Texas Journeyman Electrician Calculations Portion

Texas Journeyman Electrician Calculations Exam: Complete 2026 Study Guide

The Calculations Portion of the Texas Journeyman Electrician exam is the one that trips people up. It's not about memorizing code sections — it's about knowing how to use them under time pressure. Pass both portions of the Texas Journeyman exam and you're holding an electrical license in Texas, plus reciprocity with ten other states. That's a big deal. This guide breaks down everything you need to know: exam format, topic weights, sample questions, study materials, and the strategies that actually work.

Texas Journeyman Calculation Exam: Format and Basics

The Calculations Portion is one of two separate written exams you'll take for your Texas electrician license. (The other is the NEC Knowledge Portion.) Both are multiple choice. You need at least 70% on each — they're scored independently.

Here's what to expect on the Calculations Portion:

• Scored questions: 26
• Time limit: 110 minutes
• Passing score: 70% — that's 19 correct out of 26 scored questions
• Format: Multiple choice, open book
• Exam fee: $78 covers both portions; retakes cost $78 per attempt regardless of how many portions you retake

The exam includes 2 non-scored pilot items in addition to the 26 scored questions. These don't affect your score, and the time limit already accounts for them. If you finish the NEC Knowledge Portion early, that leftover time does not carry over — each portion runs on its own clock.

Register through the exam registration page and check the official exam bulletin for scheduling details. The state licensing website has everything you need on eligibility and application requirements.

Topics Covered on the Texas Journeyman Calculation Exam

The exam covers ten topic areas. Here's the full list with the number of real exam items per topic — focus your prep time where the points actually are.

Branch circuits and services each carry 4 items — that's 8 of your 26 questions right there. Get solid on those two areas first. Special Occupancies and Feeders each carry 3 items, so they're next in line.

Sample Questions from the Texas Journeyman Calculation Exam

Here are five questions representative of what you'll see on exam day. Think through each one — then check your knowledge with our free practice exam.

Question 1 — Electrical Services (Medium)

Four 3/0 AWG THHN copper conductors are to be installed in EMT as service entrance conductors. What is the minimum trade size EMT required?

• A) 1-1/2 inch
• B) 2 inch
• C) 2-1/2 inch
• D) 3 inch

This is a conduit fill question. You'll need to know the cross-sectional areas for 3/0 THHN and the fill percentages for four conductors in a raceway.

Question 2 — Branch Circuit Calculations (Hard)

You need to install 6 AWG THHN copper conductors in a raceway for a branch circuit. The ambient temperature is 38°C and there are 6 current-carrying conductors in the raceway. What is the adjusted ampacity of each conductor?

• A) 43.68A
• B) 47.32A
• C) 54.60A
• D) 52.00A

This one stacks two correction factors — temperature and conductor count. You start with Table 310.16, apply the ambient temperature correction from Table 310.15(B)(1)(1), then apply the adjustment factor from Table 310.15(C)(1). Miss either step and you'll land on a wrong answer.

Question 3 — Special Occupancies (Medium)

A legally required standby system per Article 701 supplies a 20 HP, 208V, 3-phase motor for a smoke control fan. The motor has a nameplate current of 56A and a service factor of 1.15. What is the maximum size time-delay fuse permitted for branch circuit overcurrent protection?

• A) 90A
• B) 100A
• C) 110A
• D) 125A

This pulls from Table 430.52(C)(1) and requires you to work from nameplate current rather than table values when specified.

Question 4 — Electrical Feeders (Medium)

A 3-phase feeder carries 120 amperes over a distance of 200 feet using 1/0 AWG copper conductors (105,600 CM). What is the approximate voltage drop?

• A) 4.3 volts
• B) 5.1 volts
• C) 5.7 volts
• D) 6.6 volts

Voltage drop calculation — know the formula and have your calculator ready. This is where non-programmable calculators earn their keep.

