Short answer: For a Texas electrician exam taken on or after September 1, 2026, study the 2026 NEC: the PSI bulletin says the exams are referenced to the 2026 NEC from that date. For electrical work in Texas, TDLR adopted the 2026 NEC in 16 TAC 73.100, effective September 1, 2026, with one Texas change that keeps the GFCI exception for listed HVAC equipment with no end date. On a job, the permit office for that job decides what it inspects to, so check with it before you rely on any rule. Three layers, three questions: the exam, the state and the city.
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Tsai Electro is an independent learning site. Not affiliated with TDLR, PSI or NFPA. Rules change, so check the current PSI bulletin and TDLR rules before you rely on them.
Which code answers your question
Which code version do I use?
Pick what you need the answer for. The result tells you which layer decides; it is not a code ruling.
- What do you need the answer for?
The three layers
| Layer | Who decides | Which code | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| The exam | PSI, for TDLR | 2026 NEC from September 1, 2026 | The current PSI bulletin for your exam |
| The state | TDLR, 16 TAC 73.100 | 2026 NEC, effective September 1, 2026, with the Texas HVAC GFCI change | TDLR’s rules and news page |
| The city | The permit office for the job | The state code plus any local amendments | Call or check the permit office before field work |
City rules matter for field work. They do not change the exam, which follows the PSI bulletin.
The one Texas change
The 2026 NEC as published by NFPA brings back the GFCI requirement for certain outdoor outlets in 210.8(F), with “Exception No. 2” for listed HVAC equipment set to expire September 1, 2026. The Texas Register notice for the adopted rule says TDLR kept that exception without an expiration date, because the nuisance tripping concerns with HVAC equipment had not yet been resolved. The new rule puts this in subsection (b) of 73.100.
We could not find a public PSI statement on how exam questions treat this Texas change. The bulletin says to consider exceptions only when a question directs you to, so read each question for that instruction.
What the exam bulletin says about your code book
The PSI bulletin lists the National Electrical Code, 2026 Edition, as the reference and says questions are based on the edition TDLR currently adopts. It allows any soft-bound edition, but the questions follow the 2026 edition, so study and bring the 2026 book. For what you can and cannot bring, including tabs and binding, see what you can bring to the Texas Journeyman exam.
The free hours ledger in your Tsai Electro account lets you record each employer, supervisor, work period and hours and shows how far you are from 7,000 hours, when TDLR lets you apply to take the Journeyman exam early. It is your own record, not an official TDLR record.
Which NEC is the Texas Journeyman exam based on in 2026?
From September 1, 2026, the PSI bulletin says Texas electrician exams are referenced to the 2026 NEC.
Has Texas adopted the 2026 NEC?
Yes. TDLR adopted the 2026 NEC in 16 TAC 73.100, effective September 1, 2026, and kept the GFCI exception for listed HVAC equipment, 210.8(F) Exception No. 2, with no end date.
Do city electrical codes change the Texas license exam?
No. The exam follows the PSI bulletin. City rules and local amendments matter for field work, so check with the permit office for each job.
