Alberta Master Electrician Exam Prep

Alberta master electrician practice questions with answers

8 free questions with answers and explanations. Each one passed an independent accuracy review, and each is labeled with where it comes from. Open a question to check your answer.

1. Question 1 · Services & Service Entrance · Master

   General CEC 2024 practice, the edition the Alberta exam uses

   An overhead consumer's service is run to a building over a private driveway used by passenger vehicles. The Master electrician must confirm two things: the maximum permitted point-of-attachment height for the service conductors, and where the service box may not be installed inside the building. Under CEC 2024, which statement is correct?

   1. A.The point of attachment may be any height; the service box must not be installed in a bathroom or a clothes closet
   2. B.The point of attachment must not exceed 7.5 m above grade; the service box must not be installed in any habitable room
   3. C.The point of attachment must be at least 9 m above grade; the service box may be installed anywhere with a lockable cover
   4. D.The point of attachment must not exceed 9 m above grade; the service box must not be installed in a bathroom or a clothes closet
   Show the answer and explanation

   Answer: D. The point of attachment must not exceed 9 m above grade; the service box must not be installed in a bathroom or a clothes closet

   CEC Rule 6-112 limits the point of attachment of overhead consumer's service conductors to not more than 9 m above grade or sidewalk, and Rule 6-206 lists locations where a service box shall not be installed — including bathrooms, clothes closets, coal bins, and stairways, and any location with less than 2 m headroom. The correct statement is that the point of attachment must not exceed 9 m above grade and the service box must not be installed in a bathroom or a clothes closet. The 9 m figure is a ceiling, not a floor.

   Reference: CEC Rule 6-112; Rule 6-206

2. Question 2 · Special Occupancies · Contractor

   General CEC 2024 practice, the edition the Alberta exam uses

   A grain-handling facility has an area where a cloud of combustible dust is likely to be present in normal operation. A contractor is selecting certified equipment for this area. Which equipment grouping designation applies to the dust hazard?

   1. A.Group IIA, IIB, or IIC
   2. B.Group A, B, C, or D
   3. C.Group IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC
   4. D.Group E, F, or G
   Show the answer and explanation

   Answer: C. Group IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC

   Under the CEC zone system in Rule 18-050, equipment for explosive dust atmospheres (Zones 20/21/22) is grouped as Group IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC, distinguishing combustible flyings, non-conductive dust, and conductive dust. Group IIIA/IIIB/IIIC is therefore the correct designation for a combustible-dust location such as grain handling. The Group II (gas) and the older letter groups belong to other classification systems.

   Reference: CEC 2024 Rule 18-050

3. Question 3 · Services & Service Entrance · Contractor

   General CEC 2024 practice, the edition the Alberta exam uses

   A renovation client wants the service box (main disconnect) for a new 200 A dwelling service mounted in a finished basement. The most convenient wall is inside a small bathroom near where the underground consumer's service conductors enter the building. As the contractor, what is the correct CEC position?

   1. A.Acceptable, provided the service box has a lockable cover and is at least 1.5 m from the bathtub
   2. B.Acceptable, because the rule only prohibits service boxes in commercial bathrooms, not residential ones
   3. C.Not acceptable — the CEC prohibits installing the service box in a bathroom regardless of dwelling type
   4. D.Acceptable only if a GFCI is installed ahead of the service box
   Show the answer and explanation

   Answer: C. Not acceptable — the CEC prohibits installing the service box in a bathroom regardless of dwelling type

   CEC Rule 6-206 lists locations where service boxes shall not be installed — including bathrooms, clothes closets, coal bins, and stairways, and anywhere with less than 2 m headroom. The correct contractor position is that mounting the service box in a bathroom is not acceptable regardless of dwelling type. The 'as close as practicable to where the conductors enter' allowance does not override the explicit prohibited-location list.

   Reference: CEC Rule 6-206

4. Question 4 · Business & Project Management · Contractor

   General CEC 2024 practice, the edition the Alberta exam uses

   An electrical contractor is awarded a commercial tenant-improvement job that includes altering existing branch circuits and adding a new subpanel. The site superintendent wants crews to begin roughing-in immediately to hold the schedule. With respect to the administrative requirements of the Canadian Electrical Code, what must be in place before the work proceeds?

   1. A.Only the building permit is required; a separate electrical permit is not part of the Electrical Code framework.
   2. B.A permit issued by the inspection department, as required by the administrative rules of CEC Section 2, before the electrical work is carried out.
   3. C.Nothing in advance — the contractor may begin and simply request inspection once all wiring is complete and energized.
   4. D.Only a permit for the new subpanel; alterations to existing branch circuits are exempt from any permit requirement.
   Show the answer and explanation

   Answer: B. A permit issued by the inspection department, as required by the administrative rules of CEC Section 2, before the electrical work is carried out.

