4 in.) on buildings. Coaxial cable attached to buildings shall have a separation of at least 100 mm (4 in.) from electric light, power, Class 1,…
Fire Detection and Alarms Systems
(Virginia Master Electrician — 2 questions, 2% of exam)
Key Concepts
Circuit classification and power sources - Fire alarm circuits are classified as either non-power-limited (NPLFA) or power-limited (PLFA). NPLFA circuits follow Parts I and II of Article 760; PLFA circuits follow Parts I and III — 760.35(A) and (B). - 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 — 760.2 Definitions. - The NPLFA power source shall comply with Chapters 1 through 4, and output voltage shall be not more than 600 volts, nominal. The fire alarm circuit disconnect is permitted to be secured in the "on" position — 760.41(A). - Related…
Safety
Key Concepts
- Threshold for an electrically safe work condition (ESWC). Energized conductors and circuit parts operating at voltages equal to or greater than 50 volts shall be put into an ESWC before work if the employee is within the limited approach boundary, or interacts with equipment where conductors are not exposed but an increased likelihood of injury from an arc flash hazard exists — 110.2(B). The employer must establish, document, and implement an ESWC policy that requires hazard elimination as the first priority — 110.2(A).
- Hierarchy of risk control (in order): (1) Elimination, (2) Substitution, (3) Engineering controls, (4) Awareness, (5) Administrative controls, (6) PPE — 110.3(H)(3). Additional protective measures from an electric shock risk assessment are…