Hawaii High Voltage Electrical Contractor (C-63) Books Allowed into Exam Package

Hawaii High Voltage Electrical Contractor (C-63) Books Allowed into Exam Package

If you’re preparing for the Hawaii High Voltage Electrical Contractor (C-63) trade exam, your biggest advantage is studying from the exact references you are allowed to use during the test. This “Books Allowed into Exam” package is built around the two core codebooks provided in the testing center for the C-63 examination. When you practice with the same references, you train the most important open-book exam skill: finding correct answers quickly and confidently under time pressure.

The C-63 classification focuses on electrical work above 600 volts phase-to-phase. The scope includes placing, installing, erecting, or connecting electrical wires, fixtures, appliances, apparatus, conduits, and raceways, plus trenching, backfilling, patching, and surface restoration tied to installing conduits and lines that transmit, transform, or utilize high-voltage electrical energy. That range of work demands both technical understanding and disciplined safety thinking. On the exam, you’ll need to recognize what a question is asking, identify which reference applies (NEC vs. NESC), and confirm the best answer using the code language.

This package keeps your preparation simple and aligned: you’ll focus on the National Electrical Code (NEC) and the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) that are listed for the exam and provided in the testing center. That means you can build your study plan around the real exam experience—open book, timed, and designed to reward accurate code navigation.

Open-book exams are not “easy” exams. They are speed-and-accuracy exams. If you can’t locate information efficiently, you can run out of time even when you generally understand the topic. The goal with this package is to help you build a repeatable method: interpret the question, select the correct reference, use the index and structure to find the rule, and confirm the final answer in the book text.

Exam Details

The Hawaii C-63 High Voltage Electrical Contractor trade exam is published with the following format:

• Number of Questions: 50
• Time Allowed: 120 minutes
• Minimum Passing Score: 75%

The exam content outline is organized into these areas (with the number of items per area):

• Transformers: 6
• General Electrical Knowledge: 5
• Conductors: 5
• Overhead Lines: 7
• Underground Lines: 4
• Equipment and Safety: 6
• Grounding and Bonding Methods: 5
• Service Drops and Laterals: 4
• Supporting Structures: 3
• Electric Supply Stations: 5

With 50 questions in 120 minutes, your average pace is a little over two minutes per question. In practice, some questions will be faster and some slower. The best test-takers protect time by using a consistent search routine: identify the main keyword, start with the index, confirm you’re in the correct section, and verify exceptions or special conditions before choosing an answer.

Because the outline covers both overhead and underground work, equipment and safety, grounding and bonding, and supply stations, you should expect questions that mix practical jobsite reasoning with code-confirmation. Your exam practice should reflect that: don’t just read—practice locating and confirming requirements the way you would during the test.

Open Book Test

The Hawaii C-63 examination is an open book exam. The listed reference materials are provided in the testing center for your use during the exam. The testing program also states that no highlighting or notes of any sort may be made in the book during the exam.

How to use open-book rules to your advantage: prepare as if you will be using clean books on exam day. Your speed should come from familiarity with the structure of each codebook, not from relying on markings. During study, practice these habits:

• NEC vs. NESC decision: train yourself to choose the correct reference early instead of searching both books.
• Index-first navigation: start with keywords and follow index entries rather than flipping through chapters.
• Confirm the final detail: read the actual language and verify exceptions, definitions, and conditions before answering.
• Move and return strategy: if a lookup takes too long, move on and return later to protect your time.

This “Books Allowed into Exam” package is designed to support that exact approach—practicing with the same two references listed for the C-63 exam and provided in the testing center.

Licensing Steps

Hawaii contractor licensing is overseen by the Contractors License Board under the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Professional and Vocational Licensing (PVL) Division. The trade exam is one part of the overall licensing process, and exam registration occurs after application approval.

While licensing situations can vary (first-time applicant, adding a classification, business entity vs. sole proprietor, and responsible managing employee arrangements), most C-63 applicants follow an exam-related sequence like this:

1. Confirm the classification: ensure C-63 High Voltage Electrical Contractor matches the work you plan to contract for.
2. Prepare and submit your application: complete the Contractors License Board application requirements for your licensing situation.
3. Receive approval to test: candidates are not allowed to register until the Board approves the application and issues the approval notice.
4. Schedule the exam: Hawaii contractor examinations are administered by PSI, and scheduling follows the approval process.
5. Pass the exam within eligibility: the exam bulletin states your eligibility is valid for 6 months, and you can test unlimited times during that 6-month period.
6. Complete remaining licensing steps: follow Board instructions for final licensing requirements after passing.

A practical plan is to begin codebook navigation practice while your application is in progress so you can schedule and test confidently once your approval is issued.

State Requirements

The Hawaii Contractors License Board provides official licensing guidance, forms, and renewal rules. Hawaii contractor licenses renew on a fixed schedule, with renewal due by September 30 of every even-numbered year, regardless of issuance date. Keeping renewal timing on your calendar is an important part of staying compliant once you are licensed.

For examination planning, the Board also explains that contractor examinations are administered by PSI and that applications must be approved before applicants can register for examinations. That approval-first process affects your timeline, so it helps to study early and maintain steady progress rather than waiting until the exam is already scheduled.

