Maryland Journey Natural Gas Fitter

Maryland Journey Natural Gas Fitter Exam: Complete 2026 Study Guide

You've put in the apprenticeship hours, completed your coursework, and now you're ready to make it official. The Maryland Journey Natural Gas Fitter exam is the final step between you and your journeyman credential — and with the right preparation, it's very achievable. This guide covers everything you need to know: exam format, topic breakdown, allowed references, registration steps, and practical study strategies. Whether you're just starting your Maryland journey gas fitter exam prep or fine-tuning your approach in the final weeks, you'll find what you need here.

Maryland Journey Natural Gas Fitter Exam Overview

The exam is administered by PSI and consists of 40 scored questions completed in 90 minutes. To pass, you need to answer at least 28 questions correctly — that's 70%. Be aware that up to 10 additional unscored experimental items may also appear on your exam; these questions count against your time but do not affect your score.

One important detail that sets this exam apart: it's open book. You're allowed to bring your own reference books (more on exactly which ones below), but no study guides are permitted. Books can be tabbed and highlighted, but cannot contain handwritten notes or loose papers.

The exam is computer-based at a PSI testing center. You can flag questions for review and return to them before submitting — a useful feature that mirrors what's available on a good practice exam.

Topics Covered on the Exam

The exam draws from five topic areas. Here's how the real exam weights them, from heaviest to lightest:

General Piping — 15 exam items

This is the largest section and deserves the most study time. Expect questions on allowable pressure drop, approved piping materials (steel, copper, CSST, polyethylene, aluminum), connection methods, prohibited installation locations, and pressure testing procedures — including test medium, pressure, duration, and leak detection.

Pipe Sizing/Math — 10 exam items

The second-largest section tests your ability to size gas piping using the longest length, branch length, and hybrid pressure methods. You'll also calculate maximum gas demand in CFH from BTU ratings, work with pressure drop allowances, and handle fitting allowances and geometric calculations for offsets, diagonals, and angles (45°, 60°, 22.5°).

Chimney and Flues — 5 exam items

This section covers venting categories, vent and chimney termination requirements, vent connector materials and slope, masonry chimney construction, and sizing Category I venting systems from tables.

Combustion — 5 exam items

Expect questions on combustion air requirements (indoor vs. outdoor methods under IFGC Section 304), opening sizing minimums, flammability limits for natural gas and propane, and the properties of each gas — including weight relative to air, toxicity, and odorization.

Appliances — 5 exam items

This section covers listing and labeling standards, installation clearances to combustibles, clothes dryer exhaust duct requirements, unvented room heater restrictions, and cooking appliance clearances.

Sample Questions

Here's a look at the kinds of questions you'll face. See how many you can answer before checking — then take our free practice exam to see how you're really doing.

Question 1 — General Piping (Easy)

As a journeyman gas fitter, you are planning the installation of gas piping in a commercial building. Which of the following locations is specifically prohibited for the installation of gas piping, appliances, equipment, and systems?
- A) A mechanical room
- B) A crawl space beneath the building
- C) An elevator shaft
- D) An attic space

Question 2 — Pipe Sizing/Math (Medium)

You are a journeyman calculating the capacity of a range boiler that is 16 inches in diameter and 4 feet high. Using the shortcut formula V = 0.0408 × d² × h, what is the approximate volume in gallons?
- A) 62.4 gallons
- B) 31.8 gallons
- C) 41.8 gallons
- D) 52.2 gallons

Question 3 — Pipe Sizing/Math (Hard)

You are a journeyman cutting copper tubing for a connection between a ½-inch 90° elbow and a ¼-inch 45° elbow with a center-to-center distance of 10 inches. Using fitting allowances of ½ inch for the 90° elbow and ¼ inch for the 45° elbow, what is the end-to-end length of the tubing?
- A) 9 ¼ inches
- B) 10 inches
- C) 9 ½ inches
- D) 9 inches

Question 4 — General Piping (Easy)

As defined in the fuel gas code, what is the term for a valve installed by the serving gas supplier between the service meter or source of supply and the customer piping system, used to shut off the entire piping system?
- A) Manual reset valve
- B) Main burner control valve
- C) Service shutoff valve
- D) Appliance shutoff valve

Question 5 — Appliances (Medium)

Which testing standard applies to vented wall furnaces?
- A) ANSI Z21.86/CSA 2.32
- B) ANSI Z21.47/CSA 2.3
- C) ANSI Z83.8/CSA 2.6
- D) ANSI Z21.50/CSA 2.22

Don't guess blindly — try the free practice exam and get instant feedback on where you stand.

What Types of Questions to Expect

Our full practice question bank includes 188 questions across all five topic areas. Here's what each section covers in practice — and how deep you'll need to go:

• General Piping (65 practice questions): Identifying prohibited installation locations, selecting approved materials for specific applications, recognizing correct joint and fitting types, and applying pressure test requirements. Expect scenario-based questions that put you in the field.
• Pipe Sizing/Math (49 practice questions): Calculating CFH demand from BTU ratings, sizing pipe runs using the longest-length method, computing end-to-end tubing lengths from fitting allowances, and working offset and diagonal problems using angle constants. A calculator helps, but knowing the formulas cold helps more.
• Chimney and Flues (25 practice questions): Matching appliance venting categories to the correct system type, applying termination height rules, selecting correct vent connector materials, and reading sizing tables for Category I appliances.
• Combustion (24 practice questions): Calculating minimum free area for combustion air openings, comparing natural gas and propane properties, identifying flammability limits, and distinguishing between combustion air supply methods.
• Appliances (25 practice questions): Matching ANSI/CSA standards to specific appliance types, applying clearance-to-combustibles rules, working through dryer exhaust duct length limits, and identifying prohibited locations for unvented heaters.

