Short answer: PSI permits any soft-bound NEC edition. For exams effective September 1, 2026, the questions are based on the 2026 NEC, so a soft-bound 2026 NEC is the recommended choice. The exam has two parts, NEC Knowledge (59 items, 130 minutes) and Calculations (26 items, 110 minutes), each passed at 70%, so your practice tests should copy that split. Only permanent tabs made or provided by the NEC publisher are allowed; homemade tabs and the NEC Handbook are not.
Choose practice material that matches the 2026 NEC and the current two-part PSI exam format. The Practice Pack includes 1,000 original questions, 10 full timed two-part mocks, a score by part and by topic, 299 step-by-step calculation solutions, a ranked tab-these-first list and a 2023 to 2026 changes list. US$39, one payment.
Tsai Electro is an independent learning site. Not affiliated with TDLR or PSI. Rules and fees can change, so confirm on the TDLR and PSI pages linked below.
The code book you bring in
The exam is open book, but the rules on the book are strict. PSI Candidate Information Bulletin 1682 and the TDLR exam page set them out:
| Rule | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| NEC edition | PSI permits any soft-bound NEC edition. The exam questions are based on the 2026 NEC for exams effective September 1, 2026, so a soft-bound 2026 NEC is recommended. |
| Soft-bound only | No loose-leaf, spiral or ring-bound copies. |
| Highlighting and notes | Prior highlighting, underlining and notes are allowed. |
| Tabs | Only permanent tabs made or provided by the NEC publisher are allowed. Homemade or DIY tabs are not allowed. |
| No Handbook | The NEC Handbook is not allowed. |
| No marking during the exam | Do your marking at home, before test day. |
If you studied on the 2023 NEC, use a 2023 to 2026 changes list as a review aid, then verify old notes and answer keys against the 2026 NEC. A changes list is not a substitute for current material.
What practice material has to match
Choose a study set that reflects the current exam format and outline. Check these points:
- Two parts, timed separately. NEC Knowledge is 59 items in 130 minutes and Calculations is 26 items in 110 minutes. Time does not roll over from one part to the other.
- 70% on each part. You pass or fail each portion on its own. A practice score that blends both parts can hide a weak Calculations score.
- Topic weight close to the outline. Branch Circuits and Conductors, Wiring Methods and Materials, and Equipment and Devices each carry 10 scored Knowledge items. Services carry 6 Knowledge and 4 Calculation items.
- Copper unless noted. The outline says all conductors are copper unless a question says otherwise.
- No exceptions or optional methods unless asked. The bulletin says not to apply code exceptions or optional calculation methods unless the question directs you to. Worked solutions should follow the same rule.
- Worked calculations, not just answer letters. In TDLR’s FY2025 statistics, the pass rate per attempt was lower for Calculations than for NEC Knowledge: 20.56% of Calculations attempts passed, compared with 24.46% of NEC attempts. These figures count attempts, including retakes, rather than people.
Free check before you buy anything: try the 70 free practice questions, no sign-up.
Check your study set
Is your study set current and matching?
Tick each item your code book and practice material already meet. The first three check your code book and tabs against PSI rules. The next two check whether your practice tests match the exam format and passing standard.
- I use the 2026 NEC, which matches the code edition referenced by the exam effective September 1, 2026
- My code book is soft-bound, not loose-leaf, spiral or ring-bound
- My tabs are permanent tabs made or provided by the NEC publisher, with no homemade tabs
- My practice tests are split into NEC Knowledge (59 items, 130 minutes) and Calculations (26 items, 110 minutes)
- My practice scores are shown for each part against 70%
- My practice material follows the 2026 NEC and current PSI outline; I use a 2023 to 2026 changes list only to review older notes
- My calculation practice shows worked steps, not only answer letters
- My practice follows the rule: no exceptions or optional methods unless the question asks
- My practice assumes copper conductors unless noted
- My practice covers the heavy outline areas: Branch Circuits, Wiring Methods and Equipment and Devices
- I am not bringing the NEC Handbook
- I have finished my highlighting and notes before exam day
A simple study set that covers it
| Piece | Why |
|---|---|
| Soft-bound 2026 NEC with publisher tabs | The code reference you may use in the room |
| Timed two-part mock exams | Trains you to the 130 and 110 minute limits |
| Worked calculation solutions | Calculations is the part most attempts fail |
| A 2023 to 2026 changes list | Helps you identify code changes to check against older notes and answer keys |
| A score by exam part and topic | Shows whether you are below the 70% passing standard in either part and which topics need more practice |
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Texas Journeyman Electrician Exam Prep 2026 NEC (paperback)
Our own workbook for the 2026 NEC has 486 practice questions, 2 full two-part mock exams (59 + 26), worked calculations, code book lookup paths, a 2023 to 2026 crosswalk and a 20-article tab list. It supplements your NEC code book; it is not a substitute for the code reference used during the exam.
What code book do I need for the Texas journeyman exam?
Choose a soft-bound 2026 NEC to match the edition referenced by the exam. PSI does not allow loose-leaf, spiral-bound or ring-bound copies, or the NEC Handbook.
Can I use tabs in my NEC for the Texas journeyman exam?
Only permanent tabs made or provided by the NEC publisher are allowed. Homemade or DIY tabs are not allowed. Prior highlighting, underlining and notes are allowed, but you may not mark the book during the exam.
Are 2023 NEC study guides still good for the Texas exam?
A 2023 NEC study guide can still help with review, but verify its answers against the 2026 NEC and the current PSI outline before relying on it.
