Short answer: The Texas Journeyman Electrician exam is the open-book PSI test you take after TDLR accepts 7,000 supervised hours. The license is issued at 8,000. It has two timed parts on the 2026 NEC: 59 NEC Knowledge questions in 130 minutes and 26 Calculations questions in 110 minutes. You need 70% on each part. The fee is $78 per attempt. In TDLR’s fiscal 2025 data, 24.46% of NEC attempts and 20.56% of Calculations attempts passed.
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In detail: The Texas Journeyman Electrician exam is a two-part, open-book PSI exam referenced to the 2026 NEC since September 1, 2026. Part 1, NEC Knowledge, has 59 questions in 130 minutes. Part 2, Calculations, has 26 questions in 110 minutes. You need at least 70% on each part. The exam fee is $78, and a retake costs $78 whether you fail one part or both. In TDLR’s fiscal year 2025 figures, only 24.46% of NEC Knowledge attempts and 20.56% of Calculations attempts passed.
Only 20.56% of Journeyman Calculations attempts passed in FY2025, and 40,226 Journeymen hold a current license: Texas license statistics (TDLR data, September 2026).
Last checked October 1, 2026 against the TDLR exam page, the PSI candidate information bulletin for TDLR electricians (updated September 15, 2026) and TDLR exam statistics. Requirements change, so confirm on the official pages before you pay or book.
The exam at a glance
| Item | Texas Journeyman Electrician exam |
|---|---|
| Regulator | Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) |
| Test vendor | PSI, at test centers across Texas |
| Code edition | 2026 NEC, from September 1, 2026 |
| Part 1 | NEC Knowledge: 59 questions (3 unscored), 130 minutes |
| Part 2 | Calculations: 26 questions (2 unscored), 110 minutes |
| Passing score | 70% on each part |
| Book rules | Open book: your own soft-bound NEC, no handbook, publisher tabs only |
| Fee | $78 for both parts; $78 for a retake of one or both parts |
| Languages | English or Spanish bulletins and exams |
Time does not carry over. If you finish Part 1 early, the spare minutes are lost, so pace each part on its own clock.
Who can take it
You apply to TDLR first, not to PSI. TDLR lets you apply and sit the exam once you have at least 7,000 hours of on-the-job training under a Texas-licensed Master Electrician, but you need the full 8,000 hours before the license is issued. Each supervising master signs an Experience Verification Form. The application goes by mail with a $30 non-refundable fee. Once TDLR approves you, you schedule with PSI online or by phone. See our step-by-step TDLR Journeyman application guide.
You have one year from the date TDLR receives your application to meet every requirement, including passing the exam.
Journeyman vs Master vs Residential Wireman
| License | Hours to qualify | TDLR application fee | PSI exam | Exam fee | Pass rate, fiscal year 2025 | TDLR page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Wireman | 4,000 hours under a Master or Residential Wireman, or an approved career and technology program | $20 | 80 questions, 240 minutes | $64 | 30.15% | Residential Wireman |
| Journeyman Electrician | 7,000 hours to test, 8,000 to be licensed, under a Texas Master | $30 | NEC Knowledge 59 questions, 130 minutes; Calculations 26 questions, 110 minutes | $78 | 24.46% NEC Knowledge, 20.56% Calculations | Journeyman Electrician |
| Master Electrician | 2 years as a Journeyman Electrician and 12,000 hours under a Texas Master | $45 | NEC Knowledge 75 questions, 150 minutes; Calculations 33 questions, 170 minutes | $78 | 22.21% NEC Knowledge, 19.08% Calculations | Master Electrician |
Every exam needs 70% on each part. Sources: the TDLR license page in each row, the PSI candidate information bulletin for TDLR electricians (updated September 15, 2026) and TDLR fiscal year 2025 exam statistics. TDLR counts exam attempts, not people.
What each part covers
PSI’s content outline puts most of the NEC Knowledge part on branch circuits and conductors, wiring methods and materials, and equipment and devices. In TDLR’s May 2026 staff report, those three areas carry 10 scored points each out of 56. Services and separately derived systems, special occupancies, and motors and generators come next.
