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Texas Journeyman Electrician — NEC Knowledge Practice Exam

What This Practice Exam Covers

The Texas Journeyman Electrician licensing exam includes a 59-question NEC Knowledge portion with a 130-minute time limit. You need a 70% (42 correct) to pass. This practice exam mirrors that format across the same 10 topic areas and subtopics published by the official test provider.

Free practice exam: 10 questions per attempt, drawn from a limited pool. You can retake it as many times as you like to get a feel for the question style and pacing — no account required.

Full practice exam: 59 questions, 130-minute timer, drawn from a pool of 312+ questions so no two attempts are identical. Every session is a fresh mix, which means repeated attempts build real familiarity rather than answer memorization. Questions are built from the exact topic weightings the official test provider publishes.

Start with the free exam to benchmark yourself. If your score is inconsistent or you're unsure which topics are dragging you down, the full exam gives you the diagnostic depth to fix that before exam day.

What You'll Be Tested On

Definitions, Theory, and Plans — 3 items
These questions test NEC fundamentals: the purpose of the code (practical safeguarding of persons and property per NEC 90.1(B)), what installations the NEC covers and specifically does not cover (NEC 90.2(A) and NEC 90.2(D)), and how code language works. You need to distinguish mandatory language ("shall"), permissive language ("shall be permitted"), and explanatory informational notes (NEC 90.5(A), NEC 90.5(B), NEC 90.5(C)). Know the NEC's chapter hierarchy (NEC 90.3) and the AHJ's authority to enforce, interpret, and grant special permission (NEC 90.4(B)). Equipment listing and approval questions also appear here. Three items is a small allocation — nail every one.

Electrical Services, Service Equipment, and Separately Derived Systems — 6 items
The heaviest technical content in this group involves grounding and bonding. Know the grounding electrode system, conductor sizing from NEC Table 250.66, and system bonding jumper requirements per NEC 250.30(A)(3). Service disconnecting means rules include location, rating, and the maximum-disconnects rule (NEC 230.71(B)), simultaneous-opening requirements (NEC 230.74), and indication requirements (NEC 230.77). Overhead clearance rules (NEC 230.24(B)) and service entrance conductor insulation (NEC 230.41, 230.23(B), 230.31(B)) appear here too. Separately derived systems — grounding, bonding, and the placement of the system bonding jumper — are tested via NEC 250.30 and NEC 250.35(A) and NEC 250.35(B).

Electrical Feeders — 3 items
Know the 125% continuous-load ampacity rule for feeder conductors (NEC 215.2(A)(1)) and overcurrent protection sizing (NEC 215.3). Ground-fault protection of equipment is tested for feeders 1,000 amperes or more (NEC 215.10, with exceptions including NEC 215.10, Exception No. 3). Demand factor calculations for dwelling units use NEC Table 220.84(B). Surge-protective device requirements for feeders to dwelling and sleeping units appear under NEC 215.18(A) and 215.18(E).

Branch Circuits and Conductors — 10 items
This is the largest topic on the exam. GFCI and AFCI protection questions are very common — know which locations and circuits require each (NEC 210.12(B) for AFCI in dwelling units, NEC 210.12(E) for dormitories and similar). Branch circuit conductor sizing rules, including the minimum free-length requirement at outlet boxes (NEC 300.14), appear alongside voltage ratings (NEC 210.6(A)), required receptacle placement in dwelling units, and multi-wire branch circuit rules (NEC 210.4(A), NEC 210.4(B), NEC 210.4(C)). Kitchen and small-appliance circuit requirements (NEC 210.11(C)(1)) and guest room hotel branch circuits (NEC 210.18) are also fair game.

Electrical Wiring Methods and Electrical Materials — 10 items
Expect calculation-heavy questions on conductor ampacity from NEC Table 310.16, including temperature correction and adjustment factors. Physical protection rules are heavily tested: bored holes require 32 mm (1¼ in.) edge clearance per NEC 300.4(A)(1); notches require steel plate protection per NEC 300.4(A)(2); cables through metal framing are covered by NEC 300.4(B)(1). Underground wiring burial depths come from NEC Table 300.5(A), with specific rules for protection and splicing at NEC 300.5(B) and NEC 300.5(D)(1). Conductor bundling adjustment factors and riser support for vertical runs (NEC 300.19(A) and NEC Table 300.19(A)) also appear.

Electrical Equipment and Devices — 10 items
Another 10-item topic. Motor branch-circuit conductor sizing (NEC 430.22, NEC 430.22(A)) and the use of NEC Table 430.248 for full-load current values (NEC 430.6(A)(1)) are core calculations. Switchboard, panelboard, and luminaire installation rules appear alongside disconnecting means requirements for motors (NEC 430.109(C), NEC 430.110(A)) and appliances (NEC 240.40). Flexible cord installation rules from NEC 400.12, NEC 400.13, and NEC 400.15 are tested here in device context.

Motors and Generators — 5 items
The 125% conductor sizing rule for motors (NEC 430.22(A)) and the multiple-motor feeder rule (NEC 430.24) are calculation staples. Overload protection trip current percentages are tested via NEC 430.32(A)(1) and NEC 430.32(C). Branch-circuit short-circuit and ground-fault protection device ratings come from NEC Table 430.52. Controller ratings are governed by NEC 430.83(A)(1).

