ICC G18 Residential Electrician (2017 NEC) Exam Prep Checklist
Everything for the ICC G18 Residential Electrician (2017 NEC) exam in one place: the bulletin's key facts, the topics and how many questions each carries, the reference books, sample questions with answers, and a prep checklist. Pearson VUE gives the exam.
ICC G18 Residential Electrician (2017 NEC) Exam Facts
From the official bulletin:
| Questions | 60 questions |
| Time limit | 3 hours |
| Passing score | 70% correct |
| Books in the exam room | Open book |
| Exam fee | $120 |
On exam day
- Questions are four-option multiple choice with one correct answer.
- 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 (NEC) (2017)
- Ugly's Electrical Reference (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 September 27, 2026. Check the bulletin before test day: fees and rules can change.
ICC G18 Residential Electrician (2017 NEC) Exam Topics
The official content outline has 7 topics:
| Topic | Questions | Share of the exam |
|---|---|---|
| General Knowledge | 7 | 12% |
| Services and Service Equipment | 13 | 22% |
| Feeders | 8 | 13% |
| Branch Circuits and Conductors | 15 | 25% |
| Wiring Methods and Materials | 8 | 13% |
| Equipment and Devices | 5 | 8% |
| Special Occupancies, Equipment, and Conditions | 4 | 7% |
ICC G18 Residential Electrician (2017 NEC) Exam Prep Checklist
- Get the reference books the bulletin lists, in the editions it names.
- Learn each book's table of contents and index first.
- Highlight the sections you use most. The exam facts above list the bulletin's rules on tabs and markings, so follow them exactly.
- Start with the biggest topics: Branch Circuits and Conductors and Services and Service Equipment (47% of the exam).
- Take our timed practice exams until you pass several in a row.
- After each attempt, look up every question you missed in your book.
- Practice at the real exam's pace: about 3 minutes per question.
ICC G18 Residential Electrician (2017 NEC) Exam Reference Books
The listed references are the 2017 National Electrical Code (NEC) and Ugly's Electrical Reference (any edition).
Where to get them:
Test Day Checklist
- First pass: answer every question you know. Bookmark the rest. Every exam lets you return to bookmarked questions.
- Second pass: work through your bookmarks.
- Pace: 3 hours for 60 questions, which is about 3 minutes per question.
- Last step: answer anything still blank. A blank can't earn a point.
Study Tips
On an open-book exam, the winners aren't the smartest people in the room — they're the fastest at finding answers. Buy the required book, practice with it open, and tab and highlight each section the first time a question sends you there. Learn the index and table of contents until you can land on any topic in seconds. That speed is what separates a pass from a fail.
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.
Give yourself at least three to six weeks. Use your exam's candidate bulletin as your roadmap for what's tested, and spend your time on finding-it-fast skills over rote memorization. In practice, aim for three clean passes at 80% or higher — setting your practice bar above the real cut score gives you a comfortable margin on test day.
Practicing against a ticking clock is the best way to beat exam-clock anxiety. Use these timed tests to build your pacing, so you learn to move steadily and never burn too long on a single question. By test day, the format feels routine.
This practice exam mirrors the real Pearson VUE exam — the same number of questions, drawn from the same topics. Practicing in that format now means no surprises when you sit for the real thing.
ICC G18 Residential Electrician (2017 NEC) Sample Questions
From our practice question bank, with answers and references:
Sample 1 — Wiring Methods and Materials
Question: According to the NEC, noncombustible surfaces that are broken or incomplete around a cabinet shall be repaired so there will be no gaps or open spaces greater than ______ at the edge of the cabinet or cutout box employing a flush-type cover.
- A. 1/16 in.
- B. 1/8 in.
- C. 1/4 in.
- D. 3/8 in.
Correct Answer: B
According to the National Electrical Code or National Electrical Code Handbook (Page 285), Section 312.4, noncombustible surfaces that are broken or incomplete shall be repaired so there will be no gaps or open spaces greater than 3 mm (1/8 in.) at the edge of the cabinet or cutout box employing a flush-type cover.
Reference: NEC 2017 Section 312.4
Sample 2 — General Knowledge
Question: According to Article 90, who has the responsibility for making interpretations of NEC rules?
- A. Licensed electrical contractors
- B. The National Electrical Manufacturers Association
- C. The authority having jurisdiction for enforcement
- D. Qualified electrical testing laboratories
Correct Answer: C
Per NEC Article 90.4, the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) for enforcement of the Code has the responsibility for making interpretations of the rules, for deciding on the approval of equipment and materials, and for granting special permission contemplated in a number of the rules.
Reference: NEC 2017 Section 90.4
Sample 3 — Equipment and Devices
Question: Per NEC 411.7, low-voltage lighting systems covered by Article 411 shall be supplied from a branch circuit rated at a maximum of how many amperes?
- A. 15 amperes
- B. 20 amperes
- C. 30 amperes
- D. 40 amperes
Correct Answer: B
Per NEC 411.7, lighting systems covered by Article 411 shall be supplied from a maximum 20-ampere branch circuit.
Reference: NEC 2017 Section 411.7
Sample 4 — Special Occupancies, Equipment, and Conditions
Question: A junction box is connected by conduit that extends directly to the forming shell of a wet-niche luminaire operating above the low-voltage contact limit. What is the minimum required elevation of that box above the maximum pool water level?
- A. 6 in.
- B. 8 in.
- C. 12 in.
- D. 4 in.
Correct Answer: B
Per NEC 680.24(A)(2)(a), the junction box shall be located not less than 100 mm (4 in.) above ground level or pool deck, measured from the inside bottom of the box, or not less than 200 mm (8 in.) above the maximum pool water level, whichever provides the greater elevation.
Reference: NEC 2017 Section 680.24(A)(2)(a)
Online Practice vs. a PDF
- Timed: you practice finding answers under time pressure, not just reading them.
- Bookmarks: flag questions and come back, the way you will on test day.
- New sets: each attempt draws new questions from our bank.
- Scored by topic: your results show which outline topics need more study.
Next Step
- Take the free ICC G18 Residential Electrician (2017 NEC) practice exam.
- Study the topics where you scored lowest.
- Read the exam bulletin for the official rules, and see the licensing board's website.