Form CBP-1 · Rev. 26CodeBookPrep

Exam E1

Residential Electrical Inspector

Inspecting electrical services, conductors, equipment, components, fixtures, appliances and devices for one- and two-family dwellings limited to 120/240 volts, single phase, up to 400 amperes.

Questions
60
Time limit
120 min
Per question
120 sec
Book
Open

Where the marks sit

Branch Circuit and Feeder Requirements carries 28 percent on its own. Study time should follow this, not the order of the chapters.

03 Branch Circuit and Feeder Requirements28%
04 Wiring Methods and Power and Lighting Distribution21%
05 Devices, Lighting Fixtures, and Appliances19%
02 Services17%
01 General Requirements10%
06 Swimming Pools and Similar Installations5%

Transcribed from ICC's published E1 content outline. Areas sum to 100 percent.

Where candidates lose the clock on E1

Each of these is a term the exam words one way and the code files another way.

You are looking forThe code calls it
GFCI outlets in a bathroomBranch circuits, GFCI
ground rod at the panelService grounding and bonding

Common questions

How many questions are on the ICC E1 exam?

The E1 Residential Electrical Inspector exam has 60 multiple-choice questions with a 120-minute limit, which works out to about 120 seconds per question.

Is the ICC E1 exam open book?

Yes. The E1 is an open-book exam. The constraint is time rather than recall: you have roughly 120 seconds per question including the lookup.

How long is the ICC E1 exam?

120 minutes, or 2 hours, for 60 questions.

What is on the ICC E1 exam?

6 topic areas. The heaviest is Branch Circuit and Feeder Requirements at 28 percent, followed by Wiring Methods and Power and Lighting Distribution at 21 percent. The full weighting is published by ICC and reproduced on this page.

Which code book do I need for the E1 exam?

The International Residential Code is the primary reference. Confirm the edition your jurisdiction has adopted, because adopted editions vary by state and the exam is written to a specific one.