FREE Journeyman Electrician Practice Test 2026 — 100 NEC Exam Questions by State
The Journeyman Electrician licensing exam is the single most important test in an electrician's career — pass it and you go from apprentice pay ($18-25/hr) to journeyman pay ($35-55/hr). The exam is based on the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70) and administered by state-specific testing providers (PSI, Pearson VUE, ICC, Prov). This page gives you 100 verified NEC practice questions with state-by-state guidance for California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Ohio.
Key Facts
- •Every US state except a handful (IL, NY, PA — partially) requires a Journeyman Electrician license. The exam is based on NFPA 70 (NEC), currently the 2023 edition, with state-specific amendments.
- •Journeyman exam: typically 80-100 questions, 4-5 hours, open-book (NEC code book), 70-75% passing. Electrical theory (~25%), NEC code & calculations (~45%), wiring methods (~10%), motors & transformers (~10%), safety (~10%).
- •California: State Certification Exam via DIR/DAS. 100 questions, 4 hours, 70% passing. Administered by PSI. California uses the California Electrical Code (CEC), which is the NEC with CA amendments.
- •Texas: Journeyman exam administered by PSI for TDLR. 80 questions, 4 hours, 70% passing. NEC-based with Texas amendments. Must have 8,000 hours of on-the-job training under a master electrician.
- •New York: No state-level journeyman license — licensing is by city/municipality. NYC Master Electrician exam administered by NYC DOB. Exam includes NYC Electrical Code (NEC + NYC amendments).
- •Florida: Electrical Contractor exam via Electrical Contractors Licensing Board (ECLB). 80 questions, 4 hours, 75% passing. Covers NEC + Florida-specific codes. Pearson VUE testing centers.
- •Ohio: Electrical contractor license via Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB). 100 questions, 4 hours, 70% passing. Tests NEC + Ohio Building Code. Administered by PSI.
- •Study material: NFPA 70 NEC 2023 (required — this is the open-book reference during the exam), Ugly's Electrical References, Mike Holt's Illustrated Guides, Tom Henry's Key Word Index.
- •Our 100 questions are tagged by 8 knowledge nodes: electrical theory, NEC code & calculations, wiring methods, motors & transformers, safety & OSHA, grounding & bonding, load calculations, overcurrent protection.
- •Average study time: 120-200 hours. Most apprentices spread preparation across 3-6 months while working. The code-book navigation speed is just as important as code knowledge.
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100 NEC-verified questions. State-specific exams for CA, TX, NY, FL, OH. Mock exam mode with 4-hour timer.
Start FREE Electrician Practice →Journeyman Electrician Exam by State: What's Different
The NEC is the national baseline, but every state adds amendments. The biggest practical difference between states is the testing provider and the specific code edition they test on. Some states lag 1-2 code cycles behind (still testing on NEC 2017 or 2020), others adopt the newest edition quickly. Always check your state's current exam information bulletin before studying.
Journeyman Electrician Exam — State Comparison
| State | Exam Name | Questions | Time | Passing | Provider | Code Edition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CA | General Electrician Certification | 100 | 4 hours | 70% | PSI | NEC 2020 (CEC) |
| TX | Journeyman Electrician | 80 | 4 hours | 70% | PSI (TDLR) | NEC 2023 |
| NY | NYC Master Electrician | 80-100 | 5 hours | 70% | NYC DOB | NEC 2008 + NYC amend. |
| FL | Certified Electrical Contractor | 80 | 4 hours | 75% | Pearson VUE | NEC 2020 |
| OH | Electrical Contractor (OCILB) | 100 | 4 hours | 70% | PSI | NEC 2023 + OBC |
California Specifics
California is unique — it's a state certification, not a license. The certification proves you passed the knowledge test; cities then issue licenses based on the certification. California uses the California Electrical Code (CEC), which is NEC 2020 with significant CA amendments (Article 690 solar provisions are stricter, Title 24 energy requirements overlay). The exam has a reputation for heavy emphasis on load calculations and grounding — two areas where CA amendments diverge from bare NEC.
California Electrician Practice Exam
State-specific questions for CA certification exam. Includes CEC amendments and California-specific load calculation scenarios.
Start CA Electrician Practice →8 Core NEC Knowledge Areas — With Practice Questions
The journeyman exam tests 8 primary knowledge domains. Below is the weight of each area on most state exams, plus a verified practice question.
According to NEC Article 250, what is the minimum size copper grounding electrode conductor required for a 200-amp residential service with two parallel 2/0 AWG copper service entrance conductors?
- A. #8 AWG
- B. #6 AWG
- C. #4 AWG
- D. #2 AWG
Reveal Answer & Explanation
Per NEC 250.66, the grounding electrode conductor is sized based on the largest service entrance conductor. For copper conductors 2/0 AWG or smaller (but larger than #2 AWG), Table 250.66 requires #4 AWG copper GEC. This is one of the most commonly tested NEC tables. Source: NFPA 70 NEC 2023, Article 250.66 and Table 250.66.
What is the minimum working space depth required in front of a 480V panelboard with exposed live parts on both sides and a grounded wall opposite?
