North Carolina Electrical Contractor - Electric Sign (SP-ES) Exam Prep Checklist
Everything for the North Carolina Electrical Contractor - Electric Sign (SP-ES) 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. PSI gives the exam.
North Carolina Electrical Contractor - Electric Sign (SP-ES) Exam Facts
From the official bulletin:
| Questions | 40 questions |
| Time limit | 3 hours |
| Passing score | 70% correct |
| Books in the exam room | Open book |
| Exam fee | $125 |
On exam day
- Questions are multiple choice with four suggested answers and only one correct answer.
- Two valid, non-expired signature-bearing IDs are required, one with a photograph, matching the name under which the candidate registered.
- Candidates should arrive 30 minutes before the appointment time.
- References must be softbound, spiral, or hardbound with no loose-leaf or partial books, must be candidate-supplied, may not be written in during the exam, and may not contain additional papers.
- Highlighting, underlining and handwritten notes made before the exam are allowed (pencil notes must be highlighted), and only permanent tabs may be used.
- Calculators are provided at the test center.
- Scratch paper, pencils and calculators are provided, while notes, briefcases, backpacks, hats, cell phones, pagers and children are prohibited in the examination area.
References you may bring
- National Electrical Code (2020 edition)
- NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management: North Carolina Electrical Contractors' Edition (current edition)
Study references listed in the bulletin (not allowed in the exam room)
- Electrical Contractors Licensing Law (General Statutes Chapter 87, Article 4)
- The Board's Rules for the Implementation of the Electrical Contractors Licensing Law (Title 21, North Carolina Administrative Code, Chapter 18B)
Scheduling, changes and retakes
- Candidates register for the examination by calling PSI at (855) 746-8173 or online at https://test-takers.psiexams.com/ncbeec.
- Board approval is required before scheduling, and the approval allows one examination attempt within a 90-day authorization period.
- Candidates who miss the appointment or arrive after the examination start time lose their examination fees and may be refused admission.
- Results are given immediately at the test center, with a diagnostic report of strengths and weaknesses for candidates who do not pass.
- A candidate who fails must wait 3 months before retaking the same classification and must re-apply to the Board for each attempt.
- A passing candidate must complete a License Application with the Board to obtain and activate the license.
Source: NCBEEC Examination Information Handbook (North Carolina Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors), July 2026. Check the bulletin before test day: fees and rules can change.
North Carolina Electrical Contractor - Electric Sign (SP-ES) Exam Topics
The official content outline has 8 topics:
| Topic | Questions | Share of the exam |
|---|---|---|
| Bonding and Grounding | 5 | 12% |
| Overcurrent Protection | 4 | 10% |
| Wiring Methods and Terminations | 8 | 20% |
| Boxes and Fittings | 2 | 5% |
| Load Calculations | 3 | 8% |
| Appliances, Equipment, and Lighting | 4 | 10% |
| General | 7 | 18% |
| Laws, Rules, Basic Business Practices, and Practical Applications | 7 | 18% |
Bonding and Grounding: Systems and equipment requiring grounding and ground-fault protection; Location of connection and required interconnections; Grounded, grounding, and grounding electrode conductors; Conductor identification and color coding; Bonding jumpers; Equipment grounding conductors; Methods of grounding and bonding, equipment and conductor specifications; Low-voltage specifications.
Overcurrent Protection: Location in circuit; Sizing requirements; Circuit breakers; Plug and cartridge fuses; Enclosures and locations.
Wiring Methods and Terminations: Permitted applications and usages; Conduit and wireway fill; Permitted applications and usages; Characteristics; Protection from damage; Permitted usages and ampacity ratings; Characteristics; Outdoors.
Boxes and Fittings: General information; Sizing requirements.
Load Calculations: Conductor ampacity requirements; Overcurrent protective device sizing.
General: Definitions; Installation requirements.