Start with free access to 10 questions, or go straight to the full practice exam that mirrors the real 40-question format with a topic-by-topic score breakdown.

Required Study Materials

Because this is an open-book exam, your reference books do double duty — they're both your study tools and your test-day resources. These are the only books allowed in the exam room, and you must bring your own copies (the test center does not provide them):

Mathematics for Plumbers and Pipefitters

This is your go-to for the Pipe Sizing/Math section. The 8th edition by Lee Smith covers volume calculations, fitting allowances, offset geometry, and unit conversions — exactly the formulas that show up on the exam. Tab the key formula sections before test day so you can find what you need fast.

2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC)

This is the backbone of the exam. General Piping, Combustion, Chimney and Flues, and Appliances questions all trace back to this code. The 2018 edition is the specific version required — don't show up with a different year. Index it thoroughly and highlight frequently tested sections like Section 304 (combustion air) before you walk into the test center.

Note: The Pipe Fitters and Pipe Welders Handbook (Frankland, Revised Edition) is also on the approved list, though it is not linked here.

Study Tips for the Maryland Journey Natural Gas Fitter Exam

Start early and build a schedule. Give yourself at least three to six weeks. Use the Candidate Information Bulletin (CIB) — available through the official exam bulletin — as your study roadmap. It tells you exactly what's tested and in what proportion.

Focus on General Piping and Pipe Sizing first. Together, these two sections account for 25 of the 40 scored questions. Nail them and you're more than halfway to a passing score before you even open the venting and combustion chapters.

Practice finding, not memorizing. Open-book doesn't mean easy — it means fast. On a timed exam, fumbling through an unindexed code book costs you minutes you don't have. Practice locating answers quickly rather than trying to memorize every table value.

Set a practice bar above 70%. Aim for three clean practice runs at 80% or higher before test day. That buffer gives you room on the real exam if nerves affect a few answers.

Manage exam anxiety deliberately. A little anxiety is normal — acknowledge it rather than fighting it. If you spiral on a tough question, pause, take a few slow breaths, and move on. Flag it and come back. Time is still running, so don't let one question derail the others.

Work through the exam strategically. Answer every question you're confident about first, then circle back to the flagged ones. Don't sink too much time into any single problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the Maryland Journey Natural Gas Fitter exam cost?
The exam fee is $25, valid for one exam attempt only. It is non-refundable and non-transferable — so schedule carefully.

How many questions are on the exam and how long do I have?
The exam has 40 scored questions and a 90-minute time limit. Up to 10 additional unscored experimental items may also appear; they won't affect your score, but they do count against your time.

What is the passing score?
You need to answer at least 28 of the 40 scored questions correctly — that's 70%.

What are the eligibility requirements?
Applicants must have completed 3,750 hours of Natural Gas Fitter work as an apprentice over at least two years, plus an approved course of study.

How do I register?
Apply through PSI by visiting the exam registration page, selecting your exam, and creating an account. Upload your documentation, and PSI will process it in about one week before sending instructions to pay and schedule.

Is the exam open book?
Yes. You may bring your own reference books — indexed, highlighted, and tabbed — but no study guides or books with handwritten notes. No loose or attached papers are allowed.

What reference books are allowed?
Only three books are permitted: Mathematics for Plumbers and Pipefitters (Lee Smith, 8th Edition, 2013), the 2018 International Fuel Gas Code, and The Pipe Fitters and Pipe Welders Handbook – Revised Edition (Thomas Frankland, 1984). Bring your own copies — none are provided at the test center.

What ID do I need?
One valid, non-expired, government-issued photo ID with your signature. Acceptable forms include a driver's license, state ID, US passport, military ID, Alien Registration Card, or Canadian government-issued ID.

Can I reschedule or cancel?
Yes — as long as PSI receives your cancellation at least 48 hours before your scheduled appointment. Cancel with less than 48 hours' notice, miss your appointment, or arrive late, and you forfeit your exam fee.

How long is my registration fee valid?
Your registration fee is valid for one year from the date of payment.

Ready to Pass? Start Here.

The Maryland Journey Natural Gas Fitter credential is a real career milestone — and with 40 questions, a 90-minute window, and your reference books in hand, it's well within reach for a prepared candidate. Pick up the 2018 IFGC and Mathematics for Plumbers and Pipefitters, get them indexed, and start working through practice questions by topic.

Not sure where you stand right now? Take our free practice exam for a quick 10-question gauge — no account required. When you're ready to prep seriously, the full practice exam mirrors the real test with the same question count, time limit, and topic breakdown, plus a detailed score report so you know exactly where to focus. Good luck — you've earned the right to take this exam. Now go pass it.