Arizona Electrical and Transmission Lines Commercial Contractor (A-17) Exam Book Package

Arizona Electrical and Transmission Lines Commercial Contractor (A-17) Exam Book Package

The Arizona Electrical and Transmission Lines Commercial Contractor (A-17) Exam Book Package is designed for candidates preparing for the Arizona A-17 Electrical and Transmission Lines commercial contractor trade exam. This package brings together the key references used to study transmission lines, public right-of-way electrical work, poles and structures, overhead lines, underground lines, conductors, transformers, grounding methods, equipment over 600 volts, electrical supply stations, photovoltaic systems, OSHA construction safety, electrical code requirements, and electrical safety code requirements.

The Arizona A-17 classification is focused on commercial electrical and transmission line work. Candidates preparing for this license should be comfortable with installation, alteration, and repair of transmission lines on public right-of-ways, erection of poles, guying systems, tower line erection, street lighting of all voltages, underground duct systems for signal and communication installations, transformers, circuit breakers, capacitors, primary metering devices, and related electrical construction equipment. Systems of less than 600 volts on or inside a building are excluded from this classification.

This exam book package is a strong fit for electrical transmission line contractors, lineworkers, utility construction professionals, electrical supervisors, street lighting contractors, underground utility electrical professionals, photovoltaic professionals, and qualifying parties preparing for the Arizona A-17 commercial contractor exam. The references support both open book navigation and technical study in the major electrical and transmission line subjects covered by the exam.

Transmission line work requires careful attention to safety, grounding, conductors, support structures, high-voltage equipment, supply stations, underground installations, overhead systems, photovoltaic concepts, and field coordination. Candidates should understand how electrical systems are constructed, protected, supported, grounded, maintained, and installed safely. This package supports study across code-based topics, line construction practices, electrical safety rules, and trade knowledge.

Open book contractor exams require more than owning the references. Candidates need to know how each book is organized, which topics belong in each reference, and how to locate information quickly under time pressure. A strong study plan includes reviewing the exam content outline, reading through the approved references, learning indexes and chapter layouts, creating approved permanent tabs, highlighting useful sections before exam day, and practicing timed lookup. The goal is to make the approved references familiar enough that candidates can use them efficiently during the exam.

Exam Details

The Arizona A-17 Electrical and Transmission Lines commercial contractor exam includes 90 questions, a 225-minute time limit, and a minimum passing score of 70%. The exam content outline includes general electrical knowledge, transformers, conductors, grounding methods, poles and structures, underground lines, overhead lines, equipment over 600 volts, electrical supply stations, equipment and safety, and photovoltaics.

The content outline gives candidates a clear study roadmap. General electrical knowledge includes 10 questions. Transformers includes 10 questions. Conductors includes 10 questions. Grounding methods includes 8 questions. Poles and structures includes 8 questions. Underground lines includes 6 questions. Overhead lines includes 6 questions. Equipment over 600 volts includes 7 questions. Electrical supply stations includes 5 questions. Equipment and safety includes 10 questions. Photovoltaics includes 10 questions.

The exam may include direct reference lookup questions and questions based on trade knowledge or general industry practices. Candidates should be ready to answer questions involving electrical fundamentals, conductors, grounding, transformers, line construction, supply stations, utility equipment, high-voltage equipment, photovoltaic system concepts, OSHA safety, NEC requirements, and NESC requirements.

The Arizona A-17 scope includes installation, alteration, and repair of transmission lines on public right-of-ways. It includes erection of poles, guying systems, tower line erection, street lighting of all voltages, and underground systems including ducts for signal, communication, and similar installations. Installing transformers, circuit breakers, capacitors, primary metering devices, and other related equipment of electrical construction is also included. Systems of less than 600 volts on or inside a building are excluded.

Because the exam includes 90 questions and allows 225 minutes, candidates should practice efficient reference navigation. The goal is to read the question, identify the topic, select the correct reference, and locate the answer without wasting time. Candidates who understand where to find OSHA requirements, NEC provisions, NESC rules, line construction guidance, electrical handbook information, and photovoltaic topics are better prepared for the open book format.

Open Book Test

The Arizona A-17 Electrical and Transmission Lines commercial contractor exam is an open book test. Candidates are responsible for bringing their own approved references to the examination center and following all testing center rules for book preparation, tabs, notes, calculators, and permitted materials.

The exam-room-approved references for the A-17 exam are Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA), NFPA 70 - National Electrical Code, 2017 edition, and National Electrical Safety Code, 2017. These references should be prepared carefully before exam day so candidates can locate safety, electrical code, grounding, conductor, transmission, and supply system information quickly.

