Journeyman Electrician Exam Prep
Start your journeyman electrician exam prep with the 25 practice questions below — every answer is explained — then use the four-week study plan. The code exercises use the 2023 NEC; study with the edition required by your exam, which may be different.
Journeyman practice questions (25, with answers)
Original, unofficial practice — not questions from any state exam or a full-length test. These are hypothetical code-study problems, not installation instructions.
JEP-01 · Electrical theory
A 20-Ω resistor and a 30-Ω resistor are connected in parallel across 120 V. Ignore wire resistance. What total current does the source supply?
- A. 2.4 A
- B. 4 A
- C. 6 A
- D. 10 A
Reveal answer and explanation
Answer: D. 10 A
Each resistor has the full 120 V across it. Branch currents: 120 ÷ 20 = 6 A and 120 ÷ 30 = 4 A. The source supplies the sum: 6 + 4 = 10 A. A treats the resistors as series (120 ÷ 50). B and C are single branch currents, not the total the question asks for.
Reference: Theory (no NEC section). Source: OpenStax University Physics Vol. 2, §10.2 Resistors in Series and Parallel; OpenStax University Physics Vol. 2, §9.4 Ohm's Law.
JEP-02 · Electrical theory
A 5,760-W resistive load operates at 240 V, single-phase. What current does it draw?
- A. 12 A
- B. 20 A
- C. 24 A
- D. 48 A
Reveal answer and explanation
Answer: C. 24 A
For a resistive load, I = P ÷ E = 5,760 ÷ 240 = 24 A. D divides by 120 V instead of the 240 V in the question. A is half the correct value. B is a common breaker size, not a calculated result. The question asks for load current — not a conductor or breaker size.
Reference: Theory (no NEC section). Source: OpenStax University Physics Vol. 2, §9.5 Electrical Energy and Power.
JEP-03 · Electrical theory
A balanced 15-kW resistive heater is supplied at 208 V line-to-line, three-phase. What is the line current?
- A. 24.0 A
- B. 36.1 A
- C. 41.6 A
- D. 72.1 A
Reveal answer and explanation
Answer: C. 41.6 A
For a balanced three-phase load, I = P ÷ (E × √3) = 15,000 ÷ (208 × 1.732) = 41.6 A. The √3 accounts for the line/phase relationships in a balanced three-phase system; the resistive load has unity power factor. D leaves out √3 (the single-phase formula). A divides by 3 instead of √3. B uses 240 V — always use the system voltage given.
Reference: Theory (no NEC section). Source: LibreTexts, AC Electrical Circuit Analysis (Fiore), §9.3 Three-Phase Connections; OpenStax University Physics Vol. 2, §9.5 Electrical Energy and Power.
JEP-04 · Electrical theory
A 120-V, 16-A resistive load is 90 ft (one way) from the panel on a two-wire, single-phase circuit using 12 AWG stranded copper. For this exercise, use a conductor resistance of 1.98 Ω per 1,000 ft and ignore reactance. What is the approximate voltage drop?
- A. 2.85 V
- B. 4.75 V
- C. 11.4 V
- D. 5.70 V
Reveal answer and explanation
Answer: D. 5.70 V
For this two-wire resistive approximation, voltage drop = 2 × I × R × L ÷ 1,000 = 2 × 16 × 1.98 × 90 ÷ 1,000 = 5.70 V, which is 4.75% of 120 V. The 2 is there because current flows out on one conductor and back on the other. A leaves out the 2. C counts the round trip twice. B is the percent drop (4.75%) read as volts — check the units the question asks for.
Reference: Ohm’s law; conductor resistance is supplied as an exercise input. Source: OpenStax University Physics Vol. 2, §9.4 Ohm's Law.
JEP-05 · Using the Code
The branch-circuit voltage-drop percentage people often quote from the NEC appears in an informational note. Under 90.5(C), informational notes are:
- A. Explanatory material that is not enforceable as a requirement
- B. Mandatory wherever the NEC is adopted
- C. Mandatory only for feeders
- D. Enforceable only in dwelling units
Reveal answer and explanation
Answer: A. Explanatory material that is not enforceable as a requirement
90.5(C) says informational notes explain or point to other material and are not enforceable requirements. A separate mandatory rule can still impose a voltage-drop limit; the note itself does not. B, C, and D add conditions the Code doesn't contain.
Code location (2023 NEC): 90.5(C). Source: NFPA 70, 2023 National Electrical Code — official read-only access.
JEP-06 · Branch circuits and overcurrent protection
A branch circuit supplies a 32-A continuous load and nothing else. The assembly, including the breaker, is not listed for operation at 100% of its rating. Under 210.20(A), what is the minimum standard breaker rating before checking other equipment and conductor limits?
- A. 35 A
- B. 40 A
- C. 45 A
- D. 50 A
Reveal answer and explanation
Answer: B. 40 A
The overcurrent device must be at least 125% of the continuous load: 32 × 1.25 = 40 A, and 40 A is a standard rating in 240.6(A). A is below 125%. C and D exceed the minimum; this calculation alone does not establish whether either is permitted for the equipment and conductors.