Question 5 — Electrical Services (Medium)

A 120/240V single-phase service has a calculated demand load of 23,800 VA. What is the minimum size copper service entrance conductor using THWN insulation?

• A) 2 AWG
• B) 1 AWG
• C) 1/0 AWG
• D) 2/0 AWG

Convert VA to amps, then size conductors using Table 310.12(A) or 310.16 per Article 230.42.

Don't just guess on these — work them out. Then take the free practice exam to see how you actually stack up.

What Types of Questions to Expect (By Topic)

Here's a breakdown of every topic area and what the questions actually test. The practice question counts reflect our full question bank.

• Calculations and Theory — 47 practice questions. Expect dwelling unit load calcs using both standard and optional methods (Article 220 Parts III and IV), branch-circuit load minimums, conductor ampacity with correction factors, motor feeder calculations using the 125% rule, and neutral load reductions per Section 220.61.

• Electrical Services, Service Equipment, and Separately Derived Systems — 44 practice questions. Service conductor sizing, service disconnect ratings, grounding electrode conductor sizing from Table 250.66, and bonding jumper sizing from Table 250.102(C)(1). You'll also see questions on sizing for continuous vs. noncontinuous loads.

• Electrical Feeders — 31 practice questions. Minimum feeder ampacity for continuous loads (125% rule), demand factor calculations for dwelling units and multifamily buildings, overcurrent protection ratings, neutral load reductions, and optional calculation methods.

• Branch Circuit Calculations and Conductors — 31 practice questions. Conductor sizing for continuous and noncontinuous loads, branch circuit ratings by size, overcurrent protection with the 125% rule, stacked ampacity correction factors, and dwelling unit load calcs covering general lighting, small appliance, and laundry circuits.

• Electrical Wiring Methods and Electrical Materials — 22 practice questions. Ampacity tables and temperature ratings, ambient temperature correction factors, adjustment factors for multiple conductors in a raceway, underground burial depth by wiring method, and single-phase dwelling service and feeder sizing using Table 310.12(A).

• Electrical Equipment and Devices — 27 practice questions. Motor branch-circuit conductor sizing per Article 430, OCPD ratings using Table 430.52(C)(1), overload protection per 430.32, sizing conductors for multiple motors under 430.24, and hermetic refrigerant motor-compressor circuit sizing under Article 440.

• Motors and Generators — 33 practice questions. The 125% conductor sizing rule, FLC tables (430.247–430.250), branch-circuit OCPD rating calculations, overload protection percentages based on service factor and temperature rise, feeder sizing for multiple motors using the 430.24 summation method, and disconnect requirements.

• Electrical Control Devices and Disconnecting Means — 13 practice questions. Motor disconnect type, rating, and location requirements from Article 430 Part IX; OCPD calculations using Table 430.52(C)(1); overload protection thresholds under 430.32; conductor ampacity for single and multiple motors; and service disconnect rules from Article 230 Part VI.

• Special Occupancies, Equipment, and Conditions — 32 practice questions. Hazardous location classification by Class, Division, and Group; protection techniques including explosionproof and dust-ignitionproof methods; permitted wiring methods in Class I, II, and III locations; T-code temperature markings; and conduit sealing and drainage requirements.

• Renewable Energy Technologies — 12 practice questions. PV source circuit voltage calculation with temperature correction using Table 690.7(A), maximum circuit current under 690.8(A) and the 125% ampacity rule, DC circuit OCPD ratings per 690.9(B), busbar and feeder sizing for load-side connections under 705.12, and wind system sizing at 125% per 694.12(B).

Study Materials You'll Need

Required: NEC 2023

The exam is open book — bring the NEC 2023. This is non-negotiable. Only soft-bound editions are allowed. Loose-leaf, spiral-bound, and ring-bound copies are not permitted. Buy the right one now so you have time to tab and mark it before test day.

