Texas Journeyman Exam Passing Score: 70% on Each Portion

What the 70% applies to

The exam has two multiple-choice portions, each scored on its own. NEC Knowledge has 59 items on screen, 3 of them non-scored, so 56 count. Calculations has 26 items, 2 of them non-scored, so 24 count. These figures come from the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin for Texas electricians (updated 9/15/2026). You see every item as a normal question. The non-scored ones are mixed in and look no different, so answer all of them as if they count.

Each portion also has its own clock: 130 minutes for NEC Knowledge and 110 minutes for Calculations. Time left on the first portion does not roll over to the second. You pass or fall short on each portion separately, so treat them as two small exams that happen to be booked together.

What 70% looks like in questions

Seventy percent of 56 scored items is 39.2, and seventy percent of 24 is 16.8. Those are our own arithmetic to give you a planning target, not a rule from PSI about rounding. Aim above them. If your practice scores sit right on the line, one slipped unit or one skipped correction factor decides the portion, so build a margin.

The practical reading: on the Calculations portion, roughly one miss in every three or four items is the limit. That sounds generous until you remember that a calculation question is rarely a coin flip. You either run the full method or you land on a wrong option that was written to look right. One missed step, such as forgetting the 125% on a continuous load, costs the whole item.

Why separate scoring changes your plan

Most candidates have a natural side. Some read the code book quickly and slow down when arithmetic starts. Others are quick with formulas and slow in the book. Because each portion needs 70% alone, your plan has to lift your weaker side to the line, not push your stronger side higher.

Here is a simple way to find which side is yours:

1. Take the free 10-question check and note your score by subject area, not only the total.
2. Sort your misses into two piles: "could not find it in the book" and "found it, then did the math wrong".
3. If the first pile is bigger, spend your time on tabbing, definitions and lookup speed. If the second is bigger, spend it on working problems in a fixed order.

Our calculations portion guide lays out a repeatable method for each calculation type, and the exam outline shows how the 80 scored items spread across ten subject areas, so you can see where the points sit.

What the score report tells you

PSI shows your score on screen at the end and prints a report at the test center. If you do not pass a portion, the report includes a diagnostic of strengths and weaknesses. That is useful, but it arrives after you have paid the fee. The better order is to find your weak subject areas before you book, then walk in with them fixed.

Retakes if you fall short

The retake fee is $78 for one portion or both, and TDLR says you can retake as many times as needed, though each attempt may carry a fee. The catch is time: you have one year from the date TDLR received your application to meet every requirement. Our post on what to do after failing one portion walks through the next steps.

Check where you stand now

You do not need to wait for exam week to find out which side of the line you are on. Take the free 10-question check. It needs no signup, every answer is explained with the NEC article it relies on, and your score comes back by subject area so you know what to study first.

FAQ

What is the passing score on the Texas journeyman exam?

70% on each of the two portions, NEC Knowledge and Calculations. Each is scored separately.

Do the two portions combine into one score?

No. Each portion is passed on its own, so a high score on one does not offset a low score on the other.

Do non-scored items count against me?

No. NEC Knowledge has 3 non-scored items and Calculations has 2. They are not counted, but you cannot tell which they are.

How much does a retake cost?

$78 for a retake of one or both portions, per PSI's bulletin read on 24 Oct 2026. Check PSI's current copy before you pay.