Virginia - Journeyman Electrician

Virginia Journeyman Electrician License: Everything You Need to Pass the Exam in 2026

You've put in the hours on the job. Now it's time to make it official. The Virginia Journeyman Electrician license is what separates working electricians from licensed professionals — and that difference shows up in your paycheck and the work you can legally take on. This article covers exactly what's on the exam, what to bring, how to study, and what to expect on test day. No fluff.

Exam Overview

The Virginia Journeyman Electrician exam is administered by PSI and consists of 70 questions with a 210-minute (3.5-hour) time limit. To pass, you need to answer at least 49 questions correctly — that's 70% of the exam. A small number of experimental questions (up to roughly 10% of the total) may appear but won't be scored, so don't stress about a question that seems unusually off-topic.

This is an open-book exam. You're required to bring your own references: the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70, 2020 edition), the Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, NFPA 70E, and the Virginia Board for Contractors Individual License and Certification Regulations. No study guides, loose papers, or anything with writing in it. Clean books only.

No calculator is allowed. All math must be done by hand, so get comfortable with that before test day.

For full details, check the official exam bulletin and the state licensing website.

Topics Covered on the Virginia Journeyman Electrician Exam

The exam pulls from 24 topic areas split between Virginia-specific regulatory knowledge and NEC/electrical technical content.

Regulatory and Licensing Topics:
- Standards of Practice — What licensed electricians are required to do on the job
- Standards of Conduct — Professional behavior and ethical obligations
- Renewal and Reinstatement — How to keep your license current
- Definitions — Terms used in Virginia contractor regulations
- Qualification for Licensure — Eligibility requirements and application process
- Revocation of Licensure — Grounds for losing your license

Technical Electrical Topics (NEC-Based):
- General Electrical Knowledge — Core fundamentals
- Requirements for Electrical Installations — NEC installation requirements
- Electrical-Electronic Fundamentals — Ohm's law, circuit theory, basic calculations
- Branch Circuits — Load calculations, conductor sizing, overcurrent protection
- Service and Feeders — Demand calculations, feeder sizing, metered demand
- Grounding and Bonding — One of the most heavily tested areas
- Conductors and Cables — Ampacity, insulation types, cable ratings
- Raceways and Boxes — Conduit fill, box sizing, support requirements
- Special Occupancies — Hazardous locations, fuel dispensing facilities, healthcare
- Special Equipment — Industrial machinery, cranes, elevators
- Electrical Signs and Outline Lighting — Sign wiring and disconnects
- Motors and Controls — Motor branch circuits, overload protection, controller requirements
- Utilization Equipment — Appliances, HVAC, water heaters
- Lighting — Luminaire installation, ballasts, emergency lighting
- General Low Voltage Requirements — Class 2 and Class 3 circuit rules
- Communication Systems — Telephone, data, coaxial wiring
- Fire Detection and Alarm Systems — NFPA 72 basics
- Safety — NFPA 70E arc flash, PPE, lockout/tagout

Sample Virginia Journeyman Electrician Practice Test Questions

Here are five questions drawn from the exam topics. Work through them — but note that we're not giving you the answers here. Head over to the free practice exam to check your work and get a feel for the real thing.

Question 1 — Service and Feeders (Hard)
You are a journeyman electrician called to evaluate whether an existing commercial building's feeder can handle an additional load. The building owner provides 14 months of metered demand data. To use actual maximum demand data for calculating the existing load, which of the following conditions must also be met?

A) The maximum demand at 125 percent plus the new load does not exceed the ampacity of the feeder
B) The feeder must be upgraded to at least 200 amperes before the new load is added
C) The maximum demand at 150 percent plus the new load does not exceed the ampacity of the feeder
D) The building must have a renewable energy system installed

This question tests your knowledge of NEC demand calculation rules for existing feeders — the kind of real-world decision you'll make on commercial jobs.

Question 2 — Conductors and Cables (Medium)
What is the minimum conductor size for Type MV cable rated 8001 to 15,000 volts?

A) 8 AWG
B) 6 AWG
C) 2 AWG
D) 1 AWG

Medium-voltage cable rules are specific and easy to miss if you haven't drilled the NEC tables.

