Journeyman
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Texas journeyman electrician exam

Updated · Written for the 2023 NEC

Short answer

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) licenses journeyman electricians, and PSI runs the exam. The exam is open book, referenced to the 2026 NEC from September 1, 2026, and split into an NEC knowledge part and a calculations part, with 70% needed on each. The license requires 8,000 hours of on-the-job training under a master electrician, but you can take the exam once you have 7,000.

Who licenses journeyman electricians in Texas

TDLR issues the journeyman electrician license statewide. A journeyman works under the general supervision of a master electrician, according to TDLR's journeyman license application page. You apply to TDLR by mail with a $30 non-refundable application fee. Once TDLR approves it, PSI contacts you to schedule the exam.

The Texas journeyman electrician exam

The Texas exam has two multiple-choice parts: NEC knowledge and calculations. TDLR split the exam into these two parts starting March 11, 2025 (TDLR exam information). The content stayed the same; the calculation questions were moved into their own part (PSI candidate information bulletin, updated 9/15/2026).

ItemDetails
Testing vendorPSI, at test centers in 16 Texas cities
NEC knowledge part59 items (including 3 non-scored), 130 minutes
Calculations part26 items (including 2 non-scored), 110 minutes
Passing score70% on each part
Open bookYes, your own soft-bound NEC
NEC edition2026 NEC, effective September 1, 2026
Exam fee$78 for both parts; $78 to retake after failing one or both
LanguagesEnglish or Spanish at no extra cost
ResultsShown on screen right after the exam

The bulletin's book rules are strict: notes and highlighting made before the exam are fine, but only publisher-made tabs are allowed, and no NEC Handbook or loose-leaf, spiral or ring-bound copies. Calculators must be silent and non-programmable. Unused time on the first part does not carry over.

Requirements to take the exam

You need at least 7,000 hours of on-the-job training under a Texas-licensed master electrician to apply and take the exam, and the full 8,000 hours to receive the license. TDLR's early exam option lets you test before reaching 8,000 hours.

  • Each supervising master electrician signs an Experience Verification Form (ELC017).
  • You must meet all requirements, including passing the exam, within 12 months of filing, or the application is terminated (application form ELC-LIC-005).
  • If you hold a journeyman license from a municipal or regional licensing authority, you do not need to list experience; include a copy of that license and the Discontinued Municipal or Regional Licensing Program form.

Since July 1, 2026, TDLR rules also include an accelerated licensure pathway for graduates of an approved journeyman electrician education program (TDLR rule adoption). Ask TDLR how much training credit it gives.

Texas journeyman electrician exam pass rate

The Texas journeyman pass rate was 27.52% in fiscal year 2025 (September 2024 to August 2025) for the single combined exam, and lower for each new part. TDLR publishes these totals every year:

ExamPassedAttemptsPass rate
Journeyman, FY20251,3905,05027.52%
Journeyman calculations part, FY20251,3016,32820.56%
Journeyman NEC knowledge part, FY20251,4025,73124.46%
Journeyman, FY20242,3658,49027.86%

Sources: TDLR exam statistics FY2025 and FY2024. The figures count every attempt, including retakes.

Fiscal year 2026 looks similar so far. TDLR's May 2026 staff report shows the calculations part at 22.85% and the NEC knowledge part at 21.56% for September to November 2025, and 24.53% and 22.63% for December 2025 to February 2026.

How hard is the Texas journeyman electrician exam?

The Texas exam is hard: fewer than one in four attempts on either part passed in fiscal year 2025. Those totals include retakes, and retakes pass far less often. The same staff report tracks candidates who used the 7,000-hour early exam option from January 1 to March 31, 2026. First attempts passed at 67.23% (119 of 177), while repeat attempts passed at 19.72% (98 of 497). For candidates in an apprenticeship program, first attempts passed at 83.54% (66 of 79).

The report's topic scores show where people fall short. First-time candidates averaged 13.15 of 24 points on the calculations part and 34.11 of 56 on NEC knowledge, both below the 70% mark. Time is also tight: about 2 minutes per knowledge question and about 4 minutes per calculation.

How to pass the Texas journeyman electrician exam

Prepare for two separate exams, each of which you must pass at 70%.

  1. Study the 2026 NEC. Texas adopted the 2026 NEC as the state electrical code effective September 1, 2026 (TDLR rule adoption), and the exam is referenced to it from that date. Our practice questions follow the 2023 NEC, so check the changes between editions for the topics you study.
  2. Set up your book before test day. Add publisher tabs, highlight the tables you use most and practice finding articles fast. You can't mark it during the exam.
  3. Treat calculations as its own exam. It had the lowest pass rate in fiscal year 2025. The bulletin lists load calculations, feeders, branch circuits and conductors, motors and generators, and transformers. Work through the exam calculations guide.
  4. Answer the question as asked. The bulletin says not to consider code exceptions or optional calculation methods unless the question tells you to, and to treat all conductors as copper unless noted.
  5. Practice under time. Take a free practice test with a timer to build pace. Our guide on how to pass the journeyman electrician exam covers a full study plan.
  6. Protect your fee. Arrive 30 minutes early with ID that matches your TDLR record exactly; late arrivals forfeit the fee. If you fail, use PSI's diagnostic report to target weak topics.

Frequently asked questions

How many questions are on the Texas journeyman electrician exam?

The exam has 85 items in two parts: 59 on NEC knowledge and 26 on calculations. Five of those are non-scored, so 80 count toward your score. You get 130 minutes for the knowledge part and 110 minutes for the calculations part (PSI bulletin).

Is the Texas journeyman electrician exam open book?

Yes. You bring your own soft-bound NEC; the reference listed is the 2026 edition. The NEC Handbook and homemade tabs are not allowed (TDLR exam information).

What is the pass rate for the Texas journeyman electrician exam?

In fiscal year 2025, 27.52% of attempts on the combined journeyman exam passed, 20.56% on the calculations part and 24.46% on the NEC knowledge part (TDLR FY2025). First attempts by early exam candidates passed at 67.23% in early 2026.

Can I take the Texas journeyman exam before I have 8,000 hours?

Yes. With at least 7,000 hours under a master electrician, you can apply and test early. You still need all 8,000 hours before TDLR issues the license.

How many times can I retake the Texas journeyman exam?

TDLR says you may retake each exam as many times as needed within your eligibility period, which is one year from when TDLR received your application. The retake fee is $78 whether you failed one part or both.

Sources

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