Reference Books

• NFPA 70 National Electrical Code (NEC), 2020 Edition
  The NEC is a primary reference for understanding electrical code requirements, definitions, and installation-related rules that appear across high-voltage exam topics. For C-63 preparation, it’s essential for building familiarity with code structure and improving your ability to confirm details quickly during open-book testing.
• ANSI C2-2017 National Electrical Safety Code (NESC), 2017 Edition
  The NESC is a primary reference for safety requirements and practical rules related to electric supply and communication lines and associated equipment. For C-63 candidates, it supports safety-focused reasoning and helps you confirm requirements tied to overhead lines, underground lines, supply stations, and related high-voltage work.

Exam Room Approved Books

The Hawaii C-63 exam is open book, and the testing program states that the following reference material is provided in the testing center for use during the examination:

• NFPA 70 National Electrical Code (NEC), 2020 Edition
  Provided in the testing center for use during the exam.
• ANSI C2-2017 National Electrical Safety Code (NESC), 2017 Edition
  Provided in the testing center for use during the exam.

Because the books are provided at the test site, your best strategy is to build your speed through practice: learn the layout, index structure, and common keyword patterns so you can locate answers efficiently without relying on notes or highlighting.

Test Information and Study Materials

1) Train the “right book first” habit. One of the biggest time-wasters in open-book exams is searching in the wrong reference. Practice deciding early whether a question is best answered using the NEC or the NESC. If the question is heavily safety-oriented and related to supply/distribution line work, you may often start in the NESC. If it is centered on code language for electrical requirements and definitions, you may start in the NEC. The more you practice, the faster that decision becomes.

2) Build a keyword routine for common C-63 categories. Each content area tends to use recurring language. During study, create a short list of “first keywords” you try when you see certain topics. Examples include:

• Transformers: transformer, vault, clearance, protection, grounding, enclosure
• Conductors: conductor, insulation, ampacity, termination, identification
• Overhead lines: clearance, span, attachment, supporting structure, guying
• Underground lines: burial, conduit, duct, raceway, backfill, separation
• Grounding and bonding: grounding, bonding, electrode, connection, continuity
• Equipment and safety: guarding, approach, protective equipment, hazard

You don’t need to memorize every term—your goal is to give yourself a consistent starting point so you can use the index quickly and adjust to a second keyword if needed.

3) Practice with timed mini-sets. Since you have 120 minutes for 50 questions, practice in short sets that mimic real pacing. Try 10-question drills and aim to keep most questions moving smoothly. If a lookup takes too long, mark it, move on, and come back. This trains you to protect time and avoid getting stuck.

4) Confirm exceptions and conditions. Many incorrect answers happen when a candidate finds a rule but misses an exception, a definition, or a condition that changes the requirement. When you locate the relevant section, read enough surrounding language to confirm whether special cases apply. That extra 10–20 seconds can prevent avoidable mistakes.

5) Review the outline by item count. Overhead lines, transformers, equipment and safety, and supply stations carry meaningful item counts. Spend extra practice time on those categories, but keep your preparation balanced so you can answer every category confidently.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep helps you reach your Hawaii C-63 goal by supporting a structured, trade-focused approach to open-book contractor exam preparation. Instead of trying to memorize everything, you learn how to work efficiently with the NEC and NESC under timed conditions—developing the organized navigation habits and practice-driven confidence that open-book exams reward.

Our approach emphasizes:

• Organized study guidance that helps you stay aligned with the published C-63 content areas.
• Reference navigation skills so you can locate requirements quickly and confirm details accurately.
• Practice-oriented preparation built around realistic timed drills that train exam pacing and decision-making.
• Confidence-building structure that helps you reduce guesswork and improve consistency on exam-style questions.

Results depend on your personal effort and test-day performance, but the right preparation structure can make your study time more efficient and help you feel ready when it’s time to test.

FAQ

Is the Hawaii C-63 High Voltage Electrical Contractor exam open book?

Yes. The C-63 exam is published as an open-book examination.

Which books are allowed into the exam for C-63?

The exam program lists the NEC 2020 and NESC 2017 as the reference materials provided in the testing center for use during the exam.

Are the NEC and NESC provided at the test center, or do I bring them?

The exam information states the listed reference materials are provided in the testing center for your use during the exam.

How many questions are on the C-63 exam and how long do I have?

The published exam format lists 50 questions with 120 minutes allowed.

What score do I need to pass the C-63 exam?

The minimum passing score is published as 75%.

Do I need approval before scheduling the C-63 exam?

Yes. Hawaii’s contractor exam process requires application approval before you are allowed to register for the examination.

How long is my exam eligibility valid after approval?

The PSI candidate bulletin states eligibility is valid for 6 months, and candidates can test unlimited times during that 6-month period.

What is the best way to study for an open-book electrical contractor exam?

Focus on navigation practice. Learn to choose the correct reference quickly (NEC vs. NESC), use the index efficiently, confirm exceptions and conditions, and practice timed drills so you can manage exam pacing.