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Quick answer: The electrician test is a state or city licensing exam on the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70), electrical theory and calculations. In Texas it is computer-based and open-book, delivered by PSI, with separate knowledge and calculations sections since March 11, 2025. Other states publish their own outlines, so start from your state’s candidate bulletin.
Electrician test facts for Texas
| Item | Texas | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Who licenses | Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation | TDLR |
| Who delivers the exam | PSI | PSI bulletin |
| Book rule | Open-book, NEC | TDLR |
| Structure | Knowledge section and calculations section | TDLR |
| Levels | Apprentice, journeyman, master and specialty licenses | TDLR |
| Languages | English and Spanish bulletins | PSI English, PSI Spanish |
How to prepare for the electrician test
- Confirm you meet the experience rule; Texas asks for 8,000 supervised hours for journeyman.
- Download the candidate bulletin and turn its outline into a study list.
- Practice finding NEC articles quickly, since the book is allowed.
- Drill calculations as their own block.
- Check your basics with the free fundamentals mock exam.
Practice for the U.S. electrician exam
Try the free U.S. electrician practice exam in your browser to see where your NEC lookups and calculations stand. The one-time U.S. exam pack unlocks every U.S. question and a printable PDF version, with no subscription.
For the exam format, the testing vendor and the official links in one place, see the U.S. electrician exam guide.
FAQ
What is on the electrician licensing test?
NEC rules, electrical theory and calculations, as listed in your state’s content outline.
Is the electrician test hard?
It is a long, timed code-lookup exam. Knowing where rules live in the NEC matters as much as memorizing them.
Are real exam questions published?
No. PSI publishes the outline only; the item bank is not public.
Sources
- TDLR: Electrician examinations
- TDLR: Electricians program
- PSI candidate information bulletin, Texas electricians
- NFPA 70, National Electrical Code
Page updated: 2026-09-30. Official figures were checked against the linked sources in September 2026.
About the author: Engineer Tsai moved from an office job into electrical and MEP field work in Taiwan and holds Taiwanese indoor wiring and water piping technician certificates. Engineer Tsai has not completed a U.S. apprenticeship or held a U.S. license, so every U.S. rule on this page links to its official source.
