What Is on the NASCLA Electrical Contractor Exam (2027 Outline)
The NASCLA Accredited Electrical Contractor exam's content outline from January 1, 2027, area by area, how it differs from the 2026 outline, and the references you can bring: the 2020 or 2023 NEC, OSHA, NFPA 70E, Ugly's and the NASCLA Contractors Guide.
What Is on the NASCLA Electrical Contractor Exam (2027 Outline)
The NASCLA Accredited Examination for Electrical Contractors has 100 scored questions in 270 minutes, open book, and you need 75. PSI's national bulletin prints two outlines: one in force through December 31, 2026, and a new one from January 1, 2027. The count, time, passing score and NEC editions stay the same; the weights move toward the code.
The outline, old and new
| Area | Through 12/31/2026 | From 1/1/2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Project Documents (Project Design & Management before 2027) | 8 | 5 |
| Safety | 9 | 5 |
| Electrical Theory & Principles | 11 | 6 |
| General Code Requirements | 17 | 11 |
| Wiring & Protection | 17 | 22 |
| Wiring Methods & Materials | 16 | 14 |
| Equipment for General Use | 13 | 20 |
| Special Occupancies, Special Equipment & Special Conditions | 8 | 15 |
| Communication Systems | 1 | 2 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
The area names follow the NEC's chapters, so most of the 2027 exam lines up with the book: General Code Requirements is Chapter 1 (Articles 90, 100 and 110), Wiring & Protection is Chapter 2 (branch circuits, feeders, services, overcurrent protection, grounding and bonding, load calculations), Wiring Methods & Materials is Chapter 3, Equipment for General Use is Chapter 4 (motors, transformers, panelboards, appliances, generators), Special Occupancies, Equipment & Conditions covers Chapters 5 to 7, and Communication Systems is Chapter 8.
Where to focus
- Chapters 2 and 4 are 42 questions in 2027. Know Article 250 grounding and bonding, Article 240 overcurrent protection, the Article 220 load calculations, and Article 430 motors cold.
- Special occupancies nearly doubles, from 8 to 15. That area spans hazardous locations (Articles 500 to 516), health care facilities (517), solar PV (690), and emergency and standby systems (700 to 702).
- Theory drops to 6. Ohm's law, power, voltage drop and Chapter 9 conductor properties still appear; Ugly's covers them.
- Safety is 5, from NFPA 70E, 29 CFR 1926 and 1910, and NEC 110.26 working space.
- Project Documents is 5: estimating, contracts, scheduling and reading plans and specifications. A diagram and blueprint packet is handed out at the test center.
The references
The exam is open book. You may bring:
| Reference | Edition |
|---|---|
| National Electrical Code or NEC Handbook | 2020 or 2023 |
| 29 CFR 1926 (construction) and 29 CFR 1910 (general industry) | 2024 |
| NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management | Basic 14th (2024) |
| NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace | 2024 |
| Ugly's Electrical References | 2023 |
| Holt, Understanding Electrical Theory for NEC Applications | ISBN 978-1-950431-68-7 |
Code questions are based only on the 2020 or 2023 NEC. The 2027 list drops PMBOK and ASHRAE 90.1, which were on the 2026 list. Books may be highlighted and permanently tabbed, but not written in. A silent, non-programmable calculator is allowed.
Which NEC to bring
Either edition is allowed, so bring the one you know. Several rules moved between them: the non-dwelling lighting and receptacle demand tables were renumbered in Article 220, the 2023 NEC added an EV charging load rule (220.57), and Class 1 circuits moved from Article 725 to Article 724. If you study on one edition, test with that edition.
See how to apply for the NASCLA exam and what to expect on exam day.
Practice for the exam
Our NASCLA Electrical Contractor practice test is weighted like the 2027 outline. Every question cites the 2023 NEC, OSHA, NFPA 70E or NASCLA Contractors Guide section it comes from, and you get a score for each area.
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