The Calculations part is weighted toward branch-circuit calculations and conductors (4 of 24 scored points), services and service equipment (4), feeders (3) and special occupancies (3). Every other area is worth 1 or 2 points. Our Calculations part guide walks through each area.
Two bulletin rules matter on every question: treat all conductors as copper unless the question says otherwise, and ignore code exceptions and optional calculation methods unless the question tells you to use them.
Pass rates: why most attempts fail
| Exam part | Attempts | Passed | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Journeyman NEC Knowledge | 5,731 | 1,402 | 24.46% |
| Journeyman Calculations | 6,328 | 1,301 | 20.56% |
| Master NEC Knowledge | 3,472 | 771 | 22.21% |
| Master Calculations | 3,946 | 753 | 19.08% |
Source: TDLR fiscal year 2025 electrician exam statistics. These are attempts, not people, so repeat test takers pull the rates down.
For comparison, in fiscal year 2024, when the Journeyman exam was still one combined test, 27.86% of 8,490 attempts passed. Splitting it into two parts did not make it easier: each part now has its own 70% line. See all three periods side by side in Texas electrician exam pass rates.
TDLR’s May 12, 2026 staff report breaks out early Journeyman exams (candidates testing at 7,000 hours) from January to March 2026. First-time takers passed 67.23% of the time, but repeat takers passed only 19.72%. Candidates from apprenticeship programs passed 83.54% on the first try and 23.71% on repeats. Structured preparation before the first attempt makes the biggest difference.
On the Calculations part, first-time takers averaged 13.15 of 24 scored points in the same report. That is under 55%, while 70% of 24 is 16.8.
Retakes
TDLR lets you retake each exam as many times as you need, but you pay the PSI fee again each time and must pass within your one-year application window. If you fail, the score report shows your strengths and weaknesses by area. Use it to decide what to drill before you book again. Our retake guide turns that report into a study plan.
How to prepare in the last 8 weeks
- Get the 2026 NEC in a soft-bound edition and learn where each article sits. Highlighting, underlining and notes are allowed before exam day.
- Fix your tabs early. Only permanent tabs made or supplied by the NEC publisher are allowed. See NEC code book tabs for the Texas exam.
- Practice timed, one part at a time: 59 questions in 130 minutes, then 26 calculations in 110 minutes.
- Spend most of your practice time on calculations, since that is the part most candidates fail.
- Read the exam day rules so ID, calculator or book problems do not cost you the $78 fee.
Practice in the real format
Want to see the question style first? Read 10 sample questions with answers. Our free Texas Journeyman practice gives you 20 questions with no sign-up. The full Texas Journeyman Practice Pack adds 1,000 questions, 10 full timed two-part PSI-style mocks, step-by-step solutions for calculation questions and an open-book lookup path for each question. It is a one-time payment. Every question is original, written in the PSI two-part format with an open-book lookup path, and checked against the 2026 NEC text; every correction is published.
Try 3 of the 20 free practice questions here. Give yourself 2 minutes each with your 2026 NEC open, then open the answer.
Question 1: NEC 215.12(C)(1)
A commercial building has both 208Y/120-volt and 480Y/277-volt feeders. How must the ungrounded feeder conductors be identified?
- A. No identification is required if the conductors are in separate raceways
- B. By phase or line and by system at every termination, connection and splice point, with the method documented or posted at each feeder panelboard
- C. Only by labeling the voltage on the outside of each raceway every 10 ft
- D. By using black insulation for all 480-volt conductors and red for all 208-volt conductors
Show the answer
Answer: B. Where more than one nominal voltage system exists, feeder ungrounded conductors are identified by phase or line and by system at all termination, connection and splice points. The Code does not fix a color scheme; the chosen method must be documented where it is readily available or posted at each feeder panelboard. Code reference: NEC 215.12(C)(1) (2026 NEC).
Question 2: NEC 344.30(A) and (B)
A run of rigid metal conduit is installed exposed along a warehouse wall with standard couplings. Apart from the securing requirement near boxes, at what maximum interval must it be supported under the general rule?
