**Update:
Be sure to purchase the 2017 National Electrical Code (NEC®) or the 2017 National Electrical Code® Handbook (recommended) for the Electrical Power PE Exam for all exams from 2018 to 2020.
The National Electrical Code (NEC) is an important body of knowledge developed over a great period of time to prevent electrical related fires and to keep us safe from dangerous electrical exposure.
Because our understanding of the safe use of electricity is constantly evolving, the National Electrical Code is updated and published every three years.
Since the Codes and Standards section of the Electrical Power PE exam makes up 10 questions out of the total 80 that you will be tested on, one of the questions we get asked the most is:
“What version of the National Electrical Code do I need for the Electrical PE Exam?”
The quickest answer is that as of the April 2015 Electrical PE Exam, the 2014 NEC is being used for exam questions.
If you have an older edition of the code, it is strongly recommended to upgrade to the latest version. If you go into the exam room with an older version, you are taking a gamble since:
- All 10 Codes and Standards questions will probably not be left unchanged from previous versions of the exam
- Some of the 10 Codes and Standards questions could very well be impacted by the new changes in the code
- NCEES could purposefully test you on some of the latest changes to make sure that you are familiar with the newest code revisions
- Changes in the code are a big deal, they only happen every three years
The code book is not cheap and usually retails for around $100.
There are two versions you can choose from. The Codebook, and the Code Handbook.
The codebook contains only the code and leaves the interpretation of it up to you, the reader
The handbook is filled with commentary to help clarify confusing topics, and does a better job at explaining the in laymen terms.
The Handbook is filled with useful illustrations and in chapter examples with step by step calculations.
We recommend spending the extra money on the Code Handbook.
Not just for the PE exam but also for your career in Electrical industry since it will help you understand the code in the manner that it was meant to be interpreted.
If you do not have the latest copy in your work library to study from and to take to the exam, talk to your boss about expensing the latest copy.
It is considered one of the most important pieces of literature for any electrical professional and every work place should have multiple copies.
Full disclosure, the following are amazon affiliate links. Any purchases made through them help contribute a small amount to this website. There are no additional costs associated to you.
Purchase the correct version of the National Electrical Code for the NCEES Electrical Power PE Exam
2014 NEC Code Book On Amazon:
2014 NEC Handbook On Amazon:
This is the Recommended handbook discussed in this article
2017 NEC Code Book On Amazon:
The 2017 version will not be used by NCEES until exams starting in 2018
2017 NEC Handbook On Amazon:
The 2017 version will not be used by NCEES until exams starting in 2018
Check for Yourself
Click Here To check for yourself which edition and version of the National Electrical Code is currently being used by NCEES for questions on the Electrical Power PE Exam.
Click on “Electrical and Computer: Power.”
Wait for the NCEES Principles and Practice of Engineering Examination Specifications file to load, then check the very top of the page.
It will look something like this:
Recommended Reading
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Electrical_Code
Free Online access to the most up to date National Electric Code (with clickable table of contents)
Click on “Free Access” in the center of the page:
Hello,
I want to make sure I’m buying the correct 2014 NEC Handbook that you are recommending.
Thanks
Daniell, thanks for the comment. I went ahead and added links to each of the following versions of the NEC at the bottom of this article to help visitors such as yourself looking for the correct version: 2014 Code Book, 2014 Handbook, 2017 Code Book, 2017 Handbook. The 2017 editions will not be tested on my NCEES until exams beginning in 2018.
I’ve heard from other engineers who have taken the exam and been burned by not using the correct version of the NEC, so it’s nice to see it reiterated here!
At my office they supply us each with the latest versions of the NEC as they come out, so I have 2011, 2014, and now 2017… Would there be any reason not to use the NEC 2017 on the April exam? I understand the exam i’ll be taking is using the 2014 NEC but i find it much easier to navigate through the 2017 since they outline each section at the beginning of it without having to flip through every page to find what you are looking for.
Patrick, essentially you are taking a risk, but it is pretty minor.
By walking into the exam with the 2017 NEC, you are hoping that any of the problems for the NEC section do not use any values that have changed slightly in the 2017 version.
Does your 2017 version show the changes?
I believe the handbook edition does.
If it does, at least you would know when to proceed with caution if you look up a table value, or reference an article for the exam, and the information you need is shaded to indicate that it has changed in the 2017 edition.
If you can, get your hands on the 2014 edition.
If you are feeling very confident with code, and the rest of your subjects then the risk may not be that big of a deal.
Does that make sense to you?
Zach Stone, P.E.
Hi Zach,
I’m taking the April exam in a couple of months. Just to clarify, the 2014 version of the NEC is still being used for the 2018 exams?
Best,
Lauren
My mistake, I should have read the entire article.
Thanks!
Lauren
No problem! I’m glad you were able to find what you were looking for. The rule of thumb for NCEES exams is that codebooks are adopted for the exams the year after they are released. Now that we are in 2018, any code books published in 2017 will be used for the exam.
Thanks Zack for an wonderful writing. Definitely, your information will be helpful for any new PE (power) taker.
It’s my pleasure. I’m glad you’ve found the information useful.
Hi Zach,
Do we need the personal NEC codebook for the computer-based exam?
Does the exam provide an NEC PDF on the screen?
Thank you
Hi Sha, you’ll need your own code books to study at home however when you take the exam all code books will be provided along with the NCEES Reference Handbook in digital format on the testing computer.
Questions
1. What is the difference between a paid subscription to NFPA Link and the FREE access? Why pay $11.99 a month for a subscription if FREE access is available?
2. When I click on the above link to 2017 edition of NEC code, it takes me to the latest (2023) edition. Is 2017 edition no longer available via FREE access?