The Texas journeyman exam outline: ten subject areas
The Texas journeyman electrician exam is two open-book portions that PSI gives for TDLR: NEC Knowledge (59 items in 130 minutes) and Calculations (26 items in 110 minutes), and you need 70% on each. PSI publishes a content outline for each portion, with the number of items in each subject area. Together they give you a map: study the heavy subject areas first, and use your free check to see where your own score trails their share.
- Questions
- 85
- Time
- 240 minutes
- Exam fee
- $78
- Where
- PSI test centers across Texas (computer-based)
The ten subject areas and their items
Scored items per portion, from the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin (updated 9/15/2026). The Calculations portion names two areas a little differently ("Calculations and Theory" and "Branch Circuit Calculations and Conductors"); they are grouped with their NEC Knowledge match here.
| Subject area | NEC Knowledge | Calculations | Both |
|---|---|---|---|
| Definitions, theory and plans | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Services, service equipment and separately derived systems | 6 | 4 | 10 |
| Feeders | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Branch circuits and conductors | 10 | 4 | 14 |
| Wiring methods and materials | 10 | 2 | 12 |
| Equipment and devices | 10 | 2 | 12 |
| Motors and generators | 5 | 2 | 7 |
| Control devices and disconnecting means | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Special occupancies, equipment and conditions | 6 | 3 | 9 |
| Renewable energy (solar PV and EV charging) | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Scored items | 56 | 24 | 80 |
Each portion also carries non-scored items (3 in NEC Knowledge, 2 in Calculations), so you see 59 and 26 items on screen.
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Start the free 10-question checkHow to prepare
- Take the free check and compare each subject area's score with its share of the 80 scored items.
- Work the calculations with your own 2026 NEC open, the way you will at PSI. We cite the NEC by article, section and table number only and never reproduce its text.
- Practice each portion on its own clock: 130 minutes for NEC Knowledge, then 110 for Calculations. Unless a question says otherwise, treat conductors as copper.
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The exam in brief
- Time: 130 minutes for NEC Knowledge and 110 for Calculations. Time does not carry over.
- Passing: 70% on each portion.
- Cost: $78 for both portions; a retake of one or both is $78.
- Book: a soft-bound 2026 NEC with publisher tabs only; no NEC Handbook.
FAQ
What is on the Texas journeyman electrician exam?
Ten subject areas run through both portions. The heaviest are branch circuits and conductors (14 scored items), wiring methods and materials (12), equipment and devices (12) and services (10). Together those four carry 48 of the 80 scored items. The table above gives every area's count for each portion.
How long is the Texas journeyman electrician exam?
240 minutes in all: 130 for NEC Knowledge and 110 for Calculations. Time left on the first portion does not carry into the second, so practice each one on its own clock.
How do I apply for the journeyman electrician exam in Texas?
You apply to TDLR for the license. Once TDLR has reviewed your application and received the fee, it tells you that you are approved to sit the exam, and PSI's scheduling instructions follow. You then book online, by phone or by mail and pay $78 for both portions. TDLR gives you one year from the date it received your application to pass. The eligibility guide and the cost and scheduling guide have the details.
How do I prepare for the journeyman electrician exam?
Study from the 2026 NEC, since the Texas exam has been referenced to it since 1 September 2026. Start with the heavy subject areas where you score lowest, work every calculation with your book open, and time yourself on each portion. Our study plan by subject area turns this outline into weeks, and the free practice questions show the question style.
What score do I need to pass the Texas journeyman exam?
70% on each portion, and each portion is passed separately. The retake fee is $78 whether you fail one portion or both. The passing score post explains how it works.
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See which subject areas to work on first. Take the free 10-question check. It needs no signup and explains every answer.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by TDLR, PSI or NFPA. NEC and National Electrical Code are registered trademarks of NFPA.
Sources
Show the list
- Candidate Information Bulletin, Texas electricians (updated 9/15/2026), PSI for the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
- Electrician exam information, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
Exam facts
| Questions | 85 multiple-choice items in two separately scored portions, 80 scored: NEC Knowledge 59 items (3 non-scored), Calculations 26 items (2 non-scored) |
| Time | 240 minutes |
| Book | open: the candidate brings a soft-bound National Electrical Code, 2026 Edition (loose-leaf, spiral- and ring-bound copies are not allowed). Highlighting, underlining and notes made before the exam are allowed; publisher-made permanent index tabs only, no homemade tabs; no marking during the exam; the NEC Handbook is not allowed |
| Calculator | Non-programmable, silent, battery-operated calculator without paper tape or an alphabetic keyboard |
| Passing | 70% on each portion; each portion is passed separately, and time left on the first portion does not roll over to the second |
| Where you test | PSI test centers across Texas (computer-based) |
| Exam fee | $78 |
| Retakes | Retake as many times as needed within the eligibility period; a retake of one or both portions is $78 |
| Eligibility | TDLR approves the license application first. Applicants have one year from the date TDLR received the application to meet every requirement, including passing the exam. |
What the exam covers
| Definitions, Theory, and Plans | 6.25% |
| Electrical Services, Service Equipment, and Separately Derived Systems | 12.5% |
| Electrical Feeders | 7.5% |
| Branch Circuits and Conductors | 17.5% |
| Electrical Wiring Methods and Electrical Materials | 15% |
| Electrical Equipment and Devices | 15% |
| Motors and Generators | 8.75% |
| Electrical Control Devices and Disconnecting Means | 2.5% |
| Special Occupancies, Equipment, and Conditions | 11.25% |
| Renewable Energy Technologies | 3.75% |
Facts checked 28 October 2026 against TDLR's own documents (sources above). If something has changed, tell us and we will correct it within 2 business days.
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