Electrical Control Devices and Disconnecting Means — 1 item
One question, but it's costing people points. Common targets: grounded conductor switching rules, circuit breaker use as a switch, and accessibility requirements. Know NEC 240.67(B) for arc-flash detection on fuses.

Special Occupancies, Equipment, and Conditions — 6 items
Hazardous location classification is tested directly — Class I, II, III; Divisions 1 and 2; Groups A–G. Know Division 1 vs. Division 2 definitions (NEC 500.5(B)(1) and NEC 500.5(B)(2)), explosion-proof protection technique (NEC 500.7(A)), and equipment temperature class markings (NEC 500.8(E)(1)). Sealing requirements (NEC 500.6(A)(1)) and Group classification for specific materials (NEC 500.6(B)(1)) appear on these items.

Renewable Energy Technologies — 2 items
PV system DC voltage calculations require temperature correction factors using NEC 690.7(A) and NEC Table 690.7(A). Rapid shutdown requirements for rooftop systems are tested under NEC 690.12(B)(1). Know disconnecting means and overcurrent protection rules (NEC 690.4(E), NEC 690.11).

Worked Sample Questions

Question 1 — Branch Circuits and Conductors
Where cables pass through bored holes in wood members, holes shall be bored so that the edge of the hole is not less than _ mm (___ in.) from the edges of the wood member.

• A. 25, 1
• B. 32, 1¼
• C. 38, 1½
• D. 50, 2

Correct Answer: B

NEC 300.4(A)(1) sets the minimum edge distance at 32 mm (1¼ in.). Candidates frequently guess 38 mm (1½ in.) — a plausible number that comes up in other clearance rules — but the code is specific. If that 32 mm edge distance can't be maintained, a steel plate or bushing at least 1.6 mm (1/16 in.) thick is required. This distinction between the drilling standard and the plate alternative is itself exam-testable.

Question 2 — Electrical Wiring Methods and Electrical Materials
For flexible cords and cables, what is the ampacity of a 12 AWG conductor in a three-conductor cord under standard conditions?

• A. 16 amperes
• B. 20 amperes
• C. 25 amperes
• D. 30 amperes

Correct Answer: B

NEC Table 400.5(A)(1), Column A (three-conductor cords) assigns 20 amperes to 12 AWG. The key is using the correct column — two-conductor vs. three-conductor configurations have different ampacity values in this table, and picking the wrong column is one of the most common errors on flexible cord questions.

Question 3 — Electrical Equipment and Devices
Flexible cords and cables shall be used only in continuous lengths without splice or tap where initially installed in applications permitted by 400.10(A). True or False?

Correct Answer: TRUE

NEC 400.13 requires continuous, unspliced lengths for initially installed flexible cord. The limited exception — repair of hard-service and junior hard-service cord 14 AWG and larger — does not apply to new installations. Exam questions in this area often test whether candidates know the repair exception exists but still answer "true" for the general rule.

How to Read Your Score

The passing score is 70%, meaning 42 of 59 questions answered correctly on the real exam. On your practice exam, treat your first score as a diagnostic, not a verdict. Most candidates underestimate one or two topic areas and overestimate others — the score breakdown by topic is where the real information lives.

If you score 80% or above on a first attempt, you're in solid shape but should still review any topic where you dropped more than one point.

If you score 70–79%, that's passing territory on the practice test, but scoring right at the threshold on practice usually signals more preparation is needed. A few wrong answers on exam day from fatigue or an unfamiliar code scenario will push you under.

If you score below 70%, that's not a failure — it's the most useful data you can have right now. Look at which of the 10 topics cost you the most points. Branch Circuits and Conductors, Electrical Wiring Methods, and Electrical Equipment and Devices together account for 30 of the 59 real exam items. Weaknesses in those three areas have an outsized impact on your final score.

Retake the full practice exam at least twice. Because it draws from a 312+ question pool, each attempt surfaces different questions and different gaps.

Where Candidates Lose Points

Wrong ampacity table. Using NEC Table 310.16 for flexible cord questions (should be NEC Table 400.5(A)(1)) or using the two-conductor column instead of three-conductor is a consistent source of errors.

Misidentifying mandatory vs. permissive language. Questions testing NEC 90.5(A), NEC 90.5(B), and NEC 90.5(C) look simple but trip up candidates who confuse "shall be permitted" with "shall."

Off-by-one errors on physical protection dimensions. The 32 mm bored-hole rule (NEC 300.4(A)(1)) and the burial depths in NEC Table 300.5(A) have specific numbers that don't follow a neat pattern — guessing costs points here.

Skipping the 125% step. Both feeder sizing (NEC 215.2(A)(1)) and motor conductor sizing (NEC 430.22(A)) require multiplying by 125% for continuous loads. Candidates who stop at the nameplate or full-load current value are consistently one answer choice off.

Hazardous location classification confusion. Class I Division 1 vs. Division 2 definitions (NEC 500.5(B)(1) vs. NEC 500.5(B)(2)) and the Group system are memorization-heavy. Candidates who haven't drilled these lose all 6 Special Occupancies items.

Time management. 130 minutes for 59 questions is about 2 minutes and 12 seconds per question. Multi-step motor calculations and demand factor problems take longer. Practice under timed conditions so the clock doesn't pressure you into rushing through Branch Circuits items.

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