AK Electrician study guide
AK Electrician · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Alaska Electrician credential is a state-issued license that authorizes a person to perform electrical work in Alaska, and the exam is the knowledge check that stands between an applicant and that license. It is aimed at electricians who have already accumulated the field experience Alaska requires and who now need to demonstrate command of the National Electrical Code as adopted in the state, along with the Alaska statutes and regulations that govern licensing, permits, and inspections. The AK Electrician study guide has 9 sections and about 2,577 words.
01Electrical Theory and Fundamentals
Candidates should be fluent in Ohm's law (E = I × R), the power relationships (P = E × I, P = I²R, P = E²/R), and the difference between series and parallel circuits. Know that series circuits share current and divide voltage, while parallel circuits share voltage and divide current.
318 words, about 2 min02Branch Circuits, Feeders, and Service Calculations
This domain tests standard load-calculation procedure: general lighting load by occupancy type (typically 3 VA per square foot for dwellings), small-appliance and laundry branch circuits, receptacle and appliance demand factors, and the application of demand factors to ranges, dryers, and heating versus cooling loads. Know how to size a service based on calculated load, how to apply the 125 percent continuous-load multiplier, and how to add the largest motor at 25 percent.
319 words, about 2 min03Wiring Methods, Raceways, and Enclosures
Know the recognized wiring methods and where each is permitted or prohibited: rigid metal conduit, intermediate metal conduit, electrical metallic tubing, PVC, liquidtight flexible conduit, armored cable, metal-clad cable, nonmetallic-sheathed cable, and open wiring. Understand conduit fill (the 40 percent rule for three or more conductors), raceway support spacing, bend radius, and the number of bends between pull points (no more than 360 degrees total).
303 words, about 2 min04Conductors, Cables, Boxes, and Outlet Devices
Candidates must know conductor ampacity tables, temperature ratings (60, 75, 90 degrees C), and the ampacity adjustment for ambient temperature and for more than three current-carrying conductors in a raceway. Understand termination temperature limitations: the ampacity used must not exceed the rating of the terminations, which for most equipment is 75 degrees C.
298 words, about 1 min05Overcurrent Protection and Grounding/Bonding
Know the types of overcurrent protective devices (fuses, circuit breakers), their ratings, interrupting capacity, and the standard ampere ratings. Understand the difference between overload and short-circuit/ground-fault protection, and how motor circuits use separate overload and branch-circuit protection.
282 words, about 1 min06Motors, Controls, and HVAC Equipment
Motor questions test full-load current tables, overload protection sizing, branch-circuit short-circuit and ground-fault protection, disconnecting means, and controller requirements. Know that motor branch-circuit protection is sized from the tables, not the nameplate, and that overload protection is based on the nameplate current.
293 words, about 1 min07Special Occupancies, Locations, and Equipment
This domain covers hazardous (classified) locations, health care facilities, places of assembly, commercial garages, agricultural buildings, and wet/damp locations. Know the class, division, and zone system for hazardous locations and the wiring methods permitted in each.
256 words, about 1 min08Safety, Code Administration, and Permit/Inspection Requirements
Candidates must know the electrical safety fundamentals: lockout/tagout, personal protective equipment, arc-flash awareness, approach boundaries, and safe work practices. Understand the code administration process: permits, plan review, inspections, and the authority having jurisdiction.
253 words, about 1 min09Alaska Statutes, Regulations, and Licensing Law
Alaska regulates electricians through statutes and regulations administered by the state. Candidates should understand the licensing structure (apprentice, journeyman, master), the requirements for licensure (experience, examination, continuing education), and the scope of work each license permits.
255 words, about 1 min