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If you’re interested in becoming an electrical safety inspector, you must first be certified by the Ohio Board of Building Standards under the state Department of Commerce. There are several requirements to obtain this certification.

Experience Requirements for Electrical Safety Inspectors

Before you can become an electrical safety inspector, you must prove you have relevant experience, including one of the following:

• Journeyman electrician or equivalent for four years, two years as an electrician foreman, and two years of experience as a building department ESI trainee
• Journeyman electrician or equivalent for four years and three years of experience as a building department ESI trainee
• Four years of experience as a building department ESI trainee
• Journeyman electrician or equivalent for six years
• Registration as an electrical engineer in the state of Ohio

Once you have met at least one of these qualifications, you must pass either the International Code Council (ICC) or the National Certification Program for Construction Code Inspectors (NCPCCI) exams relevant to your job focus.

Required Examinations

There are two options for open-book examinations to obtain an electrical safety inspector certification in Ohio. The first option is to pass the ICC E1 and E2 exams. 

The E1 Residential Electrical Inspector Exam features 60 questions on the following topics:

• General requirements
• Devices, lighting fixtures, and appliances
• Wiring methods and power and lighting distribution
• Branch and circuit feeder requirements
• Swimming pools and similar installations

You will have two hours to complete this exam. 

The E2 Commercial Electrical Inspector Exam consists of 80 questions on the following topics:

• General requirements
• Services
• Branch circuit and feeder requirements
• General use equipment
• Wiring methods and distribution systems
• Special equipment
• Special occupancies
• Special systems

You will have 3.5 hours to complete this exam.

You must answer at least 75% of the questions on ICC exams correctly to pass. 

As an alternative to ICC testing, you may opt to take the NCPCCI 2A and 2B exams. The 2A Electrical Inspector One- and Two-Family Dwellings Exam includes 50 questions on the following topics:

• Cabinets, panelboards, switchboards, boxes, and conduit bodies
• Calculations of load
• Calculations of wire size
• Conductors and overcurrent protection on the load side of the service
• Lighting and utilization equipment
• Service equipment and conductors on the supply side of the service
• Special installations or constructions
• Switches, disconnects, and controllers
• Wiring methods

The 2B Electrical General Exam features 50 questions that cover similar topics:

• Cabinets, panelboards, switchboards, boxes, and conduit bodies
• Calculations of load
• Calculations of wire size
• Conductors and overcurrent protection on the load side of the service
• Generators other than dwellings
• Lighting and utilization equipment
• Motors other than dwellings
• Service equipment and conductors on the supply side of the service
• Special installations or constructions
• Special occupancies
• Switches, disconnects, and controllers
• Wiring methods

You will have two hours to complete each exam, and you must answer a minimum of 70% of the questions correctly to pass.

Successful Exam Prep

The right exam prep program for working professionals meets your needs with 24/7 online access to course materials, so you can manage the pace of learning. If you’re ready to obtain an electrical safety inspector certification in Ohio, contact RocketCert today to get started.