Reference materials may be highlighted, underlined, annotated, and indexed before the examination session. Candidates may not write, highlight, underline, or index references during the exam. All book preparation should be completed before test day, including highlighting, notes, indexes, and permanent tabs.

References may be tabbed or indexed with permanent tabs only. Permanent tabs are tabs that would tear the page if removed. Temporary tabs, Post-It notes, removable notes, loose papers, or tabs that can be removed without tearing the page are not allowed. Candidates should review their references before the exam and remove unapproved temporary tabs or loose materials.

A silent, nonprinting, non-programmable calculator may be used in the examination center. Downloaded references may be brought into the testing center when they are bound. Candidates may use spiral binding or place hole-punched pages in a binder when permitted by current testing rules.

American Electrician's Handbook, 17th Edition, Lineman’s and Cableman’s Handbook, and Photovoltaic Systems, 3rd Edition, 2011 are study references for this package. They help candidates strengthen trade knowledge before test day, but they are not allowed in the examination center. Candidates should use them for preparation and rely on the approved exam-room references during testing.

Licensing Steps

Arizona contractor licensing is handled through the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. A candidate pursuing the Arizona Electrical and Transmission Lines Commercial Contractor (A-17) license should begin by confirming that the A-17 commercial classification matches the work the business intends to perform. The classification should align with transmission line work, public right-of-way electrical construction, poles, towers, guying systems, overhead and underground line work, transformers, circuit breakers, capacitors, primary metering devices, street lighting, and related electrical construction equipment.

After confirming the proper classification, the candidate should review the required examination path. Arizona contractor licensing may include a trade examination, statutes and rules requirements, qualifying party requirements, experience requirements, bonding, business entity information, and application documentation. This exam book package supports preparation for the technical trade exam portion of the licensing process.

The qualifying party is responsible for demonstrating the knowledge and experience required for the license classification. Candidates should prepare for the A-17 trade exam using the approved references and supplemental study materials included in this package. A practical preparation routine should include reviewing OSHA, studying the 2017 National Electrical Code, learning the 2017 National Electrical Safety Code, reviewing line construction topics, and studying photovoltaic system fundamentals.

After preparation, the candidate can schedule the required examination through the proper testing process and complete the exam according to current procedures. Once examination requirements are completed, the applicant continues through the Arizona contractor license application process. This may include submitting the correct application, naming the qualifying party, satisfying experience requirements, obtaining any required bond, and meeting other state licensing requirements that apply to the classification and business structure.

This exam book package does not replace the state license application. It supports the study portion of the licensing path by giving candidates the references needed to prepare for transmission lines, overhead systems, underground systems, transformers, conductors, grounding, equipment over 600 volts, supply stations, photovoltaics, OSHA safety, NEC requirements, NESC requirements, and electrical trade knowledge connected to the Arizona A-17 classification.

State Requirements

The Arizona Registrar of Contractors issues residential, commercial, and dual contractor license classifications. The A-17 classification is a commercial electrical and transmission lines classification. Candidates preparing for this license should understand the commercial scope of work and the limits of the classification.

The A-17 classification includes installation, alteration, and repair of transmission lines on public right-of-ways. It includes poles, guying systems, tower line erection, street lighting of all voltages, and underground systems including ducts for signal, communication, and similar installations. It also includes transformers, circuit breakers, capacitors, primary metering devices, and other related equipment of electrical construction.

The classification excludes all systems of less than 600 volts on or inside a building. Candidates should understand this limit because scope questions and licensing responsibilities often depend on knowing what work is included and what work falls outside the classification.

For study purposes, candidates should connect the license scope to the exam content outline. General electrical knowledge questions may involve electrical theory, common terminology, calculations, and electrical system fundamentals. Transformer questions may involve transformer types, operation, connections, protection, installation, and field practices. Conductor questions may involve conductor materials, sizing concepts, ampacity, installation, protection, and line construction applications.

Grounding methods questions may involve grounding electrodes, bonding, system grounding, equipment grounding, grounding conductors, and safe grounding practices. Poles and structures questions may involve poles, towers, guying, support systems, clearances, loading awareness, and installation practices. Underground line questions may involve ducts, conduits, cables, trenching coordination, pulling, protection, and underground system layout. Overhead line questions may involve conductors, supports, clearances, sag, attachments, hardware, and line construction methods.

Equipment over 600 volts and electrical supply station questions may involve high-voltage equipment, protective devices, transformers, capacitors, switches, circuit breakers, metering equipment, clearances, and safe operation. Photovoltaic questions may involve PV system components, arrays, conductors, disconnects, grounding, overcurrent protection, system configuration, and safety.

