North Carolina Electrical Contractor - Fire Alarm/Low Voltage (SP-FA/LV) Exam Study Guide
This guide covers what you need for the North Carolina Electrical Contractor - Fire Alarm/Low Voltage (SP-FA/LV) exam: the key facts from the official bulletin, the topics it tests, the reference books, sample questions with answers, and a plan to prepare. PSI gives the exam.
North Carolina Electrical Contractor - Fire Alarm/Low Voltage (SP-FA/LV) Exam at a Glance
Here are the exam's key facts from the official bulletin:
| Questions | 50 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)
- National Fire Alarm Code (2013 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.
What the North Carolina Electrical Contractor - Fire Alarm/Low Voltage (SP-FA/LV) Exam Covers
The official content outline has 7 topics:
| Topic | Questions | Share of the exam |
|---|---|---|
| Bonding and Grounding | 4 | 8% |
| Wiring Methods and Terminations | 9 | 18% |
| Boxes and Fittings | 3 | 6% |
| Motors and Control Wiring | 3 | 6% |
| Load Calculations | 4 | 8% |
| General | 6 | 12% |
| Laws, Rules, Basic Business Practices, and Practical Applications | 21 | 42% |
Bonding and Grounding: Systems and equipment requiring grounding and ground-fault protection; Location of connection and required interconnections; Conductor identification and color coding; Bonding jumpers; Equipment grounding conductors; Low-voltage specifications; Bonding conductor connections; Termination.
Wiring Methods and Terminations: Permitted applications and usages; Characteristics; Conduit and wireway fill; Permitted applications and usages; Characteristics; Protection from damage; Traveling cables and controls; Permitted usages and ampacity ratings.
Boxes and Fittings: General information; Sizing requirements.
Motors and Control Wiring: General information; Separation of conductors.
Load Calculations: Conductor ampacity requirements; Low-voltage.
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; National Fire Alarm Code.
How to Prepare for the North Carolina Electrical Contractor - Fire Alarm/Low Voltage (SP-FA/LV) 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. The exam facts above list the bulletin's rules on tabs and markings, so follow them exactly.
Spend most of your time on the biggest topics. Laws, Rules, Basic Business Practices, and Practical Applications and Wiring Methods and Terminations make up 60% of the exam.
Take timed practice exams. The clock trains you to find answers at the pace the real exam needs: about 3 minutes 36 seconds 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 North Carolina Electrical Contractor - Fire Alarm/Low Voltage (SP-FA/LV) Exam
SP-FA/LV candidates must bring the 2020 National Electrical Code, the 2013 National Fire Alarm Code and the current NASCLA Contractors Guide, and the exam also covers the Licensing Law and the Board's Rules as study material.
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.
- Then go back to your bookmarks and work them out.
- Don't let one question eat your time. You have 3 hours for 50 questions, which is about 3 minutes 36 seconds per question.
- Before you finish, answer anything you skipped. 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.
Sample North Carolina Electrical Contractor - Fire Alarm/Low Voltage (SP-FA/LV) Practice Questions
These questions come from our practice question bank, each with its answer and reference.
Sample 1 — Bonding and Grounding
Question: A metal underground water pipe must be in direct contact with the earth for what minimum distance to qualify as a grounding electrode?
- A. 5 ft
- B. 20 ft
- C. 8 ft
- D. 10 ft
Correct Answer: D
Per NEC 250.52(A)(1), a metal underground water pipe in direct contact with the earth for 10 ft or more (including any metal well casing bonded to the pipe) is permitted as a grounding electrode.
Reference: NEC 2020 Section 250.52(A)(1)
Sample 2 — Load Calculations
Question: You are installing a conduit run on a rooftop for a commercial HVAC system. The conduit is mounted directly on the roof surface with less than 23 mm (7/8 in.) clearance above the roof. The outdoor temperature is 40°C (104°F). What ambient temperature must you use to apply correction factors from the ampacity tables?
- A. 40°C (104°F)
- B. 53°C (127°F)
- C. 63°C (145°F)
- D. 73°C (164°F)
Correct Answer: D
Per NEC 310.15(B)(2), for raceways or cables exposed to direct sunlight on or above rooftops where the distance above the roof is less than 23 mm (7/8 in.), a temperature adder of 33°C (60°F) shall be added to the outdoor temperature. 40°C + 33°C = 73°C (104°F + 60°F = 164°F).
Reference: NEC 2020 Section 310.15(B)(2)
Sample 3 — Boxes and Fittings
Question: When boxes and conduit bodies are installed in damp or wet locations, what size range of drainage openings is permitted to be installed in the field?
- A. Not smaller than 10 mm (3/8 in.) and not larger than 16 mm (5/8 in.)
- B. Not smaller than 1 mm (1/32 in.) and not larger than 3 mm (1/8 in.)
- C. Not smaller than 6 mm (1/4 in.) and not larger than 13 mm (1/2 in.)
- D. Not smaller than 3 mm (1/8 in.) and not larger than 6 mm (1/4 in.)
Correct Answer: D
Per NEC 314.15, approved drainage openings not smaller than 3 mm (1/8 in.) and not larger than 6 mm (1/4 in.) in diameter shall be permitted to be installed in the field in boxes or conduit bodies listed for use in damp or wet locations.
Reference: NEC 2020 Section 314.15
Sample 4 — Motors and Control Wiring
Question: According to the NEC, the accessible portion of abandoned Class 2, Class 3, and ______ cables shall be removed.
- A. NM
- B. MC
- C. PLTC
- D. THHN
Correct Answer: C
Per NEC 725.25, the accessible portion of abandoned Class 2, Class 3, and PLTC cables shall be removed. Where cables are identified for future use with a tag, the tag shall be of sufficient durability to withstand the environment involved. This requirement helps prevent the accumulation of combustible cable material in building spaces, which is an important fire safety consideration.
Reference: NEC 2020 Section 725.25
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 North Carolina Electrical Contractor - Fire Alarm/Low Voltage (SP-FA/LV) 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.