Idaho Limited Electrical Limited Energy Installer Exam: A Practical Study Guide
The Idaho Limited Electrical Limited Energy Installer exam tests the rules and the reference books behind the work. This guide lays out the job: the key facts from the official bulletin, what the exam covers, the books you need, sample questions with answers, and how to get ready. PSI gives the exam.
The Idaho Limited Electrical Limited Energy Installer Exam at a Glance
Here's the rundown from the official bulletin:
| Questions | 40 questions |
| Time limit | 2 hours |
| Passing score | a minimum score of 70 |
| Books in the exam room | Open book |
| Exam fee | $75 |
On exam day
- You must present one current, government-issued photo and signature ID (such as a driver's license, state ID card, passport, military ID, or alien registration card) to be admitted.
- Arrive 15 minutes before your appointment time.
- Candidates must bring their own reference materials, and anyone caught writing in references or holding unauthorized materials has the binder seized and is reported to the Division.
- Highlighting, underlining and permanent indexing done before the exam are permitted, while writing during the session and temporary markers such as Post-its are prohibited.
- Only approved items may be brought into the exam room; all other personal belongings, including electronics, writing devices, bags, food and drinks, must be placed in secure storage.
References you may bring
- NFPA 70 – National Electrical Code (2017)
- Ferm's Fast Finder Index (2017)
- Key Word Index by Tom Henry (2017)
- Ugly's Electrical References
Scheduling, changes and retakes
- You may schedule online through PSI's registration website or by calling PSI at 855-340-3713.
- You may cancel and reschedule without forfeiting your fee if PSI receives your cancellation notice 2 days before the scheduled examination date, done by website or by phone (not voicemail or email).
- If you miss your appointment, arrive after the examination start time, cancel late, or lack proper ID, your registration is invalid and you forfeit your examination fee.
- Your score is shown on screen at the end of the exam and a score report is provided, with a diagnostic report of strengths and weaknesses if you fail.
- If you do not pass, you may retake the exam as many times as needed, paying an examination fee for each attempt.
Source: Examination Scheduling Procedures / Examination Guide (Idaho PSI Candidate Bulletin), Effective 7/9/2026. Check the bulletin before test day: fees and rules can change.
What the Idaho Limited Electrical Limited Energy Installer Exam Covers
The official content outline breaks the exam into 6 topics:
| Topic | Questions | Share of the exam |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 National Electrical Code, NFPA – Introduction | 6 | 15% |
| 2017 National Electrical Code, NFPA – Chapter 1 | 4 | 10% |
| 2017 National Electrical Code, NFPA – Chapter 2 | 3 | 8% |
| 2017 National Electrical Code, NFPA – Chapter 3 | 8 | 20% |
| 2017 National Electrical Code, NFPA – Chapter 7 | 18 | 45% |
| 2017 National Electrical Code, NFPA Calculations – Chapter 2 | 1 | 2% |
How to Get Ready for the Idaho Limited Electrical Limited Energy Installer Exam
Treat your reference books like your tools. On an open-book exam you don't need every rule memorized. You need to know which book holds it and where to find it.
Buy the books the bulletin lists, in the editions it names. An older or newer edition can put the answer on a different page, or change it.
Learn your way around each book before you study anything else. The table of contents and the index are your layout.
Highlight what you look up most. The exam facts above list the bulletin's rules on tabs and markings, so follow them exactly.
Do the big jobs first. 2017 National Electrical Code, NFPA – Chapter 7 and 2017 National Electrical Code, NFPA – Chapter 3 make up 65% of the exam.
Put in the reps with timed practice exams. The clock trains you to find answers at the pace the real exam needs: about 3 minutes per question.
Measure twice. When you miss a practice question, find the section in your book, read it and mark it. Keep at it until you pass practice exams consistently.
