Recommended Books & Tools
Code books, exam prep references, and essential tools we recommend for electricians studying for NEC licensing exams and working in the field.
Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, NEC Mastery earns from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page are affiliate links — if you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we'd use ourselves.
Code Books & Exam Prep
The references most electricians use to pass their licensing exam and look up code on the job.
NFPA 70: National Electrical Code (NEC), 2023 Edition
The official NEC published by NFPA. This is the book your exam is written from — every licensing exam in the US is scored against it. A non-negotiable reference for any electrician studying for journeyman or master.
Why we recommend it: Most state exams allow you to bring your own copy into the test. Tab it, highlight it, and learn to navigate it before exam day.
Ugly's Electrical References, 2026 Edition
The pocket-sized cheat sheet electricians actually carry on the job. Conduit fill, wire ampacity, motor data, conversions — fast lookups for everything you do daily.
Why we recommend it: Cheap, durable, and answers 80% of common field questions without opening the full code book. Most exam-takers also use it as a study supplement.
Tom Henry's Key Word Index
A specialized index that maps NEC topics to exact code sections by keyword. Designed specifically for open-book exam speed — finding the right article fast is what separates passers from re-testers.
Why we recommend it: On a timed open-book exam, your bottleneck is lookup speed, not knowledge. This index can shave minutes per question.
Essential Tools
Hand tools and test equipment that working electricians rely on every day.
Klein Tools 32500 11-in-1 Screwdriver / Nut Driver
The single most carried hand tool among working electricians. Combines 8 tip sizes and 3 nut driver sizes into one tool — replaces a whole drawer of drivers.
Why we recommend it: If you only buy one Klein tool, this is it. Used on virtually every residential and commercial service call.
Fluke 117 Electrician's True-RMS Multimeter
The industry-standard multimeter for electricians. True-RMS for accurate readings on non-linear loads (VFDs, electronics), non-contact voltage detection, and a low-impedance mode that ignores ghost voltages.
Why we recommend it: Fluke is the gold standard for field-grade meters. The 117 is the model most pros recommend for residential and light commercial work.
Pair Them With Our App
8,000+ NEC practice questions, calculators, and quick-reference tools — built for the same exams these books help you pass.