Code location (2023 NEC): 210.20(A); Table 240.6(A); Article 100, Continuous Load. Source: NFPA 70, 2023 National Electrical Code — official read-only access.
JEP-07 · Conductors and ampacity
Six current-carrying 10 AWG THHN copper conductors are installed in one EMT raceway longer than 24 in., in a dry location at 30 °C (86 °F) ambient. What is their ampacity after adjustment, before considering terminal limits?
- A. 28 A
- B. 32 A
- C. 35 A
- D. 40 A
Reveal answer and explanation
Answer: B. 32 A
Start from the 90 °C column (40 A) because THHN is a 90 °C conductor. Four to six current-carrying conductors take an 80% adjustment: 40 × 0.80 = 32 A. D skips the adjustment. C is the 75 °C table value with no adjustment. A uses 70%, the factor for seven to nine conductors. This is adjusted conductor ampacity, not permission to use a 32-A breaker; overcurrent protection and termination requirements are separate checks.
Code location (2023 NEC): Table 310.16; Table 310.15(C)(1). Source: NFPA 70, 2023 National Electrical Code — official read-only access; HELUKABEL, NEC 2023 ampacity, correction and adjustment tables (PDF).
JEP-08 · Conductors and ampacity
Four current-carrying 8 AWG THHN copper conductors run in one raceway longer than 24 in., in a dry location where the ambient temperature is 38 °C (100 °F). All terminations are rated 75 °C and no other adjustment applies. What is the corrected and adjusted ampacity, rounded to the nearest whole ampere?
- A. 36 A
- B. 40 A
- C. 44 A
- D. 50 A
Reveal answer and explanation
Answer: B. 40 A
90 °C column 55 A × 0.91 (36–40 °C correction) × 0.80 (four to six conductors) = 40.04, so about 40 A. A starts from the 75 °C value but mixes it with the 90 °C correction factor (50 × 0.91 × 0.80 = 36.4). C applies only the 80% adjustment. D is the unadjusted 75 °C value. You'd still check the result against the terminal limit (here 50 A at 75 °C, so 40 A controls).
Code location (2023 NEC): Table 310.16; Table 310.15(B)(1)(1); Table 310.15(C)(1); 110.14(C). Source: NFPA 70, 2023 National Electrical Code — official read-only access; HELUKABEL, NEC 2023 ampacity, correction and adjustment tables (PDF).
JEP-09 · Branch circuits and overcurrent protection
Table 310.16 lists 12 AWG THHN copper at 25 A in the 75 °C column. No correction or adjustment lowers that value, and no specific application rule permits higher protection. What maximum overcurrent rating does the small-conductor rule in 240.4(D) allow?
- A. 20 A
- B. 15 A
- C. 25 A
- D. 30 A
Reveal answer and explanation
Answer: A. 20 A
240.4(D)(6) caps 12 AWG copper at 20 A under these conditions, despite its higher table ampacity. C trusts the table alone. D is the 10 AWG copper limit and B is the 14 AWG copper limit. (Motor circuits and other cases with their own rules are outside this question.)
Code location (2023 NEC): 240.4(D)(6); Table 310.16. Source: NFPA 70, 2023 National Electrical Code — official read-only access; HELUKABEL, NEC 2023 ampacity, correction and adjustment tables (PDF).
JEP-10 · Conductors and ampacity
A 3 AWG THHN copper feeder lands on equipment lugs rated 75 °C. It is in a dry location at 30 °C with no more than three current-carrying conductors in the raceway. No correction or adjustment applies. What is the maximum ampacity you may use?
- A. 85 A
- B. 100 A
- C. 110 A
- D. 115 A
Reveal answer and explanation
Answer: B. 100 A
A conductor can't be used above the temperature rating of its weakest termination, so use the 75 °C column: 100 A. D is the 90 °C value; it cannot override the 75 °C terminations in this installation. A is the 60 °C value. C isn't a table value for 3 AWG copper.
Code location (2023 NEC): 110.14(C); Table 310.16. Source: NFPA 70, 2023 National Electrical Code — official read-only access; HELUKABEL, NEC 2023 ampacity, correction and adjustment tables (PDF).
JEP-11 · Boxes and raceways
A metal box marked 18.0 in³ contains two 12/2 NM cables with ground (conductors spliced inside), one single-pole switch on 12 AWG, and internal cable clamps. There are no other entering conductors, devices or support fittings; any grounding pigtails remain entirely within the box. How much volume does this fill require?
- A. 13.5 in³
- B. 15.75 in³
- C. 18.0 in³
- D. 20.25 in³
Reveal answer and explanation
Answer: C. 18.0 in³
Count allowances: 4 insulated conductors (4) + switch yoke (2) + internal clamps (1, no matter how many) + the equipment grounding conductors together (1) = 8. Multiply by 2.25 in³ for 12 AWG: 8 × 2.25 = 18.0 in³ — the marked volume meets this box-fill calculation exactly. B leaves out the clamps. A leaves out the switch allowance. D counts the two grounds separately. This volume calculation is not a complete installation-compliance check.
Code location (2023 NEC): 314.16(B); Table 314.16(B)(1). Source: NFPA 70, 2023 National Electrical Code — official read-only access; Minnesota DLI, Electrical license examination guide (PDF).