Reference Books

• Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA)
  This construction safety reference supports preparation for OSHA-related exam content, including electrical safety, personal protective equipment, fall protection, ladders, cranes and rigging awareness, excavation awareness, tools, material handling, hazard communication, and safe jobsite practices.
• NFPA 70 - National Electrical Code, 2017 edition
  This electrical code reference supports study of electrical installations, wiring methods, conductors, overcurrent protection, grounding and bonding, equipment requirements, photovoltaic systems, services, feeders, branch circuits, and code navigation.
• National Electrical Safety Code 2017
  This electrical safety code reference supports study of overhead and underground electric supply systems, utility line safety, clearances, grounding, supply stations, conductors, poles, structures, and work practices for electrical supply and communication lines.
• American Electrician's Handbook, 17th Edition
  This electrical trade reference supports study of electrical theory, calculations, equipment, conductors, transformers, grounding, motors, distribution systems, wiring methods, and practical electrical field knowledge.
• Lineman’s and Cableman’s Handbook
  This line construction reference supports study of overhead and underground line work, poles, towers, conductors, cables, transformers, rigging awareness, tools, line equipment, grounding, safety practices, and utility construction methods.
• Photovoltaic Systems, 3rd Edition, 2011
  This photovoltaic reference supports study of solar electric system components, arrays, modules, inverters, conductors, disconnects, grounding, overcurrent protection, system sizing concepts, installation practices, and PV safety.

Exam Room Approved Books

• Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA)
  This reference may be used in the exam room for OSHA construction safety questions, including electrical jobsite hazards, fall protection, personal protective equipment, tools, material handling, excavation awareness, and safe work practices.
• NFPA 70 - National Electrical Code, 2017 edition
  This reference may be used in the exam room for NEC questions involving conductors, grounding and bonding, overcurrent protection, wiring methods, photovoltaic systems, equipment, and electrical code navigation.
• National Electrical Safety Code 2017
  This reference may be used in the exam room for electrical supply system questions involving overhead lines, underground lines, supply stations, clearances, grounding, structures, and utility safety requirements.

Test Information and Study Materials

A strong study plan should begin with the A-17 exam content outline. Candidates should divide preparation across general electrical knowledge, transformers, conductors, grounding methods, poles and structures, underground lines, overhead lines, equipment over 600 volts, electrical supply stations, equipment and safety, and photovoltaics. Since the exam includes both code-based and trade knowledge questions, candidates should study the approved references and the supplemental technical references together.

When studying OSHA, candidates should focus on safety topics that apply to electrical and transmission line work. This may include personal protective equipment, fall protection, ladders, excavation awareness, hand and power tools, material handling, electrical hazards, cranes and hoisting awareness, hazard communication, and jobsite safety planning. Transmission line work can involve elevated work, heavy materials, energized-equipment awareness, underground hazards, and public right-of-way conditions.

When studying the National Electrical Code, candidates should focus on grounding and bonding, conductors, overcurrent protection, equipment, wiring methods, photovoltaic systems, services, feeders, disconnecting means, and code navigation. Candidates should practice using the index, article structure, definitions, tables, and informational notes to locate information efficiently.

When studying the National Electrical Safety Code, candidates should focus on rules that apply to electric supply systems, communication lines, overhead line clearances, underground line installations, supply stations, grounding, structures, utility work practices, conductors, and line safety. This reference is especially important for A-17 candidates because the license scope centers on transmission lines and public right-of-way electrical construction.

American Electrician's Handbook supports the technical side of preparation. Candidates should use it to review electrical theory, calculations, transformers, conductors, grounding, distribution systems, equipment, and practical field knowledge. Lineman’s and Cableman’s Handbook supports line construction study, including poles, towers, conductors, cables, transformers, tools, grounding, overhead and underground systems, and line work practices.

Photovoltaic Systems, 3rd Edition, 2011 supports the photovoltaics portion of the exam. Candidates should review PV modules, arrays, inverters, conductors, disconnects, grounding, overcurrent protection, system configuration, site considerations, and safety. Because photovoltaics makes up a meaningful portion of the A-17 exam content outline, candidates should give this topic focused study time instead of treating it as a minor add-on.

