steelersman
Senior Member
- Location
- Lake Ridge, VA
yeah I'd be surprised to hear that any state tests for the NEC and doesn't let you use the book. Who can possibly memorize the NEC? Silly I say!!
Did not pass-uug
- Thread starter debra
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I have taken them when a small portion..maybe 1 of 5 hours..is closed book...things you would normally know if you had the required experience (maximum bends, fuse types, 3-way & 4 way wiring, start-stop wiring, etc. and/or math type questiosn..ohms law, etc.
Karl H
Senior Member
- Location
- San Diego,CA
steelersman
Senior Member
- Location
- Lake Ridge, VA
and they have questions pertaining to the NEC or just local stuff?Houston Masters exam was closed book 1999.
TN (Chatt) closed part is NEC stuff also. 110.26 is a good example. They expect you to know Table 110.26(A)(1) without looking it up. Distance associted with "in sight from" is another example I recall.
Things they expect a person working regualrily will have memorized.
Things they expect a person working regualrily will have memorized.
steelersman
Senior Member
- Location
- Lake Ridge, VA
It would be virtually impossible for anyone to memorize enough of the code to pass the Virginia one without lookin gin the book.Houston Masters exam was closed book 1999.
chris kennedy
Senior Member
- Location
- Miami Fla.
- Occupation
- 60 yr old tool twisting electrician
Karl H
Senior Member
- Location
- San Diego,CA
The NEC was closed the calcs were open.
Karl H
Senior Member
- Location
- San Diego,CA
You can, and many people have ,memorized the NEC. Can anyone retain it
for very long? I doubt it. I was in a Master Prep class and there was this guy that used this roman or greek memerization method and could literaly cite
any article you asked him. He was pure genius. He also was a double E
and a lawyer and working on a PHD in chemistry. The Houston Test is now
open book BTW.
steelersman
Senior Member
- Location
- Lake Ridge, VA
yeah I guess they probably figured that if they kept it closed then they'd suddenly have a low number of licensed electricians in that area.
Karl H
Senior Member
- Location
- San Diego,CA
No just Master's. The highest master number in Houston in 1999 was
Html 650. Dallas was a lot higher but I don't recall the number. Journeymans
was always open book.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
Garth, the nec is a very complicated book. Even with an open book exam you need to know where to find things. You can actually study calculations for dwellings, ranges, etc. Read about grounding, etc etc.
NC has always had a very low passing rate- 17%. I studied quite a bit reading EC&M taking their code Q&A . I wished I had MH forum to study from. I learned a lot here. You can always study.
Do you think someone who has not used the NEC can pass the NC test? I doubt it.
NC has always had a very low passing rate- 17%. I studied quite a bit reading EC&M taking their code Q&A . I wished I had MH forum to study from. I learned a lot here. You can always study.
Do you think someone who has not used the NEC can pass the NC test? I doubt it.
When I took the masters in Washington State it was open book. No sense in having the book though, you had to rock through the test.
200 questions in the morning (3 hours)
29 questions in the afternoon (5 houra) - mostly calculations.
Had to take it a second time to pass.
Only other study guide besides Mike Holt's stuff that I liked, was James Stallcup. His masters book had these little "master's tips" as sidebars - were a great help.
3 months of prep for a master's with meat, is a minimum.
200 questions in the morning (3 hours)
29 questions in the afternoon (5 houra) - mostly calculations.
Had to take it a second time to pass.
Only other study guide besides Mike Holt's stuff that I liked, was James Stallcup. His masters book had these little "master's tips" as sidebars - were a great help.
3 months of prep for a master's with meat, is a minimum.
HotConductor
Senior Member
- Location
- Philadelphia
I would agree with Stallcup's Master Electrician Study book but only after thoroughly going through Mike's exam prep book. The Stallcup's book is somewhat more advanced.
steelersman
Senior Member
- Location
- Lake Ridge, VA
Ok. I didn't say anything other than masters. I said licensed electricians. Here you have to have a masters to pull a permit.
steelersman
Senior Member
- Location
- Lake Ridge, VA
I see what you're saying Dennis. I guess I can see how it could be possible to study. If I were to take the same exam that I took a few years ago, then I would have a harder time navigating the NEC. I would probably take a lot longer to finish the test as well. I've just never been one to study. I've never been good at it or felt that I new how to.
acwservices
Senior Member
- Location
- Eastern NC
It seems the OP's question got hijacked in this thread, and got completely off subject. The state of Colorado has an online test that must be taken in order for all licensed electricians to renew their license. Some states have CE requirements, but since Colorado does not require CE to renew your license, they do require a test be taken every time you renew your license. I completed this test about 2 weeks ago myself. I found it easier to print the test off, take all the time I needed to answer the questions, and then log back in and fill in the answers. Nearly all of the questions are in the NEC word for word, but they are in obscure sections and very difficult to find. Also, if you have the computer version of the NEC, you can do a word search on the question, and it will narrow down the section you need.
BTW- I passed the test, but I was not told my score- I was only told "you have successfully completed this exam, and may continue with your renewal."
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Any of Mike's books involving exams are good. I used the masters prep and The NEC Exam Practice Questions. I usually did the questions that start at the front of the book and go through in numerical order, then took the challenge test. Helped get me more familiar with the code and challenge at the same time. Best you can do other than that is try and stay calm and not get overwhelmed by a question you find confusing, just move on and come back and keep your cool, frustration will break your train of thought so fast its ridiculous. Hope that helps.
radiopet
Senior Member
- Location
- Spotsylvania, VA
Most people should not have any problems if they get a book like Mike Holts Exam Prep books. If they actually read it and retain what they read.....then go to their code book and highlight key points and place sticket markers on key items as well as a good tabbed codebook should have no problem on most tests.
Now on closed book items......usually they deal with everyday items you should know but again reading through a good exam prep book will help this...retain..retain...retain.
As for Stallcups stuff...I like it also but alas the graphics tend to be more confusing for some students to translate versus mikes grade-school graphical approach. ( Which I like mind you )
My suggestion to you is get one of Mikes Exam Prep Books, read it and keep your code book beside you and highlight key points that are talked about within the exam prep book. Doing so will train your mind to remember key issues as most exams calculations are not more than a single or double step to avoid conflict with results.
Now on closed book items......usually they deal with everyday items you should know but again reading through a good exam prep book will help this...retain..retain...retain.
As for Stallcups stuff...I like it also but alas the graphics tend to be more confusing for some students to translate versus mikes grade-school graphical approach. ( Which I like mind you )
My suggestion to you is get one of Mikes Exam Prep Books, read it and keep your code book beside you and highlight key points that are talked about within the exam prep book. Doing so will train your mind to remember key issues as most exams calculations are not more than a single or double step to avoid conflict with results.
wallyworld
Senior Member
Do they test you over the whole NEC or just the new codes?
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