JEP-12 · Boxes and raceways
Five equipment grounding conductors enter a box from outside, the largest being 12 AWG. No other equipment grounding conductors or equipment bonding jumpers enter the box. How many volume allowances do these entering grounding conductors require?
- A. 1¼
- B. 1
- C. 2
- D. 5
Reveal answer and explanation
Answer: A. 1¼
Up to four equipment grounding conductors count as one allowance, and each additional one adds a quarter allowance: 1 + ¼ = 1¼. B omits the additional quarter allowance. C incorrectly adds a whole allowance for the fifth conductor. D counts every grounding conductor as a full allowance.
Code location (2023 NEC): 314.16(B)(5). Source: NFPA 70, 2023 National Electrical Code — official read-only access; Minnesota DLI, Electrical license examination guide (PDF).
JEP-13 · Boxes and raceways
Considering raceway fill only, how many 12 AWG THHN conductors fit in 3/4-in. EMT longer than 24 in.? Use these supplied areas: EMT total internal area 0.533 in²; each conductor 0.0133 in².
- A. 9
- B. 12
- C. 16
- D. 22
Reveal answer and explanation
Answer: C. 16
More than two conductors → 40% fill: 0.533 × 0.40 = 0.2132 in². Sixteen conductors occupy 16 × 0.0133 = 0.2128 in²; seventeen occupy 0.2261 in². So 16 fit within the allowance. A and B are below the maximum for these inputs, while D exceeds it. This is a fill calculation only: current-carrying conductor adjustment and other installation limits still need separate checks.
Code location (2023 NEC): Chapter 9, Table 1; areas are supplied exercise inputs. Source: NFPA 70, 2023 National Electrical Code — official read-only access; Minnesota DLI, Electrical license examination guide (PDF).
JEP-14 · Boxes and raceways
A conduit nipple is 18 in. long and connects two boxes. Under the Chapter 9 nipple-fill allowance, what maximum percentage of its total cross-sectional area may be occupied by conductors?
- A. 25%
- B. 60%
- C. 40%
- D. 53%
Reveal answer and explanation
Answer: B. 60%
A conduit or tubing nipple not longer than 24 in., installed between boxes, cabinets or similar enclosures, may use 60% fill. The 18-in. nipple fits those conditions. C is the usual more-than-two-conductor limit, not this nipple allowance; A and D are not the permitted percentage for this case. The short length is a condition of the allowance, not a rule for every raceway.
Code location (2023 NEC): Chapter 9, Table 1, Note 4. Source: NFPA 70, 2023 National Electrical Code — official read-only access; Minnesota DLI, Electrical license examination guide (PDF).
JEP-15 · Grounding and bonding
A dwelling has 3/0 copper service-entrance conductors. A grounding electrode conductor runs only to a driven ground rod and does not extend to another electrode requiring a larger conductor. What is the largest size this conductor is required to be?
- A. 2 AWG copper
- B. 4 AWG copper
- C. 1/0 copper
- D. 6 AWG copper
Reveal answer and explanation
Answer: D. 6 AWG copper
250.66(A): the portion of a grounding electrode conductor that connects only to a rod, pipe, or plate electrode isn't required to be larger than 6 AWG copper. B is the Table 250.66 size for 2/0–3/0 copper, which applies to other electrode types. A and C are larger than any requirement here.
Code location (2023 NEC): 250.66(A). Source: NFPA 70, 2023 National Electrical Code — official read-only access.
JEP-16 · Grounding and bonding
A service has 2/0 copper as its largest ungrounded service-entrance conductor, with no parallel conductors. What minimum copper grounding electrode conductor size does Table 250.66 require when the conductor connects to a qualifying metal underground water-pipe electrode?
- A. 8 AWG
- B. 6 AWG
- C. 4 AWG
- D. 2 AWG
Reveal answer and explanation
Answer: C. 4 AWG
Table 250.66: 2/0 or 3/0 copper service conductors → 4 AWG copper. B is the rod-only cap from 250.66(A), which doesn't apply to a water pipe electrode. A is too small for this service size; D is the size for larger services.
Code location (2023 NEC): Table 250.66. Source: NFPA 70, 2023 National Electrical Code — official read-only access; Minnesota DLI, 2023 NEC residential electrical inspection checklist (PDF).
JEP-17 · Grounding and bonding
A branch circuit is protected by a 60-A circuit breaker. What is the minimum wire-type copper equipment grounding conductor shown in Table 250.122, before any condition that would require a larger conductor?
- A. 12 AWG
- B. 10 AWG
- C. 8 AWG
- D. 6 AWG
Reveal answer and explanation
Answer: B. 10 AWG
Table 250.122: a 60-A device → 10 AWG copper. C is the size for 100 A, D for 200 A, and A for 20 A. This is the table selection, not a waiver of upsizing, parallel-raceway or effective ground-fault-current-path requirements.
Code location (2023 NEC): Table 250.122. Source: NFPA 70, 2023 National Electrical Code — official read-only access.
JEP-18 · Grounding and bonding
A single 8-ft ground rod tests at 40 Ω to earth and has no supplemental electrode. Which choice satisfies the supplemental-electrode and spacing requirements when a second rod is used?
