Short answer: The PSI outline for the Texas Journeyman exam, referenced to the 2026 NEC, spreads 56 scored NEC Knowledge items and 24 scored Calculations items over 10 areas. Three areas carry 10 Knowledge items each: Branch Circuits and Conductors, Wiring Methods and Materials, and Equipment and Devices. In Calculations, Services and Branch Circuits carry 4 items each. A weak spot in those areas costs you the most points.
Knowing your weak area only helps if you can measure it. The Practice Pack scores every mock by part and by topic, keeps a wrong-answer list and runs a weak-area check, across 1,000 original questions and 10 full timed two-part mocks. It also has a 2023 to 2026 changes list for the new code edition. 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 2026 outline with item counts
PSI Candidate Information Bulletin 1682 (updated 9/15/2026) lists these scored items for the Journeyman exam. Exams are referenced to the 2026 NEC from September 1, 2026.
| Area | Knowledge items | Calculation items | Total scored |
|---|---|---|---|
| Definitions, Theory, Plans (Calculations and Theory in the calc part) | 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 | 6 | 3 | 9 |
| Renewable Energy (PV, EV chargers) | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Scored total | 56 | 24 | 80 |
The Knowledge part also has 3 items that are not scored and the Calculations part has 2, so you see 59 and 26 items on screen. You cannot tell which ones are unscored, so answer every item.
Where the weight sits
- Four areas hold 48 of the 80 scored items: Branch Circuits and Conductors (14), Wiring Methods and Materials (12), Equipment and Devices (12) and Services (10).
- On the Calculations part, four areas hold 14 of 24 items: Services (4), Branch Circuits (4), Feeders (3) and Special Occupancies (3).
- Small areas still count. Control Devices and Disconnecting Means has 2 items and Renewable Energy, which covers PV and EV chargers, has 3. On a part where you need 70%, two or three easy points matter.
- Calculations follow two rules. All conductors are copper unless noted, and you do not use code exceptions or optional calculation methods unless the question tells you to.
How to find your weak areas
- Take a baseline. Try the free 70-question practice, no sign-up. For every miss, write down which outline area it belongs to.
- Tick the checklist below honestly. Only tick an area if you can find the right NEC article quickly and answer without guessing.
- Study the three 10-item Knowledge areas first, then Services, which carries 6 Knowledge and 4 Calculations items.
- Work calculations by area. Services, Branch Circuits and Feeders together are 11 of the 24 scored calculation items.
- If you already sat the exam and failed, use the diagnostic report PSI gives you. It shows your strengths and weaknesses, and it is the most direct guide to where your next study hours go.
Weak-area checklist
2026 outline weak-area check
Tick an area only if you can find the right NEC article fast and answer its questions without guessing. Item counts are scored Knowledge and Calculations items from PSI bulletin 1682.
- Definitions, Theory, Plans (3 Knowledge, 2 Calculations)
- Services, Service Equipment and Separately Derived Systems (6 Knowledge, 4 Calculations)
- Feeders (3 Knowledge, 3 Calculations)
- Branch Circuits and Conductors (10 Knowledge, 4 Calculations)
- Wiring Methods and Materials (10 Knowledge, 2 Calculations)
- Equipment and Devices (10 Knowledge, 2 Calculations)
- Motors and Generators (5 Knowledge, 2 Calculations)
- Control Devices and Disconnecting Means (1 Knowledge, 1 Calculations)
- Special Occupancies (6 Knowledge, 3 Calculations)
- Renewable Energy, PV and EV chargers (2 Knowledge, 1 Calculations)
[ETOS_ACCOUNT_CARD]
Disclosure: If you buy through the Amazon link below, Tsai Electro may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Texas Journeyman Electrician Exam Prep 2026 NEC (paperback)
Our own workbook has 486 practice questions, 2 full two-part mock exams, worked calculations, a 2023 to 2026 crosswalk and a 20-article tab list. It suits drilling the heavy outline areas on paper with your code book open.
What topics are on the Texas journeyman electrician exam?
The 2026 PSI outline has 10 areas: Definitions and Theory, Services, Feeders, Branch Circuits and Conductors, Wiring Methods and Materials, Equipment and Devices, Motors and Generators, Control Devices and Disconnecting Means, Special Occupancies, and Renewable Energy. Each area has items on both the NEC Knowledge part and the Calculations part.
Which topics have the most questions on the Texas journeyman exam?
Branch Circuits and Conductors, Wiring Methods and Materials, and Equipment and Devices each carry 10 scored Knowledge items. Counting both parts, Branch Circuits leads with 14 scored items, then Wiring Methods and Equipment with 12 each and Services with 10.
Is the Texas journeyman exam based on the 2026 NEC?
Yes. PSI exams for TDLR electrician licenses are referenced to the 2026 NEC from September 1, 2026. You bring a soft-bound 2026 NEC into the exam; loose-leaf, spiral and ring-bound books are not allowed.
