Arkansas journeyman electrician exam
The Board of Electrical Examiners, part of the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing, licenses journeyman electricians. The exam is given by Prov, Inc.: 60 open-book questions in 180 minutes, with 70% needed to pass. Prov's bulletin says the exam uses the 2020 NEC and lists the 2023 NEC as the allowed reference book. To qualify you need a completed four-year apprenticeship approved by the US Department of Labor, or eight years (16,000 hours) of electrical construction experience.
Who licenses journeyman electricians in Arkansas
The Board of Electrical Examiners of the State of Arkansas licenses journeyman electricians. It sits within the Department of Labor and Licensing, and its Electrical Inspection and Licensing page has the exam application and reciprocity list. The Board's administrative rules (17 CAR Part 210) set the experience requirements and exam fee. Arkansas also has a separate residential journeyman license for dwelling work.
The Arkansas journeyman electrician exam
The exam is a 60-question, open-book test run by Prov, Inc. Details come from Prov's Candidate Information Bulletin (AR CIB 2026.11.06, effective October 31, 2026) and its Arkansas test information page.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Testing vendor | Prov, Inc. |
| Questions | 60 |
| Time limit | 180 minutes |
| Open book | Yes, the NFPA 70 National Electrical Code is allowed |
| Passing score | 70% |
| NEC edition | Exam described as "utilizing the 2020 NEC"; listed reference is the 2023 NEC |
| Exam fee | $80 computer-based, $56 paper, paid to Prov |
| Where | 10 Prov testing centers in Arkansas, or remotely through Examroom.ai |
| Retakes | No limit; wait 2 days after a failed attempt |
Here are the content areas, with the number of questions in each:
- General knowledge of the electrical trade and calculations: 9
- Service, feeders, branch feeders and overcurrent protection: 8
- Raceways and enclosures: 8
- Conductors: 7
- Motors and controls: 7
- Grounding and bonding: 6
- Utilization and general use equipment: 6
- Special occupancies and equipment: 4
- Safety: 3
- Low voltage circuits, including alarms and communications: 2
Requirements to take the exam
To sit for the exam you need Board approval first. Under 17 CAR § 210-404, there are three ways to qualify for the journeyman exam:
- Apprenticeship: complete a four-year electrical construction apprenticeship approved by the US Department of Labor, Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training, and submit a "Released for Test/Completion" form approved by the Office of Skills Development. If you finished an apprenticeship in another state, submit proof of completion from that state's apprenticeship agency.
- No apprenticeship: eight years (16,000 hours) of electrical construction experience or training, with no more than 2,000 hours credited per year. Military electrical experience can count.
- Reciprocity: hold a journeyman license in good standing from a state with an agreement, held for at least one year, and earned by passing a test in that state.
Work experience must be documented with transcripts, notarized employer letters or affidavits, or letters from other licensing boards, all dated within six months of applying. Applications must reach the Board five business days before a scheduled Board meeting. The Board then publishes a list of applicants approved for the exam, and you schedule with Prov.
Apprentices who are released for testing have to take the exam within 12 months, under 17 CAR § 210-507. Once you pass, you must get your license within six months, or you will have to test again (§ 210-506).
Arkansas journeyman electrician exam pass rate
Arkansas doesn't publish journeyman pass rates, and neither does Prov. For context only, the Texas FY2025 journeyman pass rate was 27.52%. That's a different exam, so it is not an Arkansas figure.
How hard is the Arkansas journeyman electrician exam?
The exam is a real challenge, but it's manageable with steady code book practice. You need 42 of 60 questions right. You get 3 minutes per question, which is more than many states allow, so you have time to look things up if you know where to find them.
General trade knowledge and calculations is the biggest section, at 9 questions. Services and feeders, raceways, conductors and motors add another 30. Slow book navigation and weak math cost the most points there.
Failing carries more weight if you never finished an apprenticeship. Under 17 CAR § 210-403, the Board can require up to two years of apprenticeship before approving you to test again.
How to pass the Arkansas journeyman electrician exam
Start by getting the NEC edition right. Prov's bulletin describes the exam as "utilizing the 2020 NEC" and lists the 2023 NEC as the open-book reference. The bulletin also says older and newer editions are always allowed. Separately, the Board's current rules adopt the 2026 NEC as the standard for electrical work in Arkansas. Before you buy a code book, call the Board at (501) 682-4549 and ask which edition the questions are written to. Our practice questions follow the 2023 NEC, so check the changes between editions for the topics you study.
- Prepare your code book to Prov's rules. Permanent tabs are allowed. Post-it notes and repositionable tabs are not. Highlighting and underlining in pen are fine, but handwritten notes, formula sheets and glued-in indexes are not.
- Study by the content outline. Spend the most time on calculations, services and feeders, raceways, conductors and motors.
- Drill calculations. Practice box fill, conduit fill, voltage drop, ampacity adjustment and motor calculations with our exam calculations guide.
- Practice under time pressure. Take a free practice test and aim to finish each question in under 3 minutes.
- Answer every question. Prov's bulletin says there is no penalty for a wrong answer, so never leave one blank.
For a full study plan, read how to pass the journeyman electrician exam.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the Arkansas journeyman electrician exam?
The exam has 60 questions, and you get 180 minutes to finish them, according to Prov's candidate bulletin. You need a score of 70% to pass.
Is the Arkansas journeyman electrician exam open book?
Yes. You can bring the NFPA 70 National Electrical Code, with permanent tabs and pen highlighting. Handwritten notes and sticky notes are not allowed.
How many hours do you need to take the Arkansas journeyman exam?
You need either a completed four-year apprenticeship approved by the US Department of Labor or eight years (16,000 hours) of electrical construction experience. Without an apprenticeship, the Board credits no more than 2,000 hours per year, under 17 CAR § 210-404.
How much does the Arkansas journeyman electrician exam cost?
The computer-based exam costs $80, paid to Prov when you register. Prov lists a $56 fee for the paper version. Once you're licensed, a journeyman license renews for $25 per year.
Can I retake the Arkansas journeyman exam if I fail?
Yes. Prov allows unlimited attempts, with a 2-day wait between them. If you did not complete an apprenticeship, the Board may require up to two years of apprenticeship before approving you to test again.
Sources
- Department of Labor, Electrical Examining Board Candidate Information Bulletin (AR CIB 2026.11.06), Prov, Inc., checked November 2026
- Department of Labor, Electrical Examining Board Examinations, Prov, Inc., checked November 2026
- 17 CAR Part 210, Rules of the Board of Electrical Examiners of the State of Arkansas, checked November 2026
- Electrical Inspection and Licensing, Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing, checked November 2026
- Texas electrician exam statistics FY2025, TDLR, checked November 2026