- A. Add a second rod at least 6 ft from the first rod
- B. Nothing more — one rod always satisfies the Code
- C. Add a second rod within 3 ft of the first
- D. Keep only the existing rod because its length is 8 ft
Reveal answer and explanation
Answer: A. Add a second rod at least 6 ft from the first rod
A single rod must be supplemented by another electrode unless it has a resistance to earth of 25 Ω or less. Supplemental rod electrodes must be at least 6 ft apart. B ignores the 25-Ω condition. C violates the spacing rule. D relies on rod length but leaves the supplemental-electrode requirement unmet.
Code location (2023 NEC): 250.53(A)(2) and (A)(3). Source: NFPA 70, 2023 National Electrical Code — official read-only access; Minnesota DLI, 2023 NEC residential electrical inspection checklist (PDF).
JEP-19 · Working space and wiring methods
A 480Y/277-V panelboard has exposed live parts on one side of the working space and a concrete wall on the other. What is the minimum depth of working space?
- A. 3 ft
- B. 4 ft
- C. 30 in.
- D. 3½ ft
Reveal answer and explanation
Answer: D. 3½ ft
277 V to ground falls in the 151–600 V row. Concrete walls count as grounded, which makes this Condition 2: 3½ ft. A is Condition 1 (or any system at 150 V or less to ground). B is Condition 3, with live parts on both sides. C mixes up depth with the 30-in. width rule.
Code location (2023 NEC): 110.26(A)(1); Table 110.26(A)(1). Source: NFPA 70, 2023 National Electrical Code — official read-only access.
JEP-20 · Working space and wiring methods
A 24-in.-wide panelboard requires working space. What is the minimum width of that space?
- A. 30 in.
- B. 24 in.
- C. 36 in.
- D. 42 in.
Reveal answer and explanation
Answer: A. 30 in.
The width must be 30 in. or the width of the equipment, whichever is greater. The panel is only 24 in. wide, so 30 in. applies. B is the panel's own width, which is too narrow here. C and D aren't the rule for width.
Code location (2023 NEC): 110.26(A)(2). Source: NFPA 70, 2023 National Electrical Code — official read-only access.
JEP-21 · Motors
A continuous-duty, ordinary squirrel-cage motor is rated 10 hp, 230 V, three-phase, with a nameplate current of 26 A. Use 28 A as its applicable table full-load current for this exercise. THHN copper conductors are in a dry location at 30 °C, with no more than three current-carrying conductors in the raceway and 75 °C terminations. No correction, adjustment or special motor-sizing exception applies. What is the minimum branch-circuit conductor size?
- A. 12 AWG
- B. 10 AWG
- C. 8 AWG
- D. 6 AWG
Reveal answer and explanation
Answer: B. 10 AWG
For this conductor-sizing case, use the supplied table full-load current, not the nameplate: 28 A. Conductors must be at least 125% of that: 28 × 1.25 = 35 A. In the 75 °C column, 10 AWG copper is 35 A. Using the nameplate (26 × 1.25 = 32.5 A) happens to land on the same size here, but it's the wrong method and will cost you on other questions. A is too small; C and D are larger than required. This is the motor-specific conductor rule; it does not authorize a general-purpose 35-A circuit on 10 AWG copper. Motor overload and branch short-circuit/ground-fault protection are separate selections.
Code location (2023 NEC): 430.6(A)(1); 430.22(A); Table 310.16; 240.4(G). Table full-load current supplied in the question. Source: NFPA 70, 2023 National Electrical Code — official read-only access; Minnesota DLI, Electrical license examination guide (PDF); HELUKABEL, NEC 2023 ampacity, correction and adjustment tables (PDF).
JEP-22 · Motors
An ordinary continuous-duty motor has a table full-load current of 28 A and a nameplate current of 26 A. For overload protection based on motor current, which current is the starting value before applying the applicable overload percentage?
- A. 28 A
- B. 35 A
- C. 26 A
- D. 70 A
Reveal answer and explanation
Answer: C. 26 A
Use the motor nameplate current: 26 A. A substitutes the table full-load current used in the ordinary conductor-sizing method. B is 125% of 28 A, the conductor-ampacity calculation, not the starting current for overload protection. D is neither the nameplate current nor an overload setting established by the question. This item asks for the current basis, not the final overload-device rating or trip setting.
Code location (2023 NEC): 430.6(A)(2); motor overload-protection current basis. Source: NFPA 70, 2023 National Electrical Code — official read-only access; Minnesota DLI, Electrical license examination guide (PDF).
JEP-23 · Working space and wiring methods
A 240-V, 30-A direct-burial power cable crosses a lawn — not under a building, driveway, or slab, and with no concrete cover. What is the minimum cover?
- A. 6 in.
- B. 12 in.
- C. 18 in.
- D. 24 in.
Reveal answer and explanation
Answer: D. 24 in.
Table 300.5(A), direct-burial cable column: 24 in. A is the value for rigid metal conduit and C for nonmetallic raceway. B is the reduced depth for residential 120-V, 20-A-or-less GFCI-protected branch circuits, which doesn't fit a 240-V, 30-A circuit. Cover is measured from the top surface of the cable to finished grade, not to the bottom of the trench.