   The administrative rules in CEC Section 2 (Rule 2-004, Permits) require that a permit be obtained from the inspection department before electrical work is carried out, and the answer is a permit issued by the inspection department before the electrical work is carried out. Permit requirements apply to alterations and additions, not just brand-new construction, so beginning rough-in without the electrical permit violates the Code's administrative framework regardless of schedule pressure. Fee and inspection provisions in Section 2 flow from this permit requirement.

   Reference: CEC 2024 Rule 2-004

5. Question 5 · Dwelling Service Load (CEC) · Master

   General CEC 2024 practice, the edition the Alberta exam uses

   Under CEC Rule 8-200, which load type was added in recent code cycles specifically to address new residential technology, requiring it to be included in dwelling service calculations?

   1. A.Solar photovoltaic generation equipment
   2. B.Smart home control systems
   3. C.Heat pump water heater
   4. D.Electric vehicle charging equipment
   Show the answer and explanation

   Answer: D. Electric vehicle charging equipment

   Per CEC Rule 8-200(1)(a)(vi): CEC Rule 8-200(1)(a)(vi) specifically adds EV charging equipment as a required load component in the dwelling service load calculation. This sub-rule addresses the growing prevalence of residential EV chargers.

   Reference: CEC Rule 8-200(1)(a)(vi)

6. Question 6 · Business & Project Management · Contractor

   General CEC 2024 practice, the edition the Alberta exam uses

   Equipment that was previously approved is now in service on a contractor's completed installation. During a later visit the inspector finds the units are being used under environmental conditions that make them unsuitable and that they no longer match the sample on which approval was based. Under the Canadian Electrical Code, what authority does the inspection department have?

   1. A.None — once equipment has been approved, that approval is permanent and cannot be revisited by the inspection department.
   2. B.It may only issue a non-binding advisory; rejection requires a separate court order.
   3. C.It may reject the equipment, even though approval was previously granted, where the equipment is substandard to the approved sample, the conditions of use make it unsuitable, or the terms of approval are not being met.
   4. D.It may reject the equipment only if a documented injury or fire has already occurred.
   Show the answer and explanation

   Answer: C. It may reject the equipment, even though approval was previously granted, where the equipment is substandard to the approved sample, the conditions of use make it unsuitable, or the terms of approval are not being met.

   CEC Rule 2-026 (Powers of rejection) provides that even though approval has previously been granted, the inspection department may reject equipment where it is substandard with respect to the approved sample, where the conditions of use indicate it is not suitable, or where the terms of the approval agreement are not being carried out. The correct answer captures exactly this power to reject previously approved equipment under those conditions. Approval is therefore not permanent, and rejection does not require a prior injury or a court order.

   Reference: CEC 2024 Rule 2-026

7. Question 7 · Conductors & Ampacity · Master

   General CEC 2024 practice, the edition the Alberta exam uses

   A feeder must carry a calculated load of 90 A and is wired with RWU90 aluminum conductors terminating on equipment rated 75°C (30°C ambient, not more than three conductors). Using the CEC 2024 aluminum ampacity table, what is the smallest aluminum conductor permitted for this feeder?

   1. A.No. 6 AWG
   2. B.No. 4 AWG
   3. C.No. 1/0 AWG
   4. D.No. 2 AWG
   Show the answer and explanation

   Answer: D. No. 2 AWG

   Aluminum ampacities come from Table 4. With 75°C terminations the 75°C column governs: No. 2 aluminum is 90 A, which meets the 90 A load, while No. 4 aluminum is only 65 A. The smallest compliant conductor is therefore No. 2 AWG aluminum.

   Reference: CEC Table 4 (aluminum); Rule 4-006

8. Question 8 · Motor Circuits · Contractor

   General CEC 2024 practice, the edition the Alberta exam uses

   On a CEC motor installation, a contractor must size the running overload (thermal) protection for a motor marked with a service factor of 1.15. Which CEC rule governs the SIZING of that overload protection, and what is the typical maximum percentage of full-load current it permits for this motor?

   1. A.Rule 28-308, at 175% of full-load current
   2. B.Rule 28-306, at 125% of full-load current
   3. C.Rule 28-200, at 250% of full-load current
   4. D.Rule 28-306, at 115% of full-load current
   Show the answer and explanation

   Answer: B. Rule 28-306, at 125% of full-load current

   CEC Rule 28-306 is the rule that sizes motor running (overload) protection, and for a motor with a marked service factor of 1.15 or greater (or a temperature rise of 40°C or less) the overload device is generally rated or set at not more than 125% of the motor full-load current. So Rule 28-306 at 125% of full-load current is correct. Rule 28-308 is a different rule that addresses the conditions under which overload protection may be omitted, not how to size it, and the 175%/250% figures are branch-circuit short-circuit/ground-fault values, not overload values.

   Reference: CEC Rule 28-306