- A. 4 1/2 ft
- B. 8 ft
- C. 10 ft
- D. 14 ft
Show the answer
Answer: C. Rigid metal conduit is generally supported at intervals not exceeding 10 ft, and securely fastened within 3 ft of each outlet box, junction box, cabinet or conduit termination. Longer spans are permitted only under the specific conditions the article lists. Code reference: NEC 344.30(A) and (B) (2026 NEC).
Question 3: NEC 404.2(C)
A new wall switch in a dwelling bedroom controls the ceiling luminaire, which is supplied by a grounded general-purpose branch circuit. The cable enters the switch box through a finished wall and is not in a raceway, and the lighting is not controlled by any automatic means. What does the NEC generally require at the switch location?
- A. A grounded (neutral) conductor for the circuit
- B. A GFCI device
- C. A second equipment grounding conductor
- D. A locking means for the switch
Show the answer
Answer: A. Where switches control lighting loads supplied by a grounded general-purpose branch circuit, the grounded conductor must generally be provided at the switch location. The exceptions (for example a raceway or an accessible framing cavity that allows it to be added later, or a switch that does not serve a habitable room or bathroom) do not apply to this bedroom. The rule supports electronic switches such as occupancy sensors and timers. Code reference: NEC 404.2(C) (2026 NEC).
Next step on the Texas ladder
You are here: Journeyman exam. Next: Exam calculations. Calculations is the part with the lower pass rate.
Also useful: Exam day rules · All Texas electrician exams
Free first: try 20 Texas Journeyman questions, no sign-up. Ready for full timed two-part mocks? See the practice pack: 1,000 questions and 10 mocks, one payment. See what’s inside.
FAQ
How many questions are on the Texas Journeyman Electrician exam?
85 in total: 59 in the NEC Knowledge part and 26 in the Calculations part. Five of them (3 and 2) are unscored trial questions, and you cannot tell which ones.
How long is the Texas Journeyman Electrician exam?
130 minutes for NEC Knowledge plus 110 minutes for Calculations, 4 hours in total. Unused time in one part does not carry over to the other.
What is the pass rate for the Texas Journeyman Electrician exam?
In TDLR fiscal year 2025, 24.46% of NEC Knowledge attempts and 20.56% of Calculations attempts passed. First-time takers do much better than repeat takers.
How much does the Texas Journeyman exam cost?
The PSI exam fee is $78 for both parts, and the retake fee is $78 whether you fail one part or both. TDLR also charges a $30 non-refundable application fee.
Is the Texas Journeyman Electrician exam open book?
Yes. You bring your own soft-bound 2026 NEC. It may be highlighted and annotated in advance and may carry permanent tabs from the publisher. The NEC Handbook and homemade tabs are not allowed.
Which NEC edition does the Texas exam use?
The 2026 NEC, for exams from September 1, 2026. PSI and TDLR reviewed 1,361 existing questions for the change, edited 94, deleted 23 and wrote 15 new ones.
How hard is the Texas Journeyman Electrician exam?
Hard for most candidates. In TDLR’s fiscal year 2025 exam statistics, 24.46% of NEC Knowledge attempts and 20.56% of Calculations attempts passed. First attempts do far better: in TDLR’s May 12, 2026 staff report, 67.23% of first-time early Journeyman takers passed, against 19.72% on repeat attempts.
How many times can you take the Texas Journeyman Electrician exam?
As many times as you need. You pay the PSI retake fee of $78 each time, whether you failed one part or both, and you must pass within one year of TDLR receiving your application. Sources: TDLR exam page and the PSI candidate information bulletin.
Sources
- TDLR: Electrician exam information, read October 1, 2026
- TDLR: Apply for a Journeyman Electrician license, read October 1, 2026
- PSI candidate information bulletin for TDLR electricians, updated September 15, 2026, read October 1, 2026
- TDLR fiscal year 2025 electrician exam statistics, read October 1, 2026
- TDLR fiscal year 2024 electrician exam statistics, read October 2, 2026
- TDLR Electrical Safety and Licensing Advisory Board staff reports, May 12, 2026, read October 1, 2026
- NFPA 70, National Electrical Code: code development page (the exams use the 2026 edition), read October 3, 2026
