Journeyman Electrician Practice Test: Free Prep Guide
A journeyman electrician practice test should mirror how your state’s real exam is built: multiple choice, NEC-code-book-in-hand, timed per question, split roughly between straight code lookups and math-based calculations. Most states run 60 to 100 questions in 2.5 to 4 hours and set the passing score between 70% and 75%. The exact numbers come from your state board or PSI, not from any national standard, because there isn’t one.
That’s the part people miss. “The journeyman electrician exam” isn’t a single test. It’s dozens of state-specific exams, most delivered through PSI or Prov Ed, each drawing from the same NEC but weighting sections differently and setting its own passing score. Texas, for example, splits its exam into two separately timed portions (59 questions on NEC knowledge, 26 on calculations); Michigan runs a single 80-question, 150-minute exam at a 75% passing score. Both test the same code book. Neither test is interchangeable with the other in format.
What a journeyman electrician exam actually tests
Every state draws from the same content pool: services and feeders, branch circuits, wiring methods, grounding and bonding, overcurrent protection, motors, and special occupancies (pools, hazardous locations, health care facilities). The split between straight knowledge questions and calculation questions varies, but calculations (box fill, conductor derating, load calculations, voltage drop) show up on almost every state exam because they’re the part employers actually rely on you to get right in the field.
The two question types you’ll see
A snippet-style breakdown, since this is the part most study guides gloss over:
| Question type | What it tests | How to practice it |
|---|---|---|
| Code lookup | Find the right NEC article/table and apply it correctly | Timed table-finding drills, not memorization |
| Calculation | Box fill, ampacity derating, load calc, conductor sizing | Work the math cold, then check against the table |
| Scenario/application | “Given this situation, what does code require?” | Read the fact pattern twice before answering |
| Definitions | Precise NEC terminology (e.g., “readily accessible” vs “accessible”) | Flashcard the terms that have a specific code meaning |
Six original practice questions
We wrote these from public NEC concepts. They are not reproductions of any real state or PSI exam question, and no two states will phrase things exactly this way, but the underlying code logic is the same everywhere.
1. Where must the service disconnecting means be located relative to the point of entrance of service conductors into a building? Nearest the point of entrance, per NEC 230.70(A)(1). “Nearest” is a code term, not a suggestion. Inspectors read it literally when a disconnect is installed on the far side of a building from where conductors enter.
2. A single-phase 240V circuit runs 180 feet to a subpanel and carries 40A continuously. What’s the main concern for a journeyman sizing the conductors, beyond ampacity? Voltage drop. NEC doesn’t hard-require a voltage drop calculation for most branch circuits and feeders (it’s advisory, in an informational note, not a mandatory rule), but a run that long at that load will likely exceed the commonly used 3% branch circuit / 5% total guideline unless conductors are upsized beyond the minimum ampacity requirement.
3. Two 12 AWG THHN conductors and one 12 AWG equipment grounding conductor run in 1/2 inch EMT. Is that conduit size adequate under NEC Chapter 9, Table 1 fill rules? Generally yes for three 12 AWG conductors in 1/2 inch EMT, since the 40% fill allowance for more than two conductors comfortably covers three 12 AWG THHN conductors. Always confirm against the current Annex C tables for the specific conductor type and conduit trade size before finalizing a real installation.
4. A garage receptacle in a dwelling unit is rated 125V, 20A. Does it need GFCI protection even if it’s a dedicated circuit for a freezer? Yes. NEC 210.8(A) requires GFCI protection for garage receptacles in dwelling units with limited exceptions (a receptacle not readily accessible and dedicated to specific equipment can qualify for an exception in some code cycles), but the general rule is GFCI-protect it. Don’t assume “dedicated circuit” alone exempts it; check the current exception language.
5. What’s the minimum working clearance in front of a 240V panelboard in a dry, indoor commercial space, under typical Condition 2 spacing? 3 feet, per NEC Table 110.26(A)(1) for most low-voltage equipment under standard Condition 2 (exposed live parts on one side, grounded parts on the other). Working space requirements exist independent of the equipment’s rated capacity in amps.
6. An equipment grounding conductor for a 60A circuit is sized using which NEC table? Table 250.122, which sizes the equipment grounding conductor off the rating of the circuit’s overcurrent device, not off the ungrounded conductor size the way the grounding electrode conductor table works. Mixing up 250.66 and 250.122 is one of the most common exam mistakes.
How to actually use practice questions
Don’t just check right or wrong. For every miss, write down which NEC article you needed and why you didn’t find it fast enough, whether that’s an index problem, a tabbing problem, or a genuine knowledge gap. Most people who fail on a second attempt fail on the same category of question both times because they reviewed answers instead of reviewing their lookup process.
Run a full timed set in AmpExam’s free practice quiz tool before you commit to a testing date. If you keep missing the same calculation types, the free study guide walks through box fill, derating, and load calculations step by step instead of just giving you the table reference.
FAQ
Is the journeyman electrician practice test the same in every state? No. Content overlaps heavily since every state tests the NEC, but question count, time limit, and passing score are all set by the state board or its testing vendor (commonly PSI). Check your specific state’s candidate bulletin before you study off a generic multiple-choice bank.
How many questions are on a typical journeyman electrician exam? Most states run 60 to 100 scored questions. Texas currently splits 85 questions (59 plus 26) across two timed portions; Michigan runs 80 questions in one 150-minute sitting. Neither is universal.
What score do I need to pass? Typically 70% to 75%, set by your state, not by PSI or any national body. Some two-part exams (like Texas) require you to clear the passing score on each portion separately rather than averaging your overall score.
Can I use a calculator during the exam? Usually yes, but only a basic four-function, non-programmable, silent calculator without alphabet keys or printing capability. Bring your own; most test centers won’t supply one for you.
Is the journeyman exam open book? Most states allow a soft-bound NEC with factory tabs and prior notes, but rules on what counts as an acceptable reference (edition year, binding type, handwritten tabs) vary by state and change over time. Confirm with your specific board’s current bulletin, not last year’s forum post.