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Louisiana Electrical Statewide — Practice Exam

What This Practice Exam Covers

The Louisiana Electrical Statewide licensing exam consists of 100 questions answered within 240 minutes (4 hours). A score of 70% or higher is required to pass. The exam spans 13 topic areas, ranging from fundamental circuit theory to specialized installation rules for hazardous locations, swimming pools, and health care facilities.

This practice platform offers two options:

• Free practice exam: 10 questions per attempt drawn from a limited pool. You can retake it as many times as you like to get a feel for the question style, format, and pacing — no account required to start.
• Full practice exam: Mirrors the real exam with 100 questions and a 240-minute time limit. Questions are pulled from a pool of 793+ practice questions, so every attempt presents a different mix. No two sittings are identical. Questions are built directly from the official topic breakdown provided by the test administrator.

Start with the free exam to assess where you stand, then use the full exam for serious timed preparation.

What You'll Be Tested On

General Knowledge (4 items)

This section tests pure electrical theory. Expect Ohm's Law calculations (V = IR, P = IV, P = I²R), series and parallel circuit analysis, and combination circuits requiring multi-step simplification. You must apply Kirchhoff's Current and Voltage Laws correctly. Three-phase and single-phase power calculations appear here, as do impedance calculations combining resistance, inductive reactance (XL = 2πfL), and capacitive reactance (XC = 1/2πfC).

General Electrical Knowledge (10 items)

A heavier version of the above, this section adds voltage drop calculations for both single-phase and three-phase circuits using the formulas from Ugly's Electrical References, Page 50 and NEC Chapter 9, Table 8. You need to distinguish the multiplier (2 for single-phase, 1.73 for three-phase) and understand that "L" is the one-way length in feet. Power factor, apparent power (kVA), and power factor correction also appear here. Know how to convert between kilowatts, kVA, amperes, and horsepower using the formulas in NEC 2023, Article 220.

Electrical Installation Requirements (10 items)

Branch circuit ratings, overcurrent protection sizing, and load calculations are tested at a practical application level. Know conductor sizing rules for feeders and services, grounding and bonding requirements, and how to select appropriate wiring methods (EMT, RMC, IMC, PVC, FMC, LFMC). Questions frequently require you to apply a specific NEC section to an installation scenario rather than simply recalling a definition.

Services, Feeders, and Branch Circuits (10 items)

Demand factor calculations dominate this section. You must apply NEC 2023, Section 220.54 and Table 220.54 for dryer loads, Table 220.56 for commercial cooking equipment, and Table 220.42(A) for lighting demand factors. GFCI and AFCI protection requirements by occupancy type are tested (NEC 2023, Section 210.12(B), (D), and (E)). Know grounding electrode conductor sizing per NEC 2023, Section 250.66(A).

Overcurrent Protection (9 items)

Standard ampere ratings from NEC 2023, Section 240.6(A) are frequently tested — know the list cold. The section also covers the next-size-up rule (NEC 2023, Section 240.4(B)), feeder tap conductor rules (NEC 2023, Section 240.21(B)(1) and 240.21(B)(3)), and motor branch-circuit protective device selection using NEC 2023, Table 430.52. Transformer overcurrent protection sizing and arc energy reduction requirements under NEC 2023, Section 240.87 also appear.

Grounding and Bonding (10 items)

One of the most heavily tested sections. You need to know grounding electrode types (NEC 2023, Section 250.52(A)(1), (A)(3), (A)(4)), electrode installation requirements (NEC 2023, Section 250.53(A)(2)), equipment grounding conductor sizing from NEC 2023, Table 250.122, main bonding jumper sizing per NEC 2023, Section 250.28(D)(1), and bonding of metal piping systems per NEC 2023, Section 250.104(A)(1).

Conductors and Cables (8 items)

Ampacity from NEC 2023, Table 310.16 and Table 310.17, temperature correction factors from NEC 2023, Table 310.15(C)(1), and adjustment factors for more than three current-carrying conductors per NEC 2023, Section 310.15(C)(1) are all tested numerically. Know cable type permitted/prohibited uses (NM, MC, AC, SE/USE, UF) and conductor stranding and parallel installation rules (NEC 2023, Section 310.10(G)(1)).

Raceways and Boxes (7 items)

Conduit fill percentages, box fill calculations using NEC 2023, Table 314.16(B)(1), and pull box sizing for conductors 4 AWG and larger per NEC 2023, Section 314.28(A)(1) and (A)(2) are standard question types. Know support intervals and which raceway types are prohibited in specific environments — for example, FMC restrictions under NEC 2023, Section 350.12.

Special Occupancies and Equipment (10 items)

Swimming pool bonding, GFCI requirements for pools and spas, hazardous location classification (Class I, II, III; Division 1 and 2), sealing requirements (NEC 501.15(A)(1)), and health care facility wiring rules (Article 517.18(B)(1), 517.19(C)(1), 517.31(C)(3)) are all in scope. This is a wide-ranging section — budget study time across all subtopics.

