AL Electrician study guide
AL Electrician · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Alabama Electrician Licensing Exam is the credentialing pathway administered through the Alabama Electrical Contractors Board for individuals who want to work as licensed electricians or electrical contractors in the state. It is intended for journeyman-level tradespeople moving toward qualification, for contractors seeking a business license, and for anyone whose work on electrical systems must be performed under a state-issued authorization. The AL Electrician study guide has 8 sections and about 2,684 words.
01General Code Requirements, Definitions, and Wiring Design
Article 90 sets the scope: the NEC is a minimum installation standard, not a design manual. Chapters 1–4 apply generally, 5–7 cover special occupancies, conditions, and materials, Chapter 8 covers communications, and Chapter 9 holds the tables.
331 words, about 2 min02Wiring Methods, Materials, and Installation Practices
Article 300 is the general rulebook for all wiring methods; Article 310 covers conductors, 314 covers boxes, and then one article per method - 334 NM cable, 330 MC, 338 SE, 352 PVC, 358 EMT, 342 IMC, 348 FMC, 376 wireway. Selection depends on the environment (wet, damp, dry, corrosive, exposed, buried) and the occupancy.
333 words, about 2 min03Grounding, Bonding, and Overcurrent Protection
Grounding connects the electrical system to earth; bonding ties metal parts together so they remain at equal potential and create an effective fault-return path. Know the conductors by name: grounded conductor (neutral), grounding electrode conductor (GEC), equipment grounding conductor (EGC), main bonding jumper, and bonding jumpers.
341 words, about 2 min04Services, Feeders, and Branch Circuit Calculations
The standard method starts with general lighting at VA per square foot by occupancy (3 VA/ft² for dwellings), 1500 VA per small-appliance branch circuit, and 1500 VA for laundry. Apply Table 220.42 demand factors to the total: the first 3000 VA at 100%, the remainder at 35% for dwellings.
328 words, about 2 min05Motors, Transformers, and Special Equipment and Occupancies
Motor questions hinge on using the right number. Tables 430.248 (single-phase) and 430.250 (three-phase) give full-load current by horsepower and voltage.
326 words, about 2 min06Electrical Theory, Load Calculations, and Conduit/Box Fill
Ohm's law (E = IR) and power relationships (P = EI, P = I²R) underpin everything else. Series circuits share current and add resistance; parallel circuits share voltage and add by reciprocals.
347 words, about 2 min07Electrical Safety, Tools, and Testing
NFPA 70E governs workplace electrical safety: shock and arc-flash risk assessment, approach boundaries, personal protective equipment, and energized-work permits. The default is to de-energize, lock out and tag out, verify the absence of voltage, and apply temporary protective grounds where required.
337 words, about 2 min08Business Practices, Estimating, and Alabama Contractor Regulation
An estimate is a build-up, not a guess: take off quantities from the drawings, multiply by labor units (hours per item) and a loaded labor rate that includes burdens, add material with sales tax and waste, equipment, subcontractors, permits, and inspections, then apply overhead and profit as separate percentages. Burying overhead inside the labor rate hides risk and loses money on change orders.
341 words, about 2 min