Laws, Rules, Basic Business Practices, and Practical Applications: Electrical Contractors Licensing Law (General Statutes Chapter 87, Article 4); Board’s Rules for the Implementation of the Electrical Contractors Licensing Law (Title 21, North Carolina Administrative Code, Chapter 18B); NASCLA Contractors’ Guide to Business, Law and Project Management -North Carolina Electrical Edition.
North Carolina Electrical Contractor - Electric Sign (SP-ES) 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.
- 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 4 minutes 30 seconds per question.
North Carolina Electrical Contractor - Electric Sign (SP-ES) Exam Reference Books
SP-ES candidates bring the 2020 National Electrical Code and the current NASCLA Contractors Guide (the 2013 National Fire Alarm Code is required only for Limited, Intermediate, Unlimited, SP-SFD and SP-FA/LV), and the exam also covers the Licensing Law and the Board's Rules as study material.
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 40 questions, which is about 4 minutes 30 seconds 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.
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.
North Carolina Electrical Contractor - Electric Sign (SP-ES) Sample Questions
From our practice question bank, with answers and references:
Sample 1 — Bonding and Grounding
Question: You are installing an equipment grounding conductor for a branch circuit and need to determine the proper type. Which of the following is recognized as a type of equipment grounding conductor?
- A. Schedule 40 PVC conduit
- B. Electrical nonmetallic tubing (ENT)
- C. Electrical metallic tubing (EMT)
- D. Nonmetallic-sheathed cable jacket
Correct Answer: C
Per NEC 250.118(4), electrical metallic tubing (EMT) is recognized as a type of equipment grounding conductor. PVC conduit, ENT, and nonmetallic cable jackets are nonmetallic and cannot serve as equipment grounding conductors.
Reference: NEC 2020 Section 250.118(4)
Sample 2 — Overcurrent Protection
Question: What is the standard interrupting rating for a circuit breaker that does NOT require the interrupting rating to be marked on the device?
- A. 10,000 amperes
- B. 5,000 amperes
- C. 15,000 amperes
- D. 20,000 amperes
Correct Answer: B
Per NEC 240.83(C), every circuit breaker having an interrupting rating other than 5,000 amperes shall have its interrupting rating shown on the circuit breaker. Therefore, 5,000 amperes is the standard default rating that does not require marking.
Reference: NEC 2020 Section 240.83(C)
Sample 3 — Appliances, Equipment, and Lighting
Question: Switches, flashers, and similar devices that control transformers and electronic power supplies for signs must either be rated for controlling inductive loads or have a current rating not less than what value relative to the transformer or electronic power supply?
- A. 250 percent of the current rating of the transformer
- B. Equal to the current rating of the transformer
- C. 150 percent of the current rating of the transformer
- D. Twice the current rating of the transformer or electronic power supply
Correct Answer: D
Per NEC 600.6(B), switches, flashers, and similar devices controlling transformers and electronic power supplies shall be rated for controlling inductive loads or have a current rating not less than twice the current rating of the transformer or the electronic power supply.
Reference: NEC 2020 Section 600.6(B)
Sample 4 — Load Calculations
Question: As the sign contractor, you are replacing the branch circuit that feeds an internally illuminated LED cabinet sign together with a run of outline lighting on the same building facade. No neon tubing is supplied by this circuit. What is the maximum branch-circuit rating permitted for this installation?
- A. 25 amperes
- B. 20 amperes
- C. 50 amperes
- D. 30 amperes
Correct Answer: B
Per NEC 2020, 600.5(C)(2), branch circuits that supply signs and outline lighting systems other than neon tubing installations shall be rated not to exceed 20 amperes. The 30-ampere figure applies only to neon tubing installations under 600.5(C)(1).
Reference: NEC 2020 Section 600.5(C)(2)
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 North Carolina Electrical Contractor - Electric Sign (SP-ES) practice exam.
- Study the topics where you scored lowest.
- Read the exam bulletin for the official rules, and see the licensing board's website.