Low Voltage, Alarms, Signaling, and Communications (2 items)

Despite its low item count, it covers fire alarm circuit types, Class 2 and Class 3 circuit power limitations, and communications cable substitution hierarchy. Know the separation rules for low-voltage conductors (NEC 724.40).

Lighting and Signs (10 items)

Luminaire installation by location (wet, damp, closets, bathtub/shower zones), recessed luminaire thermal protection (IC vs. non-IC), track lighting rules, electric sign disconnecting means, and neon secondary circuit wiring are all tested. Reference NEC 410.10(A), 410.116(A)(1), and NEC 410.150(C) for specifics.

Safety (4 items)

Lockout/tagout procedures, shock protection boundaries, arc-flash PPE categories, and working clearances are tested here. OSHA 29 CFR 1926 sections appear alongside NEC rules — know both frameworks.

Motors and Transformers (6 items)

Motor branch-circuit conductors must be sized at 125% of full-load current per NEC 2023, Section 430.22(A). Branch-circuit protective device selection uses NEC 2023, Table 430.52. Transformer overcurrent protection ratings and the voltage-turns relationship (Ep × Ts = Es × Tp) are standard calculation questions per NEC 2023, Article 450.

Worked Sample Questions

Question 1 — Voltage Drop Formula Variables

In the voltage drop formula, the variable "L" represents which measurement?

• A. Length of the raceway in meters
• B. Total round-trip length of conductors in feet
• C. One-way length of the circuit in inches
• D. One-way length of the circuit in feet

Correct Answer: D

In the single-phase formula Vd = (2K × L × I) / Cm and the three-phase formula Vd = (1.73K × L × I) / Cm, L is the one-way length of the circuit in feet. The multiplier 2 (or 1.73) already accounts for the return conductor. Candidates frequently choose B because they think "round-trip" distance is needed — but that adjustment is built into the constant, not L. Source: Ugly's Electrical References, Page 50 (Voltage Drop Calculations).

Question 2 — Dimmer Switch Ampere Ratings

General-use dimmer switches and electronic control switches shall be used only to control permanently connected loads unless listed for the control of other loads and installed accordingly, and they shall be marked by their manufacturer with their current and voltage ratings and used for loads that do not exceed their _____ rating at the voltage applied.

• A. wattage
• B. voltage
• C. temperature
• D. ampere

Correct Answer: D

Per NEC 404.14(F), the controlling limit is the ampere rating, not wattage. This is a direct code recall question. The distractor "wattage" trips up many candidates because dimmers are commonly marketed by wattage capacity, but the NEC requirement is stated in terms of amperes.

Question 3 — Laundry Room Dryer Demand Calculation

Laundry room with 10 dryers at 5 kW each, 208V 3-phase. Apply NEC demand factor. What is total load?

• A. 25 kW
• B. 35 kW
• C. 40 kW
• D. 50 kW

Correct Answer: A

Step 1: Total connected load = 10 × 5 kW = 50 kW.
Step 2: Per NEC 2023, Table 220.54, 10 dryers carry a 50% demand factor.
Step 3: 50 kW × 0.50 = 25 kW.

Candidates who choose D forget to apply the demand factor entirely. Candidates who choose C or B are applying the wrong percentage. Always confirm the dryer count against Table 220.54 before multiplying.

How to Read Your Score

The passing score on the real exam is 70% — you need at least 70 out of 100 questions correct.

Treat your first practice attempt as a diagnostic, not a verdict. A score of 60–65% on the first attempt is typical for candidates who have not yet systematically reviewed the NEC and indicates specific topic gaps, not overall failure. Use the topic-by-topic breakdown to identify which of the 13 sections cost you the most points.

Scoring near 70% on practice should not be treated as exam-ready. Real exam conditions — unfamiliar phrasing, time pressure, and questions drawn from a larger pool — consistently perform harder than practice. A comfortable margin of 78–80% on the full 100-question practice exam is a more reliable readiness indicator.

Retake the full practice exam multiple times. Because the pool contains 793+ questions, each attempt draws a different set. A score that holds steady across multiple attempts is a much stronger signal than a single high score.

Where Candidates Lose Points

Misapplied demand factors are the single most common error on load calculation questions. Candidates apply the residential dryer table (NEC 2023, Section 220.54) to commercial cooking loads (which use NEC 2023, Table 220.56), or vice versa. Always confirm the occupancy type before selecting your table.

Wrong "L" in voltage drop — using round-trip distance instead of one-way length — produces an answer exactly double the correct value. That wrong answer always appears as a distractor.

Ampacity table selection errors: using Table 310.17 (free air) instead of NEC 2023, Table 310.16 (conduit/raceway) adds roughly 20–30% to ampacity figures — enough to select the wrong conductor size.

Skipping correction and adjustment factors on conductor ampacity questions is a consistent point-loser. A conductor derated for high ambient temperature AND for more than three current-carrying conductors requires two separate multiplications. Miss either step and you select an undersized conductor.

Time management on multi-step problems: Grounding and Bonding (10 items) and Services, Feeders, and Branch Circuits (10 items) both include calculation-heavy questions. Spending too long on a single demand-factor problem can leave insufficient time for the Overcurrent Protection and Motor/Transformer sections, which together account for 15 items.

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