Preparation should include repeated timed lookup practice. Candidates should read a question, identify whether it is asking about OSHA, NEC, NESC, transformers, conductors, grounding, overhead lines, underground lines, supply stations, high-voltage equipment, line construction, or photovoltaics, then choose the correct reference and locate the answer efficiently. Over time, this builds familiarity with the books and helps candidates manage the open book testing format.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep helps contractor candidates prepare with organized study guidance, trade-focused review, and exam preparation resources built around licensing exams. For the Arizona Electrical and Transmission Lines Commercial Contractor (A-17) exam, candidates need to understand transmission line construction, overhead systems, underground systems, transformers, conductors, grounding, electrical supply stations, high-voltage equipment, photovoltaics, OSHA safety, NEC requirements, and NESC requirements while also learning how to navigate references under timed conditions.

This book package supports that preparation by giving candidates the references needed for structured study. OSHA supports jobsite safety preparation. NFPA 70 - National Electrical Code, 2017 edition supports electrical code navigation. National Electrical Safety Code 2017 supports utility line, supply station, and electrical safety code study. American Electrician's Handbook supports electrical trade knowledge. Lineman’s and Cableman’s Handbook supports line construction preparation. Photovoltaic Systems supports PV system study.

1 Exam Prep focuses on practical preparation. Candidates should know where information is located, how the books are organized, and which reference applies to each topic. With consistent review, proper book organization, and practice-oriented study, candidates can approach the Arizona A-17 exam with a clearer strategy and stronger confidence.

For open book exams, confidence comes from preparation and familiarity. Candidates who study the references, organize their books correctly, and practice timed lookup are better prepared for the testing experience. The goal is not to promise a specific result. The goal is to support realistic preparation through structured review, reference navigation, trade-focused study, and exam-day readiness.

FAQ Section

What books are included in this Arizona A-17 Exam Book Package?

This package includes Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA), NFPA 70 - National Electrical Code, 2017 edition, National Electrical Safety Code 2017, American Electrician's Handbook, 17th Edition, Lineman’s and Cableman’s Handbook, and Photovoltaic Systems, 3rd Edition, 2011.

Is the Arizona A-17 Electrical and Transmission Lines exam open book?

Yes. The Arizona A-17 Electrical and Transmission Lines commercial contractor exam is an open book test. Candidates are responsible for bringing their own approved references and following exam center rules for tabs, highlighting, annotations, indexing, calculators, and permitted materials.

How many questions are on the Arizona A-17 exam?

The Arizona A-17 exam includes 90 questions. The time allowed is 225 minutes, and the minimum passing score is 70%.

What topics are covered on the Arizona A-17 exam?

The exam content outline includes general electrical knowledge, transformers, conductors, grounding methods, poles and structures, underground lines, overhead lines, equipment over 600 volts, electrical supply stations, equipment and safety, and photovoltaics.

Which books are approved for the exam room?

The exam-room-approved references are Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA), NFPA 70 - National Electrical Code, 2017 edition, and National Electrical Safety Code 2017.

Are American Electrician's Handbook, Lineman’s and Cableman’s Handbook, and Photovoltaic Systems allowed in the exam room?

No. American Electrician's Handbook, Lineman’s and Cableman’s Handbook, and Photovoltaic Systems are study references for preparation, but they are not allowed in the examination center.

Why is the National Electrical Safety Code included?

The National Electrical Safety Code supports study of overhead and underground electric supply systems, utility line clearances, grounding, supply stations, poles, structures, conductors, and safety practices for electric supply and communication lines.

Why is Photovoltaic Systems included in this package?

Photovoltaics is part of the A-17 exam content outline. Photovoltaic Systems supports study of PV modules, arrays, inverters, conductors, disconnects, grounding, overcurrent protection, system configuration, and PV safety.

Can I mark my books before exam day?

Yes. References may be highlighted, underlined, annotated, and indexed before the exam session. Candidates may not write, highlight, underline, or index the books during the exam.

Are removable tabs allowed in the exam books?

No. Temporary tabs, Post-It notes, removable notes, and removable sticky tabs are not allowed. Permanent tabs are allowed when they would tear the page if removed.

What work is covered by the Arizona A-17 classification?

The A-17 classification covers installation, alteration, and repair of transmission lines on public right-of-ways, including poles, guying systems, tower line erection, street lighting of all voltages, underground systems for signal and communication installations, transformers, circuit breakers, capacitors, primary metering devices, and related electrical construction equipment. Systems of less than 600 volts on or inside a building are excluded.

Who should use this Arizona A-17 Exam Book Package?

This package is intended for candidates preparing for the Arizona Electrical and Transmission Lines Commercial Contractor (A-17) exam and for contractors who want focused references for transmission lines, overhead systems, underground systems, transformers, conductors, grounding, OSHA safety, NEC, NESC, line construction, and photovoltaic study.