Journeyman Electrician Exam: Content, Format and NEC Edition

What does the exam actually test?

The core of every journeyman exam is the National Electrical Code. Expect questions on services, overcurrent protection, grounding and bonding, wiring methods, motors and transformers, special occupancies and emergency systems. Washington's PSI outline puts the most weight on wiring methods, grounding and bonding, and overcurrent protection. On top of the code you get general theory and math, and in most states a section on that state's own electrical law.

This is a test of finding answers fast in a book you already know well. Memorizing is not the skill. Washington's licensing agency says it outright: the exam is about knowing your reference material. If you can turn to Article 250 or a Chapter 9 table in seconds, you are in good shape. If you have to hunt through the index for every question, you will run out of time.

Texas: two parts, 2026 NEC

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) gives the exam through PSI at test centers across the state, from Abilene to Waco. Since March 11, 2025, the Journeyman Electrician exam has been split into a knowledge part and a calculations part. It is open book, and TDLR now names the 2026 edition of the NEC as the allowed reference.

Bring your own soft-bound NEC. You can use any soft-bound edition, but the questions follow the edition TDLR has adopted. Loose-leaf, spiral-bound and ring-bound copies are not allowed in the room. You get your score at the test center, and you need 70% to pass. You can retest as often as you need to, but each attempt may cost another fee. The exam is hard: in fiscal year 2025, 1,402 of 5,731 journeyman candidates passed, a rate of 24.46%.

Washington: sections, timing and hourly fees

The Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) uses PSI. For the 01 General journey-level electrician certificate, the October 2025 PSI bulletin lists two sections. NEC & Theory has 60 questions in 3 hours. Washington Laws & Rules (RCW 19.28 and WAC 296-46B) has 17 questions in 1 hour. You must score 70% on each section. Both L&I's exam page and the bulletin name the 2020 NEC as the code edition.

Washington lets you bring more into the room than most states. You can use the NEC, printed copies of the state electrical laws and rules in a three-ring binder, and any original copyrighted book such as Ugly's or a code index, plus a silent, nonprogrammable calculator. Permanent tabs and highlighting are fine. Handwritten notes are treated as cheating. PSI charges by the hour for electrician exams, and 4 hours costs $75.

How to study

Start with the content outline in your state's candidate bulletin. It shows how many questions come from each NEC chapter, so you know where to put your hours. Tab your code book with permanent tabs and work timed practice sets with the book open, the same way you will sit the real test. Then drill the calculations: load calculations, conductor ampacity and derating, and box and conduit fill.

Washington's PSI bulletin says on-the-job experience alone is usually not enough to pass and recommends classroom education. That fits what you hear on job sites. People who finished a full apprenticeship with code classes do better than people who have only pulled wire. When you get a failing score report, use the list of weak code articles to plan your next round of study.

Pay

Electricians, United States (25th to 75th percentile)

$51,200–86,900

Electricians, Texas

$48,300–73,600

Electricians, Washington

$69,000–125,800

Electricians, Utah

$50,100–82,100

USD a year, before tax. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data for May 2025, moved to 2026 with a wage index. State figures are modeled estimates. Passing the journeyman exam is what moves you from apprentice pay into these ranges, and union status and region move the figure further. Refer to the Electricians salary guide for figures from live adverts.

What you need

State approval firstTexas and Washington both approve your application before you can book with PSI. In Washington you cannot schedule until you have an exam approval letter from L&I.
Experience and schoolingYour hours have to be done before you test. Utah requires a 4-year (576 classroom hours) apprenticeship education program plus 8,000 supervised hours, or 16,000 hours of experience.
Matching IDTexas requires a valid government photo ID with your signature and date of birth. The name on it must match TDLR's records exactly.
Your own code bookBoth states require you to bring your own NEC. Texas allows only soft-bound copies, and Washington allows permanent tabs but no handwritten notes.
CalculatorWashington allows a silent, nonprinting, nonprogrammable calculator.
70% scoreTexas requires a score of 70% or better to pass. Washington requires 70% on each section.

State by state

Texas	TDLR uses PSI for an open book exam on the 2026 NEC, split into a knowledge part and a calculations part since March 2025. You need 70% to pass, and you can retest as many times as needed during your eligibility period.
Washington	L&I uses PSI for the 01 General exam: 60 NEC and theory questions in 3 hours and 17 state law questions in 1 hour, with 70% needed on each. After a failed section you wait 14 days to retest. After three failures you wait 90 days between attempts.
Utah	The Division of Professional Licensing requires the Utah Journeyman Electrician Written exam and the Utah Electrician Practical exam. You can take the written theory exam remotely through PROV from anywhere in the U.S.

How to get there

Years 1-4Finish hours and schoolingComplete the apprenticeship or experience hours your state requires before you apply.
End of trainingApply to the stateSubmit the license or exam application to the state regulator and pay its fee.
Weeks after applyingGet approvedWait for the approval notice. Washington's letter includes the Exam Unique ID you need to set up your PSI account.
Within the 1-year windowBook with the vendorSchedule online or by phone with PSI (Texas: 833-333-4741; Washington: 855-834-8751). In Utah, register through PROV.
Test daySit the examBring ID and an approved code book. In Texas you get your score at the test center.
Up to 1 yearRetest failed partsIn Washington you retest only the sections you failed, within one year of the date on your L&I exam approval letter.

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Questions people ask

Is the journeyman electrician exam open book?

In Texas and Washington, yes. Texas allows a soft-bound NEC. Washington also allows printed state laws in a binder and original copyrighted references such as Ugly's, with no handwritten notes.

Which NEC edition is the exam based on?

It depends on the state. TDLR names the 2026 NEC for Texas exams. Washington's L&I exam page and the PSI bulletin both name the 2020 NEC.

How many questions are on the Washington journeyman exam?

The 01 General electrician exam has 60 NEC and theory questions with 3 hours allowed, plus 17 Washington laws and rules questions with 1 hour allowed. You must pass each section with 70%.

Who gives the exam?

PSI gives the exam for TDLR in Texas and for L&I in Washington. Utah's written journeyman exam is taken through PROV and can be taken remotely.

What happens if I fail?

In Texas you can retake the exam as many times as you need, but you may pay a fee each time. In Washington you wait 14 days and retest only the failed sections. After three failures on any section, you wait 90 days between attempts.

How hard is it to pass?

Many people fail on the first try. TDLR reports that 24.46% of journeyman candidates passed in fiscal year 2025, which was 1,402 out of 5,731.

What is on the journeyman electrician exam?