- A. 3 feet
- B. 3.5 feet
- C. 4 feet
- D. 5 feet
Reveal Answer & Explanation
Per NEC 110.26(A)(1), the minimum working space depth for Condition 2 (exposed live parts on one side, grounded parts on the other) at 480V is 3.5 feet. However, when live parts are on both sides (Condition 3), the working space must be at least 4 feet. This question tests whether you distinguish between Condition 2 and Condition 3. Source: NFPA 70 NEC 2023, Table 110.26(A)(1).
A 3-phase, 480V, 10 HP motor with a nameplate FLC of 14 amps is fed by THHN copper conductors in conduit. What is the minimum conductor ampacity required per NEC?
- A. 14 amps
- B. 17.5 amps
- C. 21.9 amps
- D. 25 amps
Reveal Answer & Explanation
Per NEC 430.22, motor branch-circuit conductors must have an ampacity not less than 125% of the motor's full-load current as determined by 430.6(A)(1) — which says to use the NEC Table value, NOT the nameplate. NEC Table 430.250 lists a 10 HP, 460V, 3-phase motor FLC as 14 A. 14 × 1.25 = 17.5 A. The nameplate value is used for overload protection (430.32), not conductor sizing. This is one of the most commonly missed motor questions. Source: NFPA 70 NEC 2023, Articles 430.22, 430.6(A)(1), Table 430.250.
Grounding vs Bonding: The Single Most Confused Topic
If there's one NEC topic that separates passing from failing, it's grounding vs bonding. Grounding connects the electrical system to the earth. Bonding connects all metal parts together to create an effective ground-fault current path. These are NOT the same thing, even though electricians use 'ground' colloquially for both. Article 250 is the longest and most tested article in the NEC — expect 10-15 questions from it alone.
Grounding vs Bonding
| Aspect | Grounding | Bonding |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Connect to earth (limit voltage from lightning/surges) | Create low-impedance fault current path |
| NEC Article | 250 Part III (Grounding Electrode System) | 250 Part V (Bonding) |
| Key Component | Grounding electrode (rod, Ufer, water pipe) | Equipment grounding conductor (EGC) |
| Sizing | Based on service conductors (250.66) | Based on OCPD rating (250.122) |
| Why Tested | Tables 250.66 and 250.122 are most-missed | Effective ground-fault current path concept |
| If It Fails | System vulnerable to surges/lightning | Breaker may not trip during fault → fire/shock hazard |
Master NEC Article 250 — Practice Now
30+ grounding and bonding questions with detailed NEC article references. The most heavily tested topic in the journeyman exam.
Practice Grounding Questions →NEC Book Navigation: The Hidden Skill That Determines Your Score
The exam is open-book — you can use the NEC code book during the test. But here's what most first-time test-takers don't realize: 75% of time spent on a code question is finding the right article. The electricians who pass on first attempt aren't smarter — they navigate the code book faster. They know the article structure: Chapter 1 (General), Chapter 2 (Wiring & Protection — including 210, 215, 220, 230, 240, 250), Chapter 3 (Wiring Methods — 300 series), Chapter 4 (Equipment — 400 series), Chapter 5 (Special Occupancies), Chapter 6 (Special Equipment), Chapter 7 (Special Conditions), Chapter 8 (Communications), Chapter 9 (Tables — including the all-important Chapter 9 Table 8 for conductor properties). Tab your code book. The NEC index in the back is your best friend — it's faster than thumbing through chapters. Practice code navigation during your study, not during the exam.
NFPA 70E: Safety Questions You Will See
Many state journeyman exams now include NFPA 70E (Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace) questions. These are typically: approach boundaries (limited approach, restricted approach, arc flash boundary), personal protective equipment (PPE) categories, energized work permits, and lockout/tagout procedures. These are safety questions — they're usually straightforward if you've read 70E once.
Per NFPA 70E, what is the arc flash boundary for a 480V system with an available bolted fault current of 30 kA and a clearing time of 0.1 seconds?
- A. 12 inches
- B. 24 inches
- C. The distance where incident energy equals 1.2 cal/cm²
- D. The distance where incident energy equals 4.0 cal/cm²
Reveal Answer & Explanation
Per NFPA 70E Article 130.5, the arc flash boundary is defined as the distance from an arc source at which the incident energy equals 1.2 cal/cm² (the onset of a second-degree burn). This is a concept question — the distance isn't a fixed number; it depends on the specific system parameters (voltage, available fault current, clearing time). Calculating it requires IEEE 1584 or the NFPA 70E table method. Source: NFPA 70E 2024, Article 130.5.
Official Sources
Official Journeyman Electrician Exam Sources
- NFPA 70 — National Electrical Code 2023 — Primary open-book reference for the Journeyman exam — required study material
- NFPA 70E — Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace — Safety standards tested on many state exams (PPE, approach boundaries, LOTO)
- PSI Exams — Electrical Exam Bulletins — Testing provider for CA, TX, OH — exam content outlines and candidate bulletins
- California DIR — Electrician Certification — California electrician certification program and exam requirements
- Texas TDLR — Electrician Licensing — Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation — electrician exam and license info
100 Free NEC Practice Questions — Start Now
State-specific electrician exams for CA, TX, NY, FL, OH. Every answer linked to the NEC article. Mock exam mode with full timer. 100% free.
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