The Books for the Idaho Limited Electrical Limited Energy Installer Exam
The 2017 NFPA 70 National Electrical Code is the allowed reference, and the 2017 Ferm's Fast Finder Index, 2017 Key Word Index by Tom Henry and Ugly's Electrical References may also be used as optional references not used to develop the exam.
Where to get them:
Working the Exam on Test Day
Work the exam in two passes. On the first pass, answer everything you know and bookmark the rest. Every exam lets you come back to bookmarked questions. On the second pass, go back to your bookmarks and take them one at a time.
Don't get hung up on one question. You have 2 hours for 40 questions, which is about 3 minutes per question. Before you finish, make sure nothing is left blank.
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.
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.
Sample Idaho Limited Electrical Limited Energy Installer Questions
These come from our practice question bank, each with its answer and the reference behind it.
Sample 1 — 2017 National Electrical Code, NFPA – Chapter 1
Question: Equipment and systems normally found in offices or other business establishments that are used for the creation and manipulation of data, voice, and video qualify as information technology equipment only when rated at what voltage or less?
- A. 300 volts
- B. 600 volts
- C. 1500 volts
- D. 1000 volts
Correct Answer: D
The Article 100 definition of Information Technology Equipment (ITE) covers equipment and systems rated 1000 volts or less, located in ordinary locations, that are not communications equipment as defined in Part I of Article 100 and that do not process communications circuits.
Reference: NEC 2017 Article 100 — Definition of "Information Technology Equipment (ITE)"
Sample 2 — 2017 National Electrical Code, NFPA – Chapter 2
Question: While driving a ground rod at a new structure, rock bottom is encountered at an angle greater than 45 degrees from vertical. The rod is permitted instead to be buried in a trench having a minimum depth of what?
- A. 18 in.
- B. 24 in.
- C. 36 in.
- D. 30 in.
Correct Answer: D
NEC 2017, 250.53(G) permits a rod or pipe electrode to be driven at an oblique angle not exceeding 45 degrees from vertical where rock bottom is encountered; where rock bottom is encountered at an angle up to 45 degrees, the electrode is permitted to be buried in a trench at least 750 mm (30 in.) deep.
Reference: NEC 2017 Section 250.53(G)
Sample 3 — 2017 National Electrical Code, NFPA Calculations – Chapter 2
Question: You are calculating the branch-circuit load for an office area where a single piece of equipment containing six receptacles on one assembly is installed. What minimum volt-ampere value must be assigned to each receptacle of that assembly?
- A. 90 volt-amperes
- B. 180 volt-amperes
- C. 60 volt-amperes
- D. 200 volt-amperes
Correct Answer: A
Per NEC 2017, 220.14(I), general-use receptacle outlets are calculated at not less than 180 VA for each single or multiple receptacle on one yoke; however, a single piece of equipment consisting of a multiple receptacle comprised of four or more receptacles is calculated at not less than 90 VA per receptacle. The 180 VA figure applies to each yoke, and 200 VA per linear foot applies to show windows under 220.14(G).
Reference: NEC 2017 Section 220.14(I)
Sample 4 — 2017 National Electrical Code, NFPA – Chapter 7
Question: Listed power-limited fire alarm cable is required to have a voltage rating of not less than which value?
- A. 1000 volts
- B. 150 volts
- C. 600 volts
- D. 300 volts
Correct Answer: D
Per NEC 2017, 760.179(C), PLFA cable shall have a voltage rating of not less than 300 volts and a temperature rating of not less than 60°C (140°F). The 600-volt figure applies to NPLFA conductor insulation under 760.49(B).
Reference: NEC 2017 Section 760.179(C)
Why Practice Online Instead of With a PDF
A PDF is like reading about a job instead of doing it. 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 break your score down by topic so you know where to put in more work.
Get Started
Take the free Idaho Limited Electrical Limited Energy Installer practice exam to see where you stand, then put your time into the topics that need it. For the official rules, read the exam bulletin, and see the licensing board's website.