Texas Journeyman Lineman Electrician Exam: Complete 2026 Study Guide
You've put in the hours on the job. Now it's time to make it official. Earning your texas journeyman electrician license as a Lineman opens doors to better pay, more job security, and the ability to work independently on electrical distribution systems across the state. But first, you have to pass the exam — and that means knowing exactly what's on it. This guide covers the exam format, the topics you'll be tested on, sample questions, study materials, and practical tips to help you walk out licensed. You can also start building confidence right now by taking our free practice exam.
Texas Journeyman Lineman Electrician Exam Overview
The texas journeyman lineman electrician test is administered by PSI Exams on behalf of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). Here's what to expect on test day:
- Scored questions: 40
- Non-scored (pilot) questions: 3, for a total of 43 questions you'll see on screen
- Time limit: 120 minutes for the scored questions, plus an additional 12 minutes for the non-scored items
- Passing score: 70% — that means 28 out of 40 scored questions correct
- Format: Computer-based, open-book (see the FAQ section for book rules)
- Fee: $61
The exam is based on the 2026 National Electrical Code and covers eight topic areas ranging from basic definitions to motor controls. Because three of the questions you see are unscored pilot items, you won't know which ones they are — answer every question as if it counts.
Check the official exam bulletin for the most current eligibility requirements and scheduling information.
Topics Covered on the Texas Journeyman Lineman Electrician Exam
The exam spans eight topic areas. Here's how the 40 scored questions are distributed, from most to least heavily weighted:
Electrical Equipment and Devices — 10 questions
This is the biggest section. The content outline lists luminaires, workspace clearances, transformers, capacitors, surge arresters, and resistors and reactors.
Electrical Services and Service Equipment — 8 questions
Service disconnecting means, conductor clearances, grounding and bonding, overcurrent protection, and when additional services are permitted. Article 230 territory.
Definitions and Theory — 6 questions
The NEC's purpose, what it covers, how to read mandatory versus permissive language, and the role of the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). These questions reward candidates who understand the structure of the code, not just the rules.
Electrical Control Devices and Disconnecting Means — 6 questions
Switch types and ratings, motor disconnecting means, circuit breakers used as switches, and installation requirements for enclosures. Overlaps with the equipment section but focuses specifically on control and disconnection.
Electrical Feeders — 4 questions
The 125% rule for continuous loads, feeder overcurrent protection, demand factor calculations, and ground-fault protection requirements for feeders rated 1000A or more.
Branch Circuit Calculations and Conductors — 2 questions
Conductor sizing, GFCI and AFCI requirements, standard ampere ratings, and ampacity correction and adjustment factors from Tables 310.16 and 310.18.
Electrical Wiring Methods and Electrical Materials — 2 questions
Ampacity tables, underground installation cover depths, physical protection requirements through framing members, and conductor insulation types by location.
Motors and Generators — 2 questions
Branch-circuit conductor sizing, overload protection, short-circuit protection device selection, controller requirements, and disconnecting means from Article 430.
Sample Questions From the Texas Journeyman Lineman Electrician Exam
Here are five sample questions representative of what you'll see. Think through each one — but we won't give away the answers here. Check your reasoning by taking our free texas journeyman lineman electrician practice exam.
Question 1 — Electrical Equipment and Devices (Hard)
Manufactured wiring systems are permitted in concealed spaces without any restrictions.
True or False — this tests whether you know the specific installation conditions and limitations the NEC places on manufactured wiring systems.
Question 2 — Electrical Wiring Methods and Materials (Medium)
When nonmetallic-sheathed cables pass through metal framing members, what protection is required?
A) Steel plates only
B) Listed bushings or grommets
C) Conduit sleeves
D) No protection required
This one tests your knowledge of physical protection requirements — a practical, code-based question you'll likely encounter in the field as well as on the exam.
Question 3 — Electrical Equipment and Devices (Medium)
What is the minimum conductor size for equipment grounding conductors in portable power feeder cables over 2000 volts?
A) 14 AWG
B) 12 AWG
C) 10 AWG
D) 8 AWG
Conductor sizing questions show up frequently. Know your NEC tables cold.
Question 4 — Branch Circuit Calculations and Conductors (Easy)
For household ranges of 8¾ kW or more rating, what is the minimum branch-circuit rating required?
A) 30 amperes
B) 35 amperes
C) 40 amperes
D) 50 amperes
Straightforward code lookup — but only if you've tabbed the right article.
