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Quick answer: Work the supervised field hours your state requires, then pass its journeyman exam. There is no federal license. In Texas you need 8,000 hours of supervised experience to apply, and the PSI exam is computer-based and open-book on the National Electrical Code, split into knowledge and calculations sections since March 11, 2025.
Journeyman electrician steps
- Get a high school diploma or GED and enter an apprenticeship or a supervised helper job.
- Register as an apprentice if your state requires it.
- Work and document your supervised hours.
- Apply to your state or city licensing agency when the hours are complete.
- Pass the journeyman exam and keep the license current.
Texas journeyman requirements at a glance
| Item | Texas | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Experience | 8,000 hours under supervision | TDLR |
| Exam vendor | PSI | PSI candidate bulletin |
| Format | Computer-based, open-book NEC | TDLR exam page |
| Sections | Knowledge and calculations, split since March 11, 2025 | TDLR exam page |
| Code | NFPA 70, National Electrical Code | NFPA |
Other states set different hour counts and exams. Look up your own agency before planning; our career roadmap shows where the journeyman step sits in a full career.
What does the journeyman exam test?
It tests your ability to find and apply NEC rules and to run the electrical calculations used on the job. PSI publishes the content outline in the candidate bulletin; the question bank itself is not public.
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
How many hours to become a journeyman electrician?
It depends on the state. Texas requires 8,000 hours of supervised experience.
Is the journeyman electrician exam open book?
In Texas, yes. The PSI exam is open-book on the NEC. Check your own state’s bulletin.
Is there a national journeyman license?
No. Licensing is handled by states and sometimes cities.
Sources
- TDLR: Journeyman electrician application
- TDLR: Electrician examinations
- 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.
