Idaho Electrical Code: Which NEC Edition the State Uses

The Current Edition

Idaho's licensing materials identify the 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC), published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), for the Journeyman and Master electrician exams administered through PSI. Local inspection jurisdictions may apply amendments.

If you are preparing for your Idaho electrician exam, you need the 2023 NEC — not the 2020 or earlier editions. PSI's open-book exams are based on the adopted code edition, and exam questions reference the current code's article numbers, section numbering, and requirements. Using an outdated edition means your page references will not match the questions.

How Idaho Adopts the NEC

The Idaho Electrical Board, operating under DOPL, administers electrical licensing rules through IDAPA 24.39.10. The licensing materials identify the 2023 NEC as the reference edition for the Journeyman and Master exams; verify the currently enforced edition and any state-specific exceptions on the DOPL electrical program page.

Idaho typically does not adopt the NEC immediately upon publication. There is a lag between the NFPA release and the state's formal adoption, during which the board evaluates the changes and may propose state-specific exceptions. When studying for your exam, verify the currently enforced edition on the DOPL electrical program page rather than assuming the most recent NFPA publication is automatically in effect.

Local Amendments

Idaho's NEC adoption sets the statewide baseline, but cities and counties with their own electrical inspection programs can layer on local amendments. Meridian, for example, enforces the 2023 NEC with specific local modifications. Other municipalities with active building departments may adopt additional requirements that go beyond the state code.

For electricians working across multiple jurisdictions, this means the NEC is the floor, not necessarily the ceiling. A wiring method that satisfies the 2023 NEC at the state level might not meet Boise's local requirements, or vice versa. Always check with the local authority having jurisdiction before starting work in a city or county that runs its own inspection program.

The Exam Connection

The NASCLA Journeyman exam tests your ability to look up and apply NEC provisions under time pressure — 100 questions in roughly 270 minutes. The Master exam goes further, requiring advanced load calculations and system design problems that depend on knowing where specific provisions live in the code.

Both exams are open-book, but the binder rules are strict. Your NEC must be a printed copy, hole-punched and bound in a 3-ring binder. Permanent tabs with printed labels are allowed. Sticky notes, Post-it flags, and handwritten annotations are prohibited. Preparing your code book properly — tabbing major articles, highlighting frequently referenced tables — is as important as studying the content itself.

The Contractor Business and Law exam does not test NEC knowledge directly. Instead, it covers Idaho statutes, labor laws, and business practices from the DOPL Contractors' Business and Law Reference Manual.

The Idaho Electrician License Guide covers the full exam preparation logistics, including what materials to bring and how to organize your NEC for efficient lookup during the test.

See more Idaho guides →