Texas journeyman exam: your exam-day guide

What to bring

• Your 2026 NEC. Your own soft-bound copy of the 2026 NEC. No spiral-bound, ring-bound or loose-leaf copies, and no NEC Handbook. You can highlight, underline and write notes in it before exam day. Only permanent index tabs made or provided by the NEC publisher are allowed; homemade tabs and any extra paper (loose, taped or stapled) are not, and you can’t mark the book during the exam.
• A calculator. Silent, battery-operated and non-programmable, with no paper tape and no letter keyboard. Your phone can’t be your calculator: phones go in storage. PSI’s bulletin lists only an electronic notepad as provided, so bring your own calculator and practice with it.
• One valid government-issued photo ID. For example a driver’s license, state ID or passport, showing your printed name, photo, signature (or fingerprint), date of birth and expiration date. It must match what TDLR sent PSI, and the name on your PSI account must match it exactly. If you can’t bring the required ID, call PSI at least 3 weeks before your appointment.
• Optional: a word-to-word dictionary. If you test in English but think in Spanish, you can bring a bound word-to-word translation dictionary, with no pictures, no definitions and no papers in it. Unlike your NEC, it can’t have any highlighting, underlining, tabs or marks, before or during the exam. Marking it during the exam can end your exam, and PSI reports it to TDLR.

Exam-day rules

Several of these can cost you the $78 fee.

• Arrive 30 minutes early. If you arrive after your start time, PSI won’t let you in and you lose the fee.
• Cancel at least 2 days ahead. To cancel or move your date without losing the fee, do it on PSI’s website or by phone at (833) 333-4741 at least 2 days before (for a Monday exam, by Saturday). A voicemail or an email doesn’t count.
• Leave your things in storage. Phones, smart watches and other electronics, bags, wallets, jackets and hats (except religious headwear) go in PSI’s secure storage. A prohibited item in the testing room invalidates your result. No food or drinks, and whoever drives you can’t wait in the building or on the property.
• The clock never stops. You can leave the room only for the restroom, with the proctor’s permission, and you don’t get extra time.
• Leftover time doesn’t carry over. If you finish the first part early, that time doesn’t move to the second part.
• The tutorial is free time. PSI’s on-screen tutorial (up to 15 minutes) doesn’t count against your exam time.
• You can go back. Until time runs out, you can return to any question and change your pick.
• Your score shows on screen. If you don’t pass, you also get a report of your strengths and weaknesses: keep it, it tells you what to study. PSI sends your results to TDLR.

How the questions are written

• Copper unless stated. PSI’s content outlines say to treat every conductor as copper unless the question specifically says otherwise.
• No exceptions or optional methods unless asked. PSI’s reference list says not to use code exceptions or optional calculation methods unless the question directs you to.
• Two parts, scored separately, all multiple choice. Part 1, NEC knowledge: 59 questions in 130 minutes, 56 of them scored. Part 2, calculations: 26 questions in 110 minutes, 24 of them scored. You need 70% on each part.
• 2026 NEC. Since September 1, 2026, the questions are referenced to the 2026 NEC.

Studying in Spanish

• The exam comes in Spanish at no extra cost. Ask for Spanish when you schedule.
• The NEC in Spanish is behind. As of October 2026, NFPA’s catalog lists a Spanish NEC only up to the 2023 edition; the 2026 edition is in English. PSI’s bulletin doesn’t mention the language of your book: it allows any soft-bound edition, but the questions are based on the edition TDLR adopted, the 2026 NEC.
• The numbering changed. In the 2023 NEC, load calculations are in Article 220 and a dwelling’s general lighting load is 3 VA per square foot. In the 2026 NEC they’re in Article 120, and it’s 2 VA per square foot (120.41). Bring the English 2026 NEC. If you’re thinking of bringing a Spanish copy, ask PSI first at (833) 333-4741.

A few NEC terms in English and Spanish

Your exam and your book use the English term. The Spanish terms below are the ones electricians commonly use; Spanish code books sometimes use other words (for example “caída de tensión” for voltage drop).

The Rescue Pass Book Prep Guide has the full list of about 80 terms, printable, next to what to highlight in your book.

From application to license

1. Get your hours. The license needs 8,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of a master electrician licensed in Texas. With 7,000 hours you can apply and take the exam before you reach the full 8,000.
2. Document them. Each master electrician who supervised you signs an Experience Verification Form (TDLR form ELC017).
3. Apply to TDLR by mail. Send the Journeyman Electrician License Application with the $30 application fee (non-refundable).
4. Schedule with PSI. Once TDLR approves you, PSI emails you how to schedule. The exam fee is $78 for both parts.
5. Pass both parts within your year. You have one year from the day TDLR receives your application to meet every requirement. In that year you can retake the exam as many times as you need; retaking one part or both costs $78.
6. Keep your license current. The license is valid for one year. Renewal is $30 plus 4 hours of continuing education: the NEC, Texas electrician law, TDLR’s rules and NFPA 70E electrical safety.

TDLR is the authority on licensing. Check its journeyman page, exam page and rules (16 TAC Chapter 73) for the current requirements.

Sources

• PSI candidate information bulletin, TDLR electrician exams (updated Sept 15, 2026)
• TDLR: Journeyman Electrician license requirements
• TDLR: Electrician exam information
• TDLR: Continuing education for electricians
• 16 TAC §73.20 (application requirements) · 16 TAC §73.80 (fees)
• Texas Occupations Code §1305.155 (journeyman license)
• NFPA catalog: NFPA 70 editions and languages (checked Oct 10, 2026)