Philadelphia Master Electrician (ICC 211, 2020 NEC) Exam: A Practical Study Guide
The Philadelphia Master Electrician (ICC 211, 2020 NEC) 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. Pearson VUE gives the exam.
The Philadelphia Master Electrician (ICC 211, 2020 NEC) Exam at a Glance
Here's the rundown from the official bulletin:
| Questions | 100 questions |
| Time limit | 5 hours |
| Passing score | a minimum score of 75 |
| Books in the exam room | Open book |
| Exam fee | $115 |
On exam day
- Test questions are in four-option, multiple-choice format with one answer scored as correct.
References you may bring
- National Electrical Code (2020)
- Ugly's Electrical Reference (any edition)
Scheduling, changes and retakes
- Exams are scheduled through PearsonVUE at www.pearsonvue.com/ICC, where candidates can create an account, view and/or schedule an exam, locate a test center, purchase test vouchers, and request testing accommodations.
- Results for examinations taken electronically are available immediately after the examination is completed.
- A candidate must wait 10 days before retaking a failed exam.
- After passing, contact the jurisdiction for any other requirements needed to become licensed, because passing an ICC exam does not itself guarantee a license.
Source: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Contractor/Trades Examination Information Bulletin, PUBLISHED March 15, 2026. Check the bulletin before test day: fees and rules can change.
What the Philadelphia Master Electrician (ICC 211, 2020 NEC) Exam Covers
The official content outline breaks the exam into 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 Get Ready for the Philadelphia Master Electrician (ICC 211, 2020 NEC) 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. Check the bulletin's rules on tabs and markings before you add any.
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 Philadelphia Master Electrician (ICC 211, 2020 NEC) Exam
The listed references are the 2020 National Electrical Code and Ugly's Electrical Reference (any edition), and the exam is open book.
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, though some lock the ones you've seen once you take a break. 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 5 hours for 100 questions, which is about 3 minutes per question. Before you finish, make sure nothing is left blank.
Study Tips
Know your way around each book's index and table of contents. Open-book exams reward speed: you need to find specific items quickly.
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.
Every exam you take will be different from the last. New questions, new order, but always based on the exam bulletin in terms of topics, questions and time.
On technical questions, don't get bogged down in unfamiliar terminology. If you don't recognize a term, you're unlikely to figure it out on the spot—acknowledge it quickly and move on. Use the surrounding context, answer choices, and familiar terms to guide your reasoning, but don't linger on any single difficult question.
You're given plenty of time, so use as much of it as you need. Don't get rattled when other people finish early — finishing first isn't a prize. Work at your own steady pace and review your answers before you submit.
Sample Philadelphia Master Electrician (ICC 211, 2020 NEC) Questions
These come from our practice question bank, each with its answer and the reference behind it.
Sample 1 — General Knowledge and Plan Reading
Question: On an electrical plan, what does the symbol "S₃" represent?
- A. Four-way switch
- B. Electrolier switch
- C. Double-pole switch
- D. Three-way switch
Correct Answer: D
In standard electrical drawing symbols, S₃ designates a three-way switch. S₂ is a double-pole switch, S₄ is a four-way switch, and Sₑ is an electrolier switch.
Reference: Ugly's Electrical References 2020, Page 125
Sample 2 — Special Occupancies, Equipment, and Conditions
Question: You are designing an electric vehicle charging installation at a commercial building. The EVSE is not portable and will be permanently wired. Where must the coupling means of the EVSE be stored or located for an outdoor installation, unless specifically listed and marked for the location?
- A. Not less than 12 inches above grade level
- B. Not less than 18 inches above grade level
- C. Not less than 24 inches above grade level
- D. Not less than 36 inches above grade level
Correct Answer: C
Per NEC 625.50, unless specifically listed and marked for the location, the coupling means of the EVSE shall be stored or located at a height of not less than 600 mm (24 in.) above the grade level for outdoor locations. For indoor locations, the minimum is 450 mm (18 in.) above the floor level.
Reference: NEC 2020 Section 625.50
Sample 3 — Equipment and Devices
Question: What is the minimum clearance required between heating cable elements installed in ceilings and the edge of outlet boxes used for mounting surface luminaires?
- A. 50 mm (2 in.)
- B. 200 mm (8 in.)
- C. 150 mm (6 in.)
- D. 300 mm (12 in.)
Correct Answer: B
Per NEC 424.39, heating elements of cables installed in ceilings shall be separated at least 200 mm (8 in.) from the edge of outlet boxes and junction boxes that are to be used for mounting surface luminaires.
Reference: NEC 2020 Section 424.39
Sample 4 — Motors and Generators
Question: What is the maximum percentage of motor full-load current for the overload device trip setting on a motor with a marked service factor of 1.15 or greater?
- A. 115%
- B. 125%
- C. 130%
- D. 140%
Correct Answer: B
Per NEC 430.32(A)(1), a separate overload device for a motor with a marked service factor of 1.15 or greater shall be selected to trip or rated at no more than 125 percent of the motor nameplate full-load current rating.
Reference: NEC 2020 Section 430.32(A)(1)
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 Philadelphia Master Electrician (ICC 211, 2020 NEC) 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.