Code location (2023 NEC): 300.5(A); Table 300.5(A), first row, Column 1 and Note 1. Source: NFPA 70, 2023 National Electrical Code — official read-only access; Minnesota DLI, 2023 NEC residential electrical inspection checklist (PDF).
JEP-24 · Using the Code
The NEC defines a continuous load as one where the maximum current is expected to continue for:
- A. 1 hour or more
- B. 2 hours or more
- C. 3 hours or more
- D. 8 hours or more
Reveal answer and explanation
Answer: C. 3 hours or more
Article 100, "Continuous Load": 3 hours or more. This definition is what triggers the 125% sizing in JEP-06. A and B are shorter than the definition; D would wrongly exclude continuous loads lasting between three and eight hours. The maximum current—not simply how long equipment is switched on—is the condition being tested.
Code location (2023 NEC): Article 100. Source: NFPA 70, 2023 National Electrical Code — official read-only access.
JEP-25 · Services and load calculations
A dwelling qualifies for the optional calculation in 2023 NEC 220.82. Its general loads under 220.82(B), before demand factors, total 25,000 VA. What is the general-load subtotal after applying the 220.82(B) demand factors, before adding heating or air-conditioning loads under 220.82(C)?
- A. 16,000 VA
- B. 10,000 VA
- C. 25,000 VA
- D. 31,250 VA
Reveal answer and explanation
Answer: A. 16,000 VA
Use 100% of the first 10,000 VA and 40% of the remainder: 10,000 + (25,000 − 10,000) × 0.40 = 16,000 VA. B drops the entire remainder; C applies no demand factor; D multiplies every load by 125%, which is not this method. This is only the general-load subtotal. Heating or air-conditioning and the other conditions of the optional method still matter before a service or feeder can be sized.
Code location (2023 NEC): 220.82(A), (B) and (C). Source: NFPA 70, 2023 National Electrical Code — official read-only access.
How did you do?
Count your correct answers out of 25, and keep the ones you skipped separate from the ones you missed. Review every miss, then use the groups below to choose your next study task:
| Group | Questions | What to drill next |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical theory | JEP-01, JEP-02, JEP-03, JEP-04 | Write the formula before plugging in numbers; watch single- vs. three-phase and one-way vs. round-trip length |
| Using the Code | JEP-05, JEP-24 | Article 90 and Article 100 definitions |
| Branch circuits and protection | JEP-06, JEP-09 | Continuous loads, 240.4(D), standard breaker sizes |
| Conductors and ampacity | JEP-07, JEP-08, JEP-10 | Table 310.16 columns, correction and adjustment factors, terminal ratings |
| Boxes and raceways | JEP-11, JEP-12, JEP-13, JEP-14 | 314.16 counting rules and Chapter 9 fill steps |
| Grounding and bonding | JEP-15, JEP-16, JEP-17, JEP-18 | Table 250.66, Table 250.122, electrode rules in 250.50–250.53 |
| Working space and wiring methods | JEP-19, JEP-20, JEP-23 | 110.26 tables and Table 300.5(A) columns |
| Motors | JEP-21, JEP-22 | Table current for ordinary conductor sizing; nameplate current for overload protection |
| Services and load calculations | JEP-25 | Apply demand factors to the correct part of the load; distinguish a subtotal from the complete calculation |
Your score describes these 25 questions only. It isn't an official score, it doesn't cover the whole NEC, and it can't predict whether you'll pass. Each group has only one to four questions: use a miss as a review prompt, not a measurement of topic mastery.
Which NEC edition is on your exam — and can you bring your book?
Your exam's candidate bulletin decides both, and the answer changes a lot from state to state. There isn't one exam format or reference policy that covers all U.S. journeyman-level candidates. Here's how four current exams compare; California's example is electrician certification, not a contractor license.
| Row label | Texas Journeyman Electrician | Minnesota Class A Journeyworker | California General Electrician | Washington (01) General Journey Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensing or certification authority / test administrator | TDLR / PSI | Dept. of Labor and Industry (DLI) | DIR Labor Commissioner's Office / CPS HR Consulting, scheduled through Pearson VUE | L&I / PSI |
| NEC edition tested | 2026 (from Sept. 1, 2026) | 2026 (from Sept. 8, 2026) | 2023 | 2020 |
| Your code book | Bring your own soft-bound NEC. Highlighting, underlining and notes added before the exam are allowed; publisher-made permanent tabs only; no NEC Handbook; no marking during the exam | DLI supplies a soft-cover NEC with no tabs or other aids | No personal reference materials. References open on screen as searchable PDFs | Bring the NEC with permanent index tabs if you like, but no handwritten or sticky notes |
| Other references | None besides the NEC | DLI supplies its Laws and Rules Booklet | NFPA 70E (2024) and Cal/OSHA construction pocket guide (2022), on screen | Printed RCW 19.28 and WAC 296-46B in a three-ring binder; other original copyrighted references |
| Calculator | Your own silent, non-programmable, battery-operated, non-printing calculator with no alphabet keys | Desk calculator supplied | On-screen calculator | Silent, non-printing, non-programmable; not preprogrammed for electrical calculations |
| Format | Two parts, timed separately: NEC Knowledge, 59 items (3 unscored), 130 min; Calculations, 26 items (2 unscored), 110 min. Unused time doesn't carry over | 80 questions, 5½ hours | 100 questions, 4½ hours | Sections scored separately |
| Passing score | 70% on each part | 70% | 70% | 70% on each section |
| After a fail | Complete both parts and other licensing requirements within one year from TDLR receiving your application | Reapply at least 30 days after notification of failure | Wait 60 days from the exam before sending a retest application and another exam fee | At least 2 weeks; after a third failure of a part within a one-year period, the rule requires a 3-month wait for that part |
Sources: PSI Texas electrician bulletin (PDF, updated Sept. 15, 2026) · TDLR exam and application-period rules · Minnesota DLI electrical codes and standards · Minnesota electrical license examination guide (PDF) · California candidate bulletin (PDF) · California DIR certification program · Washington L&I electrical examination page · WAC 296-46B-960(10). State exam information checked September 28, 2026.
