- BEE-AC is a proctored, in-person performance assessment through CertTEC's online Examination Management System - not a multiple-choice-only test.
- Exam fee is USD 100 per certification; the passing threshold is 70%.
- You'll work hands-on with a Nida 130E (or later) trainer, two CertTEC assessment circuit cards, a multimeter, a function generator, and an oscilloscope.
- Certification is valid for 3 years, with renewal via work verification, 18 Alternate Recertification Credits, or a knowledge exam.
Exam Format Snapshot
Before you memorize a single formula, get the format straight in your head - it changes how you study. BEE-AC, administered by Certifying Technical Employee Competence (CertTEC), a division of SpaceTEC Partners, Inc., is a proctored, in-person performance assessment delivered through SPI's online Examination Management System. That means you're not just bubbling in answers; you're demonstrating that you can set up instruments, take real waveform measurements, and troubleshoot live circuits under observation.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Certifying body | CertTEC (a division of SpaceTEC Partners, Inc.) |
| Exam fee | USD 100 per certification |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Format | Proctored, in-person performance assessment via SPI's Examination Management System |
| Validity period | 3 years |
| Exam spec revision | SPI catalog revised March 1, 2025 |
For a deeper walkthrough of how these pieces fit together, see the BEE-AC Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt, and if you're still weighing whether the exam matches your background, the How Hard Is the BEE-AC Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 breaks down what the performance format actually feels like from a candidate's chair.
The 12 CertTEC AC Domains, Condensed
CertTEC publishes its AC competency topics as twelve distinct domains. You won't necessarily be quizzed on each in equal measure, but every domain can show up in some form on your assessment cards, so treat this list as your master checklist rather than a menu to pick from.
Domain 1: Principles of Alternating Current
The foundation everything else builds on - sine wave generation, frequency, period, phase relationships, and RMS vs. peak values.
- Be able to read a waveform on the oscilloscope and identify amplitude, frequency, and phase shift on sight.
Domain 3: Principles of Inductance & Domain 5: Principles of Capacitance
These two domains are frequently tested together because they behave as mirror opposites in AC circuits. Know how each stores and releases energy, and how each reacts to changing frequency.
- Practice predicting how inductive and capacitive reactance shift as frequency increases or decreases.
Domain 4: Transformer Theory
Expect practical questions on winding ratios, polarity, and - per the certifying body's stated practical focus - identifying transformer winding faults on a live assessment card.
- Practice tracing primary and secondary windings and locating an intentionally introduced open or shorted winding.
Domain 8: RC, RL, and RCL Principles
This is where troubleshooting skill gets tested directly. The exam's stated practical focus explicitly includes RC/RL circuit troubleshooting, so this domain deserves dedicated bench time, not just reading.
- Be fluent in calculating impedance, phase angle, and resonance behavior for series and parallel configurations.
Domain 10: Test Equipment and Measurements
Instrument setup and waveform measurement are named as core practical focus areas. You need to be fast and accurate with a multimeter, function generator, and oscilloscope - not just able to name their parts.
- Time yourself setting up an oscilloscope from a cold start until you have a stable, correctly triggered waveform.
The remaining domains round out the picture: Domain 2 (Electronic Components and Terms) covers component identification and terminology; Domain 6 (AC Generator Theory) and Domain 7 (AC Motor Theory) cover rotating machinery fundamentals; Domain 9 (Cabling) covers conductor types, sizing, and termination practices; Domain 11 (Basic Electrical Safety Precautions) covers lockout/tagout and safe handling of energized circuits; and Domain 12 (Mathematics and Formulas) underpins every calculation you'll do across the other eleven. For the full breakdown of how each domain is weighted and tested, read the BEE-AC Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 12 Content Areas.
Key Takeaway
Don't isolate domains in your study plan. Inductance, capacitance, transformers, and RC/RL circuits are tightly linked - study them in that sequence so each concept reinforces the next.
Equipment You'll Touch on Test Day
Because BEE-AC is a hands-on performance assessment, the specific equipment list matters as much as the content list. According to the exam's stated equipment requirements, candidates work with:
- Two CertTEC assessment circuit cards per discipline - the physical boards where faults are built in for you to diagnose.
- A Nida 130E trainer (or later model) - the platform the circuit cards plug into.
- A multimeter - for voltage, resistance, and continuity checks.
- A function generator - to inject test signals into a circuit under evaluation.
- An oscilloscope - to visualize and measure the resulting waveforms.
