Kentucky Master Electrician (ICC 701, 2023 NEC) Exam Study Guide
This guide covers what you need for the Kentucky Master Electrician (ICC 701, 2023 NEC) exam: the key facts from the official bulletin, the topics it tests, the reference books, sample questions with answers, and a plan to prepare. Pearson VUE gives the exam.
Kentucky Master Electrician (ICC 701, 2023 NEC) Exam at a Glance
Here are the exam's key facts from the official bulletin:
| Questions | 100 questions |
| Time limit | 5 hours |
| Passing score | a minimum score of 70 |
| Books in the exam room | Open book |
| Exam fee | $100 |
On exam day
- Test questions are in four-option, multiple-choice format with one correct answer per question.
Scheduling, changes and retakes
- Exams are scheduled through Pearson VUE 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 completion of the examination.
- 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 licensing requirements, because the Code Council is not a licensing agency.
Source: Kentucky Contractor/Trades Examination Information Bulletin, PUBLISHED January 17, 2026. Check the bulletin before test day: fees and rules can change.
What the Kentucky Master Electrician (ICC 701, 2023 NEC) Exam Covers
The official content outline has 9 topics:
| Topic | Questions | Share of the exam |
|---|---|---|
| General Knowledge and Plan Reading | 12 | 12% |
| Services and Service Equipment | 16 | 16% |
| Feeders | 4 | 4% |
| Branch Circuits and Conductors | 16 | 16% |
| Wiring Methods and Materials | 19 | 19% |
| Equipment and Devices | 10 | 10% |
| Control Devices | 3 | 3% |
| Motors and Generators | 8 | 8% |
| Special Occupancies, Equipment, and Conditions | 12 | 12% |
How to Prepare for the Kentucky Master Electrician (ICC 701, 2023 NEC) Exam
Start with the books. This is an open-book exam, so the references on the bulletin's list are your main study tool. Get the editions the bulletin names.
Learn where things are. Read the table of contents and the index of each book until you know where every major subject lives. On test day, finding an answer fast matters more than memorizing it.
Highlight the sections you use most. Check the bulletin's rules on tabs and markings before you add any.
Take timed practice exams. The clock trains you to find answers at the pace the real exam needs: about 3 minutes per question.
Aim to pass more than once. One passing score can be luck. Several in a row means you're ready.
Reference Books for the Kentucky Master Electrician (ICC 701, 2023 NEC) Exam
Where to get them:
On Test Day
- Go through the whole exam first. Answer every question you know and bookmark the ones you don't. Every exam lets you come back to bookmarked questions, but some lock the questions you've seen once you take a break, so work your bookmarks before any break.
- Then go back to your bookmarks and work them out.
- Don't let one question eat your time. You have 5 hours for 100 questions, which is about 3 minutes per question.
- 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.
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.
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.
Sample Kentucky Master Electrician (ICC 701, 2023 NEC) Practice Questions
These questions come from our practice question bank, each with its answer and reference.
Sample 1 — General Knowledge and Plan Reading
Question: When using a fuse let-through chart, the apparent prospective RMS symmetrical let-through current is used to evaluate which physical effect on downstream components?
- A. Heating effect on conductors and equipment
- B. Arc flash boundary distance
- C. Mechanical stress on bus bars
- D. Insulation breakdown voltage
Correct Answer: A
According to the component protection let-through chart instructions, the apparent prospective RMS symmetrical let-through current corresponds to the heating effect on conductors and equipment. The peak let-through current relates to mechanical forces, while the RMS symmetrical value determines thermal energy delivered during the fault.
Reference: Ugly's Electrical References 2020, Page 57 (Component Protection)
Sample 2 — Special Occupancies, Equipment, and Conditions
Question: In commercial garages, areas within ______ inches above floor level are classified as Class I, Division 2 locations when proper ventilation is not provided.
- A. 18
- B. 36
- C. 24
- D. 12
Correct Answer: A
According to Table 511.3(C), areas up to 450 mm (18 in.) above floor level are classified as Class I, Division 2 locations in major repair garages when adequate ventilation is not provided.
Reference: NEC 2023 Table 511.3(C)
Sample 3 — Equipment and Devices
Question: What is the minimum clearance required from combustible material for non-Type IC recessed luminaires?
- A. 13 mm (1/2 in.)
- B. 6 mm (1/4 in.)
- C. 25 mm (1 in.)
- D. 38 mm (1-1/2 in.)
Correct Answer: A
According to NEC 410.116(A)(1), a recessed luminaire that is not identified for contact with insulation shall have all recessed parts spaced not less than 13 mm (1/2 in.) from combustible materials.
Reference: NEC 2023 Section 410.116(A)(1)
Sample 4 — Motors and Generators
Question: You are a limited electrical contractor sizing feeder overcurrent protection for a panel that supplies three motors in a commercial building. The largest motor has a branch-circuit short-circuit and ground-fault protective device rated at 90 amperes, and the other two motors have full-load currents of 14 amperes and 10 amperes respectively. What is the maximum rating of the feeder overcurrent protective device?
- A. 100 amperes
- B. 125 amperes
- C. 90 amperes
- D. 110 amperes
Correct Answer: D
Per NEC 430.62(A), the feeder overcurrent protective device rating shall not be greater than the largest branch-circuit short-circuit and ground-fault protective device rating for any motor (90A) plus the sum of the full-load currents of the other motors (14A + 10A = 24A), totaling 114A. Since this is a 'not greater than' maximum and 114A is not a standard overcurrent device size per NEC 240.6(A), the next lower standard size of 110 amperes must be selected.
Reference: NEC 2023 Section 430.62(A), 240.6(A)
Why Practice Online Instead of With a PDF
A PDF shows you questions. It doesn't show you the clock. Our practice exams are timed and on a screen, so you practice finding answers under time pressure, not just reading them. Each attempt draws a new set of questions from our bank, and your results break the score down by outline topic so you know what to study next.
Start Practicing
Take the free Kentucky Master Electrician (ICC 701, 2023 NEC) practice exam to see where you stand, then work through the topics that need attention. For the official rules, read the exam bulletin, and see the licensing board's website.