Texas charges $78 for both parts and $78 for a retake, whether you need one part or both (PSI bulletin, Journeyman outline). Washington's electrician exams and retests are billed by the hour; L&I application fees are separate (L&I exam fees).
Washington retake dates: L&I's webpage uses both “90 days” and “3 months.” The controlling rule says three months after a third failure of a part within a one-year period. Do not convert that to 90 days; confirm the next eligible appointment with L&I/PSI (WAC 296-46B-960(10)).
Two things this table shows that are easy to miss:
- The exam date can differ from the code date. Minnesota requires the 2026 NEC on permits filed from August 17, 2026, but its license exams switched on September 8, 2026. Check the exam notice, not just a code-adoption map.
- "Open book" means different things. A Texas candidate can walk in with a highlighted, tabbed book. A Minnesota candidate gets a clean one. A California candidate searches PDFs on a screen. Practice the way you'll be tested.
If your state isn't listed, find the candidate bulletin through the licensing agency that approved your application. Copy these into your notes before you study: the exact license title, the NEC edition, the exam date, the number of questions and time for each part, the passing score, and what you're allowed to bring. If something's unclear, ask the testing vendor before you buy a code book.
What this means for how you study
- You bring your own book (Texas, Washington): Get the correct edition in the binding the bulletin allows. Do your highlighting and tabbing within the rules, then practice with that exact book — practice both the index route and any tabs you are allowed to use.
- The agency supplies a plain book (Minnesota): Your tabs won't be there on test day. Practice with an untabbed book and lean on the index and the table of contents.
- Searchable on-screen references (California): Practice locating technical terms in an authorized searchable reference. Search finds exact words, not ideas, so learn the Code's own terms — "equipment grounding conductor," not "ground wire."
How hard is the journeyman exam?
Texas's fiscal year 2025 results (Sept. 2024 – Aug. 2025) recorded 1,301 passes among 6,328 Calculations exam results (20.6%) and 1,402 passes among 5,731 NEC Knowledge exam results (24.5%) (TDLR exam statistics). Those are historical exam-result counts, not a count of distinct candidates or a first-time pass rate. The totals are passes plus failures and exclude the separately reported no-shows.
The table doesn't identify why people failed. It also doesn't tell you the chance of passing both parts, and it predates the September 2026 NEC transition. Use timed practice to find your own slow lookups and calculation errors rather than treating these rates as a prediction.
What to study first
Put most of your time into installation rules and sizing math. California's General Electrician outline gives Installation 66% of the exam and Determination of Electrical System Requirements another 22% (California candidate bulletin, General Electrician outline). Texas splits its exam so that calculations are a separately passed part (PSI bulletin). Here's the order we'd work in; your own bulletin's outline is the tiebreaker.
| Priority | Topic | Where it lives (2023 numbering) | Covered in the practice set |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Conductor ampacity, correction and adjustment, terminal ratings | 110.14(C), 310.15, Table 310.16 | JEP-07, 08, 10 |
| 2 | Branch circuits, feeders, overcurrent protection | Arts. 210, 215, 240 | JEP-06, 09 |
| 3 | Wiring methods, boxes and raceway fill | Chapter 3, 314.16, Chapter 9 | JEP-11 to 14, 23 |
| 4 | Grounding and bonding | Art. 250 | JEP-15 to 18 |
| 5 | Services and load calculations | Arts. 220 and 230 | JEP-25 (general-load subtotal only) |
| 6 | Motors | Art. 430 | JEP-21, 22 |
| 7 | Working space, general requirements, definitions | Arts. 90, 100, 110 | JEP-05, 19, 20, 24 |
| 8 | Special occupancies and equipment (pools, hazardous locations, generators, PV, EV charging) | Chapters 5–7 | Not covered — use your outline |
| 9 | Theory: Ohm's law, power, three-phase, voltage drop | Electrical theory; resistance supplied for JEP-04 | JEP-01 to 04 |
This set includes a dwelling general-load subtotal, not a full service calculation. Work complete service and feeder calculations from the references for your own exam; Minnesota's guide points candidates to NEC Annex D for worked examples (DLI guide, printed p. 8). The priority order above is an editorial study recommendation, not a national exam weighting.