Question 3 — Raceways and Boxes (Medium)
You are a journeyman electrician installing EMT on a commercial project. The general contractor asks if EMT can be used to support a small conduit body. Under what condition is this permitted?

A) The conduit body must be no larger than trade size 2
B) The conduit body must be no larger than the largest trade size of the tubing to which it is attached
C) Conduit bodies may never be supported by EMT
D) The conduit body must weigh less than 10 pounds

This one tests NEC conduit body support rules — a frequent inspection point.

Question 4 — Raceways and Boxes (Hard)
When constructing metal cabinets or cutout boxes from sheet steel, the metal thickness shall not be less than ______ mm (0.053 in.) uncoated.

A) 1.00
B) 1.20
C) 1.35
D) 1.60

Cabinet construction specs are exactly the type of detail that trips people up. Know your NEC table values.

Question 5 — Special Occupancies (Medium)
At a motor fuel dispensing facility, what is the classified area extent up to grade level extending horizontally in all directions from a standard (non-overhead type) dispenser enclosure?

A) Up to 450 mm (18 in.) above grade level, extending 3 m (10 ft) horizontally
B) Up to 450 mm (18 in.) above grade level, extending 6 m (20 ft) horizontally
C) Up to 900 mm (3 ft) above grade level, extending 6 m (20 ft) horizontally
D) Up to 450 mm (18 in.) above grade level, extending 1.5 m (5 ft) horizontally

Classified area boundaries at fuel dispensing facilities are a common Special Occupancies question. The numbers matter.

What Types of Questions to Expect

Here's a breakdown of what each topic actually tests — and how many practice questions we offer per area across our full question bank (490 questions total):

• Standards of Practice (15 questions): Virginia-specific duties and obligations for licensed electricians on job sites
• Standards of Conduct (10 questions): Professional and ethical requirements under the Board for Contractors
• Renewal and Reinstatement (10 questions): Continuing education requirements, renewal deadlines, and reinstatement procedures
• Definitions (4 questions): Regulatory term definitions from Virginia licensing regulations
• Qualification for Licensure (5 questions): Experience requirements, application steps, and eligibility rules
• Revocation of Licensure (5 questions): Grounds for disciplinary action and license revocation
• General Electrical Knowledge (15 questions): Broad NEC concepts, wiring methods, and electrical theory
• Requirements for Electrical Installations (11 questions): General NEC installation rules and mandatory compliance points
• Electrical-Electronic Fundamentals (10 questions): Ohm's law, power calculations, series/parallel circuits — done by hand
• Branch Circuits (20 questions): Conductor sizing, OCPD selection, receptacle and outlet requirements
• Service and Feeders (37 questions): Demand calculations, metered demand rules, feeder ampacity, service sizing
• Grounding and Bonding (70 questions): Equipment grounding, bonding jumpers, grounding electrode systems — the largest topic area
• Conductors and Cables (35 questions): Ampacity tables, insulation ratings, MV cable requirements, cable types
• Raceways and Boxes (74 questions): Conduit fill, EMT and RMC rules, box fill calculations, cabinet construction
• Special Occupancies (50 questions): Hazardous location classifications, fuel dispensing, healthcare facilities, garages
• Special Equipment (10 questions): Industrial equipment, cranes, hoists, elevators
• Electrical Signs and Outline Lighting (5 questions): Sign wiring rules, disconnect requirements, and branch circuit specs
• Motors and Controls (25 questions): Motor branch circuit sizing, overload protection, controller and disconnect rules
• Utilization Equipment (25 questions): Fixed appliances, HVAC equipment, water heaters, electric ranges
• Lighting (10 questions): Luminaire installation, emergency lighting, recessed fixture clearances
• General Low Voltage Requirements (5 questions): Class 2 and Class 3 circuit installation rules
• Communication Systems (5 questions): Telephone, data, and coaxial cable installation requirements
• Fire Detection and Alarm Systems (5 questions): Basic NFPA 72 rules and wiring requirements
• Safety (29 questions): Arc flash boundaries, PPE requirements, lockout/tagout procedures from NFPA 70E

Raceways and Boxes (74), Grounding and Bonding (70), and Special Occupancies (50) are your biggest banks — and they're among the most heavily tested areas on the real exam.

