South Dakota Class B Electrician Exam (ICC 533, 2023 NEC)

How to Pass the South Dakota Class B Electrician (ICC 533, 2023 NEC) Exam

You don't have to guess how to prepare for the South Dakota Class B Electrician (ICC 533, 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 Class B Electrician (ICC 533, 2023 NEC) Exam Basics

Here's what the official bulletin says about the exam:

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 Class B Electrician (ICC 533, 2023 NEC) Exam

The official content outline splits the exam into 7 topics:

Your South Dakota Class B Electrician (ICC 533, 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. Branch Circuits and Conductors and Services and Service Equipment make up 47% 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 Class B Electrician (ICC 533, 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:

• NEC 2023
• Ugly's Electrical References 2023

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 3 hours for 60 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

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.

Read each answer choice in order. If it seems correct, mark it as your current best. Each subsequent choice must beat your current best to replace it. Keep going until you've reviewed all choices, then verify your final selection actually answers the question.

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.

Try These South Dakota Class B Electrician (ICC 533, 2023 NEC) Practice Questions

Give these a try. They come from our practice question bank, each with its answer and reference.

Sample 1 — Wiring Methods and Materials

Question: According to NEC requirements, what is the minimum clearance required from the edge of a bored hole when installing cables or raceways through wood members?

• A. 19 mm (3/4 in.)
• B. 32 mm (1 1/4 in.)
• C. 38 mm (1 1/2 in.)
• D. 50 mm (2 in.)

Correct Answer: B

Per NEC 300.4(A)(1), holes shall be bored so that the edge of the hole is not less than 32 mm (1 1/4 in.) from the edges of the wood member. Where this distance cannot be maintained, the cable or raceway shall be protected from penetration by screws or nails by a steel plate.

Reference: NEC 2023 Section 300.4(A)(1)

Sample 2 — General Knowledge and Plan Reading

Question: One kVA is equal to how many volt-amperes?

• A. 250 VA
• B. 500 VA
• C. 750 VA
• D. 1,000 VA

Correct Answer: D

Kilo means 1,000, so 1 kVA = 1,000 volt-amperes. Transformer and service capacities are commonly rated in kVA.

Reference: Metric prefixes (kilo = 1,000)

Sample 3 — Equipment and Devices

Question: As a limited electrical contractor, you are installing a low-voltage landscape lighting system near a client's swimming pool. According to the NEC, what is the minimum horizontal distance the lighting system must be installed from the nearest edge of the water?

• A. 1.5 m (5 ft)
• B. 2.0 m (6.5 ft)
• C. 3.0 m (10 ft)
• D. 4.5 m (15 ft)

Correct Answer: C

Per NEC 411.6(B), lighting systems shall be installed not less than 3 m (10 ft) horizontally from the nearest edge of the water, unless permitted elsewhere in the Code.

Reference: NEC 2023 Section 411.6(B)

Sample 4 — Special Occupancies, Equipment and Conditions

Question: When multiconductor non-power-limited fire alarm (NPLFA) cables are installed exposed and located within 2.1 m (7 ft) of the floor, at what maximum interval must they be securely fastened?

• A. 450 mm (18 in.)
• B. 900 mm (36 in.)
• C. 610 mm (24 in.)
• D. 300 mm (12 in.)

Correct Answer: A

Per NEC 760.53(A)(1), where NPLFA cables are located within 2.1 m (7 ft) of the floor, they shall be securely fastened in an approved manner at intervals of not more than 450 mm (18 in.).

Reference: NEC 2023 Section 760.53(A)(1)

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 Class B Electrician (ICC 533, 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.