If you've never physically operated a Nida trainer, prioritize getting time on one - or an equivalent setup - before your exam date. Reading about impedance is not the same as dialing in a function generator's frequency knob under time pressure while a proctor watches.
Fees, Eligibility, and Renewal Math
BEE-AC costs USD 100 per certification to sit, and you need a 70% score to pass. There's no separate "study package" fee baked into that number - it's the exam fee itself. For a full cost breakdown including how renewal fees stack up over time, see the BEE-AC Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
Getting In the Door
Eligibility isn't limited to one background. You can qualify through any of these routes:
- Relevant training or documented work experience
- A relevant military rating or assignment
- Graduation from a relevant college or technical-school program
If you're not sure which route applies to you, the BEE-AC Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify page walks through each path in detail.
Keeping It Current
Certification is valid for 3 years from the date earned. When renewal comes around, you have three alternatives, each with its own fee:
| Renewal Route | Requirement | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Work verification (emailed certificate) | Verified relevant employment during at least 12 of the preceding 36 months | USD 10 |
| Work verification (mailed hard copy/ID card) | Same employment verification, physical documents | USD 25 |
| Alternate Recertification Credits | At least 18 credits earned within the certification period | USD 15 |
| Knowledge exam | Pass an equivalent knowledge-based exam | USD 50 |
Whichever route you plan to use, start tracking employment dates or credit accumulation well before your 3-year window closes - scrambling for documentation at the deadline is avoidable.
A Final-Week Review Schedule by Domain
Generic study techniques like spaced repetition or timed review blocks only help if they're pointed at the right material. Here's a compressed, domain-anchored schedule for the final stretch before your exam date - pair it with the fuller multi-week plan in the study guide linked above.
AC Fundamentals & Components
- Review Domain 1 (Principles of Alternating Current) waveform math
- Drill Domain 2 (Electronic Components and Terms) identification flashcards
Reactive Components & Transformers
- Bench-practice Domain 3 (Inductance) and Domain 5 (Capacitance) reactance calculations
- Trace windings and simulate faults for Domain 4 (Transformer Theory)
Machines, Circuits, and Cabling
- Cover Domain 6 (AC Generator Theory) and Domain 7 (AC Motor Theory) side by side
- Run full RC/RL/RCL troubleshooting scenarios for Domain 8
- Review Domain 9 (Cabling) sizing and termination rules
Instruments, Safety, and Math
- Time yourself on full instrument setup (Domain 10)
- Review lockout/tagout and Domain 11 safety procedures
- Re-work Domain 12 formulas until they're automatic
Formulas and Concepts You Cannot Skip
Domain 12 (Mathematics and Formulas) isn't a standalone topic - it's the toolkit you use inside every other domain. At minimum, be able to calculate without hesitation:
- RMS, peak, and peak-to-peak voltage/current conversions (Domain 1)
- Inductive reactance (XL) and capacitive reactance (XC) at a given frequency (Domains 3 & 5)
- Transformer turns ratio and voltage/current relationships (Domain 4)
- Total impedance and phase angle in series and parallel RC/RL/RCL circuits (Domain 8)
- Power factor and apparent, real, and reactive power (spans multiple domains)
If a formula takes you more than a few seconds to recall on paper, it will slow you down far more under a proctored, hands-on assessment where you're also managing equipment. Practice these until they're reflexive, not looked-up.
Key Takeaway
Math fluency is what lets you move fast enough on the Nida trainer to finish instrument setup, take your measurements, and diagnose a fault within the assessment's practical flow.
Once your domain knowledge and math are solid, sharpen your exam-day execution with realistic practice questions on our BEE-AC practice test platform - working through scenario-style questions on the main practice site before your appointment helps translate bench skills into exam-format answers. If you're also weighing the return on the certification itself, the Is the BEE-AC Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 article and the BEE-AC Jobs page cover what the credential opens up on the employment side.
FAQ
It's a proctored, in-person performance assessment delivered through SPI's online Examination Management System - you demonstrate skills on real equipment rather than answering only multiple-choice questions.
A 70% passing score. For more detail on how scoring works, see the BEE-AC Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass guide.
Three years from the date you earn it, after which you renew through work verification, Alternate Recertification Credits, or a knowledge exam.
A Nida 130E or later trainer, CertTEC assessment circuit cards, a multimeter, a function generator, and an oscilloscope. Comfort with instrument setup and waveform measurement is essential.
Check the BEE-AC Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling article for current scheduling guidance, and confirm specifics with your registration provider.