How to Pass the South Dakota Journeyman Electrician (ICC 531, 2023 NEC) Exam
You don't have to guess how to prepare for the South Dakota Journeyman Electrician (ICC 531, 2023 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.
South Dakota Journeyman Electrician (ICC 531, 2023 NEC) Exam Basics
Here's what the official bulletin says about the exam:
| Questions | 80 questions |
| Time limit | 4 hours |
| Passing score | a minimum score of 70 |
| Books in the exam room | Open book |
| Exam fee | $115 |
On exam day
- Questions are four-option multiple choice with one correct answer.
- In addition to the NEC, candidates may use Ferm's Fast Finder Index, Ugly's Electrical Reference (any edition), the NFPA National Electrical Code Handbook and Tom Henry's Key Word Index during the exam.
References you may bring
- NFPA 70: National Electrical Code (2023)
- Ugly's Electrical References (any edition)
- Ferm's Fast Finder Index
- National Electrical Code Handbook
- Tom Henry's Key Word Index
Scheduling, changes and retakes
- Examinations are scheduled through PearsonVUE at www.pearsonvue.com/ICC.
- You must be approved by the South Dakota Electrical Commission before scheduling, and once approved you have 90 days in which to test or you must reapply and pay the $60 fee again.
- Results for exams taken electronically are available immediately after you finish the exam.
- A failed exam may be retaken after 30 days, and after a second failure there is a 90-day wait before each later attempt.
- After passing, contact the jurisdiction for any other requirements needed to become licensed.
Source: South Dakota Contractor/Trades Examination Information Bulletin, PUBLISHED August 19, 2025. Check the bulletin before test day: fees and rules can change.
What's on the South Dakota Journeyman Electrician (ICC 531, 2023 NEC) Exam
The official content outline splits the exam into 9 topics:
| Topic | Questions | Share of the exam |
|---|---|---|
| General Knowledge | 5 | 6% |
| Services and Service Equipment | 9 | 11% |
| Feeders | 3 | 4% |
| Branch Circuit Conductors | 15 | 19% |
| Wiring Methods and Materials | 21 | 26% |
| Equipment Devices | 10 | 12% |
| Control Devices | 3 | 4% |
| Motors and Generators | 5 | 6% |
| Special Occupancies, Equipment and Conditions | 9 | 11% |
Services and Service Equipment: Services and Fault Current; Service Load Calculations; Service Equipment & Service Conductors; Transformers; System Grounding and Bonding; Temporary Service Wiring; Service disconnecting means requirements and ratings; Overcurrent protection for services and ground-fault protection of equipment.
Wiring Methods and Materials: Raceway Installations; Underground Wiring Methods; Boxes and Enclosures; Cabinets, Panelboards, & Switchboards; Clearance and Guarding; Flexible Cords and Cables; Cable Wiring Methods (NM, AC, MC, MI, SE, UF, TC, ITC, and specialty types) — Uses Permitted and Not Permitted; Conduit Bending Calculations and Techniques.
Special Occupancies, Equipment and Conditions: Special Occupancies; Swimming Pools and Similar Installations; Mobile Home and RV Parks; Data Processing Equipment; Miscellaneous Special Equipment; Emergency Systems; Signaling and Fire Alarm Systems; Hazardous Location Classification (Classes, Divisions, and Zones).
Your South Dakota Journeyman Electrician (ICC 531, 2023 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. The exam facts above list the bulletin's rules on tabs and markings, so follow them exactly.
Put your energy where the points are. Wiring Methods and Materials and Branch Circuit Conductors make up 45% 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 South Dakota Journeyman Electrician (ICC 531, 2023 NEC) Exam
The exam table lists NFPA 70: National Electrical Code, 2023 and Ugly's Electrical References (any edition), and page 4 states that in addition to the NEC candidates may also use Ferm's Fast Finder Index (IAEI), the National Electrical Code Handbook (NFPA, hardcover allowed) and Tom Henry's Key Word Index during the 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 4 hours for 80 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
A little anxiety before an exam is completely normal — acknowledge it instead of fighting it. If you feel yourself spiraling on a question, pause and take a few slow breaths to reset. If your test center allows a short break, use it; just remember the clock usually keeps running.
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.
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.
Try These South Dakota Journeyman Electrician (ICC 531, 2023 NEC) Practice Questions
Give these a try. They come from our practice question bank, each with its answer and reference.
Sample 1 — Services and Service Equipment
Question: A 400 A service uses 600 kcmil copper service conductors. What is the minimum size of a copper grounding electrode conductor that runs only to a concrete-encased electrode?
- A. 2 AWG
- B. 4 AWG
- C. 3/0 AWG
- D. 1/0 AWG
Correct Answer: B
Table 250.66 would require a 1/0 AWG copper grounding electrode conductor for 600 kcmil copper service conductors, but 250.66(B) says a grounding electrode conductor (or bonding jumper) that runs only to a concrete-encased electrode is not required to be larger than 4 AWG copper. So the minimum size required here is 4 AWG copper.
Reference: NEC 2023 Section 250.66(B), Table 250.66
Sample 2 — Special Occupancies, Equipment and Conditions
Question: In Class I, Division 1 locations, what is the maximum distance permitted between a conduit seal and an explosionproof enclosure?
- A. 450 mm (18 in.)
- B. 300 mm (12 in.)
- C. 600 mm (24 in.)
- D. 900 mm (36 in.)
Correct Answer: A
Per Article 501.15(A)(1), conduit seals shall be installed within 450 mm (18 in.) from the enclosure or as required by the enclosure marking. Only threaded couplings or explosionproof fittings shall be permitted between the sealing fitting and the explosionproof enclosure.
Reference: NEC 2023 Section 501.15(A)(1)
Sample 3 — General Knowledge
Question: According to Article 90, who has the responsibility for making interpretations of NEC rules?
- A. Licensed electrical contractors
- B. The National Electrical Manufacturers Association
- C. The authority having jurisdiction for enforcement
- D. Qualified electrical testing laboratories
Correct Answer: C
Per NEC Article 90.4, the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) for enforcement of the Code has the responsibility for making interpretations of the rules, for deciding on the approval of equipment and materials, and for granting special permission contemplated in a number of the rules.
Reference: NEC 2023 Section 90.4(B)
Sample 4 — Motors and Generators
Question: You are an electrical contractor installing a 50-HP, 480-volt, 3-phase motor (Design B) on a commercial project. The full-load current from NEC Table 430.250 is 65 amperes. You plan to use a nontime-delay fuse for branch-circuit short-circuit and ground-fault protection. After calculating 300% of full-load current, you get 195 amperes, which does not correspond to a standard fuse size. What is the correct fuse size to install?
- A. 175-ampere fuse
- B. 200-ampere fuse
- C. 225-ampere fuse
- D. 250-ampere fuse
Correct Answer: B
According to Ugly's Electrical References (Page 42), for a 50-HP, 480-volt, 3-phase motor at 65 amps full-load current, a nontime-delay fuse is calculated at 300% × 65 = 195 amps. Per NEC 430.52(C)(1) Exception No. 1, the next standard size per NEC Table 240.6(A) is permitted, which is the 200-ampere fuse.
Reference: Ugly's Electrical References 2020, Pages 38 and 42
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 South Dakota Journeyman Electrician (ICC 531, 2023 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.