Study Materials for the Virginia Journeyman Electrician Exam

You need clean copies of your references — no writing allowed. Tab and highlight before the exam; both are permitted as long as there's no written annotation.

Required Reference:
- Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, NFPA 70E — Required for the open-book exam and tested directly in the Safety section. Get the 2026 edition.

Study Aids (Use Before the Exam):
- Redi-Tag Permanent White Tabs — These are how you find answers fast during an open-book exam. Tab every major NEC article, every table you'll need, and key sections of NFPA 70E. You get 375 tabs per pack — more than enough. Compatible with laser printers so you can label them with article numbers or topic names.
- Sharpie Highlighters — Color-code by topic area. Yellow for grounding and bonding, green for conductors, orange for special occupancies — whatever system makes sense to you. The chisel tip works well for code tables. Just let the ink dry before you flip the page.

Build your tab system over several study sessions, not the night before. You want muscle memory for where to find things, not a frantic search during the exam.

Study Tips for the VA PSI Exam

Don't chase the answer pattern. There's no hidden sequence in the answer key. If you've picked "A" four times in a row, the fifth answer can still be "A." Take each question on its own merits and ignore the letter sequence.

Use your time. You have 210 minutes for 70 questions — that's three minutes per question. Don't rush. Finishing early isn't a prize. Work through at a steady pace, flag anything you're unsure about, and review before you submit.

Practice in the real format. Our full Virginia journeyman electrician practice test mirrors the actual PSI exam — same number of questions, same time limit, same topic breakdown. Practicing in that format now means no surprises on test day. Start with the free practice exam to get a baseline, then upgrade to the full exam for serious prep.

Prioritize the big topics. Raceways and Boxes, Grounding and Bonding, Special Occupancies, and Service and Feeders carry significant weight. If you're short on study time, focus there first.

Do the math by hand. No calculator is allowed. Run through conductor ampacity, box fill, and motor branch circuit calculations without one until it feels natural.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the Virginia Journeyman Electrician exam cost?
The exam fee is $100. It's non-refundable and non-transferable. Once paid, the fee is valid for one year from the date of payment, so don't let it expire before you schedule.

How many questions are on the exam and how long do I have?
The exam has 70 items and you have 210 minutes (3.5 hours) to complete it. Up to approximately 10% of questions may be experimental and won't be scored — so don't panic if something seems out of place.

What is the passing score?
You need 49 correct answers out of 70 — that's 70%. Your score is displayed on screen immediately when you finish.

How do I register and schedule the exam?
First, the Virginia Board for Contractors must approve your application. Once approved, you'll receive notification and can then schedule through PSI. Register online at the exam registration page or call PSI at (855) 340-3910.

Is the exam open book?
Yes. You must bring your own clean references: the NEC (NFPA 70, 2020 edition), NFPA 70E, and the Virginia Board for Contractors Individual License and Certification Regulations. No study guides, loose papers, or books with any writing.

What ID do I need?
One valid, non-expired government-issued photo ID that also has your signature — driver's license, passport, or state ID card. The name must match exactly what you used when you registered.

Can I use a calculator?
No. Handheld calculators are prohibited. All math is done by hand.

How soon can I retake the exam if I fail?
You can't schedule a new appointment on the same day you tested. Depending on availability, you may be able to retest within two business days.

What if I need to cancel or reschedule?
You can cancel or reschedule without losing your fee if PSI receives your cancellation at least two days before your exam date. Call PSI or use the PSI website — voicemail and email are not accepted as cancellation methods.

When will I get my results?
Your score appears on screen immediately when you finish. PSI will also email a score report. If you don't pass, the report includes a diagnostic breakdown by topic so you know exactly where to focus next time.

Ready to Get Started?

You know the format, the topics, and what to bring. Now put in the practice work. Take the free practice exam to see where you stand — no account required. When you're ready to drill deep, the full practice exam gives you 490 questions across all 24 topic areas with a score breakdown that shows exactly where you need work.

The Virginia Journeyman Electrician license is within reach. Get to work.