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Louisiana Contractor ELECTRICAL Trade Examination Practice Test

Electrical trade work requires understanding how circuits, equipment, and protective systems operate together. Practice topics include branch-circuit connections, motor speed and pole relationships, three-phase voltage, transformer ratios, switching arrangements, grounding and bonding, and safe decisions around energized equipment.

Exam overview

Exam providerLouisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors
Exam code5
CategoryContractor Licensing

About the Louisiana Contractor ELECTRICAL Trade Examination Exam

Electrical work calls for applying circuit theory to installation and troubleshooting decisions. A technician must distinguish line and load connections, interpret voltage measurements, relate frequency and motor speed to pole count, and calculate line-to-neutral voltage in a balanced wye system. Equipment selection also depends on matching transformer primary and secondary voltages and checking panelboard and feeder capacity before adding a load. Safe work requires recognizing when de-energizing is appropriate and understanding how bonding metal raceways and enclosures supports an effective fault-current path. Practical knowledge of conduit bodies and multi-location lighting controls helps with raceway planning and circuit layout.

Sample Practice Questions

Review a selection from this exam's published US Practice Tests practice bank.

Question 1

A 120 V branch circuit has its hot and neutral conductors connected to the same terminal of a receptacle, leaving the other terminal unused. What is the likely result?

  1. AThe receptacle is connected in series with the load.
  2. BThe receptacle has no usable voltage across its terminals.
  3. CThe receptacle supplies 240 V.
  4. DThe circuit is protected from overloads.
Show answerCorrect answer: B

A receptacle needs a voltage difference between its hot and neutral terminals. Connecting both conductors to the same terminal leaves no proper potential across the receptacle contacts.

Question 2

A 1,800 rpm motor is supplied by a 60 Hz source. Ignoring slip, how many poles does the motor's rotating magnetic field have?

  1. A2
  2. B4
  3. C6
  4. D8
Show answerCorrect answer: B

Synchronous speed is 120f/P. Rearranging gives P = 120 × 60 ÷ 1,800 = 4 poles. An induction motor's actual loaded speed is slightly below synchronous speed because of slip.

Question 3

A worker must access electrical equipment at a location where an energized part could be exposed. Which action is the safest general approach when the work does not require the equipment to remain energized?

  1. ADe-energize the equipment, apply lockout/tagout procedures, and verify absence of voltage using an appropriate tester.
  2. BWear gloves and assume the circuit is off if its switch is open.
  3. CTouch the enclosure briefly to check for voltage.
  4. DAsk another worker to watch while work proceeds energized.
Show answerCorrect answer: A

When feasible, de-energize the equipment and prevent unexpected re-energization through appropriate lockout/tagout procedures. Verify absence of voltage with a suitable tester before beginning work; an open switch alone is not proof of a safe condition.

Question 4

A balanced three-phase load is connected in a wye configuration. If the line-to-line voltage is 208 V, approximately what is the line-to-neutral voltage?

  1. A120 V
  2. B208 V
  3. C294 V
  4. D360 V
Show answerCorrect answer: A

For a balanced wye system, line-to-line voltage equals line-to-neutral voltage multiplied by the square root of three. Thus, 208 V divided by about 1.732 is approximately 120 V.

Question 5

A technician is selecting a transformer for a load that requires 120 V on the secondary. Which transformer ratio describes a step-down transformer when the primary is 240 V?

  1. APrimary-to-secondary voltage ratio of 1:2
  2. BPrimary-to-secondary voltage ratio of 2:1
  3. CPrimary-to-secondary voltage ratio of 1:1
  4. DPrimary-to-secondary voltage ratio of 4:1
Show answerCorrect answer: B

The primary voltage is twice the required secondary voltage, so the primary-to-secondary voltage ratio is 240:120, or 2:1. An ideal transformer has a corresponding inverse relationship between voltage and current ratios.

Question 6

What is the primary purpose of bonding metal raceways and enclosures together in an electrical installation?

  1. ATo provide a low-impedance path for fault current that helps protective devices operate.
  2. BTo increase the normal operating voltage of the circuit.
  3. CTo reduce the circuit's frequency.
  4. DTo replace overcurrent protection.
Show answerCorrect answer: A

Bonding electrically connects conductive parts so a fault can return by an effective path to the source, helping a fuse or circuit breaker clear the fault. Bonding does not replace overcurrent protection.

Question 7

A four-way switch is used with two three-way switches to control one lighting load from three locations. Where is the four-way switch normally installed in the switching arrangement?

  1. AIn series with the neutral conductor only.
  2. BBetween the two three-way switches on the traveler conductors.
  3. CIn parallel with the lighting load.
  4. DBetween the service disconnect and the meter.
Show answerCorrect answer: B

In a common multi-location lighting circuit, the two three-way switches are at the ends and the four-way switch is placed between them, switching the traveler connections.

How to use this practice test

The free practice bank contains 50 questions; each session presents up to 20 selected at random. Use a session to check your understanding of circuit behavior, voltage relationships, motor fundamentals, bonding, and installation decisions. Results appear after the session, helping you identify which concepts need another focused review.

Preparation tips

  • Practice converting between line-to-line and line-to-neutral voltage for balanced three-phase wye circuits.
  • Use the synchronous-speed relationship between frequency and pole count to solve motor questions, and distinguish calculated speed from actual speed when slip is relevant.
  • Draw three-way and four-way lighting-control circuits, labeling traveler conductors and switch positions.
  • Review transformer primary-to-secondary ratios and verify that panelboard and feeder ratings can support a proposed load.
  • Connect bonding and de-energizing decisions to fault-current paths and exposure to energized parts.
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