Question 5 — Electrical Services and Service Equipment (Medium)
Branch circuits recognized by Article 210 shall be rated at _____ amperes for other than individual branch circuits.
A) 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, and 50
B) 15, 20, 30, 40, and 50
C) 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 40
D) 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, and 50
These standard ampere rating lists are easy to confuse — knowing the exact sequence matters here.
What Types of Questions to Expect
Here's a breakdown of the skills each topic tests:
- Definitions and Theory: Expect questions on AHJ authority, mandatory vs. permissive rule language, NEC chapter structure, and what the code does and doesn't cover.
- Electrical Services and Service Equipment: Conductor clearance calculations, sizing service entrance conductors, grounding and bonding requirements, and rules for multiple services.
- Electrical Feeders: Load calculations with demand factors, the 125% continuous-load rule, feeder OCPD ratings, and ground-fault protection thresholds for large feeders.
- Branch Circuit Calculations and Conductors: Ampacity table lookups, temperature correction and conductor bundling adjustment factors, GFCI and AFCI location requirements, and standard branch-circuit ratings.
- Electrical Wiring Methods and Electrical Materials: Conductor insulation type selection, underground burial depth requirements from Table 300.5(A), and cable protection through wood and metal framing.
- Electrical Equipment and Devices: Luminaires, workspace clearances, transformers, capacitors, surge arresters, and resistors and reactors.
- Motors and Generators: Overload protection sizing, locked-rotor current considerations, controller marking requirements, and disconnecting means placement and rating for motors.
- Electrical Control Devices and Disconnecting Means: Number and location of service disconnects, AC vs. DC snap switch ratings, enclosure and accessibility requirements, and circuit breakers used as switches.
In total, we offer 230 practice questions across all topics.
Study Materials for the Texas Journeyman Lineman Electrician Exam
This is an open-book exam, so your reference materials are your most important tools — both on test day and during study.
Required:
NEC 2026 — The National Electrical Code 2026 Edition is the only reference permitted in the exam room. You must bring a soft-bound copy; the NEC Handbook, loose-leaf, spiral-bound, and ring-bound editions are all prohibited. Buy it early so you have time to become familiar with the layout before exam day.
Recommended Supplies:
Sharpie Tank Highlighters — You're allowed to highlight and underline in your NEC before the exam, and you absolutely should. These Sharpie highlighters have a wide barrel with a large ink supply, resist smearing once dry, and come in six colors (12 total), so you can build a color-coded system by topic area. Fluorescent yellow for definitions, pink for exceptions, orange for calculations — whatever system you'll remember under pressure.
Index tabs — Your NEC may be tabbed only with permanent index tabs manufactured and/or provided by the NEC book publisher. Homemade, DIY, or non-NEC tabs are NOT permitted, and candidates arriving with non-compliant tabs must remove them, test without the book, or forfeit the exam fee and reschedule.
Study Tips for the Texas Journeyman Lineman Exam
Focus your effort where the exam does. Electrical Equipment and Devices carries 10 of 40 scored questions — 25% of your exam. Services and Service Equipment is another 8. These two topics alone account for nearly half the test. Master them first, then fill in the rest.
On test day, work through the exam once. Answer what you know, skip what you don't, and bookmark flagged questions for a second pass. This is an open-book exam, but the clock is still running — don't spend ten minutes hunting down a single answer while questions you already know the answer to sit unanswered.
Every exam attempt is different. The questions change order, and the specific items you see will vary. Study the concepts, not just the answers. That's why practicing across all topic areas — not just the ones you're comfortable with — matters.
Don't obsess over your score as you go. Your license won't show your exam score. Pass and you're licensed — that's it. Aim to hit 28 out of 40 and move on. Mentally tallying your score mid-exam adds pressure that works against you.
Build your NEC navigation skills. On an open-book exam, speed matters. Practice finding answers in the NEC quickly. If you have to read every table from scratch on test day, the 132 minutes will disappear fast.
Ready to Start Preparing?
The Texas Journeyman Lineman Electrician exam is achievable. Forty questions, open book, and a clear set of topics to work from — that's a manageable target. Get your NEC 2026 ordered, stock up on highlighters and index tabs, and start building your code familiarity now.
When you're ready to test yourself, start with our free practice exam — 10 questions, no account required, no cost. It's a quick way to get a feel for the question style and see where you stand. Once you've warmed up, the full practice exam matches the real test exactly: 40 questions, timed, with a detailed score breakdown by topic so you know exactly where to focus before exam day.
You've already done the hard work in the field. Pass this exam, and your texas electrician license will prove it.