Short answer: Keep the night before ordinary, arrive at the PSI site 30 minutes early for sign-in and the ID check, and use the tutorial, since up to 15 minutes of it does not count toward exam time. Then pace each part on its own clock: NEC Knowledge is 59 items in 130 minutes and Calculations is 26 items in 110 minutes, 70% on each, and time does not roll over. One halfway check per part tells you if you are on track.
A good exam day is the last step. Being ready for both parts is the step before it. The Practice Pack gives you 10 full timed two-part mocks at the real format, 59 questions in 130 minutes plus 26 in 110 minutes, with a score by part and by topic and a line showing which part you would fail. It also has 299 step-by-step calculation solutions and code-book navigation aids. US$39, one payment.
Tsai Electro is an independent learning site. Not affiliated with TDLR, PSI or NFPA. Exam rules can change, so confirm in the PSI bulletin linked below.
The day before
Treat it like the day before a big job: set things out, then stop.
- No new topics. Look over your own notes and the articles you tabbed. Leave anything new for after the exam.
- Pack the bag once. Code book, calculator and ID go in the same spot the night before, checked against what you can bring to the Texas Journeyman exam.
- Plan the drive. Know your test center, how long the drive takes and when you need to leave. Late arrivals are not admitted.
- Set two alarms. One to wake up, one to leave the house.
- Go to bed at your normal time. Keep your usual routine so the morning is calm.
Arrival and the room
| PSI rule | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Arrive 30 minutes early | Sign-in and the ID check happen before your start time |
| Late arrivals are not admitted | Arriving after the start time forfeits the $78 fee |
| Restroom only with proctor permission, no extra time | The clock keeps running while you are out |
| Tutorial first, up to 15 minutes not counted | Use it to learn the screen before the exam clock starts |
Pacing both parts
Each part has its own clock, and time left on one does not roll over to the other. The minutes remaining are shown at the top of the screen, so one checkpoint per part is enough:
| Part | Total time | Halfway mark | Items done by then |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEC Knowledge | 130 minutes | 65 minutes remaining | about 30 of 59 |
| Calculations | 110 minutes | 55 minutes remaining | about 13 of 26 |
If you are behind at the halfway mark, move faster on the questions you know and come back to the slow ones. You can return to any question and change your answer while time remains. Non-scored items are included and you are not told which they are, so do not spend extra time guessing which ones count.
Two working habits help on both parts:
- Knowledge part: go to the article you tabbed first, read the question again, then pick the answer.
- Calculations part: write the setup down before you touch the calculator, and work it one step at a time. With about 4 minutes per item, a clean setup is faster than a second try.
Your arrival time and checkpoints
Arrival time and halfway checkpoints
Enter your exam start time in 24-hour form. The part times and item counts are the PSI numbers for the Texas Journeyman exam.
- Exam start hour (0 to 23)
- Exam start minute
- NEC Knowledge minutes
- NEC Knowledge items
- Calculations minutes
- Calculations items
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Texas Journeyman Electrician Exam Prep 2026 NEC (paperback)
Our own workbook has 2 full two-part mock exams of 59 and 26 questions plus a 20-article tab list. Run one mock at the same time of day as your exam and practice your halfway checks before the real thing.
What time should I arrive for the Texas journeyman exam?
PSI asks you to arrive 30 minutes early for sign-in and the ID check. Late arrivals are not admitted, and arriving after the start time forfeits your exam fee.
How long is the Texas journeyman electrician exam?
NEC Knowledge is 130 minutes and Calculations is 110 minutes. Time from one part does not roll over to the other. Before the exam, up to 15 minutes of tutorial does not count toward exam time.
Can I take a break during the Texas journeyman exam?
After the exam starts you may leave only for the restroom, with proctor permission, and you get no extra time. Plan to sit through each part and use the halfway check to steer your time.