Non-Programmable Calculator

You need a calculator that is silent, battery-operated, has no alphabet keyboard, and does not print tape. This non-programmable calculator fits those requirements — it has a large 8-digit display and handles the percentage and memory functions you'll use constantly during motor and feeder calculations. Don't show up without one.

Tabs for Your NEC

Speedy code-book navigation is the difference between finishing with time to spare and running out of time. Redi-Tab permanent colored index tabs are the way to go — they stay put and are exam-legal (permanent index tabs are permitted; homemade tabs are not). Tab Articles 210, 220, 230, 250, 310, 430, 440, 690, and 701 at minimum.

Highlighters

Sharpie Tank highlighters hold up well for heavy code-book marking. Color-code by topic — for example, one color for ampacity tables, another for correction/adjustment factors. When you're under pressure during the exam, your eyes will find what they need faster.

Study Tips That Actually Help

Take the practice exam multiple times. The goal is to consistently score above the 70% threshold — not to squeak by once. When passing feels routine in practice, it'll feel routine on exam day. Start with the free practice exam to gauge where you stand, then move to the full practice exam for timed, scored attempts that match the real thing.

Know your Tables 310.15 and 430.52 cold. More questions on this exam involve those two tables than almost anything else. Tab them. Know what each column means.

Show your work on scratch paper. Multi-step problems — voltage drop, stacked correction factors, motor feeder sizing — are easy to botch if you try to do them in your head. Write each step down.

Unfamiliar answer options are usually distractors. If you've put in the study time, an option full of terms you don't recognize is almost never the right one.

Manage test anxiety directly. A little nerves before an exam is normal — it means you care. If you find yourself spiraling on a hard question, pause, take a few slow breaths, and move on. Skip it, mark it, come back. The clock is running, but 110 minutes for 26 questions is workable if you don't stall.

FAQs: Texas Journeyman Electrician Calculations Portion

How many questions are on the Texas Journeyman Electrician Calculations Portion?
There are 26 scored questions plus 2 non-scored pilot items, for 28 total items. Your score is calculated only from the 26 scored questions. The 2 non-scored items are unidentified — you won't know which ones they are — but the time limit accounts for them.

How long do I have to complete the Calculations Portion?
You have 110 minutes. That time does not roll over from the NEC Knowledge Portion if you finish early.

What is the passing score?
70%, which works out to 19 correct answers out of 26 scored questions.

What is the exam fee?
The fee is $78 for both portions combined (NEC Knowledge and Calculations). If you fail one or both portions, each retake attempt costs $78.

Is the exam open book?
Yes. Bring your own copy of the 2023 NEC — soft-bound only. Your book may be highlighted, underlined, and contain pre-written notes. Permanent index tabs manufactured by the publisher are allowed; homemade tabs are not.

Can I use a calculator?
Yes. It must be non-programmable, silent, battery-operated, have no paper tape, and have no alphabet keyboard. Bring one — the math on this portion requires it.

If I fail one portion, do I retake both?
No. You only retake the portion (or portions) you failed. Each failed portion retake is $78.

What topics are covered?
Calculations and Theory, Electrical Services and Service Equipment, Electrical Feeders, Branch Circuit Calculations and Conductors, Electrical Wiring Methods and Materials, Electrical Equipment and Devices, Motors and Generators, Electrical Control Devices and Disconnecting Means, Special Occupancies, and Renewable Energy Technologies.

Does unused time carry over between portions?
No. Each portion runs independently.

Ready to Get to Work?

Getting your electrical license in Texas opens doors — including reciprocity with Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wyoming. The Calculations Portion is challenging, but 26 questions and 110 minutes is a manageable format if you've put in the prep.

Start now: take our free practice exam and find out which topic areas need more of your time. When you're ready to go deeper, the full practice exam mirrors the real exam exactly — same question count, same time limit, same topic breakdown, with detailed scoring by topic so you know exactly where to focus.

Get your NEC 2023, tab it up, grab your calculator, and put in the work. You've got this.