How to Pass the Kansas Residential Electrician (ICC KGX, 2017 NEC) Exam
You don't have to guess how to prepare for the Kansas Residential Electrician (ICC KGX, 2017 NEC) exam. This guide lays it out: the key facts from the official bulletin, the topics on the test, the books you need, sample questions with answers, and a study plan you can follow. Pearson VUE gives the exam.
Kansas Residential Electrician (ICC KGX, 2017 NEC) Exam Basics
Here's what the official bulletin says about the exam:
| Questions | 60 questions |
| Time limit | 3 hours |
| Passing score | a minimum score of 75 |
| Books in the exam room | Open book |
| Exam fee | $115 |
On exam day
- The exam uses multiple-choice questions, which the bulletin describes as four-option with one correct answer.
References you may bring
- 2017 National Electrical Code (NEC)
- Ugly's Electrical Reference (any edition)
Scheduling, changes and retakes
- Exams are scheduled through PearsonVUE at https://www.pearsonvue.com/icc.
- Results for examinations taken electronically are available immediately after completion of the examination.
- You must wait 10 days before retaking a failed exam.
- After passing, contact the jurisdiction for any other requirements needed to become licensed.
Source: State of Kansas Contractor/Trades Examination Information Bulletin, PUBLISHED August 20, 2026 (page headers read "December 9, 2025"). Check the bulletin before test day: fees and rules can change.
What's on the Kansas Residential Electrician (ICC KGX, 2017 NEC) Exam
The official content outline splits the exam into 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% |
Your Kansas Residential Electrician (ICC KGX, 2017 NEC) Study Plan
Your books are your best friend on this exam. It's open book, so the references on the bulletin's list are what you'll use on test day. Get your own copies in the editions the bulletin names.
Get to know them early. Spend time with each book's table of contents and index until you can find any major subject quickly. On an open-book exam, finding answers fast is the skill that counts.
Make the books yours. Highlight the sections you keep coming back to. Check the bulletin's rules on tabs and markings before you add any.
Put your energy where the points are. Branch Circuits and Conductors and Services and Service Equipment make up 47% of the exam, so start there.
Practice with the clock running. Our timed practice exams help you build the pace the real exam needs: about 3 minutes per question. Every attempt is another rep.
Keep going until you pass practice exams consistently. One good score is a great start. A few passing scores in a row is how you know you're ready.
Books You'll Need for the Kansas Residential Electrician (ICC KGX, 2017 NEC) Exam
The listed references are the 2017 National Electrical Code (NEC) and Ugly's Electrical Reference (any edition), which may be used in this open-book exam.
Where to get them:
Test Day Tips
Start with a quick pass through the whole exam. Answer every question you're sure about and bookmark the rest. Every exam lets you return to bookmarked questions, so nothing is lost by moving on. One catch: some exams lock the questions you've already seen once you take a break, so clear your bookmarks before any break.
Then come back to your bookmarks and work through them one at a time. Keep an eye on the clock: you have 3 hours for 60 questions, which is about 3 minutes per question. Before you finish, make sure every question has an answer. A blank can't earn a point.
Study Tips
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.
Reading the material cover to cover usually isn't enough to pass. This is a multiple-choice exam, and multiple choice rewards practice — the more questions you work through under real conditions, the more the terminology and question style become second nature.
If you're stuck on a problem, don't waste time—move on. Before you do, however, quickly eliminate any obviously wrong answer choices. Even ruling out one or two options significantly improves your odds of guessing correctly. Eliminate what you can, make your best guess, then move on.
After each practice test, note the topics you miss most and spend your next session there. Re-testing weak areas yields far more score gain than re-reading what you already know.
Try These Kansas Residential Electrician (ICC KGX, 2017 NEC) Practice Questions
Give these a try. They come from our practice question bank, each with its answer and reference.
Sample 1 — Wiring Methods and Materials
Question: What is the minimum burial depth (cover) for direct-burial cables rated 0–1000 volts in most general locations?
- A. 6 inches
- B. 12 inches
- C. 18 inches
- D. 24 inches
Correct Answer: D
Per NEC Table 300.5, direct-burial cables rated 0–1000 volts require a minimum cover of 24 inches in most general locations.
Reference: NEC 2017 Table 300.5
Sample 2 — General Knowledge
Question: When calculating power in watts using Ohm's Law, if you know voltage and current, the formula is P = ______.
- A. E + I
- B. I ÷ E
- C. E ÷ I
- D. E × I
Correct Answer: D
According to Ohm's Law power formulas, when voltage and current are known, power in watts is calculated as P = E × I (volts times amperes equals watts).
Reference: Ugly's Electrical References, 2023 ed., Ohm's Law, Page 1 (2020 ed.: Ohm's Law Power Formulas)
Sample 3 — Equipment and Devices
Question: What is the maximum voltage at which a low-voltage lighting system is permitted to operate on alternating current?
- A. 30 volts
- B. 60 volts
- C. 15 volts
- D. 50 volts
Correct Answer: A
Per NEC 411.1, Article 411 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 reduced to 15 volts ac or 30 volts dc.
Reference: NEC 2017 Section 411.1
Sample 4 — Special Occupancies, Equipment, and Conditions
Question: A wet-niche underwater luminaire (not a listed low-voltage system exempt from grounding) is supplied by a flexible cord. The insulated copper equipment grounding conductor that is an integral part of that cord shall not be smaller than the supply conductors and in no case smaller than which size?
- A. 12 AWG
- B. 16 AWG
- C. 14 AWG
- D. 8 AWG
Correct Answer: B
NEC 680.23(B)(3) requires the grounding conductor integral to the cord of a wet-niche luminaire to be no smaller than the supply conductors and not smaller than 16 AWG. The 12 AWG minimum in 680.23(F)(2) applies to branch-circuit equipment grounding conductors, and 8 AWG is the bonding jumper/equipotential bonding size.
Reference: NEC 2017 Section 680.23(B)(3)
Why Practice Online?
Reading questions in a PDF is a start, but it doesn't prepare you for the clock. Our practice exams are timed and on a screen, so you build speed along with knowledge. Each attempt draws a new set of questions from our bank, and your results show your score by topic so you know where to focus next.
Ready to Start?
Take the free Kansas Residential Electrician (ICC KGX, 2017 NEC) practice exam and see where you stand today. Then focus on the topics that need the most work. For the official rules, read the exam bulletin, and see the licensing board's website.