ICC F17 Journeyman Electrician (2014 NEC) Exam: Step-by-Step Study Guide
Preparing for the ICC F17 Journeyman Electrician (2014 NEC) exam is easier one step at a time. This guide starts with the key facts from the official bulletin, then covers the topics on the exam, the reference books, sample questions with answers, and a simple way to prepare. Pearson VUE gives the exam.
ICC F17 Journeyman Electrician (2014 NEC) Exam Overview
Start with the facts. Here's what the official bulletin says:
| Questions | 80 questions |
| Time limit | 4 hours |
| Passing score | 70% correct |
| Books in the exam room | Open book |
| Exam fee | $120 |
On exam day
- The F17 exam's questions are in four-option, multiple-choice format with one answer scored as correct.
- You may bring copyrighted, bound books to the test administration, including those specifically listed as approved references. However, training materials such as presentations, study guides, or practice questions are not permitted. All exam questions are based solely on the approved reference list, and only those references may be used as the basis for appealing exam questions.
References you may bring
- National Electrical Code (2014)
- Ugly's Electrical References (any edition)
Scheduling, changes and retakes
- Exams are scheduled through PearsonVUE at www.pearsonvue.com/ICC, where candidates can create an account, schedule an exam, locate a test center, purchase vouchers and request accommodations.
- Results for examinations taken electronically are available immediately after the examination is completed.
- You must wait 10 days before retaking a failed exam.
- After passing, contact the jurisdiction in which you wish to be licensed for any other requirements, because ICC is not a licensing agency.
Source: National Contractor/Trades Examination Information Bulletin, PUBLISHED June 30, 2026; ICC Exam Catalog, checked October 23, 2026. Check the bulletin before test day: fees and rules can change.
Topics on the ICC F17 Journeyman Electrician (2014 NEC) Exam
Next, the content. The official content outline has 9 topics:
| Topic | Questions | Share of the exam |
|---|---|---|
| General Knowledge | 5 | 6% |
| Services and Service Equipment | 9 | 11% |
| Feeders | 3 | 4% |
| Branch Circuits and Conductors | 15 | 19% |
| Wiring Methods and Materials | 21 | 26% |
| Equipment and Devices | 10 | 13% |
| Control Devices | 3 | 4% |
| Motors and Generators | 5 | 6% |
| Special Occupancies, Equipment, and Conditions | 9 | 11% |
Services and Service Equipment: Services and Fault Current; Service Load Calculations; Service Equipment & Service Conductors; Transformers; System Grounding and Bonding; Temporary Service Wiring; Number of services permitted and service configurations; Overhead and underground service conductor requirements and clearances.
Wiring Methods and Materials: Raceway Installations; Underground Wiring Methods; Boxes and Enclosures; Cabinets, Panelboards, & Switchboards; Clearance and Guarding; Flexible Cords and Cables; Cable Wiring Methods (NM, AC, MC, MI, SE, UF, TC, MV); Conductor Fill Calculations and Conduit Sizing.
Special Occupancies, Equipment, and Conditions: Special Occupancies; Swimming Pools and Similar Installations; Mobile Home and RV Parks; Data Processing Equipment; Miscellaneous Special Equipment; Emergency Systems; Signaling and Fire Alarm Systems; Hazardous Location Classification (Classes I, II, III; Divisions 1 and 2; Zones 0, 1, 2, 20, 21, 22).
A Simple Plan to Prepare for the ICC F17 Journeyman Electrician (2014 NEC) Exam
Step one is the books. This is an open-book exam, so the references on the bulletin's list are what you'll work from, while you study and in the exam room. Get the editions the bulletin names.
Step two is learning your way around them. Go through each book's table of contents and index until you know where the major subjects are. You don't need to memorize the books. You need to find things in them.
Step three is marking them up. Highlight the sections you use most. The exam facts above list the bulletin's rules on tabs and markings, so follow them exactly.
Step four is timed practice. Our practice exams run on a clock, so you get used to the real exam's pace: about 3 minutes per question.
Along the way, give the most time to the biggest topics. Wiring Methods and Materials and Branch Circuits and Conductors make up 45% of the exam.
The last step is consistency. Keep practicing until you pass several practice exams in a row. That's the signal you're ready.
Reference Books for the ICC F17 Journeyman Electrician (2014 NEC) Exam
The references listed for the F17 open-book exam are the 2014 National Electrical Code and Ugly's Electrical References (any edition).
