Texas Journeyman Electrician Practice Test
We're writing original practice questions for the Texas journeyman electrician exam. They'll be organized by topic and include an explanation for every answer.
Until then, the official source for licensing requirements is the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation electricians program.
In the meantime, you can practise NEC skills with our national Journeyman Electrician Practice Test, which uses original questions with code references. Texas exam content is set by the testing vendor, so also review the official bulletin.
Who Needs a Journeyman Licence in Texas
According to TDLR, anyone who performs or offers to perform non-exempt electrical work in Texas must be licensed and must do that work through a licensed electrical contractor. A journeyman electrician is licensed to perform electrical work under the general supervision of a master electrician.
Experience Requirements
Texas Occupations Code Section 1305.155 requires a journeyman applicant to have at least 8,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of a master electrician and to pass a journeyman electrician examination. TDLR's early exam option lets you apply once you have at least 7,000 hours, so you can take the exam before reaching the full 8,000 hours needed for the licence.
Each master electrician who supervised you must sign an Experience Verification Form. If you can't reach a former supervisor, TDLR suggests contacting the electrical contractor they worked under, or using the TDLR license search to find contact details.
Applying
- Complete the Journeyman Electrician License Application and attach an Experience Verification Form for each supervisor.
- Pay TDLR's non-refundable application fee, shown on the TDLR application page.
- Wait for approval. Once your application is approved, you will get information from PSI on how to schedule the exam.
- Pass both parts of the exam, then complete any remaining steps TDLR requires.
If you are worried about a criminal history, Texas lets you request a criminal history evaluation before you apply. Details are on the TDLR site.
The Exam Format
The PSI candidate information bulletin for Texas electrical exams describes the format. From 1 September 2026, the exams are referenced to the 2026 NEC. The journeyman exam has two multiple-choice portions, and you must score at least 70% on each.
| Portion | Items | Time | Pass mark |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEC Knowledge | 59 (including 3 non-scored) | 130 minutes | 70% |
| Calculations | 26 (including 2 non-scored) | 110 minutes | 70% |
Unused time from one portion does not carry over to the other. The bulletin lists the exam fee and the retake fee. Check the current bulletin before you book, because fees and formats can change.
What the Exam Covers
The NEC Knowledge portion covers definitions, theory and plan reading; services and service equipment; feeders; branch circuits and conductors, including GFCI and AFCI protection; wiring methods and materials such as raceways, boxes, cabinets and cables; equipment and devices such as receptacles, luminaires, HVAC equipment and appliances; motors and generators; control devices and disconnects; special occupancies such as pools, RVs and emergency systems; and renewable energy, including photovoltaics and EV chargers.
The Calculations portion covers electrical theory, service and feeder load calculations, branch circuit calculations, overcurrent protection and conductors, grounding and bonding conductors, and wiring methods. Unless a question says otherwise, all conductors are copper.
Bringing Your Code Book
The exam is open book, but you must bring your own NEC. The bulletin's rules are strict:
- Any soft-bound edition is allowed, but the questions are based on the edition TDLR has adopted.
- You may highlight, underline and write notes in your book before the exam.
- Only permanent index tabs made or supplied by the NEC publisher are allowed. Homemade tabs are not.
- Loose-leaf, spiral-bound and ring-bound copies, the NEC Handbook and extra paper are not allowed.
- You can't mark your book during the exam.
The bulletin also tells candidates not to consider code exceptions or optional calculation methods unless the question directs them to. Only silent, non-programmable, battery-operated calculators are allowed.
How to Prepare
- Study with the same NEC edition and copy you will take into the exam.
- Learn the layout of the code so you know which chapter to open.
- Practise load calculations and conductor sizing until you can do them quickly.
- Take timed practice tests that match the item counts and time limits above.
Study Plan for the Texas Exam
- Learn the layout of the NEC. Know what each chapter covers so you can open the right article without the index.
- Work the outline. The PSI bulletin lists the subject areas and the number of items in each. Spend the most time on the areas with the most items, such as branch circuits and wiring methods.
- Practise calculations separately. The Calculations portion has its own time limit, so practise load calculations, conductor sizing and voltage drop under timed conditions.
- Take full timed practice tests. Match the item counts and times in the bulletin so test day feels familiar.
- Check your book. Make sure your NEC edition, binding and tabs meet the bulletin's rules well before test day.
On Test Day
Arrive early with the identification PSI requires and your compliant NEC. Personal items such as bags, phones and notes are not allowed in the testing room. Pace yourself: in the NEC Knowledge portion you have a little over two minutes per item, and in the Calculations portion about four minutes per item. Flag hard questions and return to them.
After You Pass
Once you pass both portions and meet the full 8,000-hour requirement, TDLR issues the licence. Journeyman licences must be renewed, and Texas requires continuing education for renewal. Check the TDLR continuing education page for the current hours and topics.
Common Questions
Can I take the exam before I have 8,000 hours? Yes, if you have at least 7,000 hours and use TDLR's early exam option. You still need the full 8,000 hours before the licence is issued.
Do I have to pass both portions at once? You must pass each portion with at least 70%. If you fail one, you retake that portion. Check the bulletin for current retake rules and fees.
Which NEC edition is tested? From 1 September 2026, the exams are referenced to the 2026 NEC, according to the PSI bulletin.
Can I use the NEC Handbook? No. The Handbook is not allowed in the examination room.
Key Terms
- TDLR: the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, which licenses electricians in Texas.
- PSI: the testing vendor that administers Texas electrical licensing exams.
- Candidate Information Bulletin: PSI's official guide to the exam format, content outline, rules and fees.
- Experience Verification Form: the TDLR form each supervising master electrician signs to confirm your hours.
- Early exam option: TDLR's option to test with at least 7,000 hours before reaching 8,000.
- Non-scored items: trial questions in the exam that don't count toward your score.
Common Mistakes
- Bringing a spiral-bound NEC or one with homemade tabs.
- Studying an older NEC edition than the one referenced.
- Leaving the Calculations portion to chance. It has its own pass mark.
- Failing to get supervisors to sign verification forms before they move on.
When our Texas practice questions launch, they will follow the bulletin's subject areas and include an explanation for every answer.
Quick Questions
Do I need an apprentice licence first?
Texas licenses electrical apprentices, and most people gain their supervised hours while holding one. Check TDLR's apprentice page for current requirements.
Can out-of-state hours count?
Ask TDLR. Experience must be documented and verified, so contact the board about your situation before you apply.
How many questions do I need to get right?
Each portion needs 70%. The bulletin notes some items are non-scored trial questions, so score is based on the scored items only.
Is the exam offered in Spanish?
Check the PSI bulletin and ask PSI when you schedule. The bulletin explains language options and allows a bound word-to-word translation dictionary without pictures or definitions.
Where can I check a Texas electrician's licence?
TDLR provides a public license search on its website, where you can look up licence status by name or number.
Sources: Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1305, TDLR: Apply for a New Journeyman Electrician License and the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin for Texas electrical exams.
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