State licensing boards (NEC-based)
Journeyman Electrician Exam
Journeyman Electrician License Exam
The state licensing exam an apprentice electrician must pass to work independently as a journeyman. Administered per state (often through PSI or Prometric) and based on the National Electrical Code (NEC).
Full program: 10 decks, 1,320 cards.
What's on the exam
PSI Journeyman Electrician content outline (80 scored items; Texas TDLR candidate bulletin) referenced to NEC 2023
Definitions, Calculations, Theory, and Plans
7.5%Art. 90 and NEC structure · Art. 100 definitions · Art. 110 general requirements and working space · Ohm's law, power, series/parallel circuits · Three-phase, power factor, transformer ratios · Voltage drop and circular-mil calculations · Plans, symbols, and one-line diagrams
Electrical Services, Service Equipment, and Separately Derived Systems
11.25%Art. 230 services, clearances, disconnects · Dwelling service sizing (310.12) · Service grounding and bonding (Art. 250) · Grounding electrode system and GEC sizing · Bonding jumpers and intersystem bonding · Separately derived systems (250.30)
Electrical Feeders
3.75%Art. 215 feeder sizing · Art. 220 feeder and service load calculations · Demand factors and neutral load · Feeder taps (240.21(B)) · Outside feeders (Art. 225)
Branch Circuit Calculations and Conductors
18.75%Art. 210 branch-circuit requirements · GFCI and AFCI protection · Dwelling receptacle outlets (210.52) · Art. 240 overcurrent protection · Art. 310 ampacity, correction, and adjustment · Equipment grounding conductor sizing
Electrical Wiring Methods and Electrical Materials
22.5%Art. 300 general wiring requirements · Underground installations (Table 300.5) · Boxes and box fill (Art. 314) · Cable wiring methods (Arts. 320–340) · Raceways (Arts. 342–362) and conduit fill (Chapter 9) · Wireways, cable trays, cords, fixture wires
Electrical Equipment and Devices
12.5%Switches and receptacles (Arts. 404, 406) · Panelboards and switchboards (Art. 408) · Luminaires (Art. 410) · Appliances and space heating (Arts. 422, 424) · Air-conditioning equipment (Art. 440) · Transformers (Art. 450) and capacitors
Motors and Generators
6.25%Motor full-load current tables · Motor conductor sizing · Overload protection · Short-circuit and ground-fault protection (Table 430.52) · Generators (Art. 445) and optional standby
Electrical Control Devices and Disconnecting Means
3.75%Motor control circuits and controllers · Class 1, 2, and 3 circuits (Arts. 722, 724, 725) · Disconnecting means rules
Special Occupancies, Equipment, and Conditions
11.25%Hazardous (classified) locations · Garages and motor fuel dispensing · Health care facilities · Marinas, agricultural buildings, mobile homes · Temporary installations · Signs, EV charging, pools and spas · Emergency and standby systems
Renewable Energy Technologies
2.5%PV systems (Art. 690) · Rapid shutdown · Interconnection (Art. 705) · Energy storage systems (Art. 706)
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Journeyman Electrician Exam cost?
Fees vary. Set per state; exam fees commonly run $30–$150, plus separate state license fees.
How long is the Journeyman Electrician Exam and how many questions does it have?
Varies by state; PSI's journeyman outline has 80 scored items — Varies by state (commonly 3–4 hours).
What do you need to pass the Journeyman Electrician Exam?
Varies by state; commonly a scaled score around 70–75%.
Can you retake the Journeyman Electrician Exam?
Permitted after a state-set waiting period; rules vary by state.
What is the best way to study for the Journeyman Electrician Exam?
Start from the official outline and your primary study materials: the exam is weighted by domain (Definitions, Calculations, Theory, and Plans 7.5%, Electrical Services, Service Equipment, and Separately Derived Systems 11.25%, Electrical Feeders 3.75%, Branch Circuit Calculations and Conductors 18.75%, Electrical Wiring Methods and Electrical Materials 22.5%, Electrical Equipment and Devices 12.5%, Motors and Generators 6.25%, Electrical Control Devices and Disconnecting Means 3.75%, Special Occupancies, Equipment, and Conditions 11.25%, Renewable Energy Technologies 2.5%). Once you've learned the material, spaced-repetition flashcards organized by those domains are an efficient way to retain it and refresh it before test day.
Ready to prepare?
Our Electrician Journeyman program is organized by this outline's domains and scheduled by spaced repetition, with a path from first card to test day.
Flashcards are a memory tool. Learn the material first, then use NoReread to retain it and refresh what you already know. It doesn't replace studying the subject.