Where to get them:
On Test Day
Go through the exam at a steady pace. On your first pass, answer the questions you know and bookmark the ones you don't. Every exam lets you come back to bookmarked questions, but some lock the ones you've seen once you take a break, so finish your bookmarks first.
On your second pass, return to your bookmarks one at a time. You have 4 hours for 80 questions, which is about 3 minutes per question, so keep moving and don't let one question hold you up. Before you finish, answer anything you skipped. A blank can't earn a point.
Study Tips
Take this practice exam several times. The goal is to consistently clear your exam's passing score — often around 70–75% — so passing feels routine before you walk into the real test.
Our practice exam is specifically designed to mimic the testing conditions at all exam centers. While untimed PDF study guides might help with studying, they don’t prepare you for the challenge of managing your time during an actual test.
Know your way around each book's index and table of contents. Open-book exams reward speed: you need to find specific items quickly.
On an open-book exam, work through every question once: answer the ones you know and skip the ones you don't. Then go back to the ones you flagged. You can bookmark questions for later review, just like on our exams — and don't sink too much time into any single question. The clock is still running.
Sample ICC F17 Journeyman Electrician (2014 NEC) Practice Questions
Here are a few questions from our practice question bank, each with its answer and reference.
Sample 1 — Services and Service Equipment
Question: A plate electrode used as part of a grounding electrode system must be installed below the surface of the earth not less than:
- A. 30 in.
- B. 36 in.
- C. 24 in.
- D. 18 in.
Correct Answer: A
NEC 2014, 250.53(H) requires plate electrodes to be installed not less than 750 mm (30 in.) below the surface of the earth — the same depth required for a ground ring in 250.53(F).
Reference: NEC 2014 Section 250.53(H)
Sample 2 — Special Occupancies, Equipment, and Conditions
Question: A pendant luminaire in a Class II location is suspended by a threaded rigid metal conduit stem 600 mm (24 in.) long. Permanent and effective bracing against lateral displacement must be provided at a level not more than how far above the lower end of the stem?
- A. 450 mm (18 in.)
- B. 300 mm (12 in.)
- C. 600 mm (24 in.)
- D. 150 mm (6 in.)
Correct Answer: B
NEC 2014, Sections 502.130(A)(3) and 502.130(B)(4) require that for rigid stems longer than 300 mm (12 in.), permanent and effective bracing against lateral displacement be provided at a level not more than 300 mm (12 in.) above the lower end of the stem, or that flexibility be provided within 300 mm (12 in.) of the point of attachment to the supporting box or fitting.
Reference: NEC 2014 Section 502.130(A)(3)
Sample 3 — General Knowledge
Question: You are mounting a 42-inch-wide panelboard in a commercial mechanical room. What is the minimum required width of the working space in front of the panelboard?
- A. 24 in. or the equipment width, whichever is greater
- B. 30 in. or the equipment width, whichever is less
- C. 30 in. or the equipment width, whichever is greater
- D. 36 in. or the equipment width, whichever is greater
Correct Answer: C
NEC 2014, Section 110.26(A)(2) requires the width of working space in front of electrical equipment to be the width of the equipment or 762 mm (30 in.), whichever is greater, and the space must permit at least a 90-degree opening of equipment doors or hinged panels. For a 42-in. panelboard, the equipment width governs.
Reference: NEC 2014 Section 110.26(A)(2)
Sample 4 — Motors and Generators
Question: A continuous-duty motor rated more than 1 hp has a nameplate showing no service factor and a marked temperature rise of 55°C. A separate overload device responsive to motor current must be selected to trip, or be rated, at not more than what percentage of the motor nameplate full-load current rating?
- A. 115 percent
- B. 140 percent
- C. 130 percent
- D. 125 percent
Correct Answer: A
NEC 2014, Section 430.32(A)(1) permits 125 percent only for motors with a marked service factor of 1.15 or greater or a marked temperature rise of 40°C or less; all other motors are limited to 115 percent. The 130 and 140 percent values are the maximum trip currents permitted when the device will not start or carry the load under 430.32(C).
Reference: NEC 2014 Section 430.32(A)(1)
Practicing Online vs. With a PDF
A PDF lets you read questions at your own pace. The real exam runs on a clock. Our practice exams are timed and on a screen, so you practice finding answers with the clock running. Each attempt draws a new set of questions from our bank, and your results show your score by topic, so you always know what to study next.
Your Next Step
Take the free ICC F17 Journeyman Electrician (2014 NEC) practice exam to see where you stand. Then study the topics that need the most attention, one at a time. For the official rules, read the exam bulletin, and see the licensing board's website.