IA Electrician exam-day guide
IA Electrician · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission / authorization letter and photo ID
Bring the confirmation or authorization document the provider issued for your sitting, plus government-issued photo ID. The exact ID types accepted and whether a copy is enough vary by jurisdiction, so confirm with the provider before test day.
Approved calculator (if permitted)
Bring a basic non-programmable calculator with fresh batteries only if your provider allows it, and keep the model within the permitted list. Confirm with the provider whether calculators are supplied, allowed, or prohibited at the practical station.
Code book / regulation reference
Some practical sittings supply the electrical code and regulation extracts at the station; others expect you to bring your own clean copy. Confirm with the provider which applies, and whether tabs or handwritten notes in the book are allowed.
Personal protective equipment
Safety glasses, CSA-approved (or locally equivalent) safety footwear, and work gloves are standard for hands-on electrical assessment. Verify any additional PPE the provider requires, such as arc-rated clothing or hearing protection.
Insulated hand tools
Bring a complete set of 1000 V-rated screwdrivers, pliers, side cutters, strippers, and a knife or cable jacket stripper. Confirm whether the provider supplies a standard tool kit at the bench or requires you to bring your own.
Multimeter with CAT-rated leads
Include spare batteries and inspect leads for cracks or exposed conductor before packing. Know that a meter check against a known source is a routine expectation; confirm whether site meters are provided and whether yours may be used.
Torque screwdriver or torque wrench
Terminations are commonly assessed for correct torque. Bring the range your task list calls for, or confirm that the station provides calibrated torque tools.
Pencil, eraser, marker, and note materials
Bring non-marking pencils and a fine marker for labelling conductors. Confirm whether scratch paper, a notebook, or any written reference is permitted in the assessment area.
Simple wristwatch
A basic watch helps you pace tasks. Smartwatches and phones are commonly restricted to storage, so confirm the provider's device rules in advance.
Confirm site logistics
Write down the exact address, building entrance, parking, check-in desk, and the arrival time stated on your authorization. Do a dry run or map the route so the morning is not a search.
Read the candidate information bulletin
Go through the provider's handbook for station layout, task list, scoring outline, break policy, and what is prohibited. Note anything unclear and ask the provider in writing.
Rest, food, and medication
Prioritise sleep over late cramming in the final 48 hours, and plan a normal meal and water for the morning. Bring any personal medication you may need during the day.
Plan the day
Re-read the published practical task list and walk through each task in your head in order, including the safety step that comes first. Practise the physical skills you can safely rehearse at home or in a training shop, such as stripping and terminating conductors, forming bends, and labelling. Gather and inspect tools, check meter batteries and leads, and set aside the PPE you will wear. Confirm travel time, arrival time, and any site-specific entry requirements with the provider. Start shifting your sleep schedule to match the exam start time.
Pack the tool bag completely and lay out clothing, footwear, and PPE so nothing is hunted for in the morning. Put the authorization letter and photo ID in the bag. Do a light review of lockout/tagout, meter use (prove-test-prove), and safe work practices rather than new material. Set two alarms, confirm your transport, and prepare a simple lunch and water if the sitting runs long. Stop studying early enough to get a full night's sleep.
Eat a normal meal, arrive ahead of the stated check-in time, and go straight to the assigned entrance. Keep your phone and any smart device off and stowed per the provider's instructions. At check-in, present your ID and authorization, listen to the safety and conduct briefing without interrupting, and ask procedural questions before the clock starts. At your station, confirm the tools and equipment are present and undamaged, and raise any deficiency with the examiner immediately.
Read the entire task card before touching anything, then plan the sequence and the time budget. Perform the isolation and verification steps the task requires before working on conductors, and prove your meter on a known source before and after testing. Work at a steady pace, keep the bench tidy, and label as you go so nothing has to be traced later. Verbalise safety actions if the examiner expects it. If you finish early, re-check terminations, torque, labelling, and cleanliness before signalling completion. If equipment fails or you are unsure of a procedural point, stop and ask the examiner rather than improvising.
Rules to check
Bring the same photo ID you used to register, and make sure the name matches your registration exactly; if your documents differ, resolve it with the provider before test day.
Phones, smartwatches, and other connected devices normally stay off and out of the assessment area; confirm with the provider where they must be stored and whether they can be accessed at all.
Follow every instruction from the examiner. Questions about procedure, timing, or equipment are usually fine to ask; questions that ask the examiner to solve the task are not.
No coaching, signalling, or discussion of task content with other candidates at any point during the sitting, including in waiting areas and on breaks.
Wear the required PPE for the whole session and follow the site's isolation and safe-work rules. Safety violations can end an attempt, so confirm the provider's specific safety-fail policy in advance.
Break timing and availability vary by provider and sitting length; ask at the briefing whether breaks are scheduled, whether they are timed, and what you may take with you.
Scoring, the pass mark, and any retake or appeal process are set by the provider or authority; read the published criteria and confirm anything unclear rather than relying on what other candidates say.
Report damaged tools, faulty test equipment, or unsafe conditions immediately. Do not attempt to repair station equipment yourself.