How to find answers fast in the NEC
You don't need to memorize the book. You need a quick route to each kind of answer.
- Name what's being asked. Current, conductor ampacity, a breaker rating, a box volume, and a burial depth are five different lookups. Write the target before you open the book.
- List the conditions given. Material, insulation, temperature, number of conductors, voltage to ground, location. Don't invent missing facts.
- Go to the article through the index. Start from the object in the question (box, rod, motor, pool) and follow the index to the section. Note the section number, not just the page.
- Read the heading and scope before using a table. Many wrong answers come from the right table used under the wrong conditions. Follow your bulletin's instruction on exceptions — Texas, for example, tells candidates to ignore exceptions and optional calculation methods unless a question says to use them (PSI bulletin).
- Check units, then move on. Set a pacing target from your own exam's item count and time limit. During practice, mark slow lookups in your study notes; on test day, use the permitted review function or supplied scratch space, not unauthorized notes in a reference book.
Your four-week study plan
This plan uses five 60-minute sessions a week for four weeks — 20 hours total. It's a planning template built around this page's practice set, not a required minimum or a promise that four weeks is enough. Each session: 10 minutes recalling earlier work without notes, 35 minutes on the main task, 15 minutes checking answers and updating your error log.
The first pass is split across the topic sessions. The timed reviews repeat the supplied questions; familiarity can improve the result, so they are not fresh tests of readiness. Code-study sessions use the 2023 references attached to the questions. When your exam requires another edition, use the topic and lookup method to guide study in that edition rather than transferring the answer key automatically.
| Week | Session | Main task | You're done when… |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Copy your exam details from the bulletin (edition, parts, time, passing score, allowed materials). Arrange access to the right reference. | You know exactly what you are allowed to bring or will be supplied. |
| 1 | 2 | First pass: work JEP-01 to JEP-14 without viewing answers. Stop after the 35-minute work block; record unfinished items rather than rushing. | You have an attempted-item record and a list of slow or unfinished lookups. |
| 1 | 3 | Theory: redo JEP-01 to JEP-04 without looking, then explain every distractor. Recalculate JEP-04 with a 45-ft one-way run: the check value is 2.8512 V. | You can explain single- vs. three-phase and one-way vs. round-trip length. |
| 1 | 4 | Book layout: use the index to locate the code references in JEP-05, JEP-07, JEP-16 and JEP-24. Practice with the reference format your exam permits. | You can find each heading and explain what information it contains; record your own lookup times. |
| 1 | 5 | Definitions and conditions: answer JEP-05 and JEP-24. In JEP-15, JEP-16 and JEP-17, distinguish a grounding electrode conductor from an equipment grounding conductor. | You can say which conductor or rule each question is asking about. |
| 2 | 6 | Ampacity: 110.14(C), 310.15 and Table 310.16. Redo JEP-07, JEP-08 and JEP-10; write the starting column, factors and termination check separately. | You can show the 40 × 0.80 and 55 × 0.91 × 0.80 calculations and explain the 75 °C terminal limit. |
| 2 | 7 | Branch circuits and protection: redo JEP-06 and JEP-09. Compare the minimum continuous-load calculation with the small-conductor protection cap. | You separate ampacity questions from breaker-size questions. |
| 2 | 8 | Boxes: redo JEP-11 and JEP-12. Draw the conductors, yoke and clamps described in JEP-11 and label each volume allowance. | Your diagram totals eight allowances and 18.0 in³; you can explain the additional quarter allowance in JEP-12. |
| 2 | 9 | Raceway fill: redo JEP-13 and JEP-14. For JEP-13, compare the occupied area of 16 conductors with 17, using the supplied dimensions. | You distinguish the ordinary fill calculation from the short-nipple allowance. |
| 2 | 10 | Mixed timed review: repeat JEP-01 to JEP-14 within the 35-minute work block, then check explanations. These are repeated items, not a new exam form. | Your error log separates unfinished items, slow lookups and wrong rules. |
| 3 | 11 | Grounding electrodes and GECs: 250.50–250.66. Answer JEP-15, JEP-16 and JEP-18, then compare the rod-only condition with the water-pipe case. | You know when the 6 AWG rod cap applies and when it does not. |
| 3 | 12 | EGCs: answer JEP-17 and contrast its Table 250.122 input with the Table 250.66 input in JEP-16. | You can select the stated 60-A table row without treating it as a complete installation approval. |
| 3 | 13 | Load calculations: answer JEP-25. Repeat the same general-load-subtotal calculation with 30,000 VA: 10,000 + 0.40 × 20,000 = 18,000 VA. Identify what the subtotal leaves out. | You apply the demand factor only to the remainder and do not label a subtotal a complete service calculation. |
| 3 | 14 | Motors: answer JEP-21 and JEP-22. Put table current, nameplate current, conductor ampacity and overload-device setting in separate columns. | You use the appropriate current basis for each stated task, not one number for every motor calculation. |
| 3 | 15 | Working space and wiring methods: answer JEP-19, JEP-20 and JEP-23. Identify voltage to ground, width vs. depth and the correct burial-table column. | You can name the condition used in each answer and reject the alternatives. |
| 4 | 16 | Compare your official outline with the priority map above. List topics this set does not cover, such as special occupancies or a full service calculation. Read one corresponding section in your required reference and record its scope. | You have an exam-specific gap list and one scope note; you have not mistaken these 25 items for full coverage. |
| 4 | 17 | Review your weakest group from the error log. Redo the supplied items in that group and explain each miss or skipped item. | You can explain the rule, inputs and unit behind each reviewed answer. |
| 4 | 18 | Timed starter-set review: answer all 25 supplied items within the 35-minute work block. Record unfinished items. This repeated short set is not a full-length mock or an official pacing benchmark. | You have a completed review record, including any items not finished within the block. |
| 4 | 19 | Review every miss or unfinished item from session 18 and redo it before reading the explanation. Recheck your bulletin, ID rules and test-center details. | No reviewed miss is left unexplained, and you have recorded the official exam-day requirements. |
| 4 | 20 | Light review: formulas, definitions and your reference map. Revisit the remaining topics on your gap list; do not count an unstudied topic as mastered. | You have a clear next study task or your confirmed exam-day plan. |
Only 30 minutes at a time? Split each session into two sittings. At five 30-minute sittings a week, the same 40-sitting plan takes eight weeks.
Exam in a week or less? Do sessions 1, 2, 10, 18 and 19, then use your remaining study time on weak or unstudied topics in your official outline. That won't cover what 20 sessions would. Prioritize using your own exam's published weights where available, not the number of items in this starter set.
Retaking after a fail? Use the topic breakdown on your score report when one is provided. Match it to your error log and work those topics first (sessions 17–19), then fill in the rest.
Turn every miss into a study task
Keep a simple log. One row per miss:
| Question | Error type | What went wrong | Correct rule or method | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JEP-04 | Wrong formula | Used one-way length only | For this two-wire resistive model, VD = 2 × I × R × L ÷ 1,000, using the supplied resistance | Redo at 45 ft one-way; expected drop 2.8512 V |
Use these error types: arithmetic or units, wrong formula, wrong rule or table, slow lookup, misread the question, wrong edition. Each one has a different fix: rewrite the units, write when the formula applies, record the section that controls, improve your permitted reference-navigation method, underline the question's conditions in your study notes, or use the right edition. "Study harder" isn't a fix.
Studying across NEC editions
A correct answer in one edition is not a substitute for checking the reference named in your exam bulletin. Keep the edition beside every code location in your study notes; look up the topic in your required edition before carrying over an older answer, exception or table value.
For example, the 2023 NEC demand-factor subtotal in JEP-25 is a worked exercise in that edition. It is not an assertion about the numbering or every applicable condition in another edition. The Texas and Minnesota exam-date notices above tell you when those exams changed references; they do not establish that every practice question remained unchanged.
Sources
- PSI, Texas Electrician Candidate Information Bulletin (PDF) — cover and printed pp. 4, 8, 12–13; Journeyman exam parts, times, passing score, fees, reference and calculator rules; updated Sept. 15, 2026
- TDLR, Electrician examination information — application period and exam process
- TDLR, Electrician exam statistics, FY2025 — historical pass/fail totals and separately reported no-shows
- Minnesota DLI, Electrical codes and standards — separate 2026 NEC examination and construction-code effective dates
- Minnesota DLI, Electrical license examination guide (PDF) — printed pp. 4 and 6 for exam administration; pp. 8 and 15–19 for study methods and worked-principle explanations
- California DIR, Electrician certification program — certification authority and June 2026 examination-administration change
- California Electrical Certification Candidate Information Bulletin (PDF) — printed pp. 2–3, 6–7 and 9–10; administration, retest application, materials, score and General Electrician outline
- Washington L&I, Electrical examination and WAC 296-46B-960 — reference materials, exam process and controlling retake rule
- NFPA, 2023 NEC read-only access — use the specific section or table cited with each code exercise
- HELUKABEL, NEC 2023 ampacity and adjustment tables (PDF) — pp. 1–2; reproduced conductor ampacities, temperature corrections, adjustment factors and small-conductor limits
- Minnesota DLI, 2023 NEC residential electrical inspection checklist (PDF) — p. 7; grounding-electrode conductor table and items 072/075
- Theory references: OpenStax, Ohm's Law, Electrical Energy and Power, Resistors in Series and Parallel, and LibreTexts, Three-Phase Connections
By Castleport Test Prep Editorial Team. State exam information and the historical Texas calculations last checked September 28, 2026. The code exercises cite 2023 NEC references and the supporting sources above; they are not a cross-edition question bank.
AI assistance was used in preparing and auditing this resource. No qualified professional review is claimed. Read our editorial standards and methodology.
Castleport Test Prep is an independent exam prep publisher. We're not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by NFPA, PSI, Pearson VUE, CPS HR Consulting, TDLR, Minnesota DLI, California DIR, Washington L&I, or any other licensing agency or test vendor. Exam, credential and code names are used to identify their subjects; trademarks belong to their respective owners. Our practice questions are original and aren't official exam questions. Using this guide